One of only 210 cars built by BMW South Africa for Group 1 racing homologation, the 333i holds a special place in the hearts of BMW fans around the world.
With news in the early ‘80s that South Africa would not be receiving an allocation of the first-ever (E30 generation) BMW M3, the local office of this German brand set about working on a suitable replacement for this racing-derived derivative. Itself looking to homologate cars for its then Group 1 racing programme in South Africa, the plan was to collaborate with legendary BMW tuning specialists Alpina to create a limited-edition, high-performance, road-going 3 Series. The trouble is, no sooner had the 333i been completed; when Group 1 was cancelled. Some 210 examples of the 333i would leave the production line between 1985 and 1987.
Built around the two-door, coupé body style of the E30 3 Series, the headline news for the 333i was the inclusion of the 3.2-litre, straight-six motor from the 733i of the era. Offering slightly less power than the M3, this larger M30-series engine nevertheless boasted some 55 N.m more torque than the pinnacle 3. Alpina would specifically develop new inlet and exhaust manifolds for this application, while the powertrain’s Bosch L-Jetronic fuel management system also needed to be modified for the cause. Offering 145 kW and 285 N.m of torque, the car featured a close-ratio, 5-speed manual transmission, and a limited-slip differential.
Interestingly, because of how snugly this motor fitted into the engine bay of an E30-generation 3 Series, owners had to choose between having air-conditioning or power steering fitted to their final purchase, there wasn’t enough space to include both. Cars with air-conditioning included are distinguishable via air vents in their front bumpers, as opposed to supplementary driving lights on examples with power steering.
Available in a choice of four exterior colours, the 333i was sold as standard with a M-Technic 1 aero body kit and distinct-looking 16-inch alloy wheels. A sunroof was optional.
Full leather upholstery, a bespoke steering wheel and several M-division-sourced trim items distinguished the car’s interior, including the red instrument cluster needles usually reserved for “proper” M cars.
Hosted by Creative Rides in Cape Town on 18 March 2023, an Ice White, 1987 BMW 333i with 98 677 km on the clock went under the hammer with no reserve. With both a keen local and international audience in play, the car was eventually sold to a registered online bidder based in New Zealand. With a winning bid of R1.225 million, the car is set to leave for the Land of the Long White Cloud in due course.
A motoring journalist with more than 20 years’ experience, Ian McLaren will be compiling a series are articles documenting his learning curve when it comes to all things auction. Find him on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok at @IanMcLaren76.
These articles aim to offer insights only and in no way encourage reckless or hit-and-miss purchasing decisions.