The 3 Series is the quintessential BMW sedan, but for about a decade, it also came as a hatchback. The original 3 Series Compact was essentially the 1 Series before the 1 Series, offering a smaller, more affordable way into BMW ownership without abandoning rear-wheel drive. However, while the E36/5 Compact arrived with three doors, Munich apparently considered giving it two more.
Now, BMW has pulled a mysterious five-door prototype from its vault, revealing an unusual piece of brand history that never made it to production. Meet the otherwise humble 316i Compact, an experimental E36/5 variant that adds two rear doors to the familiar hatchback body style. Unlike the better-known three-door model, this one-off prototype remained out of public view for decades before BMW Classic finally showed it off.
