Powertrain families
S14 inline-four
M3 (E30) — Cabriolet
1986–1991
Editorially reviewedReviewed 2026-08-10; market and model-year scope is stated in the record sources.
- Internal code
- E30 Cabriolet
- Production
- 1986–1991
- Body style
- 2-door convertible
- Platform
- BMW M · longitudinal layout · rear-wheel drive
Body variants
M3 → E30 → Cabriolet
M3 E30: history, design and engineering
How this generation came about, what made it different and how the selected cabriolet fits into the family.
E30 M3 was created as a Group A homologation car rather than a trim level of the ordinary 3 Series. Its widened two-door body, altered glass and rear aerodynamics, five-lug chassis and high-revving S14 four-cylinder were engineered around touring-car competition requirements.
Road development ran through 2.3-litre base and Evolution derivatives to the 2.5-litre Sport Evolution; the Convertible was a rare, separately produced branch. Power and emissions equipment differed by market, and competition cars should be documented outside the production modification table.
The model's racing success explains many changes, but a victory list is not a specification source. Each Evolution name needs a build period, engine code, market and production count, while Cecotto and Ravaglia editions should be treated as edition packages only where their mechanical specification matches the underlying model.
1986–1991generation lifecycle
2body branches
1engine/drive families
4range designations
E30factory code
BMW M · longitudinal layout · rear-wheel drivearchitecture
Cabriolet: dimensions and packaging
Dimensions can change with body, market and model year, so this page keeps them tied to the exact factory branch.
Length4,360 mm
Width1,675 mm
Height≈ 1,370 mm
Wheelbase2,562 mm
Luggage≈ 300 L
Fuel tank70 L
Seats4
Doors2-door convertible
| Body | Code | Production | Doors / seats | Length | Luggage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Two-door Sedan | E30 | 1986–1991 | 2-door sedan / 5 | 4,360 mm | 404 L |
| Cabriolet | E30 Cabriolet | 1986–1991 | 2-door convertible / 4 | 4,360 mm | ≈ 300 L |
Engines and powertrains
The generation could span very different engines and drivetrains. The table keeps output, gearbox, market and production period together.
Factory modification matrix
Documented cabriolet applications; output and availability remain market- and model-year-specific.
| Model | Years | Engine | Output | Transmission | Drive | Market | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M3 | 1986–1991 | S14B23 inline-four | 195–200 PS | 5MT | RWD | Global range | The BMW M3 E30 |
Factory designations
M3 · M3 Evolution · M3 Sport Evolution · M3 Cabriolet
High-performance powertrain
Engine, cooling, exhaust, software and transmission form a distinct M or ALPINA specification rather than an option package on the base model.
Diesel derivatives
Where diesels were offered, output, injection generation and emissions hardware are recorded market by market.
How power reaches the road
Gearboxes, driven wheels and final-drive hardware changed with engine, market and production date.
Transmissions
Gearbox type and unit code follow engine, market and production date. Gear count alone does not identify the transmission.
Driven wheels
Catalog architecture: BMW M · longitudinal layout · rear-wheel drive. All-wheel-drive availability and hardware remain derivative-specific.
Final drive
Ratio, differential type and electronic control belong to the exact derivative and can differ on performance models.
What changed underneath
Suspension, brakes, safety systems and electronics evolved across the range, even when cars shared the same basic architecture.
Body-branch dimensions
- E30: 4,360 mm × 1,675 mm × 1,365 mm
- E30 Cabriolet: 4,360 mm × 1,675 mm × ≈ 1,370 mm
Body & suspension
- Mounting points and geometry follow the body branch
- Springs and dampers follow axle load and chassis package
- Wheels and permitted loads follow the factory label
Brakes & steering
- Brake size follows engine and equipment
- Assistance type and steering ratio can change
- ABS/DSC generation follows model year
Passive safety
- Airbag count varies by market and year
- SRS parts are VIN-specific
- Structural repairs require factory procedures
Electronics
- Vehicle-bus generations changed during production
- Control-unit software levels must remain compatible
- Retrofits are recorded separately from factory equipment
How the generation evolved
The important launches, additions and updates did not always happen at the same time for every body or market.
