The BMW 325ix was the all-wheel-drive member of the E30 3 Series and is widely remembered as BMW’s first production passenger car with permanent four-wheel drive. BMW introduced the model in 1985, positioning it as a traction-focused variant of the 3 Series rather than a separate line, and it became an important milestone in the brand’s drivetrain history. The 325ix was built around the same compact rear-wheel-drive 3 Series formula as its siblings, but with a system designed to give BMW greater all-weather capability without abandoning the car’s sporting character.
The nameplate first appeared in the mid-1980s and was sold through the end of the E30 generation. In Europe, it was offered as a sedan first, and BMW later added a Touring version in 1988. In North America, the 325ix became especially notable because it gave U.S. buyers an early BMW all-wheel-drive option at a time when the feature was still rare in sporty sedans.
The 325ix remained a niche but significant model within the E30 family, appealing to enthusiasts who wanted the traditional 3 Series driving feel with added winter and low-traction confidence. It is remembered today as one of the most distinctive and historically important E30 variants, both for its relative rarity and for the role it played in establishing BMW’s later all-wheel-drive reputation.