Is this true....anyone anyone

[SpunkyE30nOk]

I was surfing wikipedia and came across this lil tid bit of info on the e30. I didn't think bmw made a 2.7 "is" m20 for south africa. I knew about the 333i but not a 210hp ver of the m20 from the bmw factory. I know you can make a hybrid ver from a super eta and "is" m20 w portin polish, good intake/exh and chip you can get it to 210hp. What do ya'll think more wikipedia B.S or there is some truth behind it?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_E30

Special models
In addition to the famous M3 there were other special models of the E30. BMW South Africa's Motorsport division created the 333i in 1986 by fitting the 3.3 L M30 "big six" of the 733i to a 2-door E30. The resulting 333i was a major success in saloon car racing in that country and is now a collectors item. These cars, built with help from Alpina in Austria, featured some interesting compromises like forcing the buyer to choose between air conditioning (vital in South Africa) or power steering. They were only built in small numbers in 1986. Later when it became clear that South Africa would not be getting the M3, the 325iS was created. Initially this was merely a 325i 2-door fitted with a bodykit and a close-ratio gearbox (improving acceleration at the expense of top speed and economy) but more changes where made to keep the car competitive in South African saloon car racing. Nevertheless, these cars were always sold to the public. This culminated in the 325iS Evo II of late 1991. By now several body panels were made of aluminum, preventing the car from being washed by automated car washes, and the M20 engine grew to 2.7 L and now produced 155 kw (210 hp).

[swimstarguy]

I've heard that before. I think someone on here from Lebanon said they had a model like that by them. I don't know as I live in the States and rarely trust Wikipedia.


~Zar4

[M-technik-3]

333i exists, 2.7L ? S.A. was a seperate entity of BMW. They did some unique things.

[SpunkyE30nOk]

333i exists, 2.7L ? S.A. was a seperate entity of BMW. They did some unique things.

yea...why would bmw make a 210hp 325is when the M3 started off w 192hp and i think it ended w 240hp for the euro folks...while we only got the 192hp s14....im thinkin wiki is just whacky

[Ruffian]

It is a truth. I don't have the link for the South Africa bmw e30 club here at work, but I'll post it up later. nm, here it is....
http://forum.e30clubsa.co.za/
the 325iS, notice the S is capitalized, had the M-technic II kit. Not very many of them were produced, and they are considered fairly rare and collectible in SA. Look up in the for sale section, and you can see a few examples. Also search through that site, and you can get some production numbers.

Now the 333i, that's my baby there. I'm looking into being able to import one when it reaches the 25 year old importing standard mark. That gives me some time to plan it out.

[swimstarguy]

Why would you import a 333i when you can make one much cheaper?

Also, spunkye30, there wasn't a 240 hp e30 M3. That was the e36 M3. And yes, Europe got the better deal with that one too. What was it, 286 hp or something rediculous?


~Zar4

[Ruffian]

Why would you import a 333i when you can make one much cheaper?

~Zar4

Would you say the same thing about taking a 318i from 1984 and building an e30 M3? Point being, it's just one of the more/most rare/nicer/more powerful e30's, and I want one...BAD!!! Engine swaps are nice, see my avatar for one that is rolling around in my skull right now, but to own an original stock 333i would be choice. Especially since they weren't shipped here in the first place.

[uberpanzer]

The Sport Evo got up to just about 240hp. I'm getting old and can't remember howmuch HP they had, but it was pretty close to that from the 2.5L S14. This info is available to ANYone that goes on over to s14.net, which I shouldn't be on while at work (shouldn't be on here either, but...).

325iS was a legit car. The SA folks were wacky for BMW's with more power. Their e23 745i was sporting a S38 (or was it an earlier M88? Whatever) motor instead of the turbo M30. There was the 333i that we all should know about by now. They were part of the reason that Aplina had such a good relationship with the factory in those days, since Aplina was contracted to do a lot of the R/D on these models and make the fit and finish up to BMW quality. Any legit BMW SA special model is a part of BMW history.

[SpunkyE30nOk]

Why would you import a 333i when you can make one much cheaper?

Also, spunkye30, there wasn't a 240 hp e30 M3. That was the e36 M3. And yes, Europe got the better deal with that one too. What was it, 286 hp or something rediculous?
~Zar4

To import a 333i would be like importing an alpina or hartge...sure you could build a bmw on par w alpina or hartge but its not the same as owning an actual model... and there was a 240hp E30 m3...actually it was 238hp The E30 M3 Evo 3....http://bmwinfo.com/30218.html when the e36 was released in the u.k it had a 300hp 3.0L it ended w a 320hp 3.2L ....the 286hp comes from the U.S ver of the e28/e24 M5/M6

[M-technik-3]

A reason why the S14 was not common in S.A. was Heat. The M30 was more suited to the enviroment there than S14.

The problem with Wiki is that you can edit it. That makes it internet truth. I can't tell all the details of the SA cars and not much remains out there to dig up.

Total BMW has featured a few 333i in there mag over the years.

[e24mpwr]

Their e23 745i was sporting a S38 (or was it an earlier M88? Whatever) motor instead of the turbo M30.

It was the M88 (which is euro-spec vs. the US-spec S38. There was a point where they were produced at the same time).

You take the 333i - I want the SA 745i!

[andyman2487]

You take the 333i - I want the SA 745i!

Jeez, I would even take US E23 745i.

