Quote:
Originally Posted by Briland33
Does anyone know specifically why they didn't just bring the M3 to South Africa instead of a whole special model? Marketing? Or country import laws? Or what else?
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The E30 M3 was only ever assembled in LHD, turbo and intake layout made it impossible to make a RHD version. South Africa is RHD and BMW Rosslyn just outside Pretoria has been assembling the 3 series models since the mid 80's for the local market and later for RHD markets around the world. The original E30 M3 was never available in the UK South Africa or Australia for this very reason
The 333i was actually assembled in Rosslyn and there are still quite a few of them and the newer 325is floating around South Africa and some here in Australia where I now reside.
https://www.bmwblog.com/2015/10/19/t...and-e30-325is/
BMW South Africa also made the first "M7" they took the motor out of the original M1 and stuck it in a E23 7 series,and called it a 745i Other markets had a similar car also called a 745i but it was just a 735i with a turbo. In 1985 BMW South Africa modified one of the 745i's and raced it the local motor racing championships which it won. In the following years they used the 325is and 333i's to compete in the local racing circuits
https://www.bmwblog.com/2020/05/07/t...-south-africa/
When BMW bought Land Rover in the 90's BMW South Africa "donated" their engine from the 328i to Land Rover South Africa which was modified and put into the Defender 90 & 110 4WDs made them the fastest ever production Defender model. I actually drove one of these modified Land Rover's,and it was well capable of doing over a 100mph.
BMW South Africa was innovative & very involved in motor racing and at that time was headed by Bernd Pischetsrieder who we all know became CEO of BMW