BMW History Pre WWIIWorld War II Was The Most Extensive And

BMW AG, abbreviation of Bayerische Motoren Werke ( Bavarian Motor Works), is a German company and manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles. In the original German the acronym is pronounced "beh-em-veh". In North America and Australia, BMW cars have been nicknamed "bimmers" while BMW motorcycles are called "beemers," although the terms are often used interchangeably (and incorrectly, according to some BMW fans). It is the parent company of the Mini and Rolls-Royce car brands.

1 History

1.1 Pre- WWIIWorld War II was the most extensive and costly armed conflict in the history of the world, involving the great majority of the world's nations, being fought simultaneously in several major theatres, and costing tens of millions of lives. The war was fough

BMW was founded by Karl Friedrich Rapp in October 19131913 is a common year starting on Wednesday. click on link for calendar) Events January-March January 30 House of Lords rejects Irish Home Rule Bill February 1 New York City's Grand Central Station opens as the world's largest train station. February 3 Th, originally as an aircraft engineAn engine is something that produces some effect from a given input. The origin of engineering was the working of engines. There is an overlap in English between two meanings of the word "engineer": 'those who operate engines' and 'those who design and co manufacturer. The Milbertshofen district of MunichMunich ( German: Munchen ) is the state capital of the German Bundesland of Bavaria. Behind Berlin and Hamburg, Munich is Germany's third largest city with a population of about 1. 261 million ( as of 2003). It is located on the river Isar. History The se location was chosen because it was close to the Gustav Otto Flugmaschinenfabrik site, a German aircraft manufacturer.

In 19161916 is a leap year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar) Events January 1 -The first successful blood transfusion using blood that had been stored and cooled. Impressionist Monet paints Water Lilies'. January 8 Allied forces withdraw from the company secured a contract to build V12A V12 is an internal combustion engine with 12 cylinders in V configuration. Like a straight-6, this configuration has perfect primary and secondary balance no matter which V angle is used. A V12 where is the the two banks of six cylinders are angled at 6 engines for Austria-HungaryAustria-Hungary also known as the Dual monarchy (or: the k. monarchy , was a dualistic state ( 1867 1918) in which the Kingdom of Hungary enjoyed self-government and representation in joint affairs (principally foreign relations and defence) with the west. Needing extra financing, Rapp gained the support of Camillo CastiglioniCastiglioni,Camillo (lived 1879 1957) was a banker, sometimes called as a financial magician''. Born in Triest, he lived in Austria. Before the World War I, he was manager of the Austrian Semperit rubber company. He helped Rapp to found BMW. He became ric and Max Friz , the company was reconstituted as the Bayerische Motoren Werke GmbH. Over-expansion caused difficulties; Rapp left and the company was taken over by the Austrian industrialist Franz Josef Popp in 1917, and named BMW AG in 1918.

After World War I, the Treaty of Versailles ( 1919) prohibited the production of aircraft in Germany. Otto closed his factory and BMW switched to manufacturing railway brakes.

In 1927 the tiny Dixi, an Austin Seven produced under licence, began production in Eisenach. BMW bought the company the following year, and this became the company's first car, the BMW 3/15 . By 1933 BMW were producing cars that could be called truly theirs, offering steadily more advanced inline 6-cylinder sports and saloon cars. The pre-war cars culminated in the beautiful 327 saloon and 328 roadster, fast 2-litre cars, both very advanced for their time.

1.2 WWII

BMW was a major supplier of engines to the Luftwaffe and of engines and vechicles, especially motorcyles, to the Wehrmacht. The aero-engines included the 801, one of the most powerful available. Over 30,000 were manufactured up to 1945. BMW also researched jet engines, producing the BMW 003, and rocket based weapons.

The BMW works were heavily bombed towards the end of the war. Of its sites, those in eastern Germany (Eisenach, Dürrerhof , Basdorf and Zühlsdorf ) were seized by the Soviets. The factory in Munich was largely destroyed.

1.3 Aftermath of WWII

After the war the Munich factory took some time to restart production in any volume. BMW was banned from manufacturing for three years by the Allies and did not produce a car model until 1952.

In the east, the company's factory at Eisenach was taken over by the state-owned Awtowelo group. That company offered "BMWs" for sale until 1951, when the Bavarian company prevented use of the trademarks: the name, the logo and the "double-kidney" radiator grille.

The cars were then branded EMW (Eisenacher Motoren Werke), production continuing until 1955.

In the west, the BAC, Bristol Aeroplane Company, inspected the factory, and returned to Britain with plans for the 326, 327 and 328 models. These plans, which became official war reparations, along with BMW engineer Fritz Fiedler allowed the newly formed Bristol Cars to produce a new, high-quality sports saloon, the 400 by 1947, a car so similar to the BMW 327 that it even kept the famous BMW grille.

1.4 Post-war history

In 1952, BMW produced its first passenger car since the war but its attempts to get into the premium sector were not commercially successful. By the late 1950s, it was making bubble cars such as the BMW Isetta. In 1959, BMW planned to merge with Daimler-Benz but board chairman Kurt Golda convinced majority shareholder Herbert Quandt to think otherwise.

