In 1982, BMW launched the second generation of the 3 Series, the E30. It was a huge success and became an icon of German automotive engineering. Unveiled in 1985 at the Frankfurt Motor Show, the Cabriolet version marks the return of this kind of vehicle to the BMW catalog after a long hiatus. Launched the following year, the E30 Cabriolet was a huge hit. More than 140,000 units were sold during its six years on the market.