Petrol four-cylinders
Early 316/318i M10 engines gave way to M40 units; the sporting 318is used the 16-valve M42. S14 belongs to the separate M3 record.
3 Series (E30) — Four-door Sedan
1983–1991
Editorially reviewedReviewed 2026-08-10; market and model-year scope is stated in the record sources.
- Internal code
- E30/4
- Production
- September 1983 – 1991
- Body style
- 4-door sedan · 5 seats
- Platform
- longitudinal engine · rear-wheel drive or 325iX all-wheel drive
Body variants
3 Series → E30 → Four-door Sedan
3 Series E30: history, design and engineering
How this generation came about, what made it different and how the selected four-door sedan fits into the family.
E30 turned the 3 Series from a single-body compact saloon into a complete model family. Two- and four-door saloons were joined by the Cabriolet and the first factory Touring, so the same basic BMW could serve as an everyday car, an open cruiser or a practical estate.
The mechanical range broadened just as dramatically. Four- and six-cylinder petrol engines sat alongside diesel power, the 325iX introduced series-production all-wheel drive to BMW passenger cars, and the M3 gave the generation a competition-led flagship. That breadth is why an E30 must be described by body, engine and market rather than by its chassis code alone.
E30 cannot be described by one launch or end date: the two-door arrived first, the four-door, Cabriolet and Touring followed, and individual bodies remained in production on different schedules. Rear-wheel drive was standard, but 325iX created BMW's first series-production all-wheel-drive passenger-car branch; diesel models and the homologation-led M3 likewise need specifications separate from ordinary petrol cars.
09/1982–02/1994world lifecycle
4factory body branches
2 339 251BMW production total
RWD / AWDdriven wheels
2 570 mmwheelbase
M10–M42core engine families
Four-door Sedan: dimensions and packaging
Dimensions can change with body, market and model year, so this page keeps them tied to the exact factory branch.
Length4,325 mm
Width1,645 mm
Height≈ 1,380 mm
Wheelbase2,570 mm
Luggage≈ 425 L
Fuel tank55–64 L
Seats5
Doors4-door sedan · 5 seats
| Body | Code | Production | Doors / seats | Length | Luggage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Four-door Sedan | E30/4 | 1983–1991 | 4-door sedan · 5 seats / 5 | 4,325 mm | ≈ 425 L |
| Two-door Sedan | E30/2 | 1982–1991 | 2-door sedan · 5 seats / 5 | 4,325 mm | ≈ 425 L |
| Touring | E30/5 | 1988–1994 | 5-door wagon · 5 seats / 5 | 4,325 mm | 370–1,125 L |
| Cabriolet | E30/2C | 1986–1993 | 2-door convertible · 4 seats / 4 | ≈ 4,323 mm | ≈ 300 L |
Engines and powertrains
The generation could span very different engines and drivetrains. The table keeps output, gearbox, market and production period together.
Factory modification matrix
Documented four-door sedan applications; output and availability remain market- and model-year-specific.
| Model | Years | Engine | Output | Transmission | Drive | Market | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 316 / 316i | 1982–1994 | M10B18 / M40B16 | 90–102 PS | 4MT / 5MT / 3AT / 4AT | RWD | Europe | BMW 3 Series (E30) |
| 318i | 1982–1994 | M10B18 / M40B18 | 102–115 PS | 5MT / 3AT / 4AT | RWD | Global range | BMW 3 Series (E30) |
| 320i | 1982–1992 | M20B20 | 125–129 PS | 5MT / 4AT | RWD | Europe | BMW 3 Series (E30) |
| 323i | 1982–1985 | M20B23 | 139–150 PS | 5MT / 3AT | RWD | Global range | BMW 3 Series (E30) |
| 325e / 325es | 1983–1988 | M20B27 | 122–129 PS | 5MT / 4AT | RWD | Global range | BMW 3 Series (E30) |
| 325i / 325is | 1985–1993 | M20B25 | 168–171 PS | 5MT / 4AT | RWD | Global range | BMW 3 Series (E30) |
| 325iX | 1985–1991 | M20B25 | 170–171 PS | 5MT / 4AT | AWD | Global range | BMW 3 Series (E30) |
| 324d / 324td | 1985–1991 | M21D24 | 86–115 PS | 5MT / 4AT | RWD | Europe | BMW 3 Series (E30) |
M20 petrol sixes
320i, 323i, 325i and economy-focused 325e combined different displacements, management systems and market calibrations.
M21 diesels
The 324d and turbocharged 324td were the first diesel 3 Series; 324td introduced DDE electronic diesel control.
How power reaches the road
Gearboxes, driven wheels and final-drive hardware changed with engine, market and production date.
Transmissions
Gearbox type and unit code follow engine, market and production date. Gear count alone does not identify the transmission.
Driven wheels
Catalog architecture: longitudinal layout · rear- or all-wheel drive. All-wheel-drive availability and hardware remain derivative-specific.
