BMW 3 Series (E30)

The BMW E30 is compact executive car produced by BMW. It was the successor of the BMW E21 in 1982 and was replaced by the BMW E36 in 1990. BMW continued to produce the cabriolet (convertible) E30 well into 1993. The Touring remained in production until 1994 when the E36 touring replaced it. The M3 cabriolet was never officially offered for sale in North America; it was offered only for the European market.

The BMW M3 was first introduced on the E30 platform. A widened version of the E30 front suspension and the drivetrain from the E30 325i were used in the BMW Z1 roadster.

The E30 3-Series was produced in four body styles, a four door saloon, a two door saloon, a five door estate (marketed as the "touring"), and a two door convertible. A Baur cabrio was also available. The 325ix was produced from 1985 to 1991, and featured all-wheel drive. It was available as a two-door (saloon) or a four-door (sedan) and as touring. The BMW M3 utilised a widened and heavily redesigned and restyled variation of the 2 door body style. The M3 shares few parts with other E30 models.

The primary distinctive feature of the BMW E30 models produced for the North American market in 1984-1987 are the elongated front/rear aluminum bumpers. These bumpers are commonly known as "diving boards." In 1988, the anodized aluminum bumpers were shortened by revising the cover/fillers and shortening the shocks. In 1989 the aluminum bumpers were replaced with shorter body-color plastic bumpers.

The cars were powered by a range of inline 4 cylinder (BMW M10 , BMW M40 , & BMW M42) and inline 6 cylinder (BMW M20 and BMW M21) engines, with both petrol and diesel power. Torque output for the engines ranges from 140 N·m (100 lb·ft) torque for the 1.8 L (1766 cc) 4 cylinder engine, to 230 N·m (170 lb·ft) torque from the 2.7 L (2693 cc) 6 cylinder petrol engine. The E30 BMW M3 was fitted with a high-revving 4-cylinder engine (BMW S14) which produced 235 bhp (175 kW; 238 PS)

Manufacturer    
BMW

Production    
1982–1994

Predecessor    
BMW E21

Successor    
BMW E36

Body style(s)    
2-door coupe
2-door convertible
4-door sedan
5-door station wagon

Layout    
Front engine, rear-wheel drive / all-wheel drive

Engine(s)
I4, 1.6 - 1.8 L (66 - 100 kW)
I6, 2.0 - 2.7 L (92 - 126 kW)

Transmission(s)
3-speed automatic
4-speed automatic
4-speed manual
5-speed manual

Wheelbase
2,570 mm (101.2 in)

Length    
1988-89 Sedan, Wagon & Coupe: 4,450 mm (175.2 in)
1988-89 Convertible: 4,460 mm (175.6 in)
1990-91 Sedan, Wagon & Coupe: 4,326 mm (170.3 in)
1990-93 Convertible: 4,323 mm (170.2 in)

Width    
Sedan & Wagon: 1,646 mm (64.8 in)
Coupe: 1,661 mm (65.4 in)

Height
Sedan & Wagon: 1,379 mm
(54.3 in) Convertible: 1,369 mm
(53.9 in)
Coupe: 1,400 mm (55.1 in)

Curb weight    
1,070–1,368 kg (2,359–3,016 lb)

Fuel capacity    
62.1 L (16 US gal; 14 imp gal)

Related    
BMW M3

Engines

Following on from the E21, the E30 was fitted with M10 straight-4 and M20 straight-6 engines. The 316 used a 1766 cc M10 fed by a carburettor and producing only 90 PS (66 kW; 89 hp), but this allowed BMW to offer a cheap, entry-level car in the range. The 318i had the same M10 engine, but with Jetronic fuel injection, pushing power to 105 PS (77 kW; 104 hp) and improving fuel economy. Finally, the 320i (2.0 L M20 with 125 PS (92 kW; 123 hp)) and 323i (2.3 L M20 with 143 PS (105 kW; 141 hp)) completed the range. Later, in 1985, a 2.5 L version of the M20 boosted the power of the top model to 170 PS (125 kW; 168 hp), replacing the old 323i.

Europe and North America received an economy version called the 325e (the e stands for the Greek letter eta, signifying economy). Strangely enough, the engine was the largest available in the chassis, aside from the rare South African version which was available with the 3.3 L M30. The 2.7 L had a longer stroke than the 2.5 L, with a more restrictive head, four cam bearings instead of seven (less internal friction), and softer valve springs. This resulted in 121 hp (90 kW; 123 PS). In 1987, the E30 was revised. The revision contained two significant changes in the engine department. First, the M20 straight-6 engines changed from Bosch Jetronic to Bosch Motronic. This boosted the 320i to 129 PS (95 kW; 127 hp) and the 325i to 171 PS (126 kW; 169 hp), all the while improving the economy. The M10 was replaced by the new, belt-driven cam M40 which also incorporated Motronic injection. The new 318i now had 115 PS (85 kW; 113 hp) and was noticeably smoother than the old version. A new engine had been developed, a chain-driven cam 4 cylinder M42 1.8 L DOHC 16 V engine creating the 318is in 1989. This is the most modern engine built to the E30 (this engine has been later used in early 318i E36s).

The 316 was replaced by a 316i, which used a 1600 cc version of the M40, producing 102 PS (75 kW; 101 hp). Not quite as torquey as the 90 PS (66 kW; 89 hp) 1766 cc M10 it replaced, it nevertheless offered superior performance. In some markets, like South Africa, the old M10-powered 316 continued a lot longer, gaining the new bumpers of the other models. In South Africa, The 316i was released in 1991.

E30 production (1982 - 1994)  - 2,339,248

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