BMW E30

The E30 automobile platform was the basis for the 1982 through 1991 BMW 3-Series. It was the sucessor of the BMW E21 in 1982 and was replaced by the BMW E36 in 1992. BMW continued to produce the cabriolet (convertible) E30 well into 1993.

This was also the first platform that BMW introduced their famous Motorsports division 3-series, the BMW M3. A widened version of the E30 front suspension and the drivetain from the E30 325i were used in the BMW Z1 roadster.

The E30 3 series was produced in four body styles, a 4 door saloon, a 2 door coupe (actually just a 2 door variant of the saloon), a 5 door estate (marketed as the "touring"), and a two-door convertible. The 325ix was produced from 1988 to 1992, and featured all-wheel drive. It was available as a two-door or a four-door. 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 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. Power output for the engines ranges from 140N·m torque for the 1.8L (1766cc) 4 cylinder engine, to 230N·m torque from the 2.7L (2693cc) 6 cylinder petrol engine. The E30 BMW M3 was fitted with a 4 cylinder engine (BMW S14) producing more power, but less torque.