BMW 3/15

BMW 3/15 PS DA 2 (1929 )

The BMW 3/15 PS was the first automobile the Bavarian car manufacturer BMW.

  • 3.1 BMW 3/15 PS DA 2
  • 3.2 BMW 3/15 PS DA 3 Wartburg type
  • 3.3 BMW 3/15 PS DA 4

History

With the purchase of the Eisenach car factory end of 1928, BMW took over the license agreement with the Austin Motor Company, under which the Dixi 3/15 DA was further built. The enhanced BMW 3/15 PS was then with the sale beginning in July 1929, the first car of BMW, but a further under license from Austin. From the French car manufacturer Rosengart BMW secured the right to take over its contemporary exterior design and developed the model for a complete all-steel body on.

Under the direction of the chief engineer God Help Dürrwächter the first production car on March 22, 1929 in Berlin -Johannisthal arose. The chassis supplied the BMW factory in Eisenach; the sheet metal parts produced on the new presses at Ambi- Budd built BMW employees in a rented hall together right next to the Ambi- Budd plant to modern all-steel bodies. While in Berlin- Johannisthal production was stockpiled, BMW prepared in Eisenach the production of conventional bodies in the classical mixed construction according to the " system Weymann " before.

On 9 July 1929, the new BMW store opened in Berlin, at the same time was the press launch. From then on, the BMW 3/15 PS was available in two versions, sedan and touring cars at the BMW dealers.

Already in late 1929 broke the good sales numbers by the incipient global economic crisis. BMW took in 1930 outsourced production from Berlin- Johannisthal back to Eisenach. Despite the hard times of DA 2 was developed in 1931 to DA 4 with oscillating axle and enlarged body on. However, the axis of oscillation got to be too imprecise wheel control quickly in the criticism of art, and had to be repaired.

Production of the 3/15 was completed with the launch of the successor of 3/20 in March 1932; the 3/15 was but with and without oscillation axis to find by the end of 1932 in the price lists.

Technology

The technique was largely identical to the DA 1 In the common spare parts lists the differences were briefly discussed in the last pages 36 to 43.

Engine and transmission

The BMW 3/15 PS was powered by a water-cooled four -cylinder engine with 749 cc displacement. The side-valve engine made ​​15 hp (11 kW).

Chassis

The chassis built the Eisenach plant for the DA 2 without significant changes to the previous Dixi DA 1

The rigid front axle of the DA 2 and DA 3 with a transverse leaf spring was replaced in DA 4 by an axis of oscillation, in which the uprights were attached directly to the transverse leaf spring.

BMW 3/15 PS DA 2

The DA 2 was built from March 1929 to February 1932 12,318 times:

  • 6600 sedans
  • 120 Sunshine limousines with roll roofing
  • 435 vans
  • 1834 touring car
  • 1387 two-seater open
  • 1374 three -seater convertible
  • 300 two-seater Sportkabrioletts

The prices ranged from 2175 Reichsmarks for the open two-seater up to 2625 Reichsmarks for the three-seat convertible.

268 chassis were produced at the price of 1900 Reichsmarks for special bodies, inter alia, were provided at Assmann in Eisenach, Groyne in Berlin and Schwab in Stuttgart with bodies.

From the mid- 1930s, the brothers offered in Ihle Bruchsal popular Spezialkarosserien in the form of an open roadster.

BMW 3/15 PS DA 3 Wartburg type

The Wartburg was from April 1930 to January 1931, the first sports car from BMW. Only 150 units were built in Eisenach, the price was 3100 Reichsmarks. He won in its class, especially in the years 1930 to 1933 numerous mountain and circuit races.

The most successful BMW driver was from Eisenach derived Bobby Kohlrausch, the 27 first and 8 second places achieved in these years - 1930 even without official factory support with its private Wartburg. In 1931, he received support from BMW with a new Wartburg, which was equipped with a OHV prototype engine. 1932 met the BMW again modified Kohlrausch increasingly on the overpowering increasing competition from Austin and MG, which competed with turbocharged engines; 1933 BMW introduced a support, Kohlrausch moved in the same year to Austin in 1934 and continued his successful career on MG continued.

BMW 3/15 PS DA 4

The DA 4 was in January 1931 - the worst year of global economic crisis for Germany - with a new front axle ( " swing axle " ) and introduced enlarged body and built in 3480 units until February 1932.

Its production program included only the following body styles:

  • 2575 sedans
  • 175 open-top four -seater
  • 475 open two-seater
  • 210 coupe
  • 45 chassis for special bodies

The prices ranged from 2175 Reichsmarks for the open two-seater, and up to 2575 Reichsmarks for the coupe. The Kabriolets were listed in the price lists on, but were not built. In November 1932, announced a new price list, in the models with and without vibration were offered axis.

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