BMW 530i (E12), US model

The BMW 530i was launched in 1974 and it was produced especially for the American (and from 1976 also for the Japanese) market. These countries have stricter exhaust-emission limits but compliance was ensured with installation of a catalytic converter as standard. Otherwise, the construction of the engines (apart from the larger displacement) was virtually identical with the European M30 engines fitted with electronic injection (BOSCH L-Jetronic). The BMW 530i was produced until 1978 and approximately 27,800 automobiles were sold.