BMW New Six
Encyclopedia
The BMW New Six is a line of six-cylinder
luxury cars produced by the German automaker BMW
from 1968 to 1977. The series was introduced as a response to the Mercedes-Benz
-dominated large luxury car class and was very important in establishing BMW's reputation as a maker of sporting, luxury sedans. A two-door coupé
version was produced alongside. Racing versions of the coupé enhanced BMW's reputation in auto racing
. The sedans have the internal name E3, while the coupés are E9.
Models were given names denoting their engine sizes, and suffixes to indicate the long-wheelbase (L) and fuel injection
(i) available on later cars. The coupés were all named CS, followed by i (for fuel injection models) or L (for light-weight models, which also had fuel injection and higher power).
They were roomy 6-cylinder