[uberpanzer]

There never was a US e23 745i. It was NEVER imported into the US for sale by BMW and there was NO US spec for it. There are a few around, both 3.3L L-Jet and 3.5L Motronic. And have fun trying to get one that is CA smog legal. There are a couple, but VERY rare cars. Most are out of state and boosting more than stock.

[M-technik-3]

There never was a US e23 745i. It was NEVER imported into the US for sale by BMW and there was NO US spec for it. There are a few around, both 3.3L L-Jet and 3.5L Motronic. And have fun trying to get one that is CA smog legal. There are a couple, but VERY rare cars. Most are out of state and boosting more than stock.

As long as it has it's grey market tickets it should be just fine.

[uberpanzer]

If it wasn't a CA car when it first got its grey market tags then it is VERY hard to get it registered in this state later on. Damn smog laws take most of the fun out of car stuff.

[ohnoes]

There never was a US e23 745i. It was NEVER imported into the US for sale by BMW and there was NO US spec for it. There are a few around, both 3.3L L-Jet and 3.5L Motronic. And have fun trying to get one that is CA smog legal. There are a couple, but VERY rare cars. Most are out of state and boosting more than stock.

I saw one in Fairfax. It was beautiful. I mean, I love the understated, elegant look of E23s nonetheless, but to see the 745i badge on the back made me do a double-take... err, no, more like a 25-take.

[e24mpwr]

I've seen a number of them - for a gray-market car, they are pretty surprisingly available, though you don't see as many super-pristine ones as you do M635's like mine (not meaning to brag, btw - there are a number of M635's that make mine look average).

And yes, I'd love to have a "regular" 745i, too. Given what you can do for the boost, etc. without getting stupid, I'd say it would be faster than the M88 SA version, especially from a rolling start.

I *almost* did one of those for my beater instead of the iX, but I was really looking for something that not only kept the miles off the M635 but was very weather-capable, too. The 745i isn't really better than the M635 in snow/rain/crap, so it was a no go. (also had the hots for an E32 735i 5-speed, but now I'm really rambling...)

[M-technik-3]

Todd from TCD has owned two of them in the last 4 years. The one from DC was listed on Craigslist in the winter for $2100.

[andyman2487]

There never was a US e23 745i. It was NEVER imported into the US for sale by BMW and there was NO US spec for it. There are a few around, both 3.3L L-Jet and 3.5L Motronic. And have fun trying to get one that is CA smog legal. There are a couple, but VERY rare cars. Most are out of state and boosting more than stock.

Oops, meant to say grey market.

[StickSeven]

I just moved here to cleveland, but back where i used to live (Long island, NY ---Hamptons) there were a few of the 745i turbos driving around. the only thing i ever heard of these cars was to stay away from them. i guess a mint one would be cool to collect, but one with some mileage on it is gonna have turbo headaches i guess. BTW why did they go for the "45" engine designation? was it simply to distinguish the car from the regular 735? they could have gone with 735 csi or is or something like that. or just put a 4.5 liter in there to match the badge!

[Ablice]

^
They went with the 4.5L badge because they estimated it to have the equivalent power of a 4.5L inline six but instead it was a 3.5L with a turbo.


About the South African 325iS:

It was a iS. The stroke was modified with a 325td crank. 197hp and 196ft/lbs for the earlier version, to 204hp for the later version.

Because the earlier version used aluminum body panels on the hood, front wings and door skins, it weighed only 1147kg fully loaded (see below) versus a standard 325i with 1330kg. (difference of 403lbs) The later version used steel ones.

Features: MTechnic II bodykit, fully loaded — power steering, sunroof, electric windows and A/C. Used M3 suspesion, 15" BBS wheels. The first gen 325is engine was built in Germany by BMW, with an Alpina head but a different non-Alpina cam. But the later one used more Alpina bits, like the AFM, Alpina ECU, proper gas-flowed head from Alpina, and the like.

super-pristine ones as you do M635's like mine (not meaning to brag, btw - there are a number of M635's that make mine look average).

And yes, I'd love to have a "regular" 745i, too. Given what you can do for the boost, etc. without getting stupid, I'd say it would be faster than the M88 SA version, especially from a rolling start.

Speaking of clean E24s at the Bimmerfest '07 meet there was a slick red M6 there that caught my eye. Pictures...have them. MINT. Babied.

Thought you might want to know about that

[digger]

To import a 333i would be like importing an alpina or hartge...sure you could build a bmw on par w alpina or hartge but its not the same as owning an actual model... and there was a 240hp E30 m3...actually it was 238hp The E30 M3 Evo 3....http://bmwinfo.com/30218.html when the e36 was released in the u.k it had a 300hp 3.0L it ended w a 320hp 3.2L ....the 286hp comes from the U.S ver of the e28/e24 M5/M6

not exactly,....the Euro E36 M3 S50B30 had 286PS and later the S50B32 had 321PS and the US E24 M6 and E28 M5 had 256hp

[digger]

CAR MAGAZINE DEC 91 325is MK2







CAR MAGAZINE MAR 91 325is MK1






CAR MAGAZINE Jan 1986 BMW 333i






Licensing Mass/ Mass as tested
333i 1256 kg / NA
325is Mk2 NA / 1340 kg
325is Mk1 1147 kg / 1320 kg

so its unlikely that the mass saving is 400lbs over a 325i

[ohnoes]

Wow, thanks for the articles, digger! Very interesting and informative, even though I have no idea what those models are.

But, seriously, they claim the base 325i's 0-60 is 8.61?! Wtf are they smoking? And then they say the 2.7 325iS's is 7.4? Both of those are way off.

[Joe Sixpack]

Those are metric seconds.