[Noobtber]

Hello all,

I've recently come across the ActiveHybrid 3, bought one, and love it. While the additional electric torque and real-world MPG is a huge plus, the main reason I decided on it over an MT 335i is its rarity. I know that it was a very low volume vehicle - I want to find out exactly how low volume.

The closest set of information I can find is from here: https://afdc.energy.gov/data/10301. You can see the United States Department of Energy reports that exactly 3,662 ActiveHybrid 3/5/7/X3 models were sold within the model's lifetime. However, I can't find any data more granular than this. I want know how many ActiveHybrid 3's have been sold (either in the US or globally). Anecdotal accounts from my dealer suggest that the 3's were in the minority; they state my AH3 is the ONLY AH3 they've ever seen, whereas they've seen plenty of 5s, 7s, and X3s. That puts my estimate south of 915 AH3's on the road in the USA, however, additional confirmation is needed.

Can anyone point me toward a data source that would work for this? Thanks in advance.

-Justin

[Wires]

If you are trying to attribute low sales numbers to it being rare, and one day being valuable or holding it's value, you are looking for a loosing battle.

The push for full electric will greatly diminish any hybrid's future resale value.

[Noobtber]

Originally Posted by Wires

If you are trying to attribute low sales numbers to it being rare, and one day being valuable or holding it's value, you are looking for a loosing battle.

The push for full electric will greatly diminish any hybrid's future resale value.

That's great, but I'm fully aware this car is going to lose value. It's an overcomplicated technical nightmare dreamed up by the US marketing department to make up for the lack of US 335d/328d sales.

What it is to me is a conversation piece. I always have great chats at events about what a weird car this is. Those conversations, I feel, could be better if I could find some more accurate information about the 3's sales performance.

So if you know where I can find this information, I'd greatly appreciate it.

[TheShadow]

All that info is in the FaceBook “BMW ActiveHybrid” Group which where most of the AH3 went to when they departed Bimmerpost because of the ridicule seen above. In fact, 2 owners in PNW recently sold their AH3. Most likely the one you purchased.

[auburnf30x]

I had not heard of (or didn’t remember) the ActiveHybrid 3 until now. Looked it up, and that’s definitely an oddball of a conversation starter.

I understand the appeal of overthought and questionably implemented oddballs like that though...

When these things were about the same age as your ActiveHybrid is now, I had a desire to find a Subaru SVX. A little known sports coupe from the 90s that had a wonderful sounding 230hp DOHC flat six powering all four wheels, an especially nice (for the time) leather interior, offering better than anything visibility, and even would let you roll the windows down in the rain...without getting wet!

In pursuit of this...the engineers lost sight of literally everything else. It was outright strange looking from any angle except the back. Which, no one would ever see, because that six cylinder was forced to move 3700 pounds of car through a misguided four speed auto that had no concept of proper shift points. Even the nice interior wasn’t safe, the overthinking extended inwards with attempts to completely rethink the way car cockpits in the 90’s should be. Noble in theory but not when it resulted in the car having two gear shifters on the console...one was actually for the parking brake.

I never got one, but probably still would if the right one came around at the right time. Something interesting about a car that very clearly was the product of an outrageous amount of time, frustration, and creative thinking...that ultimately just ended up being WAY out there, and off base with virtually everyone it was marketed for.

Sorry to hijack, I can’t help you with your original question, but I do understand the appeal.

[tturedraider]

BMW does not publish sales figures by specific model and I have never been able to find this information on the internet.

[YASBBYM3]

1. The ActiveHybrid 3 was indistinguishable from any other F30 335i except for the ActiveHybrid 3 badging instead of the 335i badging. Unbadged, one could not tell any difference with a F30 335i

2. The ActiveHybrid 3 had a N55 engine just like any other F30 335i

3. The ActiveHybrid 3 was available with any exterior or interior package that the other 335i F30s were offered in

4. The ActiveHybrid 3 had an almost perfect 50/50 weight distribution between front and rear axles, unlike any other F30

5. The ActiveHybrid 3 had the best 0-100kph (0-62mph) acceleration of any F30 due to the instant torque of the electric engine
according to BMW’s published specs, with the exception of the B58 340i which beat it by 0.1 seconds.

6. Because of the instant torque from the electric motor, the ActiveHybrid 3 has the best transmission in any F30, a ZF GA8P70H rated at 700HP compared to the ZF GA8HP45Z rated at 450HP in the F30 335i and the GA8HP50Z rated at 500HP on the 340i. While cutting edge N55/B58s are now upgrading their transmissions to handle added power, that isn’t needed with the AH3. Now XHP has a performance flash for the AH3 transmission as well

7. As can be seen in many Bimmerpost threads from 2015-2019, owners of ActiveHybrid 3s pushed the cutting edge with cosmetic, handling and performance modifications. As a result, there are some AH3s to absolutely die for that would put most any other F30s to shame.

