To better understand BMW today you have to know and understand BMW history. The last century gives the “flavor” of today’s BMW cars, the ingredient that makes them so special. This “special” can be almost seen as the soul of a person. BMW cars have an unmistakably personality and an obsessive care about the feeling of driving, thus their slogan "the ultimate driving machine". This creates a bond between the car and the driver that may last for a lifetime.
These three magic letters stand for Bayerische Motoren Werke, or in English, Bavarian Motor Works. The "Motor" is the core of this acronym and is the foundation; the key part around which BMW builds every product.
BMWDrives invites you to be part in this amazing trip and you will find out the story that lies behind BMW history.
1913
Not everybody knows that BMW started as a manufacturer of aircraft engines. In Ocotber 1913 Karl Friedrich Rapp establishes "Rapp-Motorenwerke" in a former bicycle factory near Munich. Rapp was an engineer who arise through thr Daimler system and "Rapp-Motorenwerke" was set up asa a subsidiary of "Flugwerk", an airplane maker. He starts manufacturing his own aircraft engines but unfortunately they suffered form problems with vibrations.Close to Rapp´s factory, Gustav Otto, the son of the inventor of the four-stroke internal combustion engine, sets up a business building small aircrafts. Otto enjoys great success with "Gustav Flugmaschinefabrik".
1916
Rapp's company has secured a contract with Prussia and Austro-Hungary to produce 25 large V12 aircraft engines. Rapp Motoren Werke had problems with the reliability of the engines so they began buying four-cylinder water-cooled aircraft engines from the Gustav Otto factory. In the following months Otto's company is absorbed. Gustav Otto´s "Gustav Flugmaschinefabrik" merging with "Rapp-Motorenwerke" formed "Bayerische Flugzeug-Werke" or BFW, in English "Bavarian Aircraft Works"Franz-Josef Popp, an Austrian engineer, directed Rapp's business. He was securing the all-importnt military contracts. Popp tranformed then the existing company into "Bayerische Motoren Werke GmbH". BMW formally recognizes its birthday as March 7, 1916. Shortly after the merge, Popp realized that the company expanded too quickly and they needed financial help. He turned to Camillo Castiglioni, a Vienna financier, who was head of the Wiener Bankverein. Popp and Castiglioni recapitalized the company.
1917
Popp and Castiglioni forced Rapp out of the company who needs to depart in this year.In 1917, BMW's first aircraft engine, the Type IIIa, goes into production. It is a water-cooled six-cylinder inline engine, it features a unique "high-altitude carburetor" developed bychief engineer Max Friz that allows it to develop full power at altitude. Max Friz was a grand engineering mind who would dominate BMW's product development culture on into the 1960's.
Popp convinced the German government to buy the BMW IIIa engine.
1918
In 1918 this engine powered a biplane to 5,000 meters altitude in just 29 minutes. It was an impressive performance in the BMW history, one that led to strong demand for BMW engines."Bayerische Motoren Werke GmbH" becomes BMW AG (The German term Aktiengesellschaft means a corporation that is limited by shares, i.e., owned by shareholders. It may be traded on the stock market. The term is used in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. The U.S. equivalent term is "public company", source Wikipedia) the company that we know and admire today.
1919
After the armistice was signed, the Allies prohibited German military to produce aircraft engines. Therefor BMW turned to boat and truck engines and farming equipment. Meanwhile, in secret, Popp continued to work with his engineering director Friz on aircraft engines.A successor for the Type IIIa engine is born. It is named naturally Type IV. With this engine, Franz Zeno Diemer sets an altitude record of 9,760 metres (32,013 ft).
1920
The tough business climate at the end of WW1 made Castiglioni to sell his holdings for 28 million Reichsmarks to the chief executive of Knorr Bremsen AG. With only a few aircraft engines on order, BMW was struggling and started to manufacture brake systems for railway cars, office furniture, and workbenches, as well as cut-down aviation engines for marine and industrial use.The current BMW logo, introduced in the early 1920, was based on the circular design of an aircraft propeller.
