Classic pearls of the future - BMW 320i/325i Convertible E30
It was actually already a classic when I bought it in 1988. The BMW E30 as a convertible, albeit in the smaller version with a displacement of two liters, but still. In any case, it had the silky-smooth six-cylinder in-line engine on board, and I did without the leather seats. Instead, there was a night design and metallic paint. The sleek, elegant lines were standard, as were the four full-size seats.
BMW had done pioneering work, because hardly any other car manufacturer dared to present a full convertible in the second half of the 1980s. The Mazda MX-5 had not even been born yet, but the E30 convertible was already on show at the IAA in 1985 as the 325i.
Something very special at the time was the over-dead-center kinematics. What sounded complicated was simple for the driver. The roof could be raised from the driver's seat by pressing down the rear part of the soft top when it was pulled down at the front. When not in use, the robust roof disappeared under a flap, so there was no need for a tarpaulin, as with the Mercedes SL.
And the open BMW even had a respectable trunk, despite its overall compact dimensions. However, it was 125 kg heavier than the standard saloon due to the necessary reinforcements.
In 1991 there was a facelift, which did not necessarily make the convertible more beautiful, but brought it into line with the trends of the time.
Today there is (still) a wide range of open E30 BMWs with 1.8, 2 and 2.5 liter engines. So it is not (yet) a rarity. But it is probably a classic gem, as its design still looks fresh and timeless even more than 25 years after its presentation. And this cannot be said of some of its contemporaries from back then ...
