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The E30 3-Series was produced in four body styles, a four door
saloon, a two door coach, a five door estate (marketed as the
"touring"), and a two door convertible. A Baur cabrio was also
available. The 325ix was produced from 1988 to 1992, and featured
all-wheel drive. It was available as a two-door (coach) or a
four-door (sedan). The BMW M3 utilized 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 anodized 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 anodized aluminum bumpers were finally replaced
with shorter body-color plastic bumpers. The later model plastic
bumper can fit onto a 1988 E30 without any modifications. This is
not the case with E30s older than 88. The original chrome bumpers
can be tucked in by draining the bumper shocks and compressing them
to shorten the bumper
Engines
Following on from the E21, the E30 was fitted with M10 4cyl and
M20 straight six engines. The 316 used a 1766 cc M10 fed by a
carburettor and producing only 66 kw but this allowed BMW to offer a
cheap entry level car in the range. The 318i used the same M10 but
with Jetronic injection, pushing power to 77 kW/103 hp and
improving economy. Finally the 320i (2.0 M20 with 92 kW/125 hp)
and 323i (2.3 M20 with 111 kW/139 hp) completed the range.
Later, a 2.5 version of the M20 boosted the power of the top
model to 120 kW/168 hp.
In 1988 the E30 was revised. The revision contained two
significant changes in the engine department. First, the M20
straight six motors changed from Bosch Jetronic to Bosch Motronic.
This boosted the 320i to 95 kW and the 325i to 126 kW/172
hp, all the while improving the economy, especially on the 320i. The
M10 was replaced by the new belt-driven cam M40 which also
incorporated Motronic injection. The new 318i now had 85 kW/114
hp and was noticeably smoother than the old 77 kW/103 hp
version. The 316 was replaced by a 316i, which used a 1600 version
of the M40 producing 75 kW/100 hp. Not quite as torquey as the
66 kW/88 hp 1800 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 fans had to wait till 1991
for the 316 to make way for the 316i.
   
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