The Super Rare BMW M Car That You've Probably Never Heard Of!
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- Опубліковано 20 січ 2025
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If you're interested in the BMW 530MLE, contact:
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I head to Goodwood Motor Circuit, where the Duke of London (Merlin) is hosting one of his track days. He very kindly threw me the keys to a 1976 BMW 530MLE... an incredibly rare homologation special which could be considered one of the first BMW M cars.
BMW South Africa had desire to go racing in the Modified Production series, so 100 road-ready homologation specials needed to be built. Between 105 and 110 MLEs were made, with donor E12 525 chassis’ being plucked off the production line at the Rosslyn plant in Pretoria.
From there they were hand-built into the 530 MLE, with extensive holes cut and drilled into things like the parcel shelf, C-pillars and under the seats to bring the kerb weight down to 1233kg. Even the clutch pedal and boot hinges were drilled to save a few extra grams. The nature of the modifications also means than no two cars are identical.
The existing MacPherson strut / semi-trailing arm suspension layout was enhanced with stiffer springs and Bilstein shocks. Thicker anti-roll bars were fitted at either end.
As per the standard six cylinder E12 5-series, 280mm diameter ventilated brake discs were fitted up front. However, they were 3mm thicker than normal (25mm). Regular 272mm diameter solid discs were used at the back. Special four-piston calipers were used all round along with 14 x 7-inch BBS cross-spoke wheels.
For 1976, the MLE was special mechanically, too. The M30 engine received a hotted-up camshaft, higher-compression Mahle pistons and twin Zenith carbs. Raw figures sat at 147kW and 250Nm (which is believed to be underquoted), while 100km/h ticked over in 9.3 seconds.
The gearbox chosen was a close ratio Getrag 265 five-speed manual dogleg gearbox with a single-plate clutch and Borg Warner limited-slip differential.
To say that the MLE was a racing success is an understatement. It won 15 out of 15 races in its first season.
Special interior equipment fitted to the 530 MLE included Scheel front seats and a small diameter three-spoke Italvolanti steering wheel. The rear seat was mounted to a lightweight foam base instead of a conventional steel frame. Much of the sound deadening was also left out.
The example we have available is nothing short of sublime. Bought from long term ownership in South Africa by a serious UK collector in 2020. The car has been pampered since it’s arrival here and is accompanied by a sizeable folder documenting the meticulous works carried out.
This work includes (but is not limited to):
an engine refresh including top end rebuild, all new engine seals and gaskets, ancillaries overhauled as necessary, head skimmed, new head bolts
Brake and suspension overhaul including dropping front subframe and rebuilding with Powerflex bushes
K-Mac top mounts and front and rear camber and caster kits
Weber carburettor conversion and set up (original Zenith carburettors are still with the car and included with the sale)
Dino tuning with print out graph
Refurbished original 14” x 7” BBS alloy wheels
Schmiedmann gearbox short shift kit
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As a South African I'm proud to see our special vehicles being appreciated in international markets
Got 1 or maybe 2 in Kuala Lumpur
Yeah. I remember my dad had a BMW 333i in 1974. We drove across the Orange Free State towards Cape Town to get out. We only just made it !
@@peterbustin2683 I'm confused, the 333i was only produced in 1985 -1987
@@hoodstar949 I assure you we had one, in 1974. We had this big Mazda before that.
I remember the m car. South Africa can now barely keep the lights on
Could we get an update on the STG HQ? Been a while since we've seen it. Lov to see more of Twiggy aswell. So adorable on Instagram.
Seems like the new “STG HQ” is at his house since he left the STG HQ at Duke of London.
@@flavioc5389 He left. When?? Why!! It was so cool!
@@Lburt07 Since the beginning of the new series of the podcast. I'd assume the rent at the old HQ would have been getting pretty hefty with his use of it, it doesn't make sense to keep it going for the sake of it. I really enjoy the new setup tbh, feels far more calming and chill.
#trypophobia
why does it matter
Proud to see the South African contribution to motor racing and innovation being recognized. BMW-South Africa gave the "world at large" some fantastic cars from their home base north of Pretoria. This is the second video in the past week to recognize this with the other being JM's review of the 1983 BMW 735i which was the base for the unique 213kw BMW 745i engineered in South Africa. It was unique to RSA and didn't make it to Europe.
I wish there were other car UA-camrs like you Sam, so easy to watch because of the genuine enthusiasm
Well done on the research it was very nice to see the MLE featured I know the car well and remember the owner bringing it in.
Very nice video and an amazing car. I also own a South African assembled BMW E12, but a 520 auto.
Only one remark about the video… I wish there was a bit more footage of the engine sound with no comment, so we could all hear that amazing straight six. I don’t mean less commentary, just more pure engine noise that all.
The randomness of cars featured on the channel is always exciting!