8. While true that BMW does not release vehicle sales of individual models, as the ActiveHybrid 3 3A93 was only sold in North America (3A91 World LHD and 3A92 World RHD) it’s easy to get the number manufactured based on VIN numbers. Furthermore, as this was a Hybrid Vehicle, the Federal Government collected numbers of all AH3 by individual year and total produced. That number is roughly 10% lower than the VIN range of the total 3A93 produced, meaning roughly 10% of those produced were sold in Canada.

[Noobtber]

Originally Posted by YASBBYM3

1. The ActiveHybrid 3 was indistinguishable from any other F30 335i except for the ActiveHybrid 3 badging instead of the 335i badging. Unbadged, one could not tell any difference with a F30 335i

2. The ActiveHybrid 3 had a N55 engine just like any other F30 335i

3. The ActiveHybrid 3 was available with any exterior or interior package that the other 335i F30s were offered in

4. The ActiveHybrid 3 had an almost perfect 50/50 weight distribution between front and rear axles, unlike any other F30

5. The ActiveHybrid 3 had the best 0-100kph (0-62mph) acceleration of any F30 due to the instant torque of the electric engine
according to BMW’s published specs, with the exception of the B58 340i which beat it by 0.1 seconds.

6. Because of the instant torque from the electric motor, the ActiveHybrid 3 has the best transmission in any F30, a ZF GA8P70H rated at 700HP compared to the ZF GA8HP45Z rated at 450HP in the F30 335i and the GA8HP50Z rated at 500HP on the 340i. While cutting edge N55/B58s are now upgrading their transmissions to handle added power, that isn’t needed with the AH3. Now XHP has a performance flash for the AH3 transmission as well

7. As can be seen in many Bimmerpost threads from 2015-2019, owners of ActiveHybrid 3s pushed the cutting edge with cosmetic, handling and performance modifications. As a result, there are some AH3s to absolutely die for that would put most any other F30s to shame.

8. While true that BMW does not release vehicle sales of individual models, as the ActiveHybrid 3 3A93 was only sold in North America (3A91 World LHD and 3A92 World RHD) it’s easy to get the number manufactured based on VIN numbers. Furthermore, as this was a Hybrid Vehicle, the Federal Government collected numbers of all AH3 by individual year and total produced. That number is roughly 10% lower than the VIN range of the total 3A93 produced, meaning roughly 10% of those produced were sold in Canada.

Funny enough, I was actually the one who beta tested the AH3 tune. It's a great transmission, however, according to xHP, the GA8P70H does not have a hard shifting mode, and won't perform the same as the ZF found in the 335i. Slightly disappointing. Additionally, the car/transmission refuses to downshift above 4000RPM, and xHP hasn't had the time/inclination to publish a stage 4/track map for the transmission, so it's rather cumbersome to use. Still a massive improvement over the stock map.

I'm further exceptionally satisfied with the N55 BM3 tune I have on the car. It's "peaky" in any other N55, but the boost comes on almost exactly as the electric torque winds down. Insane performance at 40mpg. I'm currently running a 91 octane stage 1 tune with the only substantial modification being the charge pipe, but I'm hoping to slot in a few other mods within the year.

Thanks for the info on the VIN range. I'll have to see if I can find the values from a government agency. Do you have any suggestions as to where the best place is to start?

[Noobtber]

For those who are interested, Randy Kabrich on the ActiveHybrid Facebook group posted this information:

AH3 Total Production = 5,105
1,283 = 3f91 LHD
500 F144500 - F144999 LHD EU 07.15.2011 - 10.16.2012
783 F298800 - F299582 LHD EU 10.16.2012 - 05.27.2015
2,230 = 3f92 RHD
500 F203300 - F203799 RHD EU 11.22.2011 - 09.25.2012
1,000 F489600 - F490599 RHD EU 09.25.2012 - 07.31.2013
500 KL53500 - KL53999 RHD EU 08.01.2013 - 04.29.2014
230 KX08000 - KX08229 RHD EU 04.29.2014 - 05.28.2015
1,592 = 3f93 North America LHD
500 F145000 - F145499 LHD US 07.14.2011 - 10.18.2012
1,000 F483600 - F484599 LHD US 10.18.2012 - 08.26.2013
92 KP46500 - KP46591 LHD US 08.26.2013 - 05.27.2015
Before someone asks about the 1,488 in USA reported by the EPA and the 1,592 above, I suspect the 104 difference went to Canada.
Just from a random check of the RHD models, it seems that most went to Asia (Japan appears to be destination for most of those).
If anyone owns or knows of an AH3 outside of the VIN ranges listed, please post it or message me.