1988 BMW 3 Series Reviews, Pricing & Specs

Lovely car and even though auto, using lock-downs the 1.8l M10 4-pot would embarrass most other things off of the line. However, with an inline engine, the float bowl on the carb wold go dry on tight left handers and cause sputtering or even stalls. Recommend the 1.6l injected 316i or (better still) the 6-pot 318i or 320. The 325's motor overpowers the chassis and adds weight it can do without, so save your cash and get a mint 318i instead. And unless you really are a grade A dink, don't reckon you can do better than BMW's engineers in the hnadling and gas flow department cos you can't - leave it alone and spend the cash on things that make a real difference like sorting any emerging rust and replacing the (most likely given the age) clapped out shocks and tired springs with new bilsteins. Do not lower as it sods the handling, whatever the baseball-cap-wearing muppet brigade might believe. Ditto exhausts: replace with new stainless but keep the correct backpressure. Loud cans = bad fuelling = huge loss of hp = embarrising twunterry at the lights when old giffers in Mondeos say tara... Sad. Also, if you're 6'+ it's a bit titchy inside. Compared to later 3-series' it is very cramped aalthough with the drivers seat right back it's acceptable. But then forget about having anyone with legs in the back as not many people have legs <3" diameter! The 2-door is better (a smidge) than the 4 for this as at least the drivers seat goes back further... Still, if you have no mates, or don't care if they stick their legs through the gap between the front seats (I'm not kidding here btw!), it is a great car and if not nawsed up by the body-kit-and-bean-tin brigade, looks excellent.

I love this car. Has ALOT done to it. Very fun to drive and take on a track.

The 1.8 8v non-injection so its not the quickest, but not bad for what it is. Drives brilliantly in the dry and corners flat and level, but very unpredictable in the wet/cold. Very nice looking car, classic E30 looks untampered with. Very good condition inside and out. Carb model so not great on fuel, especially on heavy footed drives

Really great car,but it has small engine with 90hp,not very fast,but in its class its the faster one... I would like to put bigger engine in it... And this is very fun car to drive...... LOVE IT!

I have to say, this was fun toy. BMW has really pulled through when they designed rev-limiter to this car. 6 cylinders makes gordeous sound when you pull 7000rpm and rev it all it got. In slipery weather this thing is _really_ fun but also dangerous in hands of people who hasn't driven rw-drive cars much. Back-end of the car throws so fast when cornering that you cannot really do anything if you are not prepared.

The sound of the engine gives me goosebumps still... Wheelspinning into second gear with a wiggle from that wayward rear end... Built like a tank and reliable to the end. Over engineered so will still see them for another fifteen years.

Considering the age, has good acceleration. Perfect balance and a blast to drive with some good tires. At over 200k miles it has needed some work such as steering rack (upgraded to Z3 rack), clutch and flywheel (replaced with single-mass and M3 clutch), practically every bushing in the car, etc.. Only mechanical problem that hasn't been easy to fix is a driveshaft vibration under low speed acceleration but I believe it is the original driveshaft still. Interior is holding up except the front seats and dashboard. Overall awesome car, just try to get one that was never seriously damaged. You'll probably never again see a BMW under 3000lbs so this is a great BMW to own.

Pretty fun car. Wish I had the 2 door model though, or m3 of course. Hugs the road like crazy though, and I love how cars from this age drove, not too touchy like they are today. Gets pretty good gas mileage too, if you drive it right.

performance wise, its no m3, but it could run very well. the quality is outstanding. some minor repairs, but nothing major. i love how it looks. i still get some compliments and a few offers. just have to know a little about maintaining the car. and have to know where to get the parts cheap.

it's a great car that was passed on to me due to the passing of my grandmother. it's in great shape and it's one of my prized possesions.

10 careful owners 136000miles (just run in really) and still pulls like a train. German engineering what more can you ask for....Oh and hopeful it will drag us around Europe. another 4000miles. make sure its the 2.5 straight six though.

The E30 3-Series BMW, great cars, not pricey today, and have plenty under the hood. It is the end of the more boxy looking BMW designs which to me look much better than the E36 style that follows it, and it remarkably light for what you are getting. You want a fun car? A car that will stick to the road but has a tail end that is always down to play? This is the car you need then.

It does its job, day in, day out. Can't kill the BMW Eta 6 cyl engine.

Had it for about a year but it was an experience. It tried to bite me several times and i never really had the confidence to push it too far cause the handling at times was so unpridictable. I felt that the driving position wa a bit cramped cause the steering wheel was to o low, but that aside it was a lovely motor.

Best RWD car .. Awesome for drifting , awesome look. Mine is now going to be with M3 look. If engine is 1.8 or bigger - awesome. But it eats a lot of fuel. It is the best car i've ever had. I just love it!

hate my diving boards.... need a new top and paint. needs rubber... great gas mileage. strongest gearbox out there reliable as a top. best old car ive ever driven. its 20 years old and still runs great with over 280 thousand miles on the chassis. i love her.

great handling still gives many of todays cars a run for their money

flush bootlid, a c schnitzer front splitter, rear roof spoiler, rear splitter and s/s exhaust. lexus lights, full leather, 17" A1 alloys, adj. front suspension, M3 rear susp. Blue tints which the old bill hate. (pricks) M3 mirrors, momo steering wheel, bee sting ariel. awesome performance. 180bhp at the rear wheels.

Love the car. Very fun to drive ! E30 are fun easy cars collector cars

Amazing for a 20 year old car, The build quality of BMW's is unbelievable. Paint is a little rough, but that's no big deal. I get around 30 mpg highway, 22 city with a 5 speed manual. Very fun car to dive, couldn't ask much more out of this little beauty.

I've had a ton of fun with this ride. 186k miles now and the car drives like a champ.

Lovely car, massive boot, great to drive.

For a car that has over 100K miles this is one of the most well built cars I owend. With the top down its a lot of fun and still holds its great handling and the over all cost of owner ship is verry cheap.

it's acheap german super sport car with a amzing performance indeed and has a very strong good quality build it's move like arocks in the road and about appearance i'll say wow it's the most beautiful car have bmw built...

Personally I love this body style and they say it is one of BMW's Best handeling chasies, and they are just fun as hell to drive.

well what can i say my touring was used as a load lugger and a drift car great fun til it got vanilised and wrecked still using as a banger racer hit a wall and a badger and still going strong

bought this of ashley lightbown(for those who knew him) for bargain £300,chucked some alloys on it, and resprayed the bumpers. managed to sell it on ebay for over a grand to some mug!!!LOL--- but to be honest never had any trouble with it--and i had alot of fun driving it

I only had this car for 5 months before it was totaled by my moron cousin. This happened in 2001 and he still ows me money for the damages!!! Otherwise a good car. Never liked the Touring that much, but it was practical.