Next we seeing the 333i and 2.7l 325iS.🤣
Hi Sam, My fiancée and I met you in Maranello last weekend at Drakes bar. Just wanted to say thank you for chatting to us!
Love watching your videos and it was a pleasure meeting you. Keep up the amazing work 👍
Excellent video sir. That car, wow. The apartment was beautiful, not sure if I want to spend 4 million to live just off the Harrow road 😂
Sam thank you for making a film on this fantastic BMW. I had a 1981 BMW E12 520 back in 1994. It drove beautifully despite only being a 4 speed manual but the 2.0 Six sounded lovely. I can only imagine how this 530 drove in your film. But I think you summed it up. Fantastic car for a road trip across Europe. Lunch in Monaco, Dessert in Geneva, Tea in Vienna & Night cap in Berlin. Great sounding and driving car. Cheers Si.🚗👍😎
I absolutely love my E12, mine isn’t quite in the same league as that MLE but it’s so special to me and I’m glad you’re bringing the model to a wider audience
My favorite BMW 5 Series (E12) MLE, but they made E23 745 ( first M7) too with M1 motor.
Older cars just have so much more character and soul than today's stuff
Great car!!!! .........look out for other South African specials in the BMW 333i and 325is (2.7 litre) in E30 variant!
Yes and the 745i
Til this day I'm yet to see a 333i in person (and I'm sure it'll be at MFest but I won't be able to attend this weekend). 352iS is a legendary car, that's one of the few cars I know people around my hood would know to be a good investment. Plus the E30 generation 3ers are some of the most loved cars in South Africa.
When I saw the thumbnail I thought "Oh, Sam is driving an E12 M535...". I never knew about this E12 530 MLE SA car so thanks for sharing. Bought back memories of my E28 M535 from many years ago 👍.
South African BMW's are my favorite I think. This and the E23 SA 745i are just too good.
I’m a die hard bmw fan , but I can honestly say that the 530mle didn’t impress me as the apartment did!
That apartment is something else!
Wow this channel makes me be sure I’m poor and broke
Thought this was going to be an M535i at first, so I was pleasantly surprised to learn that this was a BMW I actually did not know existed.
In South Africa this was done a few times by different manufacturers. The Alfa Romeo 2.5 v6 was tricked out to a 3 v6 we also fiddled with the Ford Capri and the result was the Ford Capri V8 Perana.
Opel Kadett Superboss, Ford Serria XR8 ,BMW 333i BMW 325is Evo1 and 2 and the 745i 🇿🇦
A friend of mine built BMW M3s in the 90s, and before that one 2002 Tii relica, white with M stripe from one side over the roof and down on the other side... After BMW he now builds 911... Great Video!!
Hi from South Africa. Awesome to see one of our homoligation specials featured on your channel 👍
Thank for watching feel free to reach out I have something for you ⬆️🎁🎁
I see that GP Ice Race yeti cap 👀 10/10
Great looking car. I appreciate you featuring some cars that aren't the newest ones. Classics are very overlooked by most youtubers.
If you can find a DeTomaso Pantera Si and feature that, that would be out of this world
everyone in the world should thank BMW South Africa because we in South Africa got alot of South African only cars because we were denied some cars for some unknown reason like the E30 M3 instead we got the most powerful 325is models and BMW 333i's and some other cars , so it's safe to say that South Africa plays a huge role in special cars and cars in general
Don't forget your e23 745i with the fabulous M88/3 engine!!! Do you know if some are available second hand ?
@@1983dmd no there's just 2 , 325is for 1 million rand for sale and a BMW M1 that's for sale at the moment for 13 million rand
Loving the 70s music that you used! Kinda Shaft/Starsky & Hutch feel to your intro! Pity you didn’t bonnet slide to get in the car though…
South Africa represent🤟🤟🤘🤘
I love the soundtrack to this video!! Very retro and period correct!
BMW 6 cylinder engines used to sound better than they do now. I wish I could have an engine like that in my 435i. Thanks for the video. It’s brought a smile to my face which will last me the rest of the day.
Totally agree! My last 2018 440i Coupe and current 2020 M340i sound good but nowhere near as creamy and velvety as the M30 engines I had in my 1980 E12 and subsequent 1982 E28 528iAs I owned in the eighties. They sounded SO much better. The 12 valve “small” M20 six was even smoother and quieter (presumably cambelts being quieter than camchains) and I loved the E30 325i. Even a later 328iA Canriolet I owned years later sounded better than my M340i!
So, why not buying an old BMW instead of the new ones?
