BMW 3 Series E30

since 1983-1994 release

Repair and operation of the car

BMW 3 Series

Engine 1,6 liters

Engine 2,0 liters

The body of E30 replaced the previous body of E21 of the small third BMW series which became popular in 1983. First E30 was more modifed E21, than absolutely new car and used generally the same engines. The main constructive changes concerned forward and back suspension brackets and ergonomics of salon. However designers of firm so well worked over appearance that magnificent proportions of E30 still admire admirers of BMW, and style of this car began to be considered as classical. On the other hand, since E30 the firm refused the front grille mown forward which was characteristic feature of all cars of BMW for the previous 20 years. It caused some resonance in the ranks of adherents of BMW style. E30 body got something, but something lost BMW.

Modifications the versatile person and кабрио continued to be issued till 1993, but generally production E30 was stopped in 1991 as a result of change of a body of the 3rd series with E36.

Wheel base:	2565 mm
Track (forward / back):	1412 / 1424 mm
Length:	4345 mm
Width:	1680 mm
Height:	1370 mm

E30 for the first time appeared in January, 1983 in the only option of a 2-door compartment. Only in a year, in January, 1984 buyers had a choice opportunity with the advent of the 4-door sedan that at once strongly increased popularity of model. In 1986 E30 cabriolet went on sale. And it is only close to the end of production E30 Bavarians pleased with the versatile person. However, the luggage compartment could not brag of considerable volume, but the car just perfectly looked. Other rare modification – model 325iX with the four-wheel drive – borrowed transmission from all-wheel drive "five" in E34 body. Also diesel modifications of the sedan were issued.

Of course, the most remarkable car in the 30th body is M3 of office Motorsport for participation in the races FIA GT. This model underwent a set of modifications and had 3 evolutionary versions to conform to the changing requirements of FIA. At the same time M3 was also on broad sale. The model was fantastically successful, constantly held the top places of tables. Paying tribute to fine qualities of E30, it is worth noticing nevertheless that for M3 Motorsport it was forced to make a special suspension bracket, on a design similar to the fifth series (E28 body).

In the middle of 1987 the body underwent easy cosmetic changes. The front grille was slightly lowered, chromeplated a bumper were replaced more fashionable black (and subsequently and painted in color of the car), the size of back lamps increased. Practically all cars after 1987 have the power steering (an exception – 318 with the carburetor) and much softer pedal of an accelerator.

The specific mention is deserved by the model 325iS which was issued in 1989-90. On it the new "pyateroshny" six-cylinder M50 engine with a volume of 2.5 liters, 24 the 192 h.p. klapanamiya is installed. The car was completed with special plastic spoilers, bumpers and thresholds, a suspension bracket from M3 and sports salon.

In only 9 years of production more than 2.2 million E30 were produced.

First the younger E30 models used the old four-cylinder M10 engine put for 2002 and E21. Then M10 was laid off and replaced in 1987 with M40 with a new injector and bigger power. But emergence in 1989 to modification of M40 with the M42 code became a real miracle. This engine with two cam-shafts and 24 valves could compete on power to big M30 engines, squeezing out 140 h.p. from the same 1800 cubes and having dynamism of M42 unprecedented before held on in production even till 1996.

The majority of the senior E30 models (320i, 323i, 325i) used the remarkable six-cylinder M20 engine, sharing it with "five" of the same years. Including also the economic model 325e with low-reverse 2.7-liter M20/B27eta was issued (only in the USA). However on late 325iS new M50 with 24 valves appeared. The rare South African model 333i used the M30 "big six" engine from 5/6/7 series. Also cars with the diesel M21 engine (6 cylinders, 2.4 liters) with a turbo-supercharging were issued and without.

Disk back brakes were put only on 318iS, all 325 models and on M3. ABS standardly was established only on 325e, 325iS and on M3. Optionally was present at late releases of models 320i, 325i and 333i. Some senior models (325, M3) are equipped with the traction control system (differential with limited slipping) with coefficient of 25%. For check: number of such differential comes to an end with the letter 'Z'.

Model	Years sales	Engine	System food
315	83	M10	Solex carburetor
316	83–85	M10	Solex carburetor
316	87–91	M43	Pierburg carburetor
316i	89–91	M43	L-Jetronic
318i	84–86	M10	K-Jetronic
318i	87–91	M40	M1.3
318iS	89–91	M42	M1.7
320i	83–91	M20	L-Jetronic/M1.1
323i	83–86	M20	L-Jetronic
324d	85–86	M21	Diesel
324td	83–91	M21	Turbo Diesel
325e	84–87	M20eta	M1.0-Basic
325i (X)	87–91	M20	M1.1/M1.3
325iS	89–91	M50	M1.3
333i	?	M30B32	M1.0-Basic
M3	85–93	S14	M1.0///M

Model	Weight (kg)	Power relation to the weight (hp/t)	Time of dispersal 0 – 100	Max. speed (km/h)
315	1100	68	?	?
316	1100	82	12,4	175
316	1100	?	?	?
316i	1100	93	?	?
318i	1100	95	11,2	184
318i	1100	105	10,0	192
318iS	1120	125	9,0	198
320i	1150	109 – 112	10,4	196
323i	1180	121	9,0	204
324d	1150	75	?	?
324td	1150	100	?	?
325e	1240	101	?	?
325i (X)	1200	142	7,9	205
325iS	1200	160	6,7	208
333i	1265	158	?	?
M3	1260	159 – 189	5,5	223