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2016 100 years BMW
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2016 760 iL
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2015 X-prod. USA
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2014 X1
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2014 M4 Convertible
2014 2series Active Tourer
2014 4series Gran Coupe
2014 2series Coupe
2013 X5
2013 End six-cyl. eng.?
2013 i8
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2013 3 series GT
2012 Zagato Coupe
2012 12 cylinder
2012 7series
2012 3series
2011 6ser. Convertible
2011 6ser. Coupe
2011 M 5
2011 K1600 six cyl.
2010 M3 Coupe
2010 X3
2009 X1
2009 5series - M5 2011
2008 7series
2008 F108
2008 X6
2007 550i Security
2007 325i Conv.
2006 X5
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2006 R 1200
2006 F 800
2006 Hydrogen 7
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2006 Alpina D 3
2005 3xx
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2005 2-stage Charging
2004 Active Steering
2004 1
2004 1 Convertible
2003 530d
2003 X3
2003 Formula 1
2001 Valvetronic
2001 Mini
1999 Z8
1999 X5
1998 M5
1998 7series
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1998 320 d
1998 R1100 GS
1998 Cardi Curara
1997 Z3
1995 328i Convertible
1992 Vanos
1989 840/850
1988 K 1
1988 M3 Convertible
1988 Z 1
1987 Touring
1987 Group A DTM 23
1987 12-cylinder
1986 M3
1986 7er
1986 325 i Conv.
1985 BT 54 Turbo
1983 K 100
1983 635 CSI
1982 3er
1981 315
1981 525 i
1980 7series
1978 320 Baur
1978 M 1 Gr. 4 Procar
1978 M1
1978 635 CSI
1977 728
1976 6series
1975 1502
1975 3xx 1.Generation
1973 2002 Turbo
1971 3.0 CSL
1971 3.0 CS
1971 3.0 S
1971 Touring
1971 Baur 02
1968 2500/2800
1968 2002 ti
1968 Glas V8 3000
1968 02 Convertible
1966 02-series
1966 2000
1965 2000 CS
1964 Glas 1700 GT
1962 3200 CS
1963 1800
1962 Glas 1304
1962 Semi-trailing Arms
1962 1500
1960 R 69 S
1959 Austin Mini
1959 700
1958 Glas Isar
1957 Glas Goggomobil TS
1957 600
1956 507
1956 503
1955 Glas Goggomobil T
1955 Isetta
1952 501/502
1959 340
1938 327/328
1937 WR 500
1937 327
1936 328
1936 326
1934 315
1934 309
1933 303
1932 3/20 AM 4
1932 3/20
1929 3/15 DA 3
1929 3/15 DA 2
19297 3/15 DA 1
1923 R 32
1920 First Engine
Engine Data



  BMW - History (13)



The right to use the name BMW was granted, through a court decicion, to the factories in the west, thus, the products made in Eisenach were then called 'EMW'. As early as 1948 the motorcycle production in Munich had already, once again resumed. Not only did Herbert Quandt use his money, but also initiated the developement of a mid-range-series.


In 1961 the BMW 1500 appeared as an indirect competition to Mercedes, as a compact-car, whose chassis was, compared with the 700, once again vastly improved and technically simplified.

As far as the engine technology is concerned, their modern OHC engines, with hemispherical combustion chambers, they were a step ahead of the competition. The sales however, only really started moving when Paul G. Hahnemann was appointed. His strategy was, to create a niche and to exploit it. In addition, in 1966 the, very successful 02-range appeared. In the same year, BMW took over the Glas-Company in Dingolfing (picture on top).


From this point onwards, the development of BMW is presented as an almost pure success story. The upper class range was perfected in 1972 by the 5-series. New factories were emerging at home and abroad including the USA. The success on the race tracks of the world underlined the sports-car image of the BMW. The 02-series was developed in almost every direction, from the real sports-car with turbo-charging to the slightly more practical 'Touring'. In 1975 the 02 was replaced by the 3-series, from 1983 onwards it could even be had with 4 doors.


After 1976, the coupés were given the model description '6' when a new model was presented. Over and above this, in 1977, the series-7 was developed, it would later be powered by the first twelve-cylinder engine produced in Germany since the war. The follow-up series-8-coupé flopped out. The exact opposite was the 1980 M-series, derived from the mid-engined sports-cars which was also their namesake, the cars, whose exterior had been only slightly altered, were fitted with particularly high-performance engines. The engines were later increased to V-8s and right up to V10s for use in 'normal' saloon cars. The success of this series was, of course, largely due to the success of the racing cars in the formula 1 (83), the formula 2 (80) and also the rallye victories.


In 1983, BMW started producing cars with Diesel engines and in 1985 also with four-wheel drive. In the motorcycle sector, the K-series marked the partial moving away from the classic boxer-twin. It is here that, nowadays, (2005) one can observe an astonishing development which goes further than the existing series. Still to be mentioned, is the victory over the competitor VW, who felt certain that they had won the battle of acquiring the rights to take over Rolls-Royce, until it turned out that BMW did indeed, have the better position. Thus, BMW now also develops the arguably best car in the world.

After the successful involvement with Rover, which however, incurred heavy losses, BMW has worked its way up to being the most profitable supplier in the luxury class, in fact, in the end, trumping even Mercedes. One reason may be, that under the coachwork, the similarity of the BMW cars to each other is higher than that of the competition. No automobile manufacture seemed to be immune to the crisis of 2007. No-one saw the writing on the wall, no-one recognised that the development was in the direction of low CO2 emission. It may be interesting, to see how the three German luxury class competitors will come out of this affair with a clean nose. 01/11


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