BMW logo
1920
In these conditions, the company had to think to other products and so BMW starts building motorcycle engines. In 1920, Martin Stolle and Max Friz design the M2 B 15 engine for the "Victoria" motorcycle from Nürnberg. This was the first BMW motorcycle engine and it was produced between 1920 and 1922.1921
BMW's first motorized bicycle is called "Flink" and sees the light in 1921. They were powered by a Kurier two stroke engine.1922
1922 is another milestone in BMW history. The first BMW factory is built on Neulerchenfeldstrasse -- the site of Otto's old aircraft factory -- near the current day Olympic complex in Munich.1923
Because the earlier BMW motorcycles had suspension problems they were not able to sell much. So they start to develop the "R32" motorcycle, which was the first BMW bike sold at an amount worth to mention (3100 bikes until 1926). The BMW R32 motorcycle causes a strong impression at its world premiere at the Berlin Automobile Show in 1923. With the R32, BMW succeeds in moving into vehicle construction even before the development of automobiles. This is the moment when the history of the BMW boxer engine begins and will continue until the present day. The top speed of this 2-cylinder 494cc motorcycle was around 59 mph (95 km/h).1924
In 1924 we can witness the first intercontinental flight to Persia powered by BMW engines.1925
One year later, 1925, the R37 motorcycle outputs twice the power of it's predecessor: 16bhp from a 500ccm engine. This motorcycle provides the basis for the BMW racing machines and makes the brand well known throughout the whole motorcycle world. The result: from 1924 to 1929, all German Championships in the 500 ccm category are won by BMW.1926
BMW keeps a leading position in the aeronautical industry. The same commitment to innovation and perfection is rewarded with five world records for the The Rohrbach Ro VII seaplane with a BMW VI engine.1927
BMW keeps the same pace and they break other world-flight records the next year, 1927. From a total of 87 world records in aviation, 29 of them were set with BMW engines.1928
1928 marks the beginning in terms of the BMW car. BMW buys the car factory at Eisenach/Thuringia and with it the license to build a small car called the Dixi 3/15. The BMW Dixi was the competition for the Austin 7. The BMW Dixi DA/1 (DA standing for Deutsche Ausfuhrung) is essentially the german version. The first Dixis used an open roof and were powered by a 743cc 4 cylinder engine producing 15 horsepower. Top speed was in the neighborhood of 50 mph (80 km/h). The Dixi 3/15 PS was built under license from Austin and was essentially the same model as the US Bantam and the Japanese Datsun. In 1929 a new improved version was launched, the DA/2, which employed an all-steel body and 4-wheel brakes, and in 1930 the Dixi scored its first wins in motor racing. Total production: 18,976 units.1929
1929 is the year when Ernst Henne riding a 750 cc BMW sets a new motorcycle record on September 19, 1929, reaching a speed of 134.65 mph (216.75 km/hr). This surpasses the existing world record by 10 kph.
The first BMW car saw the light in 1928 - the Dixi 3/15
1930
Until 1932 BMW manages to sell very well its air-cooled radial engine thanks to its excellent power to weight ratio. They also win the 6000 mile Alpine Rally through four countries.1932
A new car model from BMW is launched in 1932. It is called the 3/20PS. The powerplant was a 782cc 4 cylinder unit which featured suspended valves and a double chain driving the camshafts, producing 20 horsepower at 3500 rpm and providing the saloon with a 50 mph top speed. It is the first model to be developed entirely by BMW in Munich also known as the BMW AM 4 (Ausfuhrung Munchen 4 Gange - Munich Version 4 Speeds). With this car BMW wins the Concours d'Elegance in Baden-Baden.1933
The next year, 1933, marked the introduction of the 303 saloon and the first BMW inline-six cylinder power unit, a configuration that will remain even to the contemporary BMW cars. Designed by Fritz Fiedler, the 303 engine had a chain driven camshaft, with pushrods and rocker arms to vertical overhead valves. The crankshaft of the new BMW 303 6-cylinder engine was designed by Rudolph Schleicher. The 303 was also the first BMW to use the twin-kidney shaped radiator grilles, another current trademark. Using a welded tubular steel frame, independent front suspension and rack and pinion steering, the 303 was a benchmark in technological achievements. Its 1173cc engine provided 30 horsepower and a top speed of 56 mph (90 km/h).1934
Based on Pratt&Whitney design, BMW makes the air-cooled radial engine in 1934. Three of these engines power the famous JU52 airplane, who served both civilian and military service during the 1930s and 1940s.It's the year when the 315/1 roadster appears on the market. It had a beautiful sleek design for it's time with low cut doors. The engine was a 1.5 liter, in-line 6 cylinder developing 40bhp. The top speed was around 125km/h making the 315/1 one of the most competitive sports car of the era winning the international Alpine Trials. It was also a clear winner in the 2000km race across Germany.
1935
1935 marks another innovation from BMW in the motorcycle industry. The K12 is the first motorcycle with a hydraulically damped telescopic front wheel fork. It replaced the old leaf spring fork. The 315 roadster becomes the undisputed champion in the 1.5 liter sports car category.The successor of the 315 was the 326. The development of this car began in late 1934 by Fritz Fiedler and chief designer Alfred Böning. The design was Peter Schimanowski's work. The engine had an output of 50bhp. It featured also some advanced technical innovations for that time like hydraulic braking system and rack and pinion steering. The 326 was available as a saloon, a two-door or four-door convertible.
1936
BMW comes up with the amazing 328 roadster in 1936. This car is a legend in the racing history, one of the best and one of the most beautiful cars that BMW has ever created. As recognition, the 328 roadster was nominated for the Car of the Century. The car makes its competition debut at the famed Nürburgring racetrack in June 1936, and proved unbeatable in international sportscar races in the two-liter class. The beautiful lines, like the integrated headlamps set a trend which was to survive well into the fifties. In 1940 it wins the famous Mille Miglia race. The engine was a 2 liter, in-line 6 cylinder with 80bhp.1937
Although the numbers are not in a regular succession, the 327 appeared on the market in 1937, one year after the 328. The styling had the same signature, Peter Schimanowski, which meant that it looked stunning with two-tone paintwork. It came with a coupé or cabriolet body. The 327 had a short version of the 326's chassis. The top engine developed 80bhp. A total of 1396 cars were made.A new world speed record is set by BMW in 1937. Ernst Henne becomes the fastest man on two wheels riding a 500 ccm compressor machine developing 108bhp. This bike had an aerodynamic body to better pierce through the air at high speeds. On the Frankfurt-Darmstadt motorway, Henne attends 173.686mph (279.508 km/h), a record that will stand for the next 14 years.
