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Production chronology1982–1994
Sourced production or model lifecycle range used by the main catalog timeline.
Wikipedia lead ↗13 years
← BMW
BMW / Model record
BMWE30
Production1982–1994
Recorded originGermany
ClassBmw 3 series
Built2,433,000 units
Background
The BMW E30 is the second generation of BMW 3 Series, which was produced from 1982 to 1994 and replaced the E21 3 Series. The model range included 2-door saloon and convertible body styles, as well as being the first 3 Series to be produced in 4-door saloon and wagon/estate body styles. It was powered by four-cylinder petrol, six-cylinder petrol and six-cylinder diesel engines, the latter a first for the 3 Series. The E30 325iX model was the first BMW to have all-wheel drive.
Text adapted from “BMW 3 Series (E30)” on Wikipedia ↗ · CC BY-SA 4.0 ↗ · retrieved 2026-07
Chronology ledger
Dates with their meaning intact
Netherlands RDW first-admission observations1989
First-admission years observed in Dutch vehicle registrations; this is market evidence, not a worldwide production range.
Netherlands RDW ↗1 year
Research notes
Second-generation 3 Series, built in Munich/Regensburg plus Rosslyn, South Africa. Offered as saloon, convertible, and 'Touring' wagon. Includes rare South African 333i (M30 six-cylinder, ~210 built) and AWD 325iX derivatives.