BMW South Africa cars only

[Twinz]

Interesting :thumbs:

 

[Sith]

@prado - The MLE was the first official production four door saloon car to carry the then Motorsport logo ( a BMW badge with half moon rings in the Motorsport colours around it ), but it did not have an "M" badge on it. The first car to carry the "M" was the M1, with the e12 M535i being the first production saloon to carry it. Due to apartheid everything made in SA was sort of unofficial, the MLE was sort of overlooked, and hence the M535i is often referred to as the first production Motorsport saloon, when in fact the MLE was. This perception is now changing since the end of apartheid. Before the MLE BMW Germany did make special one off Motorsport e12's for discerning customers, so they were technically not production cars.

@Adi - One of those Glas cars was also known as the "Cheetah", in the then Rhodesian market I think. Think it was the 1800SA. Correct me if I am wrong please. This idea for a book on these cars is great!

 

[Carbon]

Some more interesting facts are:

1. The first car to carry the M colours was the e12 530. Theoretically, the first M car. (Please confirm if this is true)

First production BMW to wear the M colours was in fact the 2002 turbo of 1973

The first BMW to wear it was the 1971 3.0CSL

Regards
Jacques

 

[Coisman]

imp:
What about my car??
It was only made in SA, for SA, and is still in SA... :dunno:

 

[Sankekur]

What needs to actually be different to consider a BMW unique to SA? Can you consider standard features as to whether it is unique or not?
For instance the M3 CSL that came standard without AC but it could be taken as a no cost extra, but here in SA it was given standard with AC, but you could have it removed as a no cost extra.

Wasn't the SA and RHD Euro e28 M5's the same?

 

[Nic_s]

E34 540i Individual was sold wordwide , something like 3200 made so 72 in SA were not unique to SA market as such .
1800 SA made from November 1968 till June 1973 , replaced by 1804 model .
2000 SA made from October 1969 till September 1973 , replaced by 2004 model .
e30 333i was similar to Alpina model ,inlet manifold is badged Alpina .

Our 540 6 speeds are quite unique since they have the full M-tech kit minus the mirrors. Most of the ones overseas were standard 540's with a 6 speed and sport seats. The few that had the kit are referred to as M-sports and are quite scarce.

Our 6 speed also came with individual colours and blacked out/shadowline trim. The 6 speed was released in Europe and the states, but we didn't get any of them. So it was decided that we'll just build our own, or at least that's how I understand it.

 

[Rammlied]

E34 540i Individual was sold wordwide , something like 3200 made so 72 in SA were not unique to SA market as such .
1800 SA made from November 1968 till June 1973 , replaced by 1804 model .
2000 SA made from October 1969 till September 1973 , replaced by 2004 model .
e30 333i was similar to Alpina model ,inlet manifold is badged Alpina .

Our 540 6 speeds are quite unique since they have the full M-tech kit minus the mirrors. Most of the ones overseas were standard 540's with a 6 speed and sport seats. The few that had the kit are referred to as M-sports and are quite scarce.

Our 6 speed also came with individual colours and blacked out/shadowline trim. The 6 speed was released in Europe and the states, but we didn't get any of them. So it was decided that we'll just build our own, or at least that's how I understand it.

We built them since we never got the 3.8 Litre M5's because of our poor fuel at the time. The 540's were made to fill that void.

 

[Adi]

there are 20 odd cars on the list now, just looking at the list we should be able to find a mint condition example of each car......

 

[Sith]

Some more interesting facts are:

1. The first car to carry the M colours was the e12 530. Theoretically, the first M car. (Please confirm if this is true)

First production BMW to wear the M colours was in fact the 2002 turbo of 1973

The first BMW to wear it was the 1971 3.0CSL

Regards
Jacques

Cyclone101 - regarding the M colours you are 100% correct. The MLE was the first four door production saloon to carry the colours as far as I am aware. Would you agree with that?

 

[Rolf]

Does this car fit anywhere?

Introduced in 1964, the BMW 1800 Ti/SA was a refined road car as well as a serious racer with many victories, including the Spa 24 Hours race. Only 200 models were built and only 25 were exported to the USA.

Source: http://www.usautoparts.net/bmw/models/newclass/1800tisa.htm

 

[skilachi]

I do not believe the BMW 325iS (e30) either Evo1 or 2 were unique to SA. I saw a couple of LHDs in West Africa in the 90s.

I stand to be corrected though.

 

[Rolf]

I do not believe the BMW 325iS (e30) either Evo1 or 2 were unique to SA. I saw a couple of LHDs in West Africa in the 90s.