1938
1938 sees more motorsport wins for the 328 roadster.1939
George Meier is the first foreigner to win the Isle of Man Senior TT in 1939 - the world's toughest motorcycle competition of its day. Shortly before the outbreak of the Second World War, BMW takes over the Brandenburgische Motorenwerke in Berlin-Spandau and factories in Basdorf and Zühlsdorf near Berlin.
The beautiful lines of the 328 roadster
1940
Shortly before the outbreak of the Second World War, BMW takes over the Brandenburgische Motorenwerke in Berlin-Spandau and factories in Basdorf and Zühlsdorf near Berlin.Driving a 328 with a streamlined body made from ultra-light aluminum and magnesium alloy, Baron Fritz Huschke von Kanstein wins in 1940, the famous Mille Miglia race with an average speed of 103.4mph.
Following on from the BMW 132 and the Bramo engines, series production of the BMW 801 aircraft engine starts in 1940. By the end of the war, over 20,000 of these 14-cylinder double radial engines will have been built in Munich, Allach, Berlin and Dürrerhof, all of which are fitted with a type of mechanical computer for automatic tuning.
1941
In 1941 all motorcycle production facilities and design documentation are transferred to Eisenach due to the war. The production of the BMW cars is stopped. BMW begins production of the R57 Wehrmacht military motorcycle. It had a 750cc engine with seven forward and two reverse gears. The engine was bolt-on frame allowing easy dismantling and maintenance. The sidecar version drives with differential lock and joint hydraulic brakes for sidecar and rear wheel.1942
To satisfy wartime demand, the production of rocket engines begins in the Basdorf and Zühlsdorf plants in Berlin in 1942. Although only a small number of these engines are used, rocket construction is one of the reasons why, in 1945, Bayerische Motoren Werke are closed and later dismantled.1943
BMW works simultaneously on the groundbreaking 109-003 jet engine, one of the first mass-production jet engines in the world, and on the largest ever aircraft piston engine, the BMW 803. A 28-cylinder, four row radial engine, the BMW 803 basic strength of 4,000 hp at 85.5 l displacement; the 003 jet engine has a diesel-powered gas turbine. Its maiden flight is in October 1943 in a Ju 88.In the early 1940s, BMW develops the 28-cylinder, four-speed 803 engine with two contrarotating propellers and also starts work on jet engines. Tests on the 003 engine begin in October 1943 followed, on 4th February 1944, by the maiden flight of the Arado 234 V long-distance reconnaissance plane with four BMW 003 engines.
1944
Air raids destroy the Munich plant in 1944, but the Allach plant is virtually unharmed at the end of the war. BMW begins plans to rebuild its Munich production plant. Meanwhile they test rockets for the war effort in Basdorf and Zühlsdorf.At the end of the Second World War, BMW lies in ruins. The works in Eisenach and Dürrerhof, Basdorf and Zühlsdorf are lost. The factory in Munich is dismantled. The victorious Allies impose a three-year ban on production because of the company's involvement in constructing aircraft engines and rockets.
1945
In mid-1945 BMW receives permission to start repairing US army automobiles in Allach. It can also make spare parts for farming machinery and bicycles. Thatâ,"s how the first BMW bicycle with a lightweight aluminum frame comes to life.Motorcycles can also be made again, but BMW is initially not in a position to do so.
Initially using spare parts, the Eisenach plant continues to build BMW cars for Soviet use, but in 1951 the brand name Eisenacher Motorenwerke (EMW) is introduced. A Soviet joint-stock company called Awtowelo is set up as backer. The factory is nationalised in 1952, and from 1955 it starts production of the 'Wartburg' car brand.
In October 1945 the US military orders the dismantling of the BMW plants in Munich and Allach. This deprives BMW of its control over its possessions in Munich until 1949 - US control lasted until 1955 in Allach. Almost all intact machinery is removed and shipped as reparations all over the world, hitting the Milbertshofen plant in Munich especially hard.
There is almost no activity for BMW in the following years.
1948
At the Geneva Motor Show in 1948, British car companies Arlington-Fraser-Nash and Bristol develop licensed models based on earlier BMWs, since BMW is neither able, nor allowed, to manufacture after the war.There is though a high demand for the BMW's R24 motorcycle, equipped with a four-gear, single-cylinder with a 247 cc, 12 HP engine. Construction designs for the first post-war BMW motorcycle are ready by summer 1947, and the first R 24 is raffled to the employees shortly before Christmas 1948. The first standard-production model sells spectacularly in a country long-deprived because of war and its after-effects.
1949
BMW is back again: presenting its first motorcycle since 1941 in New York.