That same year, BMW launched the 700 , a small car with an air-cooled, rear-mounted 697 cubic cm boxer engine from the R67 motorcycle. Its bodywork was designed by Giovanni Michelotti and the 2+2 model had a sporty look. There was also a more powerful RS model for racing. Competition successes in the 700 began to secure BMW's reputation for sports sedans.

At the Frankfurt show in 1961, BMW launched the BMW 1500 , a powerful compact sedan, with front disc brakes and four-wheel independent suspension. This modern specification further cemented BMW's reputation for sporting cars. It was the first BMW to officially feature the " Hofmeister kink", the rear window line that has been the hallmark of all BMWs since then.

The 1500 was developed into 1600 and 1800 models. In 1966, the two-door version of the 1600 was launched, along with a convertible in 1967. These models were called the '02' series and began the bloodline that later developed into the BMW 3-series.

In 1968, BMW launched its large sedans, the 2500 and 2800, and coupés, the 2.5 CS and 2800 CS.

By the 1970s, BMW was commercially successful and in December 1971, moved in to its present HQ in Munich, architecturally modelled after four cylinders.

In 1972, the BMW 5-series was launched, with a body styled by Marcello Gandini. The three-tier sports sedan range was formed and BMW essentially followed this formula, along with the 6-series coupés that replaced the CS, into the 1990s.

1.5 "The English patient"

Between 1994 and 2000, BMW owned the Rover Group in an attempt to get into mass market production, buying it from British Aerospace. This brought the Rover passenger car range, the Mini, Land Rover and Range Rover, plus historical names such as Triumph, into BMW ownership.

The venture was not successful. For years, Rover tried to rival BMW, if not in product, then in market positioning and "snob appeal". BMW found it difficult to reposition the English automaker alongside its own products and the Rover division was faced with endless changes in its marketing strategy. In the six years under BMW, Rover was positioned as a premium automaker, a mass-market automaker, a division of BMW and an independent unit.

BMW was more successful with the Mini, Land Rover and Range Rover brands, which did not have parallels in its own range at the time.

In 2000, BMW disposed of Rover after years of losses, with Rover cars going to the Phoenix consortium for a nominal £1 and Land Rover and Range Rover going to the Ford Motor Company. In the press, Rover and the English work ethic were mainly blamed for the debacle. The German press ridiculed the English firm as 'the English Patient', named for a recent film, though BMW itself, protected by its product range's image, was largely spared the blame — even though there were serious marketing issues that brought Rover down. Even the British press was not particularly sympathetic toward Rover.

BMW held on to the Mini and Triumph marques.

1.6 Production outside Germany

BMW started producing automobiles at its Spartanburg, South Carolina plant in 1994. Today, the plant manufactures the BMW X5 and BMW Z4 Roadster.

The Spartanburg plant is open six days a week, producing automobiles approximately 110 hours a week. It employs about 4,700 people amd manufactures over 500 vehicles daily.

After a period of local assembly, BMW's Rosslyn, South Africa plant now manufactures cars, with over 70 per cent of its output destined for export. In the mid-1990s, BMW invested R1 billion to make Rosslyn a world-class facility. The plant now exports over 50,000 3-Series cars a year, mostly to the USA, Japan, Australia, Africa and the Middle East.

1.7 Rolls-Royce

In the early 1990s, BMW and Rolls-Royce Motors began a joint venture that would see the new Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph and Bentley Arnage adopt BMW engines.

In 1998, both BMW and Volkswagen tried to purchase Rolls-Royce Motors. Volkswagen bought the company for £430 million, but BMW outflanked its German rival by acquiring the Rolls-Royce trademark for cars for a fraction of the price (£40 million).

Volkswagen was permitted to build Rolls-Royces at its Crewe factory until 2003 but shifted most of its marketing emphasis to Bentley.

In the meantime, BMW was faced with the need to build a new factory and develop a new model. The new factory at Goodwood produced the new Rolls-Royce Phantom, unveiled on January 2, 2003, and officially launched at the Detroit Auto Show on January 5, 2003.

2 Models

2.1 Current and near future products

The current BMW model line-up is split into what they call "Series", traditionally identified by a single digit - e.g. the 3 Series.

In 2004 BMW announced plans to make odd-numbered models sedans and estates (BMW calls its estates Touring models), while even-numbered models will be two-door coupes and cabriolets. This convention was started with the replacement of the Z3 roadster - the Z4. In future 2-door derivatives of the 3 Series will be called the 4 Series.

The M letter was used even prior to that to designate special "Motorsport" models beginning with the M1 supercar. Later the M letter was used as a prefix to top-of-the-range models which had received special treatment by the BMW Motorsport division. The first such car was the M535i of 1979. As these models started gaining popularity the Motorsport division was split into a separate company. BMW M GmbH now makes sporty models based on the production cars with very extensive chassis and engine upgrades. The M3 and M5 are based respectively on the 3 and 5 Series and are recognised by enthusiasts all over the world as truly excellent sports cars while retaining the practicality of the models they extend.

