It is difficult to imagine a world without the iconic BMW 3 Series. Although this doesn’t quite represent the genesis of the model, without the success of the E30 3 Series from the 1980s, the nameplate wouldn’t be what it is today. The love that most car enthusiasts share for the E30 doesn’t just stem from how the car drives. Its design has become a hallmark of BMW aesthetics and a certain place in BMW history that is revered by almost everyone.
E30 design brief
When BMW was looking at developing and designing the E30 3 Series, there were two primary goals. The first is to ensure that customers can unambiguously recognize the new 3 Series as a BMW. Designers can achieve this by relying heavily on the previous generation – the E21 – for inspiration. The second half of the design brief was simply to create the 3er as its own separate model from the larger but similar BMW 5 Series.
The chief designer at the time – Klaus Loth – was well versed in bringing new and successful cars to the market. Ahead of the E30, Luthe has comprehensively updated the old 5 Series platform. The development of the E28 went well beyond budget, but practically ensured the success of BMW generations. Before BMW, Luthe had a hand in the Audi 50, the Audi 100, and the funky NSU Ro 80. Unlike these projects, Luthe was tasked with reusing as much E21 as possible, all while meeting the requirements of the brief. and Add new models to the mix.
Demand for the 3 Series increased, and BMW was bringing four-door models to the market with the E30. Later, a wagon and the popular E30 M3 joined the lineup. As author Steve Saxty points out: “It’s comfortable for drivers, but less so for the eyes of its designers.”
Examine the boxes
Luthe brought in Ercole Spade and Boyke Boyer (Ford) to help, and the results speak for themselves. The E30 used the four-headlight look across the lineup, rather than just reserving it for select models like the E21. The flat front fascia with slightly deeper grilles gave the car a more efficient, pedestrian appearance. The high front suspension required the front end of the car to be higher than Luthe would have liked – something he continued to regret long after the car entered production.
Overall, the E30 3 Series was far from revolutionary. It’s hard to even consider it evolutionary, because in many ways it’s a “watered-down” E21 3 Series. But check out its contemporaries: cars like the Alfa Romeo Milano and Ford Sierra look overpriced and ridiculous today. The E30 – because it doesn’t try to do anything very innovative – has aged like wine. Most of this story is inspired by a selection found in Steve Saxty’s book, BMW by design. If you like stories and information like this, it might be worth checking out the book!