Car Model History

Third generation · E36 · 1992–1998

1994BMW 3 Series

A larger, more modern 3 Series with multilink rear suspension. The first offered as sedan, coupe, convertible, Touring wagon, and the hatchback Compact; the E36 M3 brought six-cylinder M power.

Third generation · E36

1994 BMW 3 Series (E36, third generation) — 318is coupe, front three-quarter view

Photo: “1994 BMW 318is (E36) coupe” by Jeremy from Sydney, Australia / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 2.0. Cropped to 16:9.

Quick facts

Engines
2offered1.8L M42 DOHC inline-four → 2.5L M50TU DOHC inline-six
Top output
189hp2.5L M50TU DOHC inline-six

Body stylesFour-door E36 sedan · Two-door E36 coupe · Two-door E36 convertible

Start here

What do you need to know?

This page covers the whole 1994 BMW 3 Series model year. Choose your task first; exact trims and engines are separated where the factory offered different versions.

Complete, source-verified lineup

Find your exact 1994 3 Series

Start with a family, body style, or engine. Every card opens the facts and maintenance information for that factory version.

5factory configurations
Verified complete for the U.S.-marketHow this lineup was verified

We checked this U.S.-market lineup against period sources for BMW's complete 1994 U.S. factory E36 sedan, coupe, and convertible service roster. Every version shown below has its own detail page.

Verified 2026-09-01 from BMW — 1994 U.S. factory service-manual model, chassis, and engine roster (Operation CHARM mirror).

5versions shown
Four-door rear-wheel-drive E36 sedan

BMW 318i Sedan

Body
Four-door rear-wheel-drive E36 sedan
Engine
1.8-liter M42 DOHC inline-four (134 hp)
Gearbox
5-speed manual or optional 4-speed automatic
Built
Regular production
Open exact version
Two-door rear-wheel-drive E36 coupe

BMW 318is Coupe

Body
Two-door rear-wheel-drive E36 coupe
Engine
1.8-liter M42 DOHC inline-four (134 hp)
Gearbox
5-speed manual or optional 4-speed automatic
Built
Regular production
Open exact version
Four-door rear-wheel-drive E36 sedan

BMW 325i Sedan

Body
Four-door rear-wheel-drive E36 sedan
Engine
2.5-liter M50TU DOHC inline-six (189 hp)
Gearbox
5-speed manual or optional 4-speed automatic
Built
Regular production
Open exact version
Two-door rear-wheel-drive E36 coupe

BMW 325is Coupe

Body
Two-door rear-wheel-drive E36 coupe
Engine
2.5-liter M50TU DOHC inline-six (189 hp)
Gearbox
5-speed manual or optional 4-speed automatic
Built
Regular production
Open exact version
Two-door rear-wheel-drive E36 convertible

BMW 325i Convertible

Body
Two-door rear-wheel-drive E36 convertible
Engine
2.5-liter M50TU DOHC inline-six (189 hp)
Gearbox
5-speed manual or optional 4-speed automatic
Built
Regular production
Open exact version

The 1994 model year

Overview

BMW's 1994 U.S. 3 Series completed the E36 body transition with five exact models. The 134-hp M42 powered the 318i sedan and 318is coupe. The 189-hp M50TU powered the 325i sedan, 325is coupe, and newly E36-based 325i Convertible. The prior E30 convertible carryover was gone, and BMW had not yet added the U.S. 318ti or E36 M3.

Specifications

Engines
  • 1.8L M42 DOHC inline-four134 hp
  • 2.5L M50TU DOHC inline-six189 hp
Body styles
Four-door E36 sedan, Two-door E36 coupe, Two-door E36 convertible

Year over year

What changed

  • The 325i Convertible moved to the E36 chassis and M50TU engine family.
  • The U.S. range was now all E36: 318i/325i sedans, 318is/325is coupes, and the 325i Convertible.
  • The 318ti Compact and U.S.-market E36 M3 remained outside the 1994 roster.

Worth knowing

Notable

  • First U.S. model year represented here with the 325i Convertible on the E36 chassis.
  • The five-model roster avoids backdating the later 318ti or M3.

Living with it

Reliability & ownership notes

  • Confirm M42 four-cylinder versus M50TU six-cylinder before ordering engine, cooling, ignition, exhaust, or transmission parts.
  • Identify sedan, coupe, or convertible before ordering body, glass, interior, weather-seal, roof, or chassis-specific parts.

Maintenance & service parts

Keep your 1994 3 Series on the road

Start with the service interval, then match the engine or exact version you own. Order links appear only when a catalog-backed part number is available, and every listing still needs a fitment check.

