From its 1982 launch to the last Touring in 1994, the E30 offered four-cylinder, six-cylinder and diesel power, and its M3 made its name in touring car racing.
The BMW E30 was produced from 1982 to 1994 as the second generation of the 3 Series. It succeeded the E21, the 325iX became the first BMW with all-wheel drive, and the car remains a popular choice in the Spec E30 racing class.
The BMW E30 was the second generation of the 3 Series, built from 1982 to 1994 to replace the E21. It was first offered as a two-door saloon and convertible, and later gained a four-door saloon and a Touring estate. Its M3 version went on to do very well in touring car racing.
When was the BMW E30 developed and launched?
Development of the E30 began in July 1976, and the final design was approved in 1978 before its design freeze was completed in 1979. BMW released the car at the end of November 1982, and series production began in October 1982.
Claus Luthe was the chief designer, and Boyke Boyer led the exterior styling. BMW's launch film showed computer-aided design, crash testing and wind-tunnel work, which together formed the process behind the car.
The E30 looked much like its twin-headlight E21 predecessor, but the interior and suspension set it apart. The suspension was reworked partly to tame the oversteer that had dogged the E21.
A compact, well-balanced saloon that gave BMW a diesel, an all-wheel-drive model and a racing legend.
How did the E30 change at the 1985 and 1987 updates?
In September 1985 the exterior and interior trim were updated, the 323i was replaced by the 325i and a naturally aspirated 324d diesel arrived. At the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 1987 BMW introduced a major update that added the Touring estate and removed the 325e.
The Series 2 update redesigned the rear lights and front bumper and trimmed back the chrome. The back was completely reworked, with larger rear fenders and slightly wider front wings, and rust protection was improved.
The four-cylinder engine moved up from the M10 to the M40 at the same time, and the 318is joined the range in 1989 with the more modern M42 unit. Cars built after that carried these changes to the end of the run.
Which engines did the E30 use?
The E30 started with carried-over four-cylinder M10 and six-cylinder M20 petrol engines from the E21. A six-cylinder diesel arrived in 1983 as the M21 in the 524td, and it reached the 3 Series in naturally aspirated and turbocharged forms. Engine families changed over the production run, with new four-cylinder designs and upgrades to the six.
The 316 used a 1,766 cc M10 with a carburettor, producing 66 kW (90 PS). The 318i used the same M10 with Bosch L-Jetronic injection, lifting power to 77 kW (105 PS) while also improving fuel economy.
The 1987 Series 2 update introduced the M40 four-cylinder with Bosch Motronic injection. A 1,796 cc version went into the 318i, while the 316i used a 1,596 cc M40, a smaller engine than the old 1.8-litre unit, though its injection gave it more peak power.
The six-cylinder petrol line began with the 320i, a 2.0 L M20 making 92 kW (123 bhp), and the 323i, with a 2.3 L M20 at 102 kW (137 bhp). In 1985 the 2.3-litre gave way to a 2.5 L version producing 125 kW (168 bhp), and the 325e used a lower-revving economy tune.
The 325e had a longer stroke than the 325i, a more restrictive head, four cam bearings instead of seven and single valve springs. In European specification with a catalytic converter it produced 90 kW (122 PS; 121 bhp) at 4250 rpm and 230 Nm at 3250 rpm, against 215 Nm at 4000 rpm for the 325i.
The M42 arrived with the 318iS in 1989, the most modern unit in the range, featuring DOHC, Bosch Motronic 1.7 and coil-on-plug ignition. The 318iS was sold only as a two-door.
The turbocharged 324td arrived in 1987 with an electronically controlled fuel pump and a smaller turbocharger, which reduced lag. It also delivered 10 Nm more torque than the 524td.
What body styles did the E30 come in?
The E30 began as a two-door saloon and a Baur convertible, with a factory convertible added in 1985. A four-door saloon and five-door Touring estate came later, and the Touring started life as a prototype built in 1984. The Baur convertibles remained on sale alongside the factory car.
Max Reisbock built the Touring prototype in a friend's garage in 1984, and production started in 1987. The factory convertible began production in 1985, and Baur conversions remained available alongside it.
Among the body styles, the 325iX saloon and estate stood apart because they carried permanent all-wheel drive.
What made the E30 M3 special?
The M3 used a widened and heavily redesigned two-door body, so it shared few parts with other E30s. It had its own suspension and five-lug wheel bolts, and it was powered by the high-revving S14 four-cylinder engine. Its gearbox was a dog-leg five-speed.
On the track, the M3 earned its reputation in touring car events. Its Getrag 265 gearbox used a dog-leg pattern for European cars, while North American models used a standard H-pattern.
How did the E30 handle and brake?
Front disc brakes were fitted to every E30, while the rear used solid discs on most models and drums on some four-cylinder cars. Anti-lock braking became available in 1986, and the car's MacPherson struts and semi-trailing arms gave it a compact layout.
That layout freed up room in the cabin and the boot, which mattered in a car of its size. Critics pointed to toe and camber shifts built into the rear geometry, which could produce bump steer in hard corners.
