Used BMW E12 Spares in Pretoria
Restoring or running an E12? Tell us the year, the model and the part, with a photo if you can. We will tell you what we can find and what it costs.
- 15+ yrsstripping & selling used parts
- Testedparts checked before they go out
- BMWBMW spares by model
E12 parts
What part does your E12 need?
Tap a part and we'll add it to your quote request — or type any other part in the form.
-
Engines -
Gearboxes -
Radiators -
Grilles -
Doors -
Bonnets -
Wheels & rims -
Headlights -
Bumpers -
Fenders -
Suspension -
Tail lights
Ordered by how often BMW owners ask us for each part.
How we source E12 parts
Stripped from accident-damaged BMW cars, then tested
- Over 15 years stripping accident-damaged vehicles for used parts.
- Removed carefully and tested before a part is sold, so you're not paying for something that doesn't work.
- Matched to your car — send the year, engine and VIN if you have it, and we'll check it's the right part.
Parts for the first 5 Series
The E12 was the first BMW 5 Series, built from 1972 to 1981. It also has a special place in South African motoring: BMW South Africa's Rosslyn plant, opened in 1973 as BMW's first factory outside Germany, built a homologation special on it called the 530 MLE (Motorsport Limited Edition).
The 530 MLE
BMW South Africa wanted to go racing in the mid-1970s, and to enter the Modified Production Series it had to sell 100 road-going cars. BMW Motorsport developed the 530 MLE for that purpose: 110 Type 1 cars were built in 1976 and 117 Type 2 cars in 1977. BMW describes weight-saving measures such as bodywork and pedals drilled by hand, manual windows with no air conditioning, and Mahle wheels. Cars.co.za goes as far as calling it a predecessor even of the European M535i.
With only 227 built, parts specific to the 530 MLE are scarce. If you own one, tell us exactly which part you need and send photos, and we will be honest about what can and cannot be found.
Ordinary E12s
The E12 was a four-door saloon. A car this old has often had parts swapped over the years, so what is fitted may not match the original specification. Photos of the old part and the engine bay help us more than a catalogue number.
If yours is running hot, our guide to BMW water pump, thermostat and radiator repairs is a good place to start. For the SA-built luxury car from the same era, see our 7 Series parts page, which covers the Rosslyn-built 745i.
What to send
Year, model, engine number if you can find it, the part and a photo. We will come back to you with what we have.
| Built | 1972–1981 |
|---|---|
| Generation | First BMW 5 Series |
| SA special | 530 MLE: 110 Type 1 (1976) and 117 Type 2 (1977) built at Rosslyn |
| Predecessor / successor | BMW New Class / E28 |
Other BMW models