BMW New Six

BMW 2500 (1968-1971)

The internally designated as E3 car was a model of the upper class from BMW, which was released in the fall of 1968 on the market. The car with a six-cylinder in-line engines were the successors of the 1964 set " Baroque Angel " BMW 3200 S with a V8 engine.

The E3 was also the first vehicle from BMW with the factory code name " E" and against the S-Class from Daimler -Benz (Mercedes- Benz W 108, W 109 and W 116 ) and the KAD series of Opel was to start.

The successor of the E3 was presented In May 1977 the first 7 series of type E23.

Model Name

A dedicated, cohesive model designation is available for the vehicles of this model is not, it is merely stated the engine capacity as a model designation. Since it is not, however, overlap the BMW cars of the smaller vehicle classes in the range of engines with engine displacement sizes of the BMW E3, a clear distinction of these is possible.

The BMW E3 is divided into the following basic types:

• BMW 2500 ( Displacement given in cm ³)
• BMW 2800 ( 1974 BMW 2.8)
• BMW 3.0 ( Displacement specified in liters)
• BMW 3.3

The type designations have been partly combined, supplemented with suffixed letters, the higher engine power ( "S" - Sport ), a fuel injection ("i" - injection) or the extended wheelbase in conjunction with a higher level of equipment ("L" - long / luxury ) identified.

Model development

With the "New Class ", the four-door BMW 1500 (Type 115) BMW came in 1961 after massive economic difficulties in the late 1950s with a new middle class series on the market. The program was expanded in 1966 with the two-door vehicles of the 02- series (type 114 ) down. These two model series have been very successful, so that by the mid 1960s, the economic problems were overcome and the car program again with a luxury sedan, the first "Great Class " called E3 - models, could be added.

From the BMW E3 was born. The vehicle has a straight, more athletic -looking body. Innovations were the dual round headlights and the six-cylinder in-line engines of the type M30, which constructively to the four cylinders of the "new class " based. The dual round headlights came later in all models of BMW used and were considered for many years as a distinguishing feature of the brand. The six-cylinder engines were used with modifications in later models and soak in the trade press a good reputation. Some sources indicate that the engines were initially identified by the identifier M06. A more sporty suspension tuning is different from the BMW E3 usual luxury cars. The performance figures are due to the slightly more compact compared to the competition body and the resulting weight advantage relatively well.

Model history

The available from the summer of 1971 second - E3 series was characterized by small external changes. Among other rims the forced ventilation of the interior was laid in the slots next to the rear window, among others, the elimination of the side rails in the C-pillar. The grille was matt black instead of chrome, the rear lights were a different distribution of the light chambers, and additional trims were introduced, which touched down on the fold at the waistline and continued on the models with larger engines on the trunk lid.

In addition to the well-known six-cylinder also larger machines were in development. Some even were already on test stands. Among these eight-cylinder were between four and five liters of displacement and a five -liter twelve-cylinder V- engine which made ​​the 227 kW (310 hp). Sample, a eight-cylinder was installed in a 1973 Coupé model E9. This approximately 205 kW ( 280 hp) car was the then Chief Development Officer Bernhard Osswald as a service vehicle.

In the limousine it went a step further and put in the same year the V12 in a BMW 3.0 L. This had to be extended at the front by 80 mm, so that the machine could fit. The vehicle came to just under 240 km / h About five of the big twelve-cylinder were made ​​by hand; However, BMW abandoned after the first oil crisis in 1973/74 on the use in large sedans and coupes.

Rear view

BMW 2800 (1971-1977)

BMW 3.0 S ( 1971-1977 )

BMW Bavaria ( U.S. Model, 1973)

BMW 2800 (1971-1973)

Motors

Production figures

The BMW E3 was produced in a quantity of a total of about 190,000 vehicles; in the summer of 2004, about 380 vehicles were registered in the Federal Republic of Germany still.