BMW 333i - one of the best (and rarest) BMW ever made

[JayML]

1200KG!!!!!

I miss those days.......

[kmarei]

What a novel concept
Stuffing a naturally aspirated straight six in the front of a rear drive chassis!

I don't think any model has ever defined a brand like the E30 has to BMW
It made the brand, and the design hasn't aged
Still looks great

[psuibmw]

We are looking at some serious money here

[AlexFL]

Originally Posted by psuibmw

We are looking at some serious money here

yes, 100 to 150k.

[Briland33]

Does anyone know specifically why they didn't just bring the M3 to South Africa instead of a whole special model? Marketing? Or country import laws? Or what else?

[AlexFL]

Originally Posted by Briland33

Does anyone know specifically why they didn't just bring the M3 to South Africa instead of a whole special model? Marketing? Or country import laws? Or what else?

I believe they were made to compete in a local racing series. On pics below, E30 M3 vs 333i vs 325iS Evo 1.

[m3rxn]

Love it

[Bambazonke]

Originally Posted by Briland33

Does anyone know specifically why they didn't just bring the M3 to South Africa instead of a whole special model? Marketing? Or country import laws? Or what else?

The E30 M3 was only ever assembled in LHD, turbo and intake layout made it impossible to make a RHD version. South Africa is RHD and BMW Rosslyn just outside Pretoria has been assembling the 3 series models since the mid 80's for the local market and later for RHD markets around the world. The original E30 M3 was never available in the UK South Africa or Australia for this very reason
The 333i was actually assembled in Rosslyn and there are still quite a few of them and the newer 325is floating around South Africa and some here in Australia where I now reside.
https://www.bmwblog.com/2015/10/19/t...and-e30-325is/

BMW South Africa also made the first "M7" they took the motor out of the original M1 and stuck it in a E23 7 series,and called it a 745i Other markets had a similar car also called a 745i but it was just a 735i with a turbo. In 1985 BMW South Africa modified one of the 745i's and raced it the local motor racing championships which it won. In the following years they used the 325is and 333i's to compete in the local racing circuits
https://www.bmwblog.com/2020/05/07/t...-south-africa/

When BMW bought Land Rover in the 90's BMW South Africa "donated" their engine from the 328i to Land Rover South Africa which was modified and put into the Defender 90 & 110 4WDs made them the fastest ever production Defender model. I actually drove one of these modified Land Rover's,and it was well capable of doing over a 100mph.

BMW South Africa was innovative & very involved in motor racing and at that time was headed by Bernd Pischetsrieder who we all know became CEO of BMW

[2taCoS]

I was really lucky to drive my family's Defender 90 2.8i during my time at university in South Africa. Here's my best mate somewhere in the mountains around Franschhoek c.2006 in the Western Cape (outside Cape Town). Very special car given the BMW under the hood, so much more reliable than the Rover TD5s and V8s at the time.
We still own the Landy and we've kept it in good shape (she's a garage queen now). Hope to one day bring her to the States and do a full restore. 100mph+ confirmed! This thing drives like a tank yet goes like stink and I've taken this car to unimaginable places, it can conquer almost any terrain. Incredible piece of machinery.

[Ikester19]

Awesome, the E30 is my all time favourite BMW. Miss my '91 E30 325i mtechnic, best BMW I've ever owned.

[Emilime75]

Originally Posted by Bambazonke

The E30 M3 was only ever assembled in LHD, turbo and intake layout made it impossible to make a RHD version...

I'm confused. The E30 M3 was naturally aspirated.

[JustChris]

Originally Posted by ///M TOWN

I wish BMW had remained understated with their branding

Pisses me off they eventually stuck ///M's on everything completely deluging the ///M Division

Renamed to Mbw

[estonian]

That white 333i has been in a front end collision, just look at the panel gaps on it. That repair is awful.

[positiveions]

The E30 is too gorgeous of a car; especially if it’s an Alpina one.
Mine has 44k miles.

[Resoelg]

Beautiful car. thanks for sharing the story.

[Bambazonke]

Originally Posted by Emilime75

I'm confused. The E30 M3 was naturally aspirated.

Correct my mistake there is no turbo on the E30 M3 the engine peripherals & mounting angle prevented the steering column being moved to the RHS of the engine compartment. I was thinking of the LHD 745i turbo version was not possible in RHD format as the turbo would have been in the way of the steering column. This is the reason how the "M7" came about

https://www.topspeed.com/cars/car-ne...-ar169229.html

[M5Rick]

Originally Posted by estonian

That white 333i has been in a front end collision, just look at the panel gaps on it. That repair is awful.

Looks fine to me just the way the light falls on it, the white painted grille is a bit hairdressery tho.

[M5Rick]

Originally Posted by AlexFL

I believe they were made to compete in a local racing series. On pics below, E30 M3 vs 333i vs 325iS Evo 1.

That wide bodied M3 is wanting for some larger wider wheels.

[Luminor513]

What an cool car. Classic, timeless. Far cry from the current high performance 3 series variants(just my humble opinion), I don't want to offend anyone who loves the G80 chassis. These were the original ultimate driving machines.

[estonian]

Originally Posted by M5theonlyone

Looks fine to me just the way the light falls on it, the white painted grille is a bit hairdressery tho.

I was referring to the car featured in the video, in the first post.

[///M TOWN]

Originally Posted by M5theonlyone

Looks fine to me just the way the light falls on it, the white painted grille is a bit hairdressery tho.

He's making that shit up

The gaps look completely fine

The hood wasn't down all the way

[///M TOWN]

Originally Posted by JustChris

Renamed to M B W