Engines
To maintain and repair your engine, you need to know what lump you have under the bonnet of your E30. Below is each engine, listed by model and year, for the E30. By clicking on the engine, you will have access to information regarding Maintenance, Cooling systems, Fuel, Intake, Exhaust and Electrical systems, as well as Common Problems and Upgrades.
| Name | Volume | Engine | Valvetrain | Fuel | Output | Torque | Engine code | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 316 | 1766cc | 4cyl | SOHC 8V | Petrol | 99hp (66kW) @4500 rpm | 103ft/lb (140Nm) @4250 rpm | M10B18 | 1982–1990 |
| 316i | 1596cc | 4cyl | SOHC 8V | Petrol | 102hp (75kW) @4500 rpm | 105ft/lb (140Nm) @4250 rpm | M40B16 | 1988–1995 |
| 318 | 1766cc | 4cyl | SOHC 8V | Petrol | 104hp (77kW) @4500 rpm | 103ft/lb (140Nm) @4250 rpm | M10B18 | 1982–1990 |
| 318i | 1796cc | 4cyl | SOHC 8V | Petrol | 113hp (85kW) @4500 rpm | 122ft/lb (165Nm) @4250 rpm | M40B18 | 1987–1995 |
| 318iS | 1766cc | 4cyl | SOHC 8V | Petrol | 140hp (104kW) @4500 rpm | 127ft/lb (172Nm) @4250 rpm | M42B18 | 1989–1991 |
| 320i | 1990cc | 6cyl | SOHC 12V | Petrol | 123hp (92kW) @5800 rpm | 125ft/lb (170Nm) @4000 rpm | M20B20 | 1982–1985 |
| 320i | 1990cc | 6cyl | SOHC 12V | Petrol | 127hp (95kW) @6000 rpm | 120ft/lb (164Nm) @4300 rpm | M20B20 | 1985–1991 |
| 320iS | 1990cc | 4cyl | DOHC 16V | Petrol | 192hp (143kW) @6750 rpm | 155ft/lb (210Nm) @4750 rpm | S14 | 1982–1990 |
| 323i | 2316cc | 6cyl | SOHC 12V | Petrol | 139-150hp (104-110kW) @4500 rpm | 0ft/lb (0Nm) @4000 rpm | M20B23 | 1982–19850 |
| 325e | 2693cc | 6cyl | SOHC 12V | Petrol | 127hp (95kW) @4250 rpm | 169ft/lb (230Nm) @3200 rpm | M20B27 | 1982–1990 |
| 325i | 2494cc | 6cyl | SOHC 12V | Petrol | 169hp (125kW) @5800 rpm | 163ft/lb (222Nm) @4300 rpm | M20B25 | 1982–1990 |
| 325iX | 2494cc | 6cyl | SOHC 12V | Petrol | 169hp (125kW) @5800 rpm | 163ft/lb (222Nm) @4300 rpm | M20B25 | 1982–1990 |
| M3 | 2302cc | 4cyl | DOHC 16V | Petrol | 197hp (147kW) @6750 rpm | 176ft/lb (0Nm) @4750 rpm | S14 | 1986–1988 |
| M3 | 2302cc | 4cyl | DOHC 16V | Petrol | 212hp (158kW) @6750 rpm | 170ft/lb (0Nm) @4600 rpm | S14 | 1989–1991 |
| M3 Evolution | 2302cc | 4cyl | DOHC 16V | Petrol | 197hp (147kW) @6750 rpm | 176ft/lb (0Nm) @4750 rpm | S14 | 1987–1987 |
| M3 Evolution II | 2302cc | 4cyl | DOHC 16V | Petrol | 217hp (162kW) @6750 rpm | 181ft/lb (0Nm) @4750 rpm | S14 | 1988–1988 |
| M3 Sport Evolution | 2467cc | 4cyl | DOHC 16V | Petrol | 235hp (175kW) @6750 rpm | 177ft/lb (0Nm) @4750 rpm | S14 | 1990–1990 |
| 324d | 2443cc | 6cyl | SOHC 12V | Diesel | 84hp (63kW) @4600 rpm | 112ft/lb (152Nm) @2400 rpm | M21D24 | 1985–1993 |
| 324td | 2443cc | 6cyl | SOHC 12V | Diesel | 114hp (85kW) @4800 rpm | 162ft/lb (220Nm) @2400 rpm | M21D24 | 1985–1993 |
Maintenance
All engines need looking after, and while simple jobs like Oil Changes are standard to all E30s, some jobs are specific to either the 4-cylinder or 6-cylinder engines. Click on the engine model for your car to get specific information:
The following topics are standard maintenance tasks to keep all engines running smoothly
Upgrades
Engine Swaps
While every E30 is a sublime driving machine, the desire for more power leads many to look at their options. Since many E30 engines are unsympathetic to "tuning" without spending serious cash, the following engines are popular choices to replace your current donk:
