Beschreibung
The remaining cars are now over thirty years old. The car that certainly should have “qualified” as the BMW M7 is by in large unknown outside of South Africa and its iconic BMW Motorsport heritage in that country probably never be forgotten.
Ironically, if you refer to the MAGAZINE section of this website you will find an article; "When BMW raced a 7-SERIES... yes, really".
Although the BMW E23 “7 Series” was always sold with in-line 6-cylinder engines exclusively, BMW did experiment with various V8 and V12 power plants circa the 1980’s.
However, when wanting to produce a high-speed Autobahn Express for business executives, BMW Munich decided to use a turbocharged version of the existing M30 inline-six unit in their Germany built flagship 745i model. Inasmuch as what transpired was the M102 power-plant with 248 BHP and 276 pound-feet Torque – but due to installation problems within the existing model engine bay, due to the Turbo unit size only LHD market cars could be produced and the RHD markets such as UK, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, etc. were simply not catered for.
As a result, BMW South Africa, under the guidance of Bernd Pischetsrieder – their local Product Development Director – obtained permission to create a special version of the “7 SERIES”. These homologation cars were powered by the legendary 24-valve M88 engine already developed by BMW MOTORSPORT for the superb M1 Supercar during its production life, and subsequently in later “beefed-up” MOTORSPORT derivatives of the “E24 6-Series” and “E28 5-Series”.
Notably, this man had already succeeded in producing the “SA-only” homologation specials like the E30 333i and the later “SA-Only” cars – being the legendary 2. 7 litre 6-cylinder Alpina inspired BMW MOTORSPORT versions. These were badged the 325iS with full M-Tec body kit in 1989, and the aluminium 325iS EVO of 1990 and heavier steel sunroof and steel doored 325iS EVO2 of 1991; to substitute the lack of the E30 M3 which again were LHD only cars.
All of these cars bypassed veto by the Munich Board upon the basis of fulfilling a need to compete in the Group 1 and subsequent Group 1 Modified class.
Evidently, BMW Munich never wanted any form of production “M7” per se, and as such ordered the SA plant not to use the “M” badge as part of the 745i badging – although some owners simply fitted their own badges after purchase – such as is seen on the car offered here today.
Frankly, I don’t know the reasons why the 745i SA didn’t get the right to use the vaunted “M” branding badge. The rumours surrounding this are that Munich felt the M88-engine was to raucous for the Flagship model, or they didn’t want a competitor to the Euro-745 Turbo car, or they didn’t want their Flagship to compete against the likes of the Mercedes AMG offerings of the time.
Is it relevant ….. not really, particularly if you ever had the pleasure of watching wheel-man Tony Viana blow the doors off all-comers on the National Group 1 series of races around the country at the time.
I will send anyone interested a further link regarding the only RACING 7 SERIES on request.
Heck, guys with the spending power rushed out and bought one off the showroom floor at the time when a recession was ongoing and the car itself cost more than a spectacular mansion in the best suburb of Johannesburg back then.
Even though it looked like any other 745i on the outside — except for the fact that all SAs were fitted with 16-inch, BBS Mahle wheels — the South African sedan was special in many aspects.
Obviously, its most important feature was the M88 engine lurking under the hood. A slightly revised version of the unit launched in the M1, the 3. 5-liter inline-six produced 282 horsepower and 251 pound-feet of torque in the full-size sedan, as much as it did in the Euro-spec E24 M635CSi and the E28 M5. At the time of its launch, the 745i SA was the most powerful 7-Series globally and it outstripped the turbocharged 745i global LHD model by 34 BHP.
Most cars had their engines mated to a ZF four-speed automatic transmission with three modes - including Sport mode - a 3. 73:1 ratio and a limited-slip differential.
A relatively small amount of these sedans were equipped with a Getrag 5-speed manual with a "dogleg" shift pattern – possibly to satisfy future privateer-racer buyers - also with a limited-slip differential. These were the only 745i models with a Manual gearbox, as all Euro-spec models were equipped with automatics only.
The chassis also got updated to “M” specifications, including a slightly firmer suspension and a load-levelling rear axle. The 745i SA received the enhanced brakes of the M635CSi and the M5, as well as the ABS system.
While the SA’s exterior was devoid of M badges and any features to set it apart from other 745is, the interior came with many special features. The cabin was noted for the massive amount of NAPPA leather that covered anything from the dashboard and centre console to the door panels and headliner. This feature became the expensive "Highline" option for other Euro 7- Series models in 1986, the E23’s final year on the market in LHD markets. The centre console was also different, with the power window switches placed around the shifter instead of around the parking brake handle. The ashtray was also relocated behind the shifter instead of below the radio.
Another feature unique to the South African-spec 745i was the bespoke instrument cluster with M logos on both the speedo and the rev counter. However, it seems Munich opted to remove it early into production for some reason. Otherwise, the 745i SA was equipped with all the standard features found in the Euro-spec car, including power windows, power mirrors, power front and rear seats, power sunroof, automatic climate control, cruise control, an on-board computer, and radio/ cassette audio system.
Only 209 examples of the 745i SA were produced by BMW South Africa from January 1984 through April 1987. The sedans were assembled in the country from Complete Knock-Down (CKD) kits shipped from Germany and sold exclusively in the domestic market. However, there’s information that at least one example was exported to Europe before production ended.
Of the 209 units produced, 192 were equipped with the ZF automatic transmission, while 17 received the optional, Getrag five-speed manual gearbox. Due to the limited production run, the 745i SA is quite expensive nowadays, especially low-mileage examples in near-mint condition. However, their value as collectibles is somewhat capped by the fact that all cars were built with RHD.
Still, it remains the rarest version of the first-generation 7 Series.
During the last twelve years, I have personally only known of one other original car – in White body – that has come on the market throughout South Africa. These were extremely rapid cars in their day, and unfortunately, gung-ho drivers with ego bigger than driving ability took its toll.
The car offered here is original per ex-factory, however the car has a odometer reading of 250, 000 KLMS (some 155, 000 MLS). The body paintwork has a few minor blemishes – if you looked very critically and carefully at the roof and boot-lid surfaces, otherwise very presentable and never resprayed. The interior is still all there and intact, again slight wear that is representative of a caring owner – initially the father and later the son in the same family. Most notably this cars matching numbers M88 engine has just been totally rebuilt by a BMW trained technician (mechanic) with a vast experience of BMW Motorsport and whom knowns the M88 better that anyone else in SA – the man is sheer genius and owns a BMW Specialist Performance Workshop in South Africa.
The price of the car is subject to the shipping and import destination requirements. All interested parties should contact me by email, and clearly state their full name and contact cell number and general whereabouts. I simply will not respond to anyone who is not prepared to divulge this information, and therefore will regard the enquiry as coming from a disingenuous person.
Alternatively, you may call me on the UK contact number provided.