@@geromedelaforet6695 Because of modern safety, reliability and conveniences. I own it for every day driving not out of want but need. A classic really isn’t for everyday driving. My point is BMWs have lost their Ultimate Driving Machine ethos to appeal to a wider set of buyers. Most of their products now are trucks. This is a lovely reminder of when BMWs were enthusiast focused - why I fell in love with BMWs. The latest M is a 2.5 ton leviathan. Other than high end performance cars and specialist sports cars there isn’t much for traditional car enthusiasts anymore. A standard BMW used to be a driving enthusiasts car. Now it is a truck with an emotionless engine.
@@peterwindsor1294 OK, I understand, you are certainly right with safety and so on. BTW, I too don't like the BMW trucks, they are all awfull.
Brilliant! This reminds me so much of the very early BMW 5 Series my Dad owned in period when we lived abroad. Unlike the japanese cars that were available, the BMW came with no extras and we had to get aftermarket airconditioning and audio.
Funny to see that the UK only seems to get into duplex (lift) garages now and they are regarded as upmarket. In any German (and I imagine many other Euro countries as well) city they’ve been pretty much the bread and butter parking solution for decades and are somewhat frowned upon for owners of higher end vehicles.
Awesome to be on the road with you Sam. Cool to see fresh lifestyle content, in the greatly appreciated, signature STG mix! Thank you.
the plant on the balcony is lovely too
The SA market got some realy special bimmers. E30 333i . etc.
Great car, fabulous seventies soundtracks. Another first class episode.
Fantastic induction noise. Just glorious to hear ❤
Thank ! feel free to reach me out I have something for your …..!!! ⬆️🎁🎁🎊
Fleetwood Mac Rumours on cassette tape , oh lovely car too🤓
Love BMW M cars, and classic M Cars.
Nice vid....correction....
This would be classed as the first blueprint for the M535i on the E12 platform 1980/81.
Very similar features.
The engine sounds great.
Describing Goodwood as Glorious. I think it has been done before.
what a car!! wow!
I was surprised by the velour seats!
My Dad used to love velour haha I'll have to tell him about the fist M car!
Thank ! feel free to reach me out I have something for your …..!!! ⬆️🎁🎁🎊
Bruh needs to get a deal with HGTV 🔥
This is 🆒
Very interesting Sam! You sure find them ❤
Such a cool car. And the livery, awesome!!
BMW SA also gave South Africans a M1 engined 7 series called the 745i and a E30 333i...the latter fitted with the engine from the 733i of the period. The latter was offered to us Saffas because we couldn't get the E30 M3....you could order it with eiter air conditioning OR powersteering, but not both, as there was not enough space for both options....later, we also had the 325i S with a Hartge derived 2.7l engines.....those were the days
Thank ! feel free to reach me out I have something for your …..!!! ⬆️⬆️⬆️
That era bmw well tuned with a header and bigger breaks. A smoker. That 3 liter inline 6.
I don't think the parking spaces work like an elevator.. I think the parking spaces are piling onto each other so you have to remove the cars under to lower the cars on the top side! So you'd park the daily under the special cars!
Proper content Sam.
What a beautiful machine
Sorry Sam, I prefer my forest views and a house twice the size for probably a quarter of the price tag - 25 min train journey to Waterloo too! 😊
I've always wanted an M series BMW.. Almost bought one but it didn't have an engine and nother the transmission was slipping in 3-4 gears. Would a budget conscious M series sbe affordable to the average person (Europe vs USA) market?
Didn’t “The Late Brake Show” pull one of these out of a shed a week or so ago? Looked mint. 👍
Great vid! Did not know about these.
What an intro...hahah! Love you man!
Slight error their, the very first saloon m-car was the e12 m535i in Germany with 218bhp, these are super rare usually in Grey or White, most had no stripes. This car was the South African car based on parts shipped from Germany. Quite a few SA specific cars that were not sold anywhere else, like this one, 745i or the e30 333i, 325iS OR 325iX etc. This is one of such rare cars.
Hello Sam. Cheers from the others side of the pond. 🍻 🇺🇸🍻
You can keep the apartment, I'll take the Beemer thanks !
Thank ! feel free to reach me out I have something for your …..!!! ⬆️⬆️⬆️
Big fan of the lifestyle videos, a nice mix of cars and another subject in the same video is welcomed!
Great video and amazing car, love these one off homoligation cars that have become cult classics.
Haven't peered through your window for quite a while, and
it appears you've grown UP a bit!
Nice to see some Bavarian Iron on the channel as I daily
drive an E23 and an E28 which have become members of
the family, so to speak.....
While I LIKE 'em, I wouldn't want to OWN one of the SA cars
due to fear of dents, scratches or running into something
unintentionally during fun time.
Cheers!
Dan in Bangor
BTW, I'm really not especially interested in
your lifestyle. Maybe I'm just not in your demo....
D.
Thank ! feel free to reach me out I have something for your …..!!! ⬆️⬆️⬆️
Very cool car. Very nice building shame the views are off depressed de-industrialised areas.