1940 BMW 328 Mille Miglia coupé
1950
The 250 cc limit imposed by the Allies has been lifted. BMW is producing the first motorcycle with a Boxer engine; the 500 cc R51/2. This is followed in 1951 by the R51/3 and the R 67, with variants /2 and /3 boasting 600 cc engines. With demand far outweighing supply, these motorcycles are a roaring sales success.1951
The first post war car model, the V8 equipped 501 luxury sedan produced in 1951 was a poor production choice for a country that was also devastated by the war. Demand was low and the 501 did not even com e close to meeting BMW's expectations. With the Eisenach plant now under Soviet control, it is also the first BMW automobile to be built completely in Munich. The 500-series cars may not have been BMW's most glamorous products, but these big and sturdy middle-class machines were the mainstay of the company's car division from 1951 up until 1964. They were nicknamed Barockengel - Baroque Angels - because their shape and flowing lines looked like the carved wooden figures in South German and Austrian churches back in the Baroque period. From 1954 onwards, it is joined by the 502, which possesses the world's first V8 light-alloy engine.1952
Between 1952 and 1954, BMW produces the exceptionally fast BMW R68, capable of doing some 160 km/h in top gear. This 600 cc motorcycle with 35 hp, it sets a new standard for international motorcycle makers. Selling at 4,000 DM, exclusivity is also part and parcel of this motorcycle as well, as only 1,452 were ever built. BMW's motorcycle production has risen from 10,000 to 30,000 units.1953
BMW's 100,000th motorcycle, an R67/2, comes off the assembly line.1954
Three years after BMW resumed car production, the world's first all-aluminium V8 engine goes into production in Munich in 1954. This smooth-running piece of machinery combines strength and silence; it initially produces 100 hp and can propel the BMW 502 to a speed of 160 km/h. The BMW 507 can later even reach up to 220 km/h.In 1954, BMW establishes a research facility for engine construction in the Allach plant, which survived the war undamaged. In 1957, this becomes BMW Triebwerkbau GmbH. The company MAN buys 50% of the firm in 1960. Under license from Lycoming, the firm starts production with a 264 horsepower six cylinder boxer engine. It also develops a small gas turbine for light aircraft, and for stationary use.
BMW is the World Motorcycle Sidecar Champion and stays so for the next twenty years.
1955
In 1955 BMW Isetta won the hearts of the public. Just 2.29 m long, the company obtains the licence to build the motocoupé from ISO in Italy. Powered by a 12 or 13 hp BMW motorcycle engine, over 160,000 people buy an Isetta in the Fifties, making it the best-selling BMW of the decade and a symbol for the boom years after the war.The full swing-arm suspension on the R50, R60 and R69 takes the market by storm. Sliding swing-arm front-wheel suspension and long-arm rear-wheel suspension afford BMW motorcycles previously unattained levels of stability. But the motorcycle bubble appears to have burst: the number of BMW motorcycles produced slumps from 30,000 in 1954 to a mere 5,400 in 1957.
Wilhelm Noll sets a new world record at 280.2 km/h. From a standing start, he reaches 139 km/h after one kilometre and 166 km/h after one mile. His average speed after five miles clocks in at 266 km/h.
1956
The 507 is probably the most widely recognised classic BMW of the 1950s. Like it's great rival the Mercedes-Benz 300SL, it was inspired by the US importer Max Hoffmann, who told BMW that he could sell a high-performance sports car in large quantities if the company could deliver. Designed in less than a year by Albrecht Goertz, the BMW 507 is a very exclusive sports car: only a total of 252 are built. Most of the work is carried out by hand, customised to meet each buyer's wishes. Its timeless good looks, with a sleek silhouette, supple curves and expansive bonnet, guarantee that it remains the embodiment of the dream car to this day. The power unit was the then new 150 hp V8 of the 502 3.2-liter super, with an additional 10 hp.1957
Designed by Willy Black, the BMW 600 was intended as an enlarged Isetta three-wheeler with more power and a more conventional four-wheel configuration. The front end of the 600 was virtually unchanged from the Isetta, but the 600s wheelbase was stretched to accommodate four seats.1958
Ernst Hiller, riding a BMW, wins the Austrian Grand Prix.1959
Financier Herbert Quandt acquires a large number of BMW shares and subsequently initiates the reorganization of the company, leading to its independence. The majority shareholder, Quandt is first a member of the advisory board and later sits on the supervisory board, thus contributing greatly to BMW's rise as a company of global importance.After sustaining heavy financial losses in the big limousine sector, a merger with Daimler-Benz is planned. But Board Chairman Kurt Golda together with the workforce and trade unions, convinces majority shareholder Herbert Quandt that BMW has a future. Quandt rejects Daimler-Benz’s offer at the last minute.
The 700 model was the car that put BMW back on its feet again. It is the first vehicle to have a unitary body: floor, side walls and roof are welded to the occupant cell.
Albrecht Goertz's masterpiece - the BMW 507
1960
By July 1960, 20.000 BMW’s 700 are produced. It had the engine of the R67 motorcycle and was mounted in the rear. The styling of the 700 model was provided by the Italian Giovanni Michelotti. It came as a 2+2 coupé and as a 2-door sedan. A racing version called the 700RS was also used mostly in German hill-climb and rally events.From 1960 onwards, the top BMW motorcycle is the R69, with 42 bhp.
