3 Series (E30)

Claus Luthe's E30 arrived in 1982 and immediately established BMW's reputation in the compact luxury segment. The 325i, with its 171-hp M20 inline-six and near-perfect 50:50 weight distribution, became the benchmark against which every sport sedan was judged. The M3 variant — powered by the S14 four-cylinder derived from BMW's M1 engine program — dominated touring car racing worldwide. Over 2.3 million E30s were produced across sedan, coupe, convertible, and touring body styles, making it one of the most successful BMWs ever built. Its combination of mechanical simplicity, driver feedback, and everyday usability remains the template for the segment.