1980s BMW 333i
Discussion
Forgive me, I am not up in my E numbers.
The BMW 333i was made by BMW South Africa and from memory came with a mixed Alpina/M Technik body kit and looked rather good.
A sort of M3 but with fewer steroids I guess.
There was an imported Henna Red one near me while growing up in the 80s. I think it had extra lights built into the front bumper inboard of the indicators.
Can't find out much about them, but would love to know more, hear first hand stories of them.
Were there any other local market specials made by BMW's overseas operations?
The BMW 333i was made by BMW South Africa and from memory came with a mixed Alpina/M Technik body kit and looked rather good.
A sort of M3 but with fewer steroids I guess.
There was an imported Henna Red one near me while growing up in the 80s. I think it had extra lights built into the front bumper inboard of the indicators.
Can't find out much about them, but would love to know more, hear first hand stories of them.
Were there any other local market specials made by BMW's overseas operations?
Yes there was. A lad I worked with had a LHD M5 Touring (I think it was the one before the E39) and I also remember seeing on a forecourt a 325ix (E30) Touring which I think was 4WD.
Quite why either of those was never sold over here is beyond me but I bet it's a fashion thing. Estates used to be owned by mums, dog owners or antique dealers so a very fast estate or a 4WD estate would have just been seen as stupid back in the 80's.
Unlike now where there is just about a car in every possible niche. I wouldn't have thought many people would sit there & wish for a 4WD, 4 door, coupe like car, but BMW obviously did hence the X6!
Quite why either of those was never sold over here is beyond me but I bet it's a fashion thing. Estates used to be owned by mums, dog owners or antique dealers so a very fast estate or a 4WD estate would have just been seen as stupid back in the 80's.
Unlike now where there is just about a car in every possible niche. I wouldn't have thought many people would sit there & wish for a 4WD, 4 door, coupe like car, but BMW obviously did hence the X6!
Not 100% sure, but appear to be some sort of front reflectors, the red car above doesn't have them and they're a little wonky in the a couple of the pictures above, so don't see them as actually being lights mounted into the bumper.
The bumper are standard E30 'chromeies' body kit looks to be standard BMW Mtech 1 fair also.
Edited by E30M3SE on Sunday 23 September 09:20
wildcat45 said:
Were there any other local market specials made by BMW's overseas operations?
There were the E30 320is which were produced for Portugal and Italy for tax reasons.Also the Evolution versions of the South African E30 325iS produced in South Africa - Alpina derived engines with 2.7 litre capacity and more power than a normal 325i
s m said:
There were the E30 320is which were produced for Portugal and Italy for tax reasons.
http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C334135
s m said:
Also the Evolution versions of the South African E30 325iS produced in South Africa - Alpina derived engines with 2.7 litre capacity and more power than a normal 325i
http://www.alpina-archive.com/?page_id=7678Edited by E30M3SE on Sunday 23 September 09:43
I guess BMW UK weren't allowed to officially import them. I think they would have sold well. The M3 being LHD was just a bit specialist for many I guess.
Recreating a 333i now from a decent E30 shell wouldn't be that hard though. Expensive, but doable.
The Henna red one I remember was just like the one above. It attracted a lot of attention, from local schoolboys, but was low profile enough not to be noticed by most. Not a Q car, but a modestly presented performance car of the era.
Recreating a 333i now from a decent E30 shell wouldn't be that hard though. Expensive, but doable.
The Henna red one I remember was just like the one above. It attracted a lot of attention, from local schoolboys, but was low profile enough not to be noticed by most. Not a Q car, but a modestly presented performance car of the era.
I'm pretty sure the blue 333 in the picture above is now sitting in my mates lock up.
The 325iX is a great car too, just restored one but, as most projects, we got to within a few minor jobs of the finish line and never got round to doing it.
Quite a few parts are unique so come with a heavy price tag.
The 325iX is a great car too, just restored one but, as most projects, we got to within a few minor jobs of the finish line and never got round to doing it.
Quite a few parts are unique so come with a heavy price tag.
wildcat45 said:
Recreating a 333i now from a decent E30 shell wouldn't be that hard though. Expensive, but doable.