With the advent of the SUV, BMW also added the X5 - and in 2004 the X3 - to their model range to capitalise on this growing market. BMW calls its SUV models Sports Activity Vehicles. A possible future V Series will offer MPV practicality for large families, similar to the Renault Scenic.

1 Series: a new small car designed to compete with the VW Golf, coming out end of 2004
2 Series: a coupe/ convertible based on the 1 Series platform
3 Series: the successor to the 2002; a compact high-performance sedan, now in its fourth generation. The Mk5 is scheduled to be unveilled around 2005.
- M3: initially a race-version of the 3-Series sold to the public for homologation reasons, this model has evolved into a maximum-power, maximum-price touring car
- X3 : a small SUV with emphasis on practicality and affordability
4 Series This series will contain all future coupe and convertable versions of the 3-Series.
- Z4: a two-seater roadster that succeeded the Z3
5 Series Series: a midsize sports/ luxury sedan
- M5: A high performance version of the 5-Series. It is temporarily out of production because the 5 Series range is being updated. The next M5 excpected in late 2005 will be powered by a F1-inspired V10 engine.
- X5: BMW's first SUV, this vehicle has all the dynamic qualities expected of a BMW, and set new expectations for SUV design
6 Series Series: a large 2+2 GT, available as a coupe or convertible
7 Series Series: a full-size luxury car, competing with the Mercedes-Benz S-Class

2.2 Out of production

M1: a 1970s mid-engine sports car, designed in conjunction with Lamborghini
Z3: a compact two-seater roadster.
- M coupé and roadster: high-performance hard-top and soft-top versions of the Z3, very popular with enthusiasts
8 Series: a fast, high-technology coupe of the 1990s meant to replace the older 6 Series.
Z1 : a late 1980s two-seater with innovative modular construction; only around 10,000 were made
Z8: flagship sports car; design based on the classic 507 roadster from the 1950s

2.3 Classics

BMW made many cars over the years which had a massive impact on the world of motoring.

Dixi, 3/20, 303, 309, 315, 319, 320, 321, 325, 326, 327, 328, 329, 335
Isetta, 501, 502, 503, 507, 600, 700
3200 CS, 2000 CS
2500 - 3.3
1500 - 2000
2.5 CS - 3.0 CSL
1502 - 2002: acknowledged as the first modern sports saloon, the successor to which remains BMW's core product even today - the 3 Series

2.4 Series Generations

Internally, BMW associates an "e-code" for each generation of a series ("E" stands for Entwicklung, German for development). These "chassis codes" only change to signify a major redesign of a series, or the introduction of a new series.

BMW E12 - (1972-1981) 5-series
BMW E21 - (1975-1985) 3-series
BMW E23 - (1977-1986) 7-series
BMW E24 - (1976-1989) 6-series
BMW E26 - (1978-1981) M1-series
BMW E28 - (1981-1988) 5-series
BMW E30 - (1983-1993) 3-series
BMW E31 - (1990-1999) 8-series
BMW E32 - (1986-1994) 7-series
BMW E34 - (1988-1995) 5-series
BMW E36 - (1990-1999) 3-series
BMW E38 - (1994-2001) 7-series
BMW E39 - (1997-2004) 5-series
BMW E46 - (1998-present) 3-series
BMW E52 - (2000-2004) Z8-series
BMW E53 - (2000-present) X5-series
BMW E60 - (2004-present) 5-series
BMW E63 - (2004-present) 6-series coupe
BMW E64 - (2004-present) 6-series convertible
BMW E65 - (2002-present) 7-series short wheel base
BMW E66 - (2002-present) 7-series long wheel base
BMW E70 - future X5-series
BMW E83 - (2004-present) X3-series
BMW E85 - (2003-present) Z4-series
BMW E87 - (2004-present) 1-series
BMW E90 - future (2005) 3-series

3 Related companies

Isetta
Glas
Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Limited: currently owned by BMW
Rover: briefly owned by BMW, which retained the Mini after selling off the rest of the company (see MG Rover Group).
Land Rover: sold to Ford; the current Range Rover was developed mostly by BMW during their ownership of the company and is powered by their 4.4 L V8 engine.
Mini: a small hatchback; inspired by the 1960s Mini, which was the British equivalent of the Beetle.

4 Motorsport

BMW. WilliamsF1 Team logo

BMW has been engaged in motorsport activities since the dawn of the first BMW motorcycle. BMW has competed and won many of the most coveted and prestigious races and motoring events.

5 BMW Motorcycles

BMW motorcycles were first produced in 1923 and had an unusual " boxer twin" engine, with two air-cooled cylinders protruding from opposite sides of the machine.

The R series currently designates machines with a boxer-twin engine, the K series has an inline 3 or 4-cylinder engine, and the F series has a single cylinder Rotax engine.

BMW motorcycles tend to be relatively large and heavy, and relaxed and comfortable to ride. All BMW motorcycles except for the F series use shaft drive. (A characteristic of BMW motorcycles since 1923).

BMW was one of the earliest manufacturers to offer ABS on production motorcycles.

6 External links

BMW Aircraft engine manufacturers Motorcycle manufacturers Automobile manufacturers Companies of Germany Bavaria Saxony Formula One constructors

<Hide>

Home > BMW