- Airbag/Steering Wheel: The 3 Spoke Steering Wheel was replaced with an airbag equipped steering wheel starting with production date 1/1/90 (partially through the 1990 model year)
- Facelift: This was the big change. E30 convertibles, produced before 10/90, had aluminum bumpers, a smaller front valence, 'hanging' foglights and smaller taillights. The facelift applied to cars made starting 10/90. It included plastic colored bumpers, a larger front valance with integrated fog lights and larger taillights. For 325i convertibles, the facelift also included an electric convertible top.
- Headlights : 1988 & 1989 had Ellipsoid headlights. Others had Sealed beam.
- Gas trunk lid shocks: ETK shows a change in 4/89. Before 4/89 there was a single gas shock to hold open the trunk lid. 4/89 and later had dual gas shocks to hold open the trunk lid.
- Cooling System: ETK shows a change in production date of 09/87. Pre 9/87 Cooling systems had the potential to allow the power steering pulley to cut through the lower radiator hose if the motor mounts/rubber stopper fail. Main differences: Radiator, hoses, oil cooler, expansion tank...
- Fuel tank changed in 09/87. Went from 55 Liters (14.5 gallons) to 63 Liters (16.6 gallons).
- Seat Belts: 10/91 changed to include a belt tensioner. (TIS document #72 03 91 (3352)). After sensing impact, seat belt tensioner spring retracts seat belt receptacle by ~55mm.
- Motronic: Early production had Motronic control unit "0 261 200 153", which had problems. It can be replaced with 173, 380, 524 or 525, provided the variant code (4 digit hex code on sticker) is the same (per Jim Conforti message on Internet Newsgroup)
- 3rd Brake Light: ETK shows a change in 06/88. The newer style has a lower profile.
- AC: Changed from R12 to R134A. Based on notes in ETK, happened in 3/92. Based on documents in TIS, happened in 9/92. There should be a sticker under the hood telling which is in the car.
- Automatic transmission: Changed in 07/88. Currently looking for details of the change.
- 5 speed manual transmission: Changed in 06/88. Currently looking for details of the change.
- Rear windows: Zip-in rear window starting in 09/91.
