BMW E9
BMW 3.0 CSi ( 1971-1975 )
The BMW E9 is the coupe version of the E3 series. The vehicles were built between December 1968 and December 1975 at the wage contract from BMW by Karmann in Rheine. A total of 30 546 units were built. The offering consisted exclusively six-cylinder engines with a displacement from 2.5 to 3.2 liters, the engine power ranges 150-206 hp.
The E9 completed the BMW built from 1965 Coupé 2000 C / CA / CS the "New Class ". Successor to the E9 was 1976, the 6 Series ( E24 ).
Model history
From 1968 to April 1971, only the BMW 2800 CS is available with 2.8 -liter petrol engine with 170 hp. A total of 9,399 units of the BMW 2800 CS created. In April 1971, this model was the 3.0 CS (also with a petrol engine, 180 hp) replaced, which was built until production stopped in December 1975 10.898mal. Both vehicles were also available with a three-speed ZF automatic transmission available ( internal name BMW 2800 BMW 3.0 CSA or CSA).
In the fall of 1971 came as a further model variant of the BMW 3.0 CSi added with Bosch D- Jetronic fuel injection, which is otherwise identical to the BMW 3.0 CS. This model has 200 hp, accelerates in 7.7 seconds from 0 to 100 km / h and reaches a top speed of 220 km / h By the time production stopped in November 1975 caused 8,144 vehicles.
The BMW 2.5 CS was only 844mal built in the period from 1974 to 1975. 150 hp two and a half liters was to distinguish the entry level and externally missing only on the rear bumper horns and logo of the large three-liter models. But even the little six-cylinder was sporty to drive: In 9.9 seconds the vehicle with manual transmission accelerates to 100 km / h only at prestigious 200 km / h top speed was reached.
- BMW 3.0 CS Automatic ( 1971-1975 )
BMW 3.0 CSL
From 1971, the first 3.0 CSL coupe created in collaboration with Alpina as Homologationsserie for touring car racing in the BMW was very successful with the BMW 02. The name of CSL ( coupe sports lightweight ) was program because the lightweight coupe compared to the BMW 3.0 CS received no increase in performance, but thanks to consistent weight -saving measures weighed empty only 1165 kg, and in only 7.4 seconds accelerating to 100 km / hr. Of these, only 169 vehicles were built.
As of August 1972, the D- Jetronic injection was also used in the BMW 3.0 CSL. Although compared to the BMW 3.0 CSi slightly elevated Displacement ( 3003 instead of 2985 cm3) afford these vehicles also 200 hp and reach 220 km / h, speed but in only 6.9 seconds from 0 to 100 km / h From this second production run of the BMW 3.0 CSL developed to August 1973 a total of 939 specimens, including 500 right-hand drive.
The third and final stage of the BMW 3.0 CSL ( July 1973-November 1975 ) drew 206 hp from 3153 cm3. Your nickname " Batmobile " on account of an extensive aerodynamic package, in particular the huge rear wing, which was delivered stowed lack of street legal in the trunk of the vehicle. The former BMW racing driver Hans -Joachim Stuck was at a gas station when he was traveling with his " service -CSL ", asked if this rear wing " is a new ski - holder ".
The BMW 3.0 CSL is regarded as the first product of the later BMW Motorsport GmbH, at that time a division of BMW, and can thus be described as the very first "M" BMW. The car was already the colors of the later M- GmbH.
With the publication of the first 6-series BMW ( E24 series ) in 1976, the CSL racing car factory support had been removed though. And while the relatively heavy successor model was very successful, but even so the CSL successes of private teams the light of 6ers initially significantly in the shadows, as with Dieter Quester Alpina 1977 the European Championship title. Even in 1978, the E9 was still not beaten, as Umberto Grano in a Luigi -CSL won the championship.
The E9 CSL coupes, there were among others also in tuned variants of GS- Tuning ( 230 hp carbureted ) Alpina (250 PS injection), Koepchen ( 260 hp carbureted ) and Carver ( 290- horsepower fuel-injected engine ).
Models and Specifications
The BMW E9 was equipped exclusively with a six- cylinder in-line engines of the M30, which were used also in the limo E3. There were also prototypes already fully developed eight and twelve- cylinder engines. However, these were not completed with a view to the impending oil crisis. It is worth mentioning that BMW development chief Bernhard Osswald 1973 a green BMW 3.0 CSi used with an approximately 206 kW (280 hp) five-liter V8 as a company car. 250 km / h were possible with this fast vehicle without further notice. But he remained a one-off.
The motor data of the individual models in tabular form:
Racing versions
The racing version of the E9 CSL made in 1974 by capacity enlargement to 3498 cm3 and a four-valve cylinder head 440 hp at 8500 min -1, accelerated in 4.0 seconds from 0 to 100 km / h and a top speed of 275 km / h In the racing season 1976, the Group 5 rules were introduced in the brand's world championship that allowed many changes compared to standard vehicles. The nearly 600 -horsepower Porsche 935 won four of seven races and also the World Cup; However, the BMW coupes won despite many turbo Porsche 934 in customer hands three races and held the championship until the last race so openly.
In a few races also joined the BMW factory team at: Using four-valve technology and turbocharging was achieved by the car engine power, as it had been previously reached only by the turbo engine of the Porsche 917 /10 and the in Formula 1 until the turbo era 1980 should be possible: up to 800 hp. Through the resulting enormous torque, the load limit of the Getrag five-speed gearbox has been exceeded, the performance could hardly be brought to the floor: 0-100 km / h in 3.5 seconds and a top speed of 308 km / h With such engine power, the top speed was the absence of a suitably adapted six-speed gearbox speed and not driving resistance limited: full throttle passages on long straights of the motor racing CSL would have destroyed with overspeed. The Swedish racing driver Ronnie Peterson are at a speed of over 250 km / h for the acceleration nor the wheels have turned, which is why a set of tires lasted only 64 km long. The turbo BMW achieved when first used Silverstone the second best training time, then appeared but again only when the all-important last race at Dijon, this time even the front position was reached before the plant Porsche. The six-cylinder turbo difference, however, from early on; BMW limited to the charging of the small M10 four-cylinder engine, and developed them successfully in subsequent years up to the F1 World Championship in 1983.
BMW 3.0 CSL Art Cars
A BMW 3.0 CSL was founded in 1975 for the first BMW Art Car. Due to the initiative of the French auctioneer and racing driver Hervé Poulain the American artist Alexander Calder painted a race car based on a BMW 3.0 CSL. Hervé Poulain drove this car along with Sam Posey and Jean Guichet in the 24- hour race at Le Mans in 1975. The following year also created by the New York Frank Stella on the basis of a BMW 3.0 CSL artwork with black lines started at the 24 -hour race Le Mans 1976.
- BMW 3.0 CSL Art Cars
Designed by Frank Stella BMW Art Car was the 24- hour race at Le Mans in 1976, the start number 41 and was driven by Brian Redman and Peter Gregg.