After BMW withdraws from track racing, the company turns its attention to collecting a plethora of cross-country victories and titles in the sixties. The results: twelve German championships wins between 1960 and 1966, no less than five of them by Sebastian Nachtmann and four going to the team efforts of Ibscher/Hintermaier and Ibscher/Rettschlag.
1961
It’s the year when BMW launches the BMW 1500, developed by Hofmeister, Fiedler, Wolff and von Falkenhausen. It is the first BMW “sporty sedan” marking a turning point in the Bavarian company. The excellent suspension and striking design for its time, employing a low waistline with a low-slung engine compartment and rear lid characterized the 1500. It is the first modern BMW with a four-cylinder engine developing 80bhp.Wilhelm Hofmeister introduces the forward curve at the base of the C column: this feature today bears his name. Along with the front air grille, it is one of the unmistakable characteristics that define BMW automobiles.
Paul G. Hahnemann joins the BMW board of directors. The talented head of the sales department introduces professional marketing strategies at BMW and restructures the company's product range to appeal to promising market niches. Under his leadership, BMW undertakes systematic expansion into markets outside Germany.
1962
Alexander von Falkenhausen, a motorcycle design engineer at BMW from the mid-Thirties on, founds the motorsport brand AFM after WWII. Upon his return to BMW, he develops the engine of the New Class, unveiled in 1962. Later, as head of BMW engine development, he is the man behind BMW engine's legendary successes in the world of Formula Two racing.1963
BMW 1800 comes as an evolution for the 1500 model. It is ten horsepower stronger. High-performance models produced many racing victories.1964
Different versions of the original 1500 are launched. BMW 1600 used the 1500 engine and the 1800s pistons to produce 83bhp. The 1800ti (ti stands for touring international) has a power output of 110bhp. Hubert Hahne wins the German Circuit Championship driving an 1800ti.1965
BMW's engine plant in Allach, founded in 1955, is sold. BMW withdraws from jet engine construction for 25 years, focusing instead on car and motorcycle production.1966
BMW buys the crisis-ridden Hans Glas GmbH with its factories in Dingolfing and Landshut. Both plants are restructured, and over the coming decades the world's largest BMW plant takes shape in Dingolfing. Frameless side windows, two doors and smooth, unadorned surfaces: the hallmarks of the BMW 1600, unveiled on 9th March 1966 to mark the 50th anniversary of BMW. This will form the basis for the 3 Series.Head of BMW Motors, Alexander von Falkenhausen, creates a new engine: based on the 2 litre engine of the BMW 2000 TI, the 16-valve powerplant produces 260 hp. Known as the Apfelbeck engine, it propels a modified Brabham Formula Two car through eight world records in 1966 alone. This engine is the Formula Two ticket for BMW and drivers such as Hubert Hahne, Dieter Quester, Jacky Ickx and Jo Siffert.
1967
BMW decides to make a convertible version for the 1600 model. They were built by Baur and only 1682 were ever produced. Very few were exported to the United States.1968
BMW launched its large "New Six" sedans, the 2500, 2800, and American Bavaria, and coupés, the 2.5 CS and 2800 CS.At the wheel of a BMW Bergspider Monti, Austrian racing driver Dieter Quester claims several victories in Formula Two racing. He also wins the European touring car title three times: in 1968, 1969 and 1977.
1969
BMW follows up the 1600ti and 2002ti with the 2000tii. The second 'i' stands for injection and the engine now develops 130bhp.Car production needs more space in the Munich plant, so in 1969 BMW transfers motorcycle production to Spandau in Berlin. This plant becomes the new home of BMW motorcycles.
The first BMW "sporty sedan" - the 1500
1970
By the 1970’s BMW was a commercial success. Construction of a new HQ begins in Munich. The building is architecturally modeled after four cylinders.1971
In December 1971 BMW stuff moves into the new HQ. It is still in use today and became a true icon for BMW.As early as 1971, the BMW 3.0 Si reaches the 200 km/h mark effortlessly. Six-cylinder engines are also incorporated in the new line of coupés. Continuing this development, the BMW 3.0 CSL light construction coupé causes furors in 1971, when it debuts on the racetrack and the streets with 180 to 206 hp.
1972
It is the year of the Summer Olympics in Munich. Paul Bracq, head of design at BMW, is the creator of the Turbo prototype. It had futuristic interior, a sleek exterior design with gullwing-doors. The car was powered by 4-cylinder, 1990cc turbocharged engine developing 280bhp.The first BMW 5 Series (so-called because it was the fifth new series after the V-8 and Isetta era) model is presented. Code name E12 ("E" stands for "Entwicklung", the German word for development) this car was mainly targeted at the American market, an important source of profits for BMW. The 520 and the 520i were 4 door Sedans with carbureted and fuel injected four-cylinder engines.
BMW Motorsport is founded, initially created to facilitate BMW’s racing program, which was very successful in the 1960s and 1970s. In the next years they will give us some of the most amazing cars in the world.
