Although it’s not the original BMW M3 (E30), it does have a straight-six motor. This is so cool!
Which BMW 3 Series would you choose if you were to pick the most rare and special BMW 3 Series ever made? The 330i ZHP, or the Alpina D3 touring? The M3 Lightweight (E36). These are all great, but what about a 7 Series-powered, 333i (E30)? It is limited to 200 units.
The M3 (E30) was a delight for BMW enthusiasts in Europe in the mid-80s. It was the first M3 in Bavarian history. The model was not shipped to South Africa so the local division decided that it needed a high-performance version. The 333i was born.
Although it was not officially an M3, the 333i was just as cool. The straight-six engine of 733i was the power source. It produced 198 horsepower (148kilowatts) and replaced the stock motor from the 325i. The engine was coupled to a close-ratio 5-speed manual gearbox with a limited slip differential to channel the power to the rear wheels. Alpina dual-ventilated brake disks provided stopping power.
Alpina was a BMW Motorsport and tuning company that helped develop the car. It was impressive to see the car accelerate from 0-60 miles per hour (98-98 km/h) in 7.4 seconds. Although not quite as wild as M3, it is the closest thing to the original in South Africa. It is more popular than the original M3 (E30) because only 204 of them were sold.
The Cars.co.za team has released a video that shows the 333i’s special features. Ashraad Nania, the owner of this car, said that he found it long before he could buy it. But now he is familiar with every detail.