South African e30's!

[Gwynleym10]

with my recent aquasition i'm getting interested in the different SA cars!

for those of you who don't know;

BMW have had a factory in SA for some time, its to get around the 30% import tax put on cars not made there.

Much of the stuff was just shipped over from germany and they were just assembled there, but there are a number of difference+special models.

Firstly SA had a 197bhp 325is, this is not a sport! so for all those people that call their sports 325is, your WRONG!

SA 325is had, 2.7 engine and lighter aluminuim front panels (bonnet, front wings etc etc) Because of these the handbook says you should not pass the car through an automatic car wash!

Also there was the BMW 333i m30 engined m3 racer! This is a proper BMW car not a Alpina/Hartage etc etc oh that undriven m-tech 1 where are pictures of you?!!

Think there are more so please add to the list!

Damm seat belts are different in SA cars as well, through me when I swapped my seats over and the didn't click into Euro holders....

[nav786]

i would love one of the southafrican cars, the 333i is just amazin and 327's are just as cool. also they have the benefit of better solid bodies as they havent heard of rust, damn british weather

[Kos]

seat belts had sensors in them like modern day cars telling you to buckle up, with a little diagram on the check control panel.

[Lordschleife]

Yep I'd love an SA 325is

Not as much as an m3, but...

[koos]

Driven a 325iS, did a cambelt on it and test drove it

Worked on a couple 333's, bloody rare. Cars still rust there, I lived on the coast and it's just as bad there, inland is not so bad. Seatbelt thing is correct, 325s had leather as standard (think its the same here). BMW factory is in Roslyn, close to Joburg I think. No M3, thats probably why there was the 325iS and 333i. Oh yes, I lived there my whole life, except for now. Cars are bloody expensive !!!!!!

[Simon13]

i think u will find that bmw south africa and alpina in germany worked on both the 325iS evo 2 which was 210bhp, and the 333i which came with 16 inch alpinas as standard. the 325is is basically a C2 2.7 alpina

only 200 333i made and 500 evo2's. So find one!

[Hap]

as si says the 333i was a joint project with alpina, had alpina engine bits, wheels, exhaust, digital display in air vent and alpina cockpit, its technically still termed abmw as it is not a full blown pina

[Gwynleym10]

Weren't the alpina wheels all stamped BMW?


In terms of rust, was the rust proofing the same in SA as it was in germany?

[Hap]

yes they had bmw badges in the centres but were proper alpina

[Hyperion]

Enter ME!
We got Baur's only and not full covertables.
The 333i look like the UK Mtech1 IS'sbut with the 733i engine.
Our Mtech2 IS's came in evo 1, evo2, and evo3.
I am not 100% sure of th engine differences but i know the Evo1's had windups and cloth seats, and the later evos had the lux items added and the 2.7 engines.

[koos]

Was waiting for your 2 cents, howzit going? I'm coming home in Dec to get married , its gonna be so hot.

[Hyperion]

hehe , it will be cool Koos, at least it won't rain!!!

[MasterBates999]

325iS came out in March 1990. Full M3 suspension/wheels and 5 bolt hubs, bonnet, door skins and front wings are imported alloy, car weighed 1147 kg with PAS, air con, lecky windows. 3.7 LSD, engine is a C2 2.7 but with standard 325i cam, 197 bhp.

Evo 2 and 3 are in fact identical and BMW SA only recognise it as the Evo. Evo 2 and Evo 3 are just names given by owners. The differnce is that they were built in two batches in March and June 1991. Steel doors, the proper C2 spec 2.7 but with a 535i throttle disc and AFM, power still 204 bhp. Alpina anti roll bars with the M3 suspension (Japan spec Boge), 3.91 LSD.

Chassis numbers begin OAF for 325iS and either OEJ or AF for 325iS Evo.

[palerider325icab]

I know the cars well all the little ducktails portuguese and the lebs had them you would have to have lived there to understand ,they where knowen as shadowlines.
I have only ever seen 1 333i in South africa and that was at the THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AFRICA ,AT THE DENTEL SCHOOL NEAR THE OLD CATHOLIC CHURCH IF ANYBODY KNOWS WHERE I MEAN .

Cheers
Rhino

[Stevin]

Lets see what u want me to tell u about South African BMW's ??? Eh, driven quite a few 325iS's ...hell even driven a 2.9lt one aswell ... 333i Is great car, but not quicker than the 325iS.

I'll finish my rant later just got some work 2 do right now

[dman]

Ive brought my 1991 325is Evo2 here to the Uk with me and would you beleive it has started to rust !, I had it for almost 5 yrs in SA and not a spec of rust.

Was looking at a total respray and fixing rust BUT a BMW paint/panel shop quoted me in the region of Ԛ£4000 (stripping paint down to the bodywork..etc). - still pondering abt it.

