The rare E30 333i by BMW South Africa (1 of 200)

adc · 02-16-2018, 07:36 AM

I’d read about it but never saw pics or videos.

So it’s basically an Alpina 3 mechanically, but not cosmetically. Very cool.

Zulu Saffa · 02-16-2018, 09:34 AM

What a beauty. Lekka my bru.

evanevery · 02-16-2018, 01:35 PM

Looks like they put the steering wheel on the wrong side...

Dackelone · 02-16-2018, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CP911

Such a lovely car and OMG that sound!!! The part where he turned the key and fired it up gave me goosebumps.

As for that M540i, did people complain of badge whoring and diluting the M brand back then like they do now?

Thanks for posting these!

Back when M GmbH first started to produce "M" models... the "M" came in front of the model number. As in... "M535i", "M635i" etc. I think later(a few years), with the introduction of the e30 M3 did they just start using one number: M3, M5, etc.

Today, we have come full circle... with the M-light models.

Dackel

kooper · 02-17-2018, 05:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dackelone

Back when M GmbH first started to produce "M" models... the "M" came in front of the model number. As in... "M535i", "M635i" etc. I think later(a few years), with the introduction of the e30 M3 did they just start using one number: M3, M5, etc.

Today, we have come full circle... with the M-light models.

Dackel

Think the E28 was also just called the M5, which came out in '85.

adc · 02-17-2018, 05:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kooper

Think the E28 was also just called the M5, which came out in '85.

There was an E12-based M535i earlier, in' 81 I think.

hufington · 02-21-2018, 11:36 AM

Never knew this model.

But, I also had an M3 that was not an M3 back in 1987. When I was in Italy for college in 1987, the E30 M3 was the car to have but since there were absurdly high taxes on engines over 2 liter capacity, they did not import them to Italy. So, BMW decided to manufacture the 320is to circumvent the tax issue using the S14 engine with a slightly shorter stroke so that the displacement was just under 2000cc. It had 141 kW or192 BHP/6900RPM with a red line of 7300 RPM. It had a wider and flatter torque (despite lower torque) curve and a better 0-60 time than the M3 due to the lower weight.

Ah, memories...

P1 · 02-21-2018, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EL MEJOR

great video and story. Big fan of low key videos like this and seeing regular people accomplish their dreams

I agree with you; much more interesting than yet another rich kid whose daddy leased a Lambo for twelve months.

02-16-2018, 07:36 AM	#23
adc Major General 2821 Rep 6,810 Posts Drives: 2018 F80 M3 ED Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: MD/DC iTrader: (12)	I’d read about it but never saw pics or videos. So it’s basically an Alpina 3 mechanically, but not cosmetically. Very cool. __________________ 2018 991.2 Carrera T 2019 Z4 30i 2022 X2 M35i
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02-16-2018, 09:34 AM	#24
Zulu Saffa Second Lieutenant 341 Rep 271 Posts Drives: Them Wild Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Austin, TX iTrader: (2)	What a beauty. Lekka my bru.
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02-16-2018, 01:35 PM	#25
evanevery Colonel 1450 Rep 2,068 Posts Drives: iXM60, i8 Rdstr, M4, i7M70, M5 Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Wisconsin iTrader: (0)	Looks like they put the steering wheel on the wrong side... __________________ The Jiggery-Pokery is Strong with this One https://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1645366 https://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1197553 https://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...4&postcount=35
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02-21-2018, 11:36 AM	#29
hufington Colonel 5193 Rep 2,022 Posts Drives: 2025 760ix Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: North East iTrader: (0) Garage List 2025 BMW 760i [10.00] 2024 Mercedes S580 AMG [8.00]	Never knew this model. But, I also had an M3 that was not an M3 back in 1987. When I was in Italy for college in 1987, the E30 M3 was the car to have but since there were absurdly high taxes on engines over 2 liter capacity, they did not import them to Italy. So, BMW decided to manufacture the 320is to circumvent the tax issue using the S14 engine with a slightly shorter stroke so that the displacement was just under 2000cc. It had 141 kW or192 BHP/6900RPM with a red line of 7300 RPM. It had a wider and flatter torque (despite lower torque) curve and a better 0-60 time than the M3 due to the lower weight. Ah, memories... __________________ 25 G70 760i Msport 25 RR SV E2 RETIRED BMWs: '23 F92 M8 Comp / '22 G05 X5 m50i / '18 F15 X5 50i / '16 F10 550xi / '13 BMW F10 535i / '07 E64 630i / '03 E65 745i / '95 E34 540i / '89 E30 M3
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