BMW 333i: South Africa's 3.2-Litre E30

The 333i was conceived for South African saloon racing, and it also stood in for the M3, which South Africa never got. BMW South Africa wanted an E30 that could compete in Group 1, where it faced big-engined rivals such as Ford's V8 Sierra XR8 and where the regulations had little use for a high-revving four-cylinder engine like the M3's. The company developed the car in 1985 with BMW Motorsport GmbH and Alpina and built it at its Rosslyn plant. Then, just as the car was ready, Group 1 was cancelled at the end of 1985, so the 333i became a road car with a racing specification and no series to race in.

BMW started with a 325i and replaced its engine with the 3.2-litre M30 straight six used in the 732i. In the 333i it produced 197 hp (146 kW) at 5,000 rpm and about 285 Nm of torque, driving through a Getrag five-speed close-ratio dogleg gearbox and a 25 per cent limited-slip differential. Alpina supplied the engine mounts, radiator, intake manifold, air box and a catless exhaust system. The car also wore Alpina 20-spoke 16-inch wheels on 195/50 R16 tyres, vented and grooved 296 mm front discs, an M-Technic aerodynamic kit and sports suspension.

Fitting the big six into a compact E30 left too little room for every option a buyer might want. Customers had to choose between air conditioning and power steering, because BMW could not package both alongside the M30. The choice shows at the front of the car: cars without air conditioning carry fog lights, while cars with it have air ducts in their place. Anti-lock brakes were optional. For a buyer today this combination of equipment is part of a car's identity, so a 333i with both systems fitted, or the wrong front detail for its specification, deserves questions about later changes.

Commonly quoted figures give the 333i 0 to 100 km/h in about 7.4 seconds and a top speed of around 228 km/h, or 142 mph, and a contemporary road test recorded 143.53 mph. BMW South Africa built 204 customer cars between 1985 and 1987, plus six prototypes and test cars, for 210 in total. Every one was a right-hand-drive two-door saloon developed for the South African market. Unlike the aggressively styled E30 M3, which BMW never offered in right-hand drive, the 333i looks close to a standard E30, with only subtle Alpina details to give it away.

Start with identity. BMW Group Classic sells a digital birth certificate from the BMW Group Archive; ask whether its records cover a Rosslyn-built car, then compare them with the chassis number, engine number and equipment. After that, treat it as an E30 and check the sills, jacking points, rear arches, front wings behind the wheels, windscreen base, sunroof drains, boot floor and battery tray for rust. The M30 uses a single-row timing chain rather than the belt of the M20, so listen for a cold-start rattle from worn guides, and look for evidence of careful cooling system maintenance.

The 333i was built for South Africa, so a car in Britain is either already registered here or must be imported. An import has to be reported to HMRC within 14 days, with any VAT and duty paid, then registered with the DVLA; cars over 10 years old need no vehicle approval. Check the current rules on GOV.UK. A car built before 1 January 1986 can join the historic vehicle tax class from 1 April 2026, and MOT exemption follows at 40 years if it is not substantially changed. Classic And Retro Autos in Witton Gilbert services, restores and modifies classic cars, with mechanical work from £65 an hour plus VAT.

BMW South Africa built 204 customer cars, with production complete by 1987, plus six prototypes and test cars, 210 in total. BMW's own South African press office describes the run as approximately 200 units. All were right-hand-drive two-door saloons built at the Rosslyn plant for the South African market.

It uses BMW's 3.2-litre M30 straight six, the engine from the 732i, rated at 197 hp (146 kW) with about 285 Nm of torque. Alpina supplied the intake manifold, air box, radiator, engine mounts and exhaust. Drive goes through a Getrag five-speed dogleg gearbox to a 25 per cent limited-slip differential.

The M30 straight six is a much bigger engine than the E30 was designed around, and packaging it left no room to fit both systems. Buyers chose one or the other. Cars without air conditioning have fog lights at the front, while air-conditioned cars have air ducts in their place, which helps when checking a car's original specification.

It was designed for South African Group 1 saloon racing, where six-cylinder torque suited the rules better than the M3's high-revving four. Group 1 was cancelled at the end of 1985, just as the car was ready, so the 333i lost the series it was built for and became a rare, fast road car instead.