BMW 325iS EVO II race car: Classic Drive

BMW has a rich history in South Africa – the Bavarian brand has produced a few unique-to-Mzansi models and raced almost all of them, most famously the E30-series 325iS. We drive tin-top racing champ Shaun van der Linde’s Group N race car.

BMW’s E30 3 Series needs little introduction, especially to South African enthusiasts. We’ve produced countless articles and YouTube videos about special South African BMW models such as the E23 745i, E30 333i and the E30 325iS. We’ve even offered a limited-edition 1/18 scale model of the 325iS.

This E30 325iS was raced by 1992 South African Drivers- and 1994 South African Touring Car Champion Shaun van der Linde in that era’s Stannic Group N production-car racing series. For younger readers, Shaun is the father of Kelvin and Sheldon, both of whom are successful international racing drivers.

It is a car that embodies such an important part of South African automotive racing history. That is abundantly clear when you walk up to the car and you see the Protea Hotel, Stannic, Good Year, Trek and all the other sponsors, logos and colours that form part of this BMW E30 3 Series race car’s iconic livery.

Up close with the BMW 325iS race car

Keep in mind that these machines were closely based on road cars; they were converted to race cars – all done locally. The result is that when you open the door, you find a racing- instead of a driver’s seat, a 4-point harness and a full aluminium roll cage. However, there is still a complete dashboard, gear lever and -boot, as well as all the other buttons you would expect to find on the road car’s slanted fascia.

I open the bonnet and revel in the unobstructed view of the 2.7-litre, inline-6-cylinder (with a 12-, not 24-valve configuration) that produced a rather muscular (for the time) 155 kW and 265 Nm. On closer inspection, it’s evident the race car has been lowered, but those wheels were standard on the 325iS.

Specifications

Model: 1993 E30 BMW 325iS EVO II
Engine: 2.7-litre, inline-6 petrol
Power: 155 kW at 5 800 rpm
Torque: 265 Nm at 4 500 rpm
Transmission: 5-speed manual, RWD
Weight: 1 150 kg (approx)
0-100 kph: 7.5 sec (claimed)
Top speed: 226 kph (claimed)

Behind the wheel

This 325iS EVO II is no artefact – it is licensed and road-registered. As the key is handed to me, it takes a while to sink in how truly special this car is, even more so that I will be able to experience it on-road.

As I head onto the road, I carefully make my way through the traffic and finally along Ou Kaapse Weg. Close your eyes, and apart from the louder drivetrain noise and the seat that holds you firmer in place than in the original road car, there is nothing to make you believe that you are driving anything else than a standard BMW 325iS EVO II, which was the final iteration of the range-topping BMW E30 3 Series coupe.

The clutch does engage very quickly the moment you release the leftmost pedal. However, once I’ve shifted through all of the forward gears, it is arguably one of the smoothest race cars I’ve ever driven.

At around 3 000 rpm there is plenty of torque already, and the 6-pot engine, although not “multivalve-like revvy”, is eager and buttery smooth, all of which makes the driving experience an absolute pleasure.

There is an omnipresent burble from that Alpina-fettled inline-6 motor and a deep exhaust note from the twin exhaust pipes, but the soundtrack is not unlike that of the road car. With a few gaps in the traffic, I eagerly plant the long pedal and I can immediately sense there is plenty of performance on offer.

The engine is happy to build up revs progressively, but still there is plenty of torque in the mid-range, allowing you to enjoy a larger piece of the rev range than is sometimes the case with peaky race cars.

It is through the corners that the BMW 325iS EVO II truly impresses, however. You sit low in the car, and compared with modern cars, the pint-sized BMW coupe feels compact and light, whether you are accelerating in a straight line or when a few corners open up in front of you.

The nose eagerly turns into the corners, and even the steering provides enough feedback, especially if you steer slightly away from the ‘wheel’s centre position. I can only imagine what it must have been like to race these cars in the early 90s. Today, there is still a monumental amount of fun to be had behind the wheel – and compared with modern machines, such a level of driving bliss can be had at modest speeds.

Summary

The BMW E30 3 Series offers a simplistic design inside and out, but it has become an absolute timeless design and a highlight from BMW’s late-20th-century model line-up. This car will undoubtedly find a good home once its new owner decides to part with it. Someone who understands BMW South Africa’s racing history and has fond memories of the 325iS’ on-track successes will enjoy this car the most.

Although certain elements of the Bimmer’s drivetrain, such as the clutch, require a bit of attention, once all those issues have been ironed out, this historic BMW 235iS EVO II will only entice and enthral its new owner, whether they’re going to a track day, BMW M-Fest or even on a breakfast run at the weekend.

It is all but guaranteed to be a highlight in whoever’s garage it will find a parking spot in the near future.

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