The BMW E30 was a compact executive car produced from 1982 to 1991, after the E21 model. It was the second generation of the company’s line of 3-series and was at the forefront of what a sports coupe should be. While there were significant design improvements, there were also some faults to the series. Here is a look at one of the BMW 3-series, the E30 325 coupe.
The Basics
There are two versions to the 325 coupe: the 325e, released in 1985, and the 325i released in 1987. The 325e has a 127hp with a top speed of 116 mph, and the 325i has 173hp and top speed of 131 mph. Both versions were available as a two-door coupe or four-door saloon, and they had a six-cylinder engine, manual gearbox and 4×4 all-wheel drive.
The Pros
Tests performed outside the factory showed the 325i went from 0–60 in 7.7 seconds, and could travel 290 miles on a full tank of petrol in the city, and up to 360 miles on the motorway. This made it the perfect vehicle for long driving holidays. The 325i was also available as a convertible, and became an accessory as people cruised along the motorway. Its counterpart, the 325e, was named with the Greek letter ‘E’ added, which meant ‘eta’ or ‘efficiency’. The high-torque, low-power car helped deal with high petrol prices. The biggest upgrade for the 325 was a revised suspension to prevent over-steering.
The Cons




