The BMW E21 320i: A modern BMW classic
The BMW E21 320i is a compact sports car that was manufactured by the German BMW brand from 1975 to 1983. This vehicle is considered a modern classic of the brand, as it was the first model of the BMW 3 series. The BMW E21 320i is an elegant and sporty automobile that offers exceptional performance, a thrilling driving experience and a classic design that makes it an object of desire for collectors and car enthusiasts.
Design and Features of the BMW E21 320i
The BMW E21 320i is a two-door car with a rigid, torsionally rigid chassis. This model was designed to be safe and robust, with pre-defined impact absorption zones at the front and rear of the vehicle. In addition, the BMW E21 320i features an integral roll-over bar, a protruding bonnet with safety catch and a wheelbase of 2563 mm. The car has a length of 4355 mm, a width of 1600 mm and a height of 1380 mm (unladen). The turning circle diameter is 10.3 m.

The BMW E21 320i has a luggage compartment with a capacity of 460 litres. The fuel tank has a capacity of 52 litres, including a 7-litre reserve.
BMW E21 320i engine
The BMW E21 320i is equipped with a four-cylinder, four-stroke in-line engine. This engine is water-cooled, longitudinally mounted and has a light alloy cylinder head. The engine of the BMW E21 320i operates according to the cross-flow principle, has a new combustion chamber, overhead camshaft and parallel V-valves. The engine uses Bosch K-Jetronic electronic fuel injection for fuel supply and has a capacity of 1990 cc, a stroke of 80 mm and a bore of 89 mm.
The engine of the BMW E21 320i has an output of 92 kW (125 hp) at 5800 rpm and a maximum torque of 175 Nm at 4500 rpm. The car has a top speed of 180 km/h and accelerates from 0-100 km/h in 9.8 seconds. The BMW E21 320i has an average fuel consumption of 8.0 litres/100 km (35.3 mpg) according to DIN 70030.
Features | |
---|---|
Acceleration 0-100 km/h | 6.5 seconds |
Maximum speed | 240 km/h |
Fuel consumption in the city | 12.5 km/l |
On-road fuel consumption | 17.5 km/l |
CO2 emissions | 205 g/km |
Transmission of the BMW E21 320i
The BMW E21 320i has a five-speed manual transmission and an optional automatic transmission in 318 and 320i models. The manual transmission has a dry plate clutch with torsional damper and automatic adjustment. The automatic transmission has a fluid clutch with torque converter.

Interior of the BMW E21 320i
The BMW e21 320i also boasts a number of safety features that make it a reliable and safe car to drive. These include pre-determined crash absorption zones at the front and rear of the vehicle, an integral roll-over bar and a protruding bonnet with safety lock. In addition, the BMW e21 320i is extremely torsionally rigid, which means that the vehicle is able to withstand high forces without deformation. All this translates into greater protection for the vehicle’s occupants in the event of an accident.
You may be interested in: All BMWs made with photos