I stand to be corrected though.

Doubt that these were genuine 325iS / 325iS Evo / 325iS Evo2

The 325iS ff series cars were build especially for the South African market to challenge the ever winning OPEL Kadetts in South African Group N Racing

The battles for victory and sowith market shares in those days were phenominal!

 

[Nic_s]

I do not believe the BMW 325iS (e30) either Evo1 or 2 were unique to SA. I saw a couple of LHDs in West Africa in the 90s.

I stand to be corrected though.

Doubt that these were genuine 325iS / 325iS Evo / 325iS Evo2

The 325iS ff series cars were build especially for the South African market to challenge the ever winning OPEL Kadetts in South African Group N Racing

The battles for victory and sowith market shares in those days were phenominal!

I think it's important to know that there were a few shadowlines sold with the entire M-tech II body kit. They even had BBS wheels, but these were 4 hole. Looks exactly like an IS. One of the E30 club members has one. :thumb:

 

[rhett325]

I think it's important to know that there were a few shadowlines sold with the entire M-tech II body kit. They even had BBS wheels, but these were 4 hole. Looks exactly like an IS. One of the E30 club members has one. :thumb:

Correct, the cars found in Europe and possibly west africa as mentioned above would be the 325i Sport. Badged 325i and having the normal 2.5litre motor, the have bbs 4 stud wheels and are often passed off for genuine 325is' in this country.

The 5/120 2.7litre 325is was a homologation special available in SA only.

 

[Rolf]

Homologation Special is the magic words :bravo:

 

[theys]

Working on a project that has big potential........As a first step busy compiling a list of cars that were only available in South Africa, with the request if you can think of additional cars, to please add them to the list. The ones I can think of are:

1) BMW 530Mle (e12)
2) BMW 535iM (e12/28)
3) BMW M5 (e28)
4) BMW M5 (e34)
5) BMW 333i (e30)
6) BMW M3 (e36)
7) BMW 325iS (e30)

adi please phone me 0824530979

 

[Carbon]

Some more interesting facts are:

1. The first car to carry the M colours was the e12 530. Theoretically, the first M car. (Please confirm if this is true)

First production BMW to wear the M colours was in fact the 2002 turbo of 1973

The first BMW to wear it was the 1971 3.0CSL

Regards
Jacques

Cyclone101 - regarding the M colours you are 100% correct. The MLE was the first four door production saloon to carry the colours as far as I am aware. Would you agree with that?

You are indeed correct sir Sith:thumbs:

Regards
Jacques

---

Does this car fit anywhere?

Introduced in 1964, the BMW 1800 Ti/SA was a refined road car as well as a serious racer with many victories, including the Spa 24 Hours race. Only 200 models were built and only 25 were exported to the USA.

Source: http://www.usautoparts.net/bmw/models/newclass/1800tisa.htm

No, the Ti/SA has got nothing to do with South Africa. Ti/SA stands for "Tourismo Internationale/ Sonder Ausführung" Meaning Touring International / Special Version (or Special Execution).

Not one was officially imported into South Africa.

Regards
Jacques

 

[applehero]

More information on the 333i... Apparently it was manufactured by BMW, with performance enhancements from Alpina, only for the South African market. Alpina developed the upgrades on behalf of BMW, yet its still a BMW not an Alpina. This was in order to give us a consolation prize of not getting the e30 M3.

 

[Nic_s]

More information on the 333i... Apparently it was manufactured by BMW, with performance enhancements from Alpina, only for the South African market. Alpina developed the upgrades on behalf of BMW, yet its still a BMW not an Alpina. This was in order to give us a consolation prize of not getting the e30 M3.

But didn't the 333i came out in 84 and the M3 only 2 years later? I think the 333i was just SA being SA They probaly got half way with all the work and only then noticed that there's not enough space for power steering and aircon. So you had to choose between boiling in summer or be cool with cramped arms.

 

[scunick]

I think it's important to know that there were a few shadowlines sold with the entire M-tech II body kit. They even had BBS wheels, but these were 4 hole. Looks exactly like an IS. One of the E30 club members has one. :thumb:

Correct, the cars found in Europe and possibly west africa as mentioned above would be the 325i Sport. Badged 325i and having the normal 2.5litre motor, the have bbs 4 stud wheels and are often passed off for genuine 325is' in this country.

The 5/120 2.7litre 325is was a homologation special available in SA only.

The 325is was indeed a homologation special that occurred due to BMW (SA)'s involvement in Group N. It was the great days of BMW 325is vs Opel Superboss.... to my way of thinking some of the very best racing we have ever seen.:bravo: