BMW 5 Series (E12) - Special Models

Special Models

Several low-production versions of the E12 were built. In 1978, the Motorsport 533i was produced for a short time in the German market featuring a 3.2L engine. The M535i, featuring a 3.5L engine with special styling such as Motorsport front and rear spoilers, Recaro-brand sport seats, a close-ratio transmission and limited-slip differential, larger brakes, and other styling cues such as Motorsport striping down the sides of the car and on the front airdam, was available between 1979 and 1981 with 1410 cars produced. In South Africa, the 530 MLE was produced as a light-weight homologation special for racing. These Motorsport E12's are often considered the first production models that the BMW Motorsport division ever produced.

Due to high import duties in South Africa, BMW sent E12 cars as complete knock down (CKD) kits to be assembled in South Africa for its own market. An E12/8 was built in the South Africa market just as the new E28 body replaced the E12 elsewhere. The E12/8 was essentially an E12 body fitted with the E28 suspension, electronics and interior.

On the Belgian market, there was a BMW 518 “deluxe” version. Only one thousand of these cars have been sold. It was a BMW 518 equipped as the 528i top model plus other luxury items such as headrests on the back seats. It was rumored that this special version was produced for the Iranian government, as a car for top officials under the shah’s rule. Due to the Iranian revolution these cars were never delivered. Instead, they have been sold as a special version in Belgium.

The Portuguese market also received nearly 700 CKD units due to the local regulations that demanded a certain amount of vehicles sold in Portugal to be locally assembled.

For the Swedish market not the complete BMW 5 range was offered. For Series 1 the models BMW 518, BMW 520 and BMW 520i plus BMW 525 were offered except the BMW 528. The range of Series 2 was reduced to three models: BMW 518i, BMW 520i and BMW 528i. The characteristic for the Swedish market was a BMW 518i and a BMW 520i, which had the same 2 litre engine, but the BMW 518i had a poorer equipment. That was the reason why it got the lower label in the 5 Series hierarchy. The BMW 520i was fitted with chromed wheel rings and a locable fueller cap. It was also fitted with headrestraints in the rear, an armrest in the middle of the rear bench, steering wheel height adjustment, seat height adjustment for the drivers seat, a wooden shifter knob, rear heater and the trunk was covered with grey plastic.