Final drive
Ratio, differential type and electronic control belong to the exact derivative and can differ on performance models.
What changed underneath
Suspension, brakes, safety systems and electronics evolved across the range, even when cars shared the same basic architecture.
Body & suspension
- Mounting points and geometry follow the body branch
- Springs and dampers follow axle load and chassis package
- Wheels and permitted loads follow the factory label
Brakes & steering
- Brake size follows engine and equipment
- Assistance type and steering ratio can change
- ABS/DSC generation follows model year
Passive safety
- Airbag count varies by market and year
- SRS parts are VIN-specific
- Structural repairs require factory procedures
Electronics
- Vehicle-bus generations changed during production
- Control-unit software levels must remain compatible
- Retrofits are recorded separately from factory equipment
How the generation evolved
The important launches, additions and updates did not always happen at the same time for every body or market.
Two-door launch
Second-generation 3 Series production begins in September.
Four doors
The first four-door 3 Series Sedan joins the range in autumn.
New directions
325iX, the 324d diesel, BMW M3 and factory 325i Cabriolet enter the story.
Touring and major revision
BMW presents the first production Touring and rolls out a substantial technical and visual revision.
Phased end
Sedans yield to E36 while Cabriolet and Touring continue; Touring closes the E30 lifecycle in February 1994.
The versions that stood apart
Performance models, option packages and regional editions may look related, but their engineering and production identity can be very different.
Series-production range
E30The principal factory derivatives, separated by engine, driven wheels, market and equipment level.
Performance derivatives
M / SportAppearance package, sports chassis package and standalone M model are different records and are not merged by visual similarity.
Regional editions
MarketLimited editions and local specifications are added only when a factory document, edition number or unambiguous market specification is available.
Inside the car
Cabin technology and standard equipment changed by country and year; a build sheet remains the best guide to one individual car.
Cabin & comfort
- Trim and seats follow option codes
- Climate systems vary by market
- Audio and navigation changed by model year
Lighting & assistance
- Lamp technology and modules follow production date
- Driver assistance cannot be inferred from buttons alone
- Regional rules affect lighting and warnings
What to check today
A practical starting point for inspecting and maintaining a car from this generation — not a diagnosis of an individual example.
Body
- Sills, lifting points and front mounts
- Arches, luggage pockets and battery tray
- Windscreen base and sunroof/roof drains
Engine
- M20/M21 timing-belt date
- Cooling system and viscous fan clutch
- Intake leaks, fuel hoses and injectors
Chassis and electrical
- Rear semi-trailing-arm and beam bushes
- Steering rack and front arms
- Service Indicator board batteries and cluster damage
| Item | Interval / trigger | Catalog note |
|---|---|---|
| M20/M21 timing belt | factory interval; immediately if history is unknown | Renew the tensioner and assess water pump and cooling system. |
| Oil and filter | yearly / mileage-based | Short-trip use and storage justify a shorter interval. |
| M20 valve clearances | factory schedule | Adjustment is performed on a cold engine. |
| Brake fluid | every 2 years | Inspect lines, calipers and ABS operation where fitted. |
How to identify the exact car
The badge and registration year tell only part of the story; production date, body code, engine and factory options complete it.
- VIN
- Identifies model, plant and production branch and keys the parts catalog and factory equipment record.
- Production date
- More useful than first-registration year when choosing parts and locating technical revisions.
- Type code
- Refines engine, body, market and transmission combination.
- Option codes
- Confirm factory equipment; later retrofits are recorded separately.
- Unit number
- Supports engine or gearbox originality checks and component applicability.
Where the information comes from
The story is mapped through English Wikipedia and its bibliography, then important dates and technical claims are checked against BMW material.
- 01BMW 3 Series (E30)Wikipedia contributors
English-language secondary overview of the generation, body programme, powertrains and production chronology; key claims are cross-checked against the factory sources below.
- 02BMW 3 Series (E30)BMW Group Classic / BMW Group
Official body history, production dates and position within the model range.
- 03BMW 3 Series sedan (E30)BMW Group Classic / BMW Group
Official body history, production dates and position within the model range.
- 04BMW 3 Series Touring (E30)BMW Group Classic / BMW Group
Official body history, production dates and position within the model range.
- 05BMW 325i Convertible (E30)BMW Group Classic / BMW Group
Official body history, production dates and position within the model range.
Notes and limitations
- Tree years describe the worldwide generation lifecycle; individual market dates may be narrower.
- Exact dimensions, power, weight and emissions belong at body, engine, market and model-year level.
- Known-issue guidance is editorial context and never replaces inspection of the individual vehicle.
5 primary references · market differences documentedPhotography: Calreyn88, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons. Rights checked 2026-08-06; local 640 px and 1,280 px avif versions created; the complete source frame is retained without cropping.Updated 6 August 2026