100 C3 vs 3 Series E30: which is better?

Audi 100 C3 (1982–1991) vs BMW 3 Series E30 (1982–1994): specs, fuel economy, tax and common problems.

Specifications

	Audi 100 C3	BMW 3 Series E30
Production years	1982–1991	1982–1994
Body	sedan	sedan
Fuel	petrol	petrol
Engines	1.8	1.8 (318i)
Power, up to	90 hp	113 hp
Torque, up to	150 Nm	162 Nm
Gearbox	manual	manual
Drive	front-wheel drive	rear-wheel drive
Length	4 793 mm	4 325 mm
Width	1 814 mm	1 645 mm
Height	1 422 mm	1 380 mm
Wheelbase	2 687 mm	2 570 mm
Fuel tank	80 L	55 L
KZ tax 2026 (car under 10 years)	≈ 15 075 ₸	≈ 15 075 ₸

The better value is highlighted in green.

Pros, cons and common problems

Audi 100 C3

Pros

Large tank: 80 L
Sold in all major markets of the region — parts and mechanics available

Cons

Modest power: up to 90 hp
Age: the last cars were built in 1991, condition is everything

BMW 3 Series E30

Pros

Sold in all major markets of the region — parts and mechanics available

Cons

Age: the last cars were built in 1994, condition is everything

Which one to choose

100 C3 — if you care more about: wheelbase, fuel tank.
3 Series E30 — if you care more about: power, torque.

The condition of a specific car matters more than the model: check the service history and get the engine and gearbox inspected before buying.

FAQ

Which is more powerful: 100 C3 or 3 Series E30?

100 C3: up to 90 hp, 3 Series E30: up to 113 hp.

What is the vehicle tax in Kazakhstan?

For 2026, for a car under 10 years old: 100 C3 — about 15 075 ₸, 3 Series E30 — about 15 075 ₸ (base engine). A 0.7 factor applies to cars aged 10–20 years and 0.5 to cars over 20.

Other comparisons

100 vs 626Audi 100 C3 / Mazda 626 II (GC)100 vs 2107Audi 100 C3 / Lada 2107 100 vs 2106Audi 100 C3 / Lada 2106 100 vs 2105Audi 100 C3 / Lada 2105 3 Series vs E-ClassBMW 3 Series E30 / Mercedes-Benz E-Class W124 3 Series vs 190BMW 3 Series E30 / Mercedes-Benz 190 W201 3 Series vs 5 SeriesBMW 3 Series E30 / BMW 5 Series E28 3 Series vs 626BMW 3 Series E30 / Mazda 626 II (GC)