As the cheapest and most accessible of the BMW’s, the 3-Series are the “impact cars” purchased by (for) the youthful, second-generation-American children of successful immigrant families.

The sole intention of the “machine” is to keep it immaculately clean and prove to the country that they can reasonably compete with the most blue-blooded, established elite.

Interestingly, it is very easy to break down (by national origin) which immigrant children are driving the 3-Series based upon geographic location:
NORTH JERSEY: 16 – 25 year old Koreans (parents own laundromats or nail salons) or 24 – 40 year old Indians (parents own hotels or are IT developers)
SOUTH FLORIDA: 22 – 50 year old Central/South Americans (parents own real estate)
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA: 18 – 40 year old Persians (parents involved with import/export trade) or 26 – 50 year old Chinese (parents are academics).
LONG ISLAND AND NEW ENGLAND: 16 – 24 year old Jewish girls (parents involved with finance, law, or medicine). NOTE: Although not necessarily the children of immigrants per se, there is still the “pressing” need for an elite car to maintain the image of coming from an established family.  - Dubs