Also when i has a problem with this brake discs/calipers. They had to be brought in from germany as they were M3 (5 stud) and not the std 4 stud.
But overall she still runs very well after all these years and 3 months on a ship. Customs were sh*t though, they practically tore the interior apart !!!!
removing the back seats..etc and damaging them in the process, have never been able to get the back seat to fit properly thereafter!. No idea what they were looking for !

Problem is with insurance, alot of the insurance companies dont want to insure imported cars(they actually refuse the business), thus far only 2 companies (tesco and directline) have offered to insure me. Alot of the online sites that offer quotes are unable to quote cos it doesnt pick up the engine size (2700) - fustrating !

any help with the insurance problem (suggestions/recommendations) would be appreciated

great to see/hear that SA cars have a good reputation

[Simon]

Ive brought my 1991 325is Evo2 here to the Uk with me and would you beleive it has started to rust !, I had it for almost 5 yrs in SA and not a spec of rust.

Was looking at a total respray and fixing rust BUT a BMW paint/panel shop quoted me in the region of Ԛ£4000 (stripping paint down to the bodywork..etc). - still pondering abt it.

Also when i has a problem with this brake discs/calipers. They had to be brought in from germany as they were M3 (5 stud) and not the std 4 stud.
But overall she still runs very well after all these years and 3 months on a ship. Customs were sh*t though, they practically tore the interior apart !!!!
removing the back seats..etc and damaging them in the process, have never been able to get the back seat to fit properly thereafter!. No idea what they were looking for !

Problem is with insurance, alot of the insurance companies dont want to insure imported cars(they actually refuse the business), thus far only 2 companies (tesco and directline) have offered to insure me. Alot of the online sites that offer quotes are unable to quote cos it doesnt pick up the engine size (2700) - fustrating !

any help with the insurance problem (suggestions/recommendations) would be appreciated

great to see/hear that SA cars have a good reputation

Have you tried Adrian Flux? No problem with my M3, good price too.

As for the bodywork, sounds like their having a laugh, where is the rust exactly?
BTW, is the car red by any chance!?

[Stevin]

I know the cars well all the little ducktails portuguese and the lebs had them you would have to have lived there to understand ,they where knowen as shadowlines.
I have only ever seen 1 333i in South africa and that was at the THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AFRICA ,AT THE DENTEL SCHOOL NEAR THE OLD CATHOLIC CHURCH IF ANYBODY KNOWS WHERE I MEAN .

Cheers
Rhino

That there annoy's the hell out of me... they weren't known as shoadowlines, there were ignorant fools that just called them shadowlines... a Shadowline in South Africa, was a 325i exactly the same as every other 325i except it had black window trim from factory... then when these cars were talked about, ppl just asumed that the S on 325iS mean't shadowline, and also cause they had black window trim this was also assumed.

The 325iS was and is a legend in South Africa, just like the Ford Sierra XR8, Chev Forenza Can-Am, Capris Piranah and Opel Superboss, and Opel 200TS.

Even though the 325iS is a great car, it would have been better if they just used a E30 M3, and converted it to RHD would have saved many head aches, and with the S14, it would have been much more competitive on the track... would have handed those Superbosses their asses (kinda like the Opel Boss, but with Cosworth head, Shrick cams, and the first ever FWD production car with LSD)

[dman]

Simon,
thnks for the recommendation , i will definately check em out for a
quote.
The rust is just below the front grill and on both side mirrors, apparently a common problem(not sure how true) These are just the visable rust, who know where else, thats what worries me.!

Nope, Silver or Lachs Silver

[Stevin]

Simon,
thnks for the recommendation , i will definately check em out for a
quote.
The rust is just below the front grill and on both side mirrors, apparently a common problem(not sure how true) These are just the visable rust, who know where else, thats what worries me.!

Nope, Silver or Lachs Silver

Now that is interesting I was under the impression that the 325iS's only came out in Sterling Silver.

The rust on the doors is a commom problem even here in SA, got a mate's whos Henna Red 325iS is also rusting on the right hand door under the mirror

[Simon]

Simon,
thnks for the recommendation , i will definately check em out for a
quote.
The rust is just below the front grill and on both side mirrors, apparently a common problem(not sure how true) These are just the visable rust, who know where else, thats what worries me.!

Nope, Silver or Lachs Silver

Are SA E30's as well sealed (as well as you can get anyway!) as our E30's then? If not, I would recommend getting it done asap.

For other areas, check the inner arches, especially down in front of the rear wheel, and all around the rear number plate and tailights inside and out.

FIY, I had some rust sorted on my M3 when I first had it, alltogether it had front and rear bumpers repainted, evo lip fitted and painted, mirrors repainted, scuttle panel replaced, front slam panel re-painted (the small strip under the headlights/grill) a new rear panel fitted due to rust, and small section of a rear arch cutout due to rust and a new part welded in, also all 4 arches rubbed down and stoneguarded, all this cost Ԛ£650.