BMW builds a new factory in South Africa.
1973
Introduced at the Frankfurt Auto Show, BMW 2002 Turbo was one of the first mass-produced turbos in the world. It had a KKK (Kuhnle, Kopp & Kausch) turbocharger.BMW wins the European Formula 2 Championship, European Touring Car Champion and World Sidecar Champion for the twentieth time.
A proof of BMW’s global expansion is the opening of two more subsidiaries in France and in the United States.
1974
The 3.0 CSL race cars were the first cars to be developed under BMW Motorsport GmbH. They were also the first to sport the newly designated official colors of BMW Motorsport - red, blue and purple - and the first to use ABS. CSL stands for: coupé, sport, lightweight. Because of the aerodynamic wings, the 3.0 CSL was nicknamed “the Batmobile”.1975
BMW launches the car that will gather the biggest sales in the years to come: the 3 Series. It is the BMW’s answer for an entry-level luxury sedan. The first model was the E21 as a successor to the 2002 model. At the time of the launch it the E21 had four versions: 316, 318, 320 and 320i. More powerful versions were avialable from Alpina.Alexander Calder, a well known artist especially for his abstract “mobiles”, which are described as the most innovative American sculptures of the 20th century, is the author of first BMW "art car". He turns a 3.0 CSL into a work of art on wheels.
1976
BMW launches a luxury coupé, the 6 Series, codename E24. The high built quality, the luxury, the sporty engines; the technical innovations remain a standard even in today’s market of luxury coupés. The 6 Series was equipped with a series of sensors that ran a check on oil pressure, windshield washer level, brake fluid level, brake lights, brake pad wear, tail lights, and coolant level thus helping the driver. This concept of the "check control" test panel has been used widely in BMW models ever since.With the 100 RS, BMW build the first motorcycle in the world with full fairing. The development of this focused primarily both on aerodynamic considerations and on the protection of the rider from wind and weather. At the same time, the R100 RS is first BMW with 1 liter capacity. With this model, BMW thus establishes the category of the sporty touring bikes - a segment in which BMW sets standards to this day.
1977
A full-size luxury sedan comes in the body of the BMW 7 Series. The E23 was BMW's replacement for the E3 2500-3.3Li. The first cars were the 728, 730 and the 733i with the advanced Bosch fuel injection.In 1977 BMW is the first vehicle manufacturer in the world to offer professional driver training. BMW has consistently improved and developed driver training programs in the years since that time.
1978
BMW competes in the Procar Series with Hans-Joachim Stuck and Niki Lauda driving the BMW M1. In order to get the homologation, BMW produced 450 M1’s street versions making it the rarest of modern BMW’s and a dream for many collectors. The M1 was the first car produced by BMW Motorsport.1979
BMW is one of the pioneers in developing car’s electronics and computers. They keep investing in research and development for new technologies. The result is the Digital Motor Electronics (DME): a microcomputer synchronizes ignition and fuel injection for fuel savings, lower emissions and better engine performance.The Bavarians also start the research on the hydrogen engines as an alternative solution for the engines of the future.
They start supplying armored cars for exclusive customers and institutions.
BMW E21, the first of the BMW's 3 Series
1980
BMW it’s also successful in the motorbike off-road racing winning the toughest race in this field, the Paris to Dakar rally. As a result their experience goes also on the road version models like the R80 G/S, G for "Gelände" (off-road), S for "Strasse" (road). This bike is bike is the first to be equipped with BMW's single swing-arm "monolever". BMW establishes the segment of the large, comfortable travel Enduro bikes, a key category in the motorcycle trade to this day.They begin the development of the Formula 1 engines.
1981
The Bavarian carmaker is already a global player but they want to expand on other continents. BMW is the first European carmaker that sees the opportunity of the Asian market. As a result they establish a subsidiary in Japan, the most powerful economy in Asia.1982
The successor of the E21 model is the E30 3 Series. The E30 was more of an upgraded E21 than an all new car and it used some of the same engines. Major changes included improved front and rear suspension design, more modern interior design, and a deeper front spoiler.The E30 3-Series was produced in four body styles, a four door saloon, a two door coach, a five door estate (marketed as the "touring"), and a two door convertible.
The fifth BMW plant is the Steyr facility and the next plant will be built at Regensburg showing the German automaker’s financial success.
For the sixth time BMW wins the Formula 2 European Championship.
1983
It’s time for the 5 Series to renew itself. The new one is called the E28 and had more engine choices but minor styling updates.For the U.S. market the 528e version or ‘eta’ (the Greek letter eta stands for the engine's efficiency) was available.
BMW starts to incorporate diesel engines for cars in its range.
Driving a Brabham powered by a BMW four-cylinder turbo engine, Nelson Piquet wins the Formula 1 World Championships.
The idea of the BMW motorcycle development engineer Josef Fritzenwenger to mount a longitudinally positioned in-line engine horizontally goes into serial production in 1983. The newly developed K Series joins the popular two-cylinder flat twin "boxer".
