Character and place in the range
Stiffer than the coupé with room for the whole family.
Similar to coupé variants, slightly heavier (~20-30kg). The 324td reached 0-100 in ~11.9s with its turbodiesel.
Engine range
316 / 318i: M10/M40 4-cylinder. Entry-level models.
320i: M20B20 6-cylinder. Very popular in Europe.
323i / 325i: M20 6-cylinders. 150hp to 170hp.
325e: M20B27 6-cylinder 'eta'. 129hp. Very popular in the US and as a sedan.
324d / 324td: M21D24 6-cylinder diesel (86hp/115hp). Exceptionally robust for high milers.
Inspection and maintenance
Check bottoms of all 4 doors for rust carefully. Otherwise, general E30 weak points like timing belts and subframe bushings apply.
Condition varies more than specification. Inspect structure first, verify the engine’s time-sensitive service and road-test the complete car before valuing trim or options.
Details worth knowing
In the US and Europe, the sedan sold exceptionally well; surprisingly, the 4-door 325e 'eta' outsold the 325i sedan.
The 324td was a popular and reliable long-distance cruiser in the E30 world.
The 320i was the most popular entry-level six-cylinder in Europe with its silky M20 engine.