Service desk

What this car needs & when

Use this as a service-planning checklist for 1994 BMW 3 Series. Start with the interval, confirm which engine or configuration you have, then use an exact ordering reference when one is verified.

Service topics
8
Factory intervals
8
Fitment-scoped
8
Exact references
1

Before orderingIdentify your engine, options and build date.Part numbers and sizes can change within one model year. Shopping links appear only for catalog-backed references; still verify the listing against your vehicle before ordering.

  • Engine oil and filter

    Sourced interval available

    Applies to: 1994 · M50TU 2.5L inline-six · 325i (E36) · United States · Exact 1994 325i sedan record; 318i, body-style variants, M3, and other E36 configurations are not claimed.

    Published interval: 7,500 mi / 12,000 km / 6 months · Maximum guideline; service sooner when the on-board indicator calls for it.

    Source: BMW — 1994 325i (E36) service-indicator schedule, preserved by Operation CHARM · Service Intervals/Equivalent Mileage — Oil Service maximum; Indicated Engine Oil Service · checked

  • Inspection I

    Sourced interval available

    Applies to: 1994 · M50TU 2.5L inline-six · 325i (E36) · United States · Exact 1994 325i sedan record; 318i, body-style variants, M3, and other E36 configurations are not claimed.

    Published interval: 15,000 mi / 24,000 km / 12 months · Maximum guideline; alternate with Oil Service and Inspection II as indicated.

    Source: BMW — 1994 325i (E36) service-indicator schedule, preserved by Operation CHARM · Service Intervals/Equivalent Mileage — Inspection I maximum · checked

    Inspection II

    Applies to: 1994 · M50TU 2.5L inline-six · 325i (E36) · United States · Exact 1994 325i sedan record; 318i, body-style variants, M3, and other E36 configurations are not claimed.

    Published interval: 30,000 mi / 48,000 km / 24 months · Maximum guideline; includes Inspection I plus the additional published tasks.

    Source: BMW — 1994 325i (E36) service-indicator schedule, preserved by Operation CHARM · Service Intervals/Equivalent Mileage — Inspection II maximum · checked

  • Brake fluid

    Sourced interval available

    Applies to: 1994 · M50TU 2.5L inline-six · 325i (E36) · United States · Exact 1994 325i sedan record; 318i, body-style variants, M3, and other E36 configurations are not claimed.

    Published interval: 24 months · Replacement interval from vehicle production.

    Source: BMW — 1994 325i (E36) service-indicator schedule, preserved by Operation CHARM · Indicated Inspection Service I — brake-fluid replacement note · checked

  • Automatic-transmission fluid, strainer, and gasket

    Sourced interval available

    Applies to: 1994 · M50TU 2.5L inline-six · automatic · 325i (E36) · United States · Exact 1994 325i sedan record; 318i, body-style variants, M3, and other E36 configurations are not claimed.

    Published interval: 15,000 mi / 24,000 km / 12 months · At Inspection I; maximum guideline and indicator may call sooner.

    Source: BMW — 1994 325i (E36) service-indicator schedule, preserved by Operation CHARM · Indicated Inspection Service I — automatic-transmission fluid/strainer/gasket · checked

    Manual-transmission fluid

    Applies to: 1994 · M50TU 2.5L inline-six · manual · 325i (E36) · United States · Exact 1994 325i sedan record; 318i, body-style variants, M3, and other E36 configurations are not claimed.

    Published interval: 30,000 mi / 48,000 km / 24 months · At Inspection II; maximum guideline and indicator may call sooner.

    Source: BMW — 1994 325i (E36) service-indicator schedule, preserved by Operation CHARM · Indicated Inspection Service II — manual-transmission fluid · checked

  • Main fuel filter

    Sourced interval available

    Applies to: 1994 · M50TU 2.5L inline-six · 325i (E36) · United States · Exact 1994 325i sedan record; 318i, body-style variants, M3, and other E36 configurations are not claimed.

    Published interval: 30,000 mi / 48,000 km / 24 months · At Inspection II; maximum guideline and indicator may call sooner.

    Source: BMW — 1994 325i (E36) service-indicator schedule, preserved by Operation CHARM · Indicated Inspection Service II — main fuel-filter replacement · checked

  • Engine air filter

    Exact reference available

    Applies to: 1994 · M50TU 2.5L inline-six · 325i (E36) · United States · Exact 1994 325i sedan record; 318i, body-style variants, M3, and other E36 configurations are not claimed.

    Published interval: 30,000 mi / 48,000 km / 24 months · At Inspection II; maximum guideline and indicator may call sooner.

