BMW’s 325iC nameplate belongs to the E30-era 3 Series convertible, the car that brought BMW’s first factory-built open 3 Series to market. In BMW’s own history, the model was introduced as the 325i Convertible and launched the brand’s full convertible line after years of coachbuilt Baur Topcabriolets. In the U.S., the car was marketed with the 325iC badge, identifying it as the six-cylinder convertible derivative of the second-generation 3 Series.
The 325iC arrived at a time when BMW was expanding the E30 family beyond the familiar sedan and coupe. Its appeal was simple but enduring: the compact, driver-focused character of the 3 Series combined with open-top touring and the smooth inline-six powerplant that made the 325i the top mainstream E30 variant. That formula helped establish BMW convertibles as a permanent part of the brand’s lineup rather than a temporary niche experiment.
The E30 convertible also became a landmark car for BMW because it was the first factory-developed open 3 Series since the mid-1950s BMW 503 Convertible. The design preserved the classic three-box proportions of the E30 while adding the reinforced body structure needed for a true four-seat convertible. Enthusiasts continue to value the 325iC for its clean styling, mechanical simplicity, and its role in defining the modern BMW convertible identity.
Production of the E30 325i Convertible ran from the mid-1980s into the early 1990s, with the U.S.-market 325iC fitting into that single continuous era before the next-generation 3 Series convertible arrived later.