BMW 318i Baur TC2 (E30) represents one of the most interesting side branches in the history of the second-generation 3 Series. The E30 was launched in 1982, but BMW initially offered no full factory-built convertible. For customers wanting an open 3 Series, the solution came from Stuttgart-based coachbuilder Karosserie Baur, which had already developed its distinctive TopCabriolet concept for the preceding E21 generation. The new E30-based version later became known as the TC2.
Successor to the TC1
Baur’s involvement with open BMWs went back much further than the E30. The E21-based TopCabriolet later became known as the TC1, and when the E30 arrived Baur adapted the same basic concept to the new generation.
Production of the E30 Baur TC2 began in February 1983. Rather than creating an entirely new vehicle, Baur started with BMW’s two-door E30 sedan and converted its body for open-top use. The production-car mechanical components and much of the original structure were retained, while the roof system was completely different from that of a conventional E30.
TopCabriolet – between a targa and a convertible
The defining feature of the TC2 was its two-part roof system. A removable rigid panel covered the front seats, while a folding fabric roof covered the rear section. Between them remained a substantial permanent rollover structure together with parts of the original side roof framework.
This arrangement allowed the car to be used in several configurations. It could remain completely closed, be driven with only the front roof panel removed, or have the rear fabric section folded as well. Fully open, the TC2 provided much of the experience of a convertible while retaining the unmistakable permanent rollover structure that defined Baur’s TopCabriolet concept.
Baur and the factory BMW Convertible side by side
BMW Group Classic specifically notes Baur’s role in offering an open E30 before BMW introduced its own full convertible. BMW presented the factory E30 Convertible in 1985, with series production beginning the following year.
The arrival of the factory Convertible did not bring TC2 production to an end. Baur continued offering the TopCabriolet alongside BMW’s own open model, and E30 conversions continued until 1991. The TC2 was therefore more than a temporary solution before the factory Convertible appeared; it developed into a distinctive E30 derivative with a substantial production life of its own.
318i – one of the most common TC2 versions
Baur offered the TopCabriolet conversion on several E30 engine versions. Both four- and six-cylinder models were available, including the 316, 318i, 320i, 323i and later 325i, while a number of rarer derivatives were also produced in very small quantities.
The 318i became one of the most popular bases for the TC2. European production records list 2,377 TopCabriolets based on the BMW 318i, making it one of the most numerous E30 Baur versions after the 320i.
The 1.8-litre four-cylinder engine
The 1986 car represented by the model in the collection belongs to the earlier version of the BMW 318i. It was powered by BMW’s fuel-injected M10 four-cylinder engine with a displacement of 1,766 cc. In non-catalyst form, it produced 77 kW or 105 hp at 5,800 rpm.
The M10 was one of BMW’s longest-lived engine designs, appearing in numerous forms over several decades. In the 318i it provided adequate performance while maintaining the relatively light and balanced character of the E30. BMW Group Classic lists a top speed of 185 km/h for this version.
Following the E30 model revision in 1987, the 318i adopted BMW’s newer M40 four-cylinder engine. The 1,796 cc unit produced 83 kW or 113 hp. The 318i Baur TC2 could therefore be fitted with two different generations of BMW four-cylinder engine depending on its production year.
Classic E30 driving character
The Baur conversion did not alter the basic mechanical architecture of the car. The engine remained mounted longitudinally at the front and drove the rear wheels. The TC2 therefore retained many of the characteristics for which the E30 generation is valued: compact dimensions, rear-wheel drive and a driver-focused character.
The 318i was not the most powerful TC2, but the combination of a relatively light four-cylinder engine, open roof and classic E30 mechanical layout gave the car a distinctive character. It was more an elegant and unusual open BMW than a model focused purely on performance.
More than ten thousand European cars
Different historical sources give slightly different totals for E30 Baur TC2 production. The most consistently documented figures list 10,865 cars built in Europe. A further 3,561 cars or Baur-based TC2 versions were produced in South Africa, giving a combined total of 14,426.
Of the 10,865 European cars, 2,377 were based on the BMW 318i. The 318i Baur was therefore not an exceptionally rare one-off derivative, but compared with mainstream E30 production it remained a relatively small and highly distinctive branch of the model family.
A unique place in E30 history
The Baur TC2 occupies an unusual position in the history of the E30. It continued the tradition of the E21 TC1, initially provided the only open version of the new 3 Series and remained available even after BMW introduced its own full Convertible.
This is also what separates the TC2 from the factory E30 Convertible. BMW’s own model offered a conventional fully open body, while Baur retained the permanent rollover structure and two-part roof that defined the TopCabriolet. They represented two different approaches to the same idea, and both became part of the remarkably diverse E30 range.
Model in the collection
The 1:43-scale BMW 318i Baur TC2 (E30) in my collection was produced by Neo Scale Models. The miniature represents a 1986 BMW 318i Baur and therefore depicts the earlier period of TC2 production, when the 318i was still powered by the 1.8-litre M10 engine.
The model captures the most characteristic features of the Baur TC2, including the permanent rollover structure, removable front roof panel and folding rear fabric roof.
Technical data
Baur TC2 production: 02/1983–04/1991
Year represented by the model: 1986
Base model: BMW 318i (E30)
Coachbuilder: Karosserie Baur, Stuttgart, Germany
Body style: two-door TopCabriolet
Engine: M10 naturally aspirated inline-four petrol engine
Displacement: 1,766 cc
Power output: 77 kW / 105 hp at 5,800 rpm in non-catalyst form
Drive: rear-wheel drive
Top speed: 185 km/h
European 318i TC2 production: 2,377 cars
European E30 Baur TC2 production: 10,865 cars
Combined E30 Baur TC2 production including South Africa: 14,426 cars
Special feature: Baur TopCabriolet with a removable front roof panel, folding rear fabric roof and permanent rollover structure
Photo of the real car. Photo: Sten-Patrick Kreek