[MasterBates999]

The colours were Brilliant red, Astral silver (like Polaris), Aero silver (blue tint) and Ice White. SA BMW's rot like hell over here because there was next to no rustproofing. I've had a couple, a 1978 320 that was literally falling to bits and a 1986 525e that was as rotten as a carrot - just exploding with rust everywhere.
BMW SA didn't have the E30 M3 and needed a car to race in Group N which is why the 325iS was made.
In the USA there is a 325iS as well, but it's a highly specced 325i with leather, A/C and other stuff.

[Stevin]

The colours were Brilliant red, Astral silver (like Polaris), Aero silver (blue tint) and Ice White. SA BMW's rot like hell over here because there was next to no rustproofing. I've had a couple, a 1978 320 that was literally falling to bits and a 1986 525e that was as rotten as a carrot - just exploding with rust everywhere.
BMW SA didn't have the E30 M3 and needed a car to race in Group N which is why the 325iS was made.
In the USA there is a 325iS as well, but it's a highly specced 325i with leather, A/C and other stuff.

There were more colours, I know they also came in Henna Red, and a Charcoal colour.

[palerider325icab]

Why buts its true everybody knows they are known as SHADOWLINES in South Africa i know it only means that the have been dechromed.
I bet nobody can beat this,many many years ago my uncle had the lend of the bosses 325 I SE 4DR this is when they where still the in thing

Christmas time.

JHB TO CAPETOWN 12 HOURS SLIP STREAMING WITH A AMG MERC AND NEARLY ALL THE WAY THAT WAS SOME DRIVE.

Cheers
Rhino

[dman]

also came in calypso (which was a deep metallic maroon)
the henna red was brilliant though

[MasterBates999]

325iS didn't come in Henna red, but the older cars like the 333i did. 333i was also available in Charcoal metallic, Ice white and Aero silver which is really a light metallic blue.

[CiLK_WuRM]

I've got one here in NZ, its an Evo 1 (1990) build.

Lachs silver sticker on the strut, but defo has a blue tint to it, i'll snap some flicks tomorrow (its 4am here). Could be astral silver?

Strange stuff that has come up with mine, it says 5/1990 build date, but I was under the impression that they were supposed to be 3/1990 builds?

Has 7 series tool kit and full boot lid protector, and alpina sways, rather than M3 units.

[Stevin]

325iS didn't come in Henna red, but the older cars like the 333i did. 333i was also available in Charcoal metallic, Ice white and Aero silver which is really a light metallic blue.

I know for a fact they came in Henna... unless 2 of my mates cars r just have the wrong sticker on the strut tower... :p

Over here, the 325iS and 325iMEX (what I have) came with the big tool kit or 7 series tool kit.

Yeah, how could I forget about Calypso best looking colour on an E30 imo

[Stevin]

325iS didn't come in Henna red, but the older cars like the 333i did. 333i was also available in Charcoal metallic, Ice white and Aero silver which is really a light metallic blue.

Also the 333i came in a coulour called Cherry Red... very hot

[e30_black318is]

the 325is is basically a C2 2.7 alpina - sorry not true, the 325is have proper m3 suspension and 95% have aluminium panels - its a very different car to the c2 2.7, not better, not worse just different.

[666JSB]

JHB TO CAPETOWN 12 HOURS SLIP STREAMING WITH A AMG MERC AND NEARLY ALL THE WAY THAT WAS SOME DRIVE.

Ja Boet, done Joeys' to Cape Town many times in 12 hours or less, would stop for Glug Glug in Bloem' and Beaufort West and just keep movin, gotta watch out for those traffic cops behind trees & bridges in the karoo hey?

Cheers, Neil

[Kos]

this an old thread !!

[Andyboy]

325iS didn't come in Henna red, but the older cars like the 333i did. 333i was also available in Charcoal metallic, Ice white and Aero silver which is really a light metallic blue.

I know for a fact they came in Henna... unless 2 of my mates cars r just have the wrong sticker on the strut tower... :p

imo

No they didn't, and you don't have two friends. Henna red ended in 1986, replaced by Zinnober which was replaced by Brilliant red in late 1989.
Cherry red is not a BMW colour and was not offered on the 333i, fool.

[Kos]

325iS didn't come in Henna red, but the older cars like the 333i did. 333i was also available in Charcoal metallic, Ice white and Aero silver which is really a light metallic blue.

I know for a fact they came in Henna... unless 2 of my mates cars r just have the wrong sticker on the strut tower... :p

imo

No they didn't, and you don't have two friends. Henna red ended in 1986, replaced by Zinnober which was replaced by Brilliant red in late 1989.
Cherry red is not a BMW colour and was not offered on the 333i, fool.

that post is 18 months old, but you finaly set him straight

[pacerpete]

South african BMWs came painted in many colours not seen on european spec cars. A neighbour of mine has a 318i chromie in a metallic red that no euro e30 ever wore. More importantly it has factory a/c and beige sports leather which means it is not safe parked in my manor !