Six transmissions were available across the range: four manuals and two automatics. The three-speed ZF 3HP22 served from 1981 to 1985, and the four-speed ZF 4HP22 arrived for the 320i and 323i before becoming available on all models from 1985.
Which special E30 models were built outside Germany?
Several special models were built for individual markets, including the 320is for Portugal and Italy, the 333i for South Africa, the M325i for New Zealand and the 323i JPS for Australia. Each had its own engine, trim or production run.
The 320is existed because Portugal and Italy charged considerably higher taxes on engines above 2000 cc. It used a 1,990 cc version of the M3's S14 engine, producing 141 kW (192 PS) at 6,900 rpm. Production totalled 1,206 four-doors and 2,542 two-doors.
BMW South Africa's motorsport division built the 333i in 1985 by fitting the 3.2-litre M30 six-cylinder to a two-door E30, with help from Alpina. Only 210 cars were built, including six factory race cars.
The 325iS was created to replace the 2.5-litre 325i in Group N production car racing. The Evolution HP version took the 1993 Class A championship, collecting 20 of the 24 races.
New Zealand never got an M3 from BMW, so a local importer created the M325i, with about 100 imported from late 1986. In Australia, the 323i JPS was a 70-car tribute painted black with gold pinstripes and gold wheels.
How did E30 production end?
Production began to wind down in 1990 after the E36 3 Series coupe arrived. Two-door saloon production ended on 30 April 1991 at Regensburg, four-door sedans finished on 29 February 1992, and the final E30, a Touring, was built in 1994.
Convertibles were built from late 1990 to 1993, and Touring estates ran from 1988 to 1994. The final car was sold as a 1995 model year vehicle.
US-spec models finished in 1991, and sporting variants such as the 325is evolution 1 and 2 continued until 1992.
What did the E30 look like in North America?
North American E30s were sold as the 318i, 325 and 325i range, with the 325ix all-wheel drive model between 1988 and 1991. The most noticeable feature of 1984 to 1987 cars was their protruding aluminium bumpers, which people called diving boards.
The US model range ran through the 318i, which used the M10 engine from 1984 to 1985 before the M42 arrived in 1991, and the 318is, sold only in 1991. The 325, 325e and 325es ran from 1984 to 1988, while the 325i and 325is ran from 1987 to 1991.
In 1987 the bumpers were made shorter by changing their covers and shock absorbers, and in 1988 the valances and rear wheel arch were updated. By 1989 the aluminium bumpers had given way to shorter plastic units in body colour.
Why is the E30 still raced today?
The E30 is still raced in its own classes, and the M3 variant also made its name on touring car circuits, which is why the model remains prized by racers. The Spec E30 class keeps the car on track in three countries: the US, Australia and New Zealand.
The Spec E30 class is associated with the National Auto Sport Association, the body behind several amateur racing series in the United States.
What are the BMW E30 specifications?
The table gathers the core figures for the E30 range. Where a figure belongs to one model, such as the 333i or the 316, the table says so. Power is shown in kilowatts first, with the PS or hp figure in brackets.
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Production | 1982 to 1994 |
| Series production start | October 1982 |
| Body styles | Two-door saloon, convertible, four-door saloon, five-door Touring |
| 316 engine | 1,766 cc M10, 66 kW (90 PS) |
| 318i | 77 kW (105 PS) from the M10 with Bosch injection |
| 325i (1985) | 2.5 L M20, 125 kW (168 bhp) |
| Diesel | 2,443 cc turbocharged M21 in the 524td |
| M3 engine | S14 four-cylinder, high-revving |
| 333i | 3.2 L M30, 145 kW (197 PS) at 5500 rpm, 210 cars |
| Transmissions | Four manuals and two automatics |
| Final model | Touring, built in 1994 |
Frequently asked questions
Was the E30 available with all-wheel drive?
Yes. The 325iX was the first BMW to have all-wheel drive, and it was offered as a saloon and an estate. Its permanent system made it the only E30 with that layout, since the rest of the range was rear-wheel drive, and it used the 2.5 L M20 engine.
How quick was the South African 333i?
BMW's official claims for the 333i were 0-100 km/h in 7.4 seconds and a top speed of 228 km/h (142 mph). Its 3.2-litre M30 six-cylinder produced 145 kW (197 PS) at 5500 rpm, with 285 Nm of torque at 4300 rpm, and only 210 cars were produced between 1985 and 1987.
Did the E30 have a diesel?
Yes. The M21 six-cylinder was unveiled in the 524td at the 1983 IAA, with a capacity of 2,443 cc and mechanical injection. It reached the 3 Series as a naturally aspirated 324d in 1985 and as a turbocharged 324td in 1987, which had an electronically controlled pump.
Where was the E30 built?
Production took place in Munich and Regensburg in West Germany, and at Rosslyn in South Africa. Models sold in Indonesia and Thailand used complete knock-down kits made in Germany, which were assembled in Jakarta and Bangkok respectively. Production of the regular two-door saloon ended in 1991.
Was there an E30 estate version?
Yes. The Touring was the five-door station wagon, sold from 1988 to 1994 after prototype work in 1984. Its production began in 1987, and the final Touring was sold as a 1995 model year car, the last E30 built. It was the only wagon in the E30 range.
