3 Series (G20) [Official] BMW 3 Series (G20)

[klier]

The 330i and the M135i already share an engine. The B48. Although the 1er has the B48A20T1 iteration, and the 330i has the B48B20 iteration. I assume you mean will the 330is Edition receive the same state of tune as the M135i? I doubt it. If this is truly for South Africa only, changes beyond cosmetic bits and pieces will be minimal. It's simpl...

We all know it's the same basic engine. And they have many, many, many times brought cars to specific markets or even one market. South Africa somehow is special going by history....

 

[Betty Swollocks]

We all know it's the same basic engine. And they have many, many, many times brought cars to specific markets or even one market. South Africa somehow is special going by history....

I don't doubt they can bring cars to one market. The question is to what degree is the special edition "modified" beyond cosmetic stuff.

 

[CrunchSlaughtered]

I would suppose it has a sport suspenssion, a LSD, sport brakes and seats. The engine must be the same like in the 330i otherwise it would need a new emission certification( for this body type).

 

[hovabongZA]

is this using the M35i engine?

No specs out yet, will let you know as soon as I have them a 35i would be nice but I doubt it because of the engine layout transverse vs longitudinal. BMWSA wouldn’t go extra like that especially now that we don’t even build the 3 series anymore.

We all know it's the same basic engine. And they have many, many, many times brought cars to specific markets or even one market. South Africa somehow is special going by history....

We’ve had some pretty special cars this side 325is, 333i and 745i unofficially dubbed the M7 to name a few.

This colour works really well on the G20.

 

[CrunchSlaughtered]

No specs out yet, will let you know as soon as I have them a 35i would be nice but I doubt it because of the engine layout transverse vs longitudinal

This engine is suitable for both - transverse and longitudinal application so this should not be an issue.

 

[hovabongZA]

A BMW “genius” says there won’t be any power upgrades on 330is .Only the color coded M Performance kit and a M Performance Exhaust.Not even an LSD! What a disappointment it does not deserve to be an ‘IS’. Just a marketing exercise by BMWSA.

 

[Betty Swollocks]

A BMW “genius” says there won’t be any power upgrades on 330is .Only the color coded M Performance kit and a M Performance Exhaust.Not even an LSD! What a disappointment it does not deserve to be an ‘IS’. Just a marketing exercise by BMWSA.

I don't know why anybody would think it would be anything but a marketing exercise.

changes beyond cosmetic bits and pieces will be minimal. It's simply not cost effective to have a unique model like that and only sell it in one country. Unless they actually sell it in the rest of the world.

 

[Robbie]

We all know it's the same basic engine. And they have many, many, many times brought cars to specific markets or even one market. South Africa somehow is special going by history....

Unfortunately it has been many years since BMW SA did something unique. I think it was the 325iS Evo, which replaced the 333i, but never really did in my eyes. That was a different age.

 

[Giannis]

I don't know why anybody would think it would be anything but a marketing exercise.

The E36 318is comes to mind.

 

[martinbo]

Unfortunately it has been many years since BMW SA did something unique. I think it was the 325iS Evo, which replaced the 333i, but never really did in my eyes. That was a different age.

325iS was a barely believably fine effort from BMW SA; to my mind, at least, far superior to the 333i in every way. I spent quite a bit of time in the 165 kW variant as a youngster (I was only ever given the keys on 2 occasions) and it was THE car that got me to fall in love with BMW. Then the owner got an E36 M3 in Avus Blue and the rest is history.

As for this 330iS "Edition" - meh - a low-class sticker job reminiscent of something Subaru in this country would do. It's a cheap and poorly followed through effort. They can keep it.

 

[Robbie]

325iS was a barely believably fine effort from BMW SA; to my mind, at least, far superior to the 333i in every way. I spent quite a bit of time in the 165 kW variant as a youngster (I was only ever given the keys on 2 occasions) and it was THE car that got me to fall in love with BMW. Then the owner got an E36 M3 in Avus Blue and the rest is history.

As...

I think you mean 155kW. The first 325iS had 145kW and the Evo (sometimes called Evo2) had 155kW. I think Car's timed 0-100km/h in the 333i was slightly faster.

My brother had a 333i and then a 325iS Evo. Whilst the 325iS was nice, it lacked the torque of the 333i. I suppose these things are personal though. In those days, there wasn't much replacement for displacement. The 333i looked more special with its Alpina rims, nicer than the 325iS's cross spokes IMHO.

The SA 745i was the first BMW that I loved and made me realize they were serious competition for Mercedes. Never had one in the family though. When my brother got the 333i, I adored that car. He had one with A/C but no P/S!

 

[CrunchSlaughtered]

The E36 318is comes to mind.

Also E30 320is and E90 320is despite the awful crankshaft problems of the later

 

[Betty Swollocks]

The E36 318is comes to mind.

BMW of today is run very differently to the BMW over 20 years ago.

 

[Giannis]

E90 320is

Wasn't this called 320si, the one with the CFRP engine cover?

BMW of today is run very differently to the BMW over 20 years ago.

Sadly, that's true...

 

[dalab]

Is this car you are talking about?
You say it was only for South Africa ?
I don't know if you know but the 325Is (pictured), also sold in Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay, (also the 318is), I loved that car

1992 E30 325is

 

[Robbie]

Is this car you are talking about?
You say it was only for South Africa ?
I don't know if you know but the 325Is (pictured), also sold in Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay, (also the 318is), I loved that car

1992 E30 325is

Amazing. It looks like it was RHD. Do you have any specs? I wonder if it was the car built in South Africa? It looks pretty similar.

 

[martinbo]

I think you mean 155kW. The first 325iS had 145kW and the Evo (sometimes called Evo2) had 155kW.

Yes, 155 kW - sorry, typo - the one without the aluminium doors which came on the 145 kW initial variant.

 

[Rolf]

Finally the man with the full length, full width, HD says lets go in a M340i. Lol

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[dalab]

Amazing. It looks like it was RHD. Do you have any specs? I wonder if it was the car built in South Africa? It looks pretty similar.

I do not remember the specs pitifully

 

[Rolf]

I think you mean 155kW. The first 325iS had 145kW and the Evo (sometimes called Evo2) had 155kW. I think Car's timed 0-100km/h in the 333i was slightly faster.

My brother had a 333i and then a 325iS Evo. Whilst the 325iS was nice, it lacked the torque of the 333i. I suppose these things are personal though. In those days, there wasn't much replac...

The 333i is more of a classic in my opinion as they only made 204 units from 1985 to 1987 while the 325is was available in different variants. These cars like the 745i, Sierra XR8, Alfa GTV6 3.0 and Opel Kadett 2.0 16V Superboss were all developed cause of motor racing which was extremely popular in SA in the 1980s and 1990s. Man I miss those days. Motor racing nowadays in SA is not so exciting anymore.