1984
The E28 receives new engines: the entry level 518i and the powerful M535i.The 6 Series receives the top version: the M635CSi, essentially an E24 powered by the powerplant of the BMW M1. In the US market was simply called M6.
BMW Technik GmbH is founded. Computers and robots revolutionize work in planning and production. The first European models with catalytic converters appear.
1985
Based on the E28 5 Series, BMW launches the phenomenal M5 at the Amsterdam Motor Show in February 1985. It had the looks and the capacity of a family sedan but the performance of a sportscar. The M5 uses the 535i chassis and a revised version of the M1’s engine. The total output was 286bhp making the M5 the fastest production saloon (sedan) in the world.The BMW 325 iX is the first BMW with four-wheel drive.
BMW Z1 prototype is one of the first products made by BMW Technik GmbH.
1986
BMW gives birth to the M3, a car that will become an icon and an etalon in the sportcars market. The first version produced 195bhp and later models were upgraded up to 238bhp. Soon, the E30 M3 scored thousands of victories granting the title of one of the most successful touring cars in history.786 cabriolets were also produced, all by hand in BMWs Garching plant.
The 7 Series E32 was the next BMW luxury 4-door sedan. Originally equipped with the M30 6-cylinder engine, the E32 soon evolved with an 8 and later a 12 cylinder engine with up to 300 hp.
Long wheel base models with more rear cabin space were designated L.
The BMW 745i with direct fuel injection is the first European car with a liquid hydrogen tank and internal fuel preparation.
BMW also celebrates its most successful year in the market in the United States of America - 96,800 registrations.
1987
Investment and care for research and development continues: the Research & Development Center in Munich (FIZ) employs some 6,000 people.The E30 M3 wins the World Touring Car Championship.
The 3 Series is now available also as an estate version, called “Touring”.
1988
It’s time for the next 5 Series, the E34. It had a traditional straight six engine, providing the smooth engine and optimal weight distribution BMW customers had come to expect. Along the production years the 5 Series was available in large variety of engines from the 518i to the 540i.An M5 version was also available. The first versions developed a stunning 315bhp. Later on the M5 came with a Touring body version but only 891 cars were made.
The E30 M3 is now available as a cabriolet version.
Introduced at the 1987 Frankfurt Auto Show, the BMW Z1 was a very expensive car for its time. Only 8000 were made. The Z1 was one of the first BMWs to have multi-link rear suspension.
BMW is the world's first motorcycle manufacturer to use an electronic-hydraulic antilock braking system (ABS) for bikes.
1989
BMW aims at the luxury sport coupé market and launches the 8 Series. The first available was the E31 850i. It had a 5liter v12 engine developing 300bhp.In the motorcycle business BMW launches the K1 bike.
BMW breaks the production records by making half a million cars. The Bavarian car maker has a healthy economical situation with a turnover of 20 million Deutsche Marks.
BMW E30 and the sensational M3 version
1990
In November 1990 the 3 Series is renewed by the E36 model. If the E30 was first available as a coupé, the E36 is launched as a sedan first. There were four models available: 316i, 318i, 320i, and 325i. The six cylinder models all had a new 24 valve engine from the E34 5 series.A four-valve modified version of the K100 RS motorcycle is launched this year. It will go on to be named motorcycle of the year five years running. ABS is now standard on all K-Series machines.
1991
New diesel engines are available for the 3 Series and the 5 Series. The 525tds had the new M51 six cylinder diesel engine which had 143bhp. The same engine but without the intercooler equipped 325td. Turbo models carried the "td" badge, while intercooler models are coded "tds".On March 18, 1991 the one millionth BMW motorcycle rolls off the factory production floor. It is a three-cylinder K75 RT that is eventually donated to the Red Cross.
1992
BMW presents the new E36 3 Series coupé. It was available as 318is, 320i and 325i. The 318is had the same 16 valve engine as the E30 318is but now had 140bhp.Introduced in Europe at the 1992 Paris Auto Show, replacing the E30 M3, the original E36 M3 featured a six cylinder engine with 286 hp and a top speed of 250 km/h. The engine was designated the S50.
The E34 M5 has now a bigger displacement engine, increased from 3.5l to 3.8l, developing 340bhp.
The Touring version for the 5 Series E34 is launched and also the four wheel drive version for the 525, named “ix”.
The new 730i and 740i eight cylinder replaced the 735i and 735iL. The eight cylinder models received the same wide kidney grille as the 750i.
1993
The 3 Series E36 receives new body versions like the convertible and the compact. The compact version is essentially a 3 Series coupé with a chopped off boot lid. To make it affordable only small engines were available like the 316i and the 318i.Meanwhile the 5 Series grows bigger in terms of engines with the 530i and the 540i. Both the E34 BMW 530i and 540i shared the M60 engine. The 530i developed 218bhp while in the 540i it developed 282bhp.
The ultra luxurious 8 Series receives a v8 engine in the 840Ci model developing 286bhp. Top of the line 8 Series was the 850CSi. It’s v12 engine developing a staggering 380bhp.
The R1100 RS sports tourer motorcycle is fitted with both Paralever rear suspension and the new Telelever front suspension.
