There is no such car as an "M533" (more) (archive)

In the E28 body (which I'm assuming we're talking about here since you are on an E28 board) there was no factory M533i, nor racing special, nor nothing M533i. Period.

Let's review the big six engine options.
1) 3453cc M-engine, 24-valve, DOHC. 2 versions, low compression 9.8:1 with catalytic conv. for US market, and high compression 10.5:1 engine w/o cat for euro market.

2.) 3430cc "3.5 liter" engine, 2 valves per cylinder, SOHC. 2 versions, "green" with low compression 8.0:1 and a cat, and a "dirty" version with high compression 10.0:1 and no cat. US avail only in "green" versions, europe had both versions available.

3.) 2.8 liter. SOHC, 2 valves per cylinder, only one "dirty" version avail in europe. made about 184 bhp DIN and 170ish lb-ft torque.

4.) 2.5 liter. SOHC, 2 valves per cylinder, based of the M30 engine family. 525i in E34 and the 2.5 liter engine in later E30s derived from M20 engine family. The E28 came from the E12, which was derived from the original 2500 E3 sedan that had the "big six" 2.5 liter.

5.) 3.3 liter, USA only. SOHC, 2 valves per cylinder. This was based off of earlier 3.3 liter (actually 3210cc or 3.2 liter) engines BMW had. In E28, avail only 83 and 84 model years in the USA.

Now, if you're going to talk about earlier big six motors in 6,7, and E12 series, that is a different story, which I will not get into, but suffice to say there were a few different versions of the 3210cc engine available in the 7 and 6 series in europe.

However, one RARE car that indeed came out of BMW M was the 1978 E12 533i. This was the precursor to the E12 M535i, and only a handful of the E12 533i were ever built. Alan Henry, I think, in his book "BMW M-series and Performance Specials" had the luck to drive one of these cars in the US, I believe, as well as an E12 M535i. But in any case, the E12 533i engine is the only "factory 533i" of any merit. And if you have one of these, which is extremely doubtful since only a handful (one hundred, MAYBE) were ever built, they weren't imported into the USA, and who knows how many are actually left, then you really need to restore this car if not for it's intrinsic value, but for historical value. The only problem is that technically BMW M never had official serial number production the E12 533i, so you can't really "prove" much of anything about the car.

So unless you have the E12 533i, which deserves merit, then it's just another 3.3 engine. Sorry.

Merry Christmas
Chris Graff
www.535i.org

all right w/e, only 3 technicians who specialize in German cars(one who was the dealer who sold it to me) have worked on the engine and told me it is rare and my engine is almost identical to my friend M5.35.....dont believe all the info you find on the internet
Don't you know what kind of car you own? Here, Let me help. Pick on of these:

528e (USA Only - Europe had similar 525e)
533i (USA Up To 1984)
535i (USA 1985-1988 in E28 series)
535is (USA 1987 & 1988)
524td (Diesel)
M535i (Euro Only Car)
M5 (24Valve Monster - Only in Black here in the USA)

There is no M5.33i Do you mean you have a 533i that some idiot put ///M Badges on?? If that is the case, I have an ///M Plymouth Duster and Tim In Central Jersey drives a Ford //M Expedition (Yes, he is putting an M badge on it :)

Follow Ups:

Re: Chris nailed it as far as the only 3.3liter... Richard '83 533i Houston 13:44 12/25/2001 (6)
- Re: Chris nailed it as far as the only 3.3liter... huey 19:35 12/25/2001 (5)
  - So What Is Your Vin Number?? Tim In NJ 23:02 12/25/2001 (4)
    - Re: I think, Huey's car is an '84 533i ... Richard '83 533i Houston 11:46 12/26/2001 (3)
      - Re: I think, Huey's car is an '84 533i ... huey 22:06 12/27/2001 (1)
        
        ETK: 533i SEDAN USA from HueyVin Eberhard Faber 04:27 12/28/2001 (0)
      - Very ///M isleading! Duke - M535i 11:49 12/26/2001 (0)

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