BMW E30 model guide — every variant from 316 to M3

Body styles

The E30 launched as a two-door sedan, with the four-door following in 1983. The Convertible arrived mid-decade as a full factory soft-top, and the Touring — the five-door estate — joined for 1988 and ran to the end of production in 1994, outliving the sedans. Alongside the factory cars, Baur built its targa-style TC conversion on the two-door shell.

The engines: fours, sixes and the oddballs

Four-cylinder cars: the 316 and early 318i used the veteran M10; later 316i and 318i cars moved to the M40, and the twin-cam 318is got the M42 — the enthusiast's four. Six-cylinder cars used the M20: 320i and 323i early on, then the 325i that became the definitive E30.

Two oddballs are worth knowing. The 325e ("eta") used a 2.7-litre low-revving M20 tuned for torque and economy, not revs. The 325iX put the 325i engine through a full-time all-wheel-drive system — many iX-specific chassis and driveline parts are shared with nothing else, and are correspondingly rare. Europe also got the 324d and 324td diesels.

The M3

The E30 M3 was a homologation special built so BMW could go touring-car racing. It shares remarkably little with a standard E30: the S14 four-cylinder engine, box-flared body panels, faster steering, and — critically for wheels — a 5x120 bolt pattern instead of the standard car's 4x100. Most M3 body and trim parts are specific to the M3.

Pre-facelift vs facelift — the split that matters for parts

In September 1987 the E30 was facelifted, and this is the single most important date when buying parts. Facelift cars got plastic bumpers, revised valances, updated rear lights and other detail changes. Bumpers, spoilers and some trim do not swap between the two generations — it is why M-Technic 1 fits early cars and M-Technic 2 fits late cars.

When you are unsure whether a part fits your build, message us with the model and build year — we check fitment on every request before you buy.