1994
The convertible and the sedan versions of the E36 M3 model are revealed.The E38 7 Series was introduced in August 1994 replacing the E32. Almost all 7 Series models are automatic with a five speed adaptive transmission. The iL models have an extra 140mm of wheel base, which provides more rear leg room.
BMW’s flagship sedan became the 750iL with its v12-cylinder engine the same fitted in the Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph.
Under the leadership of Bernd Pischetsrieder, BMW acquires the Rover Group. This brought the active Rover, Mini and Land Rover brands as well as rights to other brands such as Austin, Morris, Riley, Triumph and Wolseley under BMW ownership.
BMW finished the building of a new plant in Spartanburg, South Carolina in the United States.
1995
The E36 3 Series receives the Touring version, the 4th body style after the sedan, coupé and convertible making it the most complete series from the BMW range.With a more streamline body and a fresh design the E39 5 Series replaces the old E34. The base model was the 520i, which developed 150bhp in the earlier models and developed 170 hp in later models. Most parts of the chassis are made from aluminum, giving precise and responsive handling for more rewarding driving.
BMW revives the roadster market with the Z3 model. It is the first car produced in the Spartanburg plant. The Z3 was developed from the E36 platform of the 3 Series. The resulting platform is sometimes referred to as the E36/7(roadster) or E36/8(coupé). This model also featured in the famous James Bond movie, “Golden Eye”.
McLaren F1 GTR wins the famous Le Mans 24 hours race. What not everybody knows is that this impressive car was powered by a BMW engine. The road version of the F1 had a BMW 6.1 Liter V12 engine producing 627 hp. This engine was initially designated for an M version of the 8 Series but it never went into production.
1996
It is time for the E39 5 Series to receive the Touring version. New engines are available for the 5 Series: 535i and 540i. The 540i was powered by the 282bhp 4.4l v8.A long version (L) is now available for the entry level 7 Series, the 728i.
BMW introduces the company's most powerful motorcycle to date, the four-cylinder liquid-cooled K1200 RS.
1997
Because the Z Series had only small 4cylinder engines a larger straight-6 2.8l engine is now available. This engine, similar to the 3 Series except with an all aluminum block and head, was especially desirable with its 189bhp.In response to a drop in demand for sporting machines, BMW markets it’s first-ever chopper/cruiser the R1200 C.
1998
With a complete new design with a nice looking interior and some updated engines.The higher price of the new E46 3 Series did not matter; it sold well from the start. The following engines were available from the start: 318i / 320d and 320i / 323i / 328i.
BMW introduces the E39 M5 at the Geneva Motor Show. Unlike its predecessors, the E39 M5 was not handbuilt at the BMW M GmbH factory; it was produced on the same assembly line as the normal E39 5-series at the Dingolfing factory in Germany. The E39 M5 was also the first M car powered by a V8 engine. The S62 engine with 400bhp made the new M5 the world's most powerful sedan.
The top versions of the Z Series were of course the ones wearing the M badge. The two body versions (roadster and coupé) had a 240bhp, 3.2l engine.
In 1998, both BMW and Volkswagen tried to purchase Rolls-Royce Motors. Volkswagen outbid BMW and bought the company for £430 million, but BMW outflanked its German rival. Although Volkswagen had bought rights to the "Spirit of Ecstasy" mascot and the shape of the radiator grille, it lacked rights to the Rolls-Royce name. Rolls-Royce plc (the aero-engine business) retained the rights over the Rolls-Royce trademark and wished to strengthen its existing business partnership with BMW which extended to the BMW Rolls-Royce joint venture. Consequently, BMW was allowed to acquire the rights to the grille and mascot, and licensed the name and "RR" logo after 2003 for £40 million. Volkswagen was permitted to build Rolls-Royces at its Crewe factory only until 2003, but quickly shifted its emphasis to the Bentley brand.
After a 12-year absence BMW returns to the Paris-Dakar Rally with F650 competition motorcycles.
1999
The E46 3 Series range receives the coupé and the touring versions.The next car that came out of the BMW’s plant in Spartanburg South Carolina was the E53 X5 SUV. BMW called it a SAV, Sports Activity Vehicle because the X5 had limited off-road capabilities but a sporty handling and feel very similar with one from a BMW sedan. Two engines were available at the start: the 4.4 liter v8, producing 286bhp and the 3.0 liter straight six with 231bhp.
BMW presents a successor for the famous 507. It is called the E52 Z8. The car combines perfectly the classic lines of the BMW roadsters together with modern design. The appointments are superb, from the soft leather interior, the art deco steering wheel, to the sculptured rear view mirror and brushed metal trim. The roadster had an all aluminum chassis and body. The power plant was the E39 M5 engine giving it a sprint from 0 to 60mph in under 5 seconds.
The car was featured in the James Bond movie “The World Is Not Enough” in late 1999.
Once again the Bavarians win the Le Mans 24 Hours race with the BMW V12 LMR car running in the LMP 900 (Le Mans prototype) category.
BMW returns to Formula 1. The German manufacturer signs a long term agreement with Williams F1 Team to supply engines and expertise for a period of 6 years.
BMW's motorcycle division had the strongest sales year in its entire history.
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