    Source: BMW — 1994 325i (E36) service-indicator schedule, preserved by Operation CHARM · Indicated Inspection Service II — air-filter replacement · checked

    1.8-liter M42 DOHC inline-four (134 hp) — K&N 33-2059

    K&N 33-2059

    Manufacturer-catalog replacement-part fitment only; it does not establish a BMW service interval. Confirm the VIN, production date, engine, and installed filter dimensions before ordering.

    Applies to: 1994 · 1.8-liter M42 DOHC inline-four (134 hp) · 318i · United States · Exact model-year and engine-family catalog scope; verify VIN and production date before ordering.

    Source: K&N — BMW 318i/318ti replacement air-filter catalog · 1994 BMW 318i/318is/318ti 1.8L/1.9L gasoline — 33-2059 · checked

    Verified ordering references

    1.8-liter M42 DOHC inline-four (134 hp) — K&N 33-2059

    K&N 33-2059

    Manufacturer-catalog replacement-part fitment only; it does not establish a BMW service interval. Confirm the VIN, production date, engine, and installed filter dimensions before ordering.

    Applies to: 1994 · 1.8-liter M42 DOHC inline-four (134 hp) · 318is · United States · Exact model-year and engine-family catalog scope; verify VIN and production date before ordering.

    Source: K&N — BMW 318i/318ti replacement air-filter catalog · 1994 BMW 318i/318is/318ti 1.8L/1.9L gasoline — 33-2059 · checked

    Verified ordering references

    2.5-liter M50TU DOHC inline-six (189 hp) — K&N 33-2070

    K&N 33-2070

    Manufacturer-catalog replacement-part fitment only; it does not establish a BMW service interval. Confirm the VIN, production date, engine, and installed filter dimensions before ordering.

    Applies to: 1994 · 2.5-liter M50TU DOHC inline-six (189 hp) · 325i · United States · Exact model-year and engine-family catalog scope; verify VIN and production date before ordering.

    Source: K&N — BMW E36 six-cylinder/M3 replacement air-filter listing · 1994 BMW E36 six-cylinder gasoline application — 33-2070 · checked

    Verified ordering references

    2.5-liter M50TU DOHC inline-six (189 hp) — K&N 33-2070

    K&N 33-2070

    Manufacturer-catalog replacement-part fitment only; it does not establish a BMW service interval. Confirm the VIN, production date, engine, and installed filter dimensions before ordering.

    Applies to: 1994 · 2.5-liter M50TU DOHC inline-six (189 hp) · 325is · United States · Exact model-year and engine-family catalog scope; verify VIN and production date before ordering.

    Source: K&N — BMW E36 six-cylinder/M3 replacement air-filter listing · 1994 BMW E36 six-cylinder gasoline application — 33-2070 · checked

    Verified ordering references

    2.5-liter M50TU DOHC inline-six (189 hp) — K&N 33-2070

    K&N 33-2070

    Manufacturer-catalog replacement-part fitment only; it does not establish a BMW service interval. Confirm the VIN, production date, engine, and installed filter dimensions before ordering.

    Applies to: 1994 · 2.5-liter M50TU DOHC inline-six (189 hp) · 325i Convertible · United States · Exact model-year and engine-family catalog scope; verify VIN and production date before ordering.

    Source: K&N — BMW E36 six-cylinder/M3 replacement air-filter listing · 1994 BMW E36 six-cylinder gasoline application — 33-2070 · checked

    Verified ordering references

  • Spark plugs

    Sourced interval available

    Applies to: 1994 · M50TU 2.5L inline-six · 325i (E36) · United States · Exact 1994 325i sedan record; 318i, body-style variants, M3, and other E36 configurations are not claimed.

    Published interval: 30,000 mi / 48,000 km / 24 months · At Inspection II; maximum guideline and indicator may call sooner.

    Source: BMW — 1994 325i (E36) service-indicator schedule, preserved by Operation CHARM · Indicated Inspection Service II — spark-plug replacement · checked

  • Engine coolant

    Sourced interval available

    Applies to: 1994 · M50TU 2.5L inline-six · 325i (E36) · United States · Exact 1994 325i sedan record; 318i, body-style variants, M3, and other E36 configurations are not claimed.

    Published interval: 24 months · BMW replacement recommendation in the Inspection II schedule.

    Source: BMW — 1994 325i (E36) service-indicator schedule, preserved by Operation CHARM · Indicated Inspection Service II — coolant replacement note · checked

Collect

Bring this model year home

Find a scale model using the exact year, make, and model—not a generic generation search.

Sources

  1. BMW — 1994 U.S. factory service-manual model, chassis, and engine roster (Operation CHARM mirror)

Other Third generation years

Explore the E36 generation →All Third generation · E36 years →

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