Why would you want to? Do you mean make one look like it and put a different engine in or totally recreate that car inc engine? In that car they used the m30 which in that model didn't develop a great deal of power, you'd be better putting something like a m52b28 or a later m60b40.
I'd probably get flamed for comments about the m30 as it was BMWs most successful engine but compared to ones only slightly younger they're poor.
I grew up in south africa dn the 325iS got quite a reputation as it was said to be quite tail happy. My dad had the standard e30 325 which was just the most wonderfully balanced car and spectacularly easy to get the tail out and hold it there.
Sadly as cars have moved on they have become so so heavy that you need masses of power to move them whereas these were actually light enough that the 190bhp or so were more than enough. Looked at trying to find and import a 325iS (Shadowline) but they are incredibly hard to find in good original condition.
I personally wouldnt bother trying to recreate one either it just wouldnt be the same.
ETA: Also bother were sold in very limited numbers the 333i only 250-500 iirc and the 325iS was limited to similar numbers.
ETA2: Also they made both convertible and coupe versions.
Sadly as cars have moved on they have become so so heavy that you need masses of power to move them whereas these were actually light enough that the 190bhp or so were more than enough. Looked at trying to find and import a 325iS (Shadowline) but they are incredibly hard to find in good original condition.
I personally wouldnt bother trying to recreate one either it just wouldnt be the same.
ETA: Also bother were sold in very limited numbers the 333i only 250-500 iirc and the 325iS was limited to similar numbers.
ETA2: Also they made both convertible and coupe versions.
Edited by TallbutBuxomly on Sunday 23 September 10:43
Edited by TallbutBuxomly on Sunday 23 September 11:01
wildcat45 said:
Agree, why bother. More musing over "what if" scenarios on a Sunday morning. Looking in the ads on here there are a few nice original pre facelift E30s. Good cars in their own right Too good to rip apart to make a knock off 333i
Get onto the e30zone, there's a great bunch of guys over there and some awesome cars. If you like chromies, if you like facelift model or even stuff a bit more unique then it's all over there. There's a calypso chromie with a nice set of alloys, nothing special in most peoples eyes but it is one of the most awesome looking cars you've ever seen, 25 years old but super mint!
I know I have an M3 but you really don't have to have a specific e30 for it to look good. Most important thing is getting a 'rot free' shell and making it your own. There are some peados that want the car exactly as it left the showroom in the 80s right down to the correct number plates and original phone number (pre 01), tax disc holder and wallet but you can make one look original with a few subtle modifications.
Not entirely sure of originality of the car...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z20h_5dA-Tk
We also got the Opel Astra and kadett 200ts.
http://www.migweb.co.uk/forums/car-talk/139339-ope...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z20h_5dA-Tk
We also got the Opel Astra and kadett 200ts.
http://www.migweb.co.uk/forums/car-talk/139339-ope...
Edited by TallbutBuxomly on Sunday 23 September 11:15
The 333i, as the articles say, was a homologation special. We didn't get the E30 M3 over here in SA, so the 333i and the later 325iS (which in EVO2 guise was pushing 155kw)were pretty much our equivalents, although with the added rarity value of being SA-only. Another such beast is the M88-engined 745i - SA manufacturers were forced to get creative due to the lack of investment (Apartheid etc), and so they developed any number of local specials - the Essex-engined Sierra XR6es and 3.0iRS models spring to mind, as does the Opel Kadett Superboss. All of which are rare to find in unmolested condition.
falkster said:
wildcat45 said:
Agree, why bother. More musing over "what if" scenarios on a Sunday morning. Looking in the ads on here there are a few nice original pre facelift E30s. Good cars in their own right Too good to rip apart to make a knock off 333i
Get onto the e30zone, there's a great bunch of guys over there and some awesome cars. If you like chromies, if you like facelift model or even stuff a bit more unique then it's all over there. There's a calypso chromie with a nice set of alloys, nothing special in most peoples eyes but it is one of the most awesome looking cars you've ever seen, 25 years old but super mint!
I know I have an M3 but you really don't have to have a specific e30 for it to look good. Most important thing is getting a 'rot free' shell and making it your own. There are some peados that want the car exactly as it left the showroom in the 80s right down to the correct number plates and original phone number (pre 01), tax disc holder and wallet but you can make one look original with a few subtle modifications.
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