IAA debut
BMW presented the homologation road car before series production.
Series production
Customer production began with the 2.3-litre S14 and motorsport-derived body.
Convertible and Evolutions
The rare open body and homologation development broadened the road programme.
Sport Evolution and end
The 2.5-litre apex closed the first M3 generation before production ended.
The versions that stood apart
Performance models, option packages and regional editions may look related, but their engineering and production identity can be very different.
Two-door Sedan
E30M3 E30 is a distinct E30 body branch. A two-door three-box body: visually close to a coupe, but catalogued within the model line’s sedan family. Engines/drive: S14 inline-four.
Cabriolet
E30 CabrioletM3 E30 Cabriolet is a distinct E30 body branch. An open body with a folding roof and generation-specific structural reinforcement, seating and luggage packaging. Engines/drive: S14 inline-four.
Inside the car
Cabin technology and standard equipment changed by country and year; a build sheet remains the best guide to one individual car.
Cabin & comfort
- Trim and seats follow option codes
- Climate systems vary by market
- Audio and navigation changed by model year
Lighting & assistance
- Lamp technology and modules follow production date
- Driver assistance cannot be inferred from buttons alone
- Regional rules affect lighting and warnings
What to check today
A practical starting point for inspecting and maintaining a car from this generation — not a diagnosis of an individual example.
Identify first
- Match VIN on body and documents
- Obtain the factory option list
- Confirm market and production date
Inspect the structure
- Check repairs and corrosion
- Assess suspension, brakes and tyres
- Compare fitted parts with factory specification
Mechanical history
- Read faults with compatible diagnostics
- Verify engine and transmission maintenance
- Separate invoices from unsupported verbal history
| Item | Interval / trigger | Catalog note |
|---|---|---|
| Engine oil & filter | CBS/factory schedule; time and mileage for historic cars | Oil approval follows the exact engine and market. |
| Brake fluid | Time-based factory schedule | ABS/DSC-compatible bleeding procedure is required after hydraulic work. |
| Coolant | Factory schedule and condition | Fluid specification and bleeding method are generation-specific. |
| Transmission & final drives | Unit type and operating conditions | Use the exact approved fluid; no one interval fits every derivative. |
How to identify the exact car
The badge and registration year tell only part of the story; production date, body code, engine and factory options complete it.
- Factory body codes
- E30 — Two-door Sedan; E30 Cabriolet — Cabriolet
- Range designations
- M3, M3 Evolution, M3 Sport Evolution, M3 Cabriolet
- Powertrain families
- S14 inline-four
- VIN
- Identifies model, plant and production branch and keys the parts catalog and factory equipment record.
- Production date
- More useful than first-registration year when choosing parts and locating technical revisions.
- Type code
- Refines engine, body, market and transmission combination.
- Option codes
- Confirm factory equipment; later retrofits are recorded separately.
- Unit number
- Supports engine or gearbox originality checks and component applicability.
Where the information comes from
The story is mapped through English Wikipedia and its bibliography, then important dates and technical claims are checked against BMW material.
- 01BMW M3Wikipedia contributors
Secondary E30 body, engine, edition and production overview.
- 02The BMW M3 generations at a glanceBMW M
BMW M retrospective covering the engineering character, body programme and key derivatives of all six M3 generations.
- 03The BMW M3 E30BMW M
BMW M history of the homologation concept, S14 and motorsport development.
Notes and limitations
- Research revision dated 2026-08-10: English Wikipedia was used as a subject and bibliography map; key claims were checked against the listed primary BMW Group material.
- Street, Group A, DTM and rally specifications must remain separate.
- Production figures must identify whether convertibles and special editions are included.
- Tree years describe the worldwide generation lifecycle; individual market dates may be narrower.
- Exact dimensions, power, weight and emissions belong at body, engine, market and model-year level.
- Known-issue guidance is editorial context and never replaces inspection of the individual vehicle.
3 primary references · market differences documentedPhotography: Charles from Port Chester, New York, CC0 · Wikimedia Commons. Rights checked 2026-08-06; wikimedia commons 1,800 px derivative downloaded; local 640 px and 1,280 px avif versions created without cropping.Updated 6 August 2026