Wonderful Sam! Such a cool car.
Valve guides appear knackered, blue smoke on acceleration
There is also a 745 m car South Africa
Loved your throwing in some home tours, definitely would be a cool little branch out if you did some that had interesting ways of connecting to your content!!!
Maybe some properties close to you favorite tracks/ roads around the world!!
Love it!
Premo content mi compadré.👌🏾
Thank you.
What's the king of all school supplies?
A ruler.
It's a lot more fun, affordable, stress free, etc. to visit "the big city" than to live there. Nice apartment, can't afford it, don't even want to live there from past experience. Probably will take you longer to get to the places you want to go in the big city while living in it, than living outside in the suburbs and taking a day trip once or twice a month on the weekend. Just a tip.
Such a cool car
I owned an e12 M535i 23 years ago it was severely rotten and I got rid as it simply wasn't viable to restore it ☹️ wish I still had it.
Hey Sam! Is the Porsche steering wheel bracelet still available somewhere? Or is there a possibility for a rerun?
Love these car and lifestyle videos!
That sound!
Thank ! feel free to reach me out I have something for your …..!!! ⬆️⬆️⬆️
What size engine is in this car? M30 B32?
M30B30
Thank ! feel free to reach me out I have something for your …..!!! ⬆️🎁🎁🎊
Yes my Hanna had one in Jo berg
There was a M535i before the M5 in this same chassis
A gem!
Thank ! feel free to reach me out I have something for your …..!!! ⬆️🎁🎁🎊
Any update on your x3 ? Is it green or not anymore ?
I’m think Sam sold it for the RS6 and then got rid of the RS6 for the F Type? (Edit typo)
I can hear you're working on your German pronunciation. Good for you, Sam!
Spend some more time around the Nürburgring and you'll have the CH down. ;)
Nothing catching my eye as an SVJ Cruises past! 17.18🤯🤯🤯🤯😖😮😮
Real estate, used cars and VPN services what else can we flog in a short video 😂.
I have actually driven one of the firsdt M535i models in this country, I workeds for Cronks of Chipstead BMW dealership and we got one in and there was a big hooha going on about this new model. I took it out for a shakedown cruise and yes, it was light and quick but the back end was a bit lively. That must have been around 1980/1. We later got an M635 in and that was nowhere near as good as the ordinary 633i I had been smoking around in, it was too big and lumpy for me. Sure it was quick but no fun, I wrestled with that damn thing and then lost interest. I had a Renault 10 Gordini at the time, a whole heap more fun than any beemer!
Will you ever do an Aston Martin Valkyrie vid S??
100% missed an opportunity for the classic accidental reversing due to the dog leg gear box
Quite hard to do as when shifting up from 1st the shifter aligns with the gait for 2nd and 3rd, unlike the Getrag 265 that had its reverse top left next to 1st so you can imagine the fun of feeling for 1st / reverse at junctions just in case!
one ironic 'benefit' of apartheid in South Africa was that major car companies who didnt want to be too involved in SA because of the controversial politics, often green lit some wonderful homologation specials dreamt up by local engineers all the way down in Africa were red tape issues were not as much of an issue. South Africa has thus produced many special limited production cars of this nature, in the 70's, 80's and early 90's usually in batches of around 100 to 250 examples.
love this video ~!!
More of this please
Can you imagine the price of that penthouse suite?
£3.95m
3 paid ads in 1 video (The BMW, NordVPN and then the apartment)
You could also buy a mk3 Astra gsi turbo in South Africa…
Thank ! feel free to reach me out I have something for your …..!!! ⬆️🎁🎁🎊
Love this content.
As a country person it does make me laugh what you city folk consider a “epic” view!
"nothing on the flyover "says Sam.... as an Aventador tools past!!
I think it looks great
Thank for watching feel free to reach out I have something for you ⬆️🎁🎁
1300kg with a M30B30 is pretty impressive... My E34 M20 is 1400kg and my E32 M30B30 is 1700kg...
Sam when you coming to Perth? I need to take you for a coffee and meet you finally in person after years seeing you through the glass. Let me know mate please... i know good morning spots in perth.
Make more videos like this!!
you don't need to work harder dude, it's just making you agitated
According to the BMW M Registry , 218 Street legal versions of this car were made.....Not between 105 and 110...
only 105 to 110 lightweights were built which are the original MLE, a further 100 odd cars were built but were no longer lightweights. Had A/C elec windows ect and most didnt get the body kit. i own 2 of around 9 cars left worldwide.
@@luismalhou2330 Interesting...May I ask where I can find this information?
@@luismalhou2330 Ok I just found out who you are ! Sorry for the question ! Respect ! What is the e12 M535 MLE ? Is it true only 7 were made? I can't find any information on those except this new video:ua-cam.com/video/9AQ2xoFM17s/v-deo.html