South Africa didn’t get the original E30 BMW M3. Instead, BMW South Africa decided to do its own thing, and the result was this, the rather fearsome 333i. It used the 3,2-litre straight-six from the 733i and a close-ration five-speed Getrag transmission. When we tested it in January 1986 it rocketed to 100 km/h in 7,23 seconds and it had a 231 km/h top speed. Maximum power was 145 kW at 5 500 r/min and 285 N.m of torque was on tap at 4 300 r/min. The 333i cost R41 300 at the time of testing. Good luck finding an unmolested one…
Save the page scans to your computer and open in a viewer to read the full test from 1986.
