Origins of M-kind BMW 530 MLE

Words: Marius Boonzaier mariusboonzaier. Photos: Rob Till rtp12345 On the 50th anniversary of BMW’s performance arm, we trace the spiritual origins of M cars back to South Africa… ORIGINS M-KIND OF

sense of spirituality often accompanies climbing into an iconic classic motor vehicle with origins in motorsport. This sense is heightened with the realisation the car you’re seated in is one of the last of its kind, immaculately revived by its maker, and you’re staring down the main straight of Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit, the same track its racecar stablemate once graced, and you’ve been handed the keys.

The 530 Motorsport Limited Edition (MLE) was conceived in South Africa at the German marque’s Rosslyn plant in Pretoria, the fi rst BMW factory outside Germany. Based on the fi rst-generation (E12) 5 Series, the road-going derivative was produced as a homologation special for the racing variant. The latter model was the most successful 5 Series racecar in history, with 15 wins from the same number of consecutive starts and three Modifi ed Production Series championship titles in three years before it was retired in 1985. Just a few of the 110 Type 1 units produced in 1976, and 117 Type 2 models produced in 1977, remain today.

This 1976 vehicle, with its matching engine and chassis numbers, is car number 100.

AThe restored model was once owned by Peter Kaye-Eddie, racecar driver and racing 530 MLE team manager. After years of searching, BMW South Africa acquired this example in December 2018. The restoration process, under the direction of Luis Malhou of Custom Restorations, began. Appropriately, former employees who assembled the original vehicles provided input into the process. The 530 MLE was produced with weightsaving in mind. These measures included drilling the bodywork and pedals by hand. In addition, compared to the standard E12, the air-conditioning system was ditched. The windows were of the manual variety. A year later, the restored 530 MLE made its debut to a six-cylinder tune, appropriately presented at the same factory it was built in 1976. The 530 MLE’s inline-six was a factorymodifi ed version of the same engine found under the bonnet of the 3.0L. The 3.0-litre petrol unit produces 147 kW and 277 Nm of torque. It has a claimed 0-100 km/h acceleration time of 9.3 seconds and a top speed of 208 km/h. Seated behind the leather-trimmed steering wheel, a turn of the key ignites the naturally aspirated motor up front. Depress the clutch

pedal, shift the fi ve-speed manual ’box’s lever into fi rst gear, feather the throttle and slowly set o . The soundtrack is sharp yet full of soul as it distorts through the interior as the analogue tachometer’s needle rises. And there it is again, that sense of spirituality, accompanied by a broad smile. Goosebumps.

Shift to second. Ample vibration is relayed from the circuit’s smooth tarmac through the Mahle wheels to the palms. Shift to third, then fourth. At only a fair pace – as the engine was rebuilt, it must be nurtured – around the track, the fi rst left-hand corner crept up. A glance at the fi ve-speed transmission’s wooden gearknob, depress the clutch and fi nd the third gear. The non-assisted steering is weighty. As this was the fi rst time I had driven a car with a dog-leg gearbox, it took some time to get used to the Getrag-sourced unit. There was not time to waste ... the sun was setting. The dashboardmounted analogue clock’s minute hand was moving towards the next marker. Only a few minutes behind the wheel remained. And, following the precious last moments, the MLE was piloted into the pits.

A brief look around the cabin revealed the car’s vintage. Although restored, some of the wear remained, adding character to the vehicle.

It’s a special place, with the blue velour sports seats providing ample cushioning. Take a deep breath, slowly pull on the door lever and climb out.

A certain sense of spirituality accompanies a car that can only be described as iconic. And the 530 MLE is well worth its icon status.. Although not o cially the fi rst production M car, this SAonly BMW can be considered a spiritual ancestor to the M cars that followed. Take a glance at the plaque inside the engine bay. Next to the ‘530’, you will see the metal plate is imprinted with a particular singular letter – according to Tim Abbott, CEO of BMW Group South Africa and sub-Saharan Africa, it is “the most powerful letter in the world” – the letter ‘M’.

It’s remarkable how BMW’s M division has evolved through fi ve decades. The company has produced some of the most sought-after motor vehicles in history, each deserving of its chapter in the books written on M’s legacy. There’s an electrical hum as to what the future holds. However, in its storied history, a few cars are so exceptional that they deserve their own books. The 530 MLE is one of these. And, what makes it even more special, is that it was built in South Africa for South Africans and dominated the local racing circuits. It now proudly sits alongside the cult-classic BMWs like the 325iS and 333i on the list of the SA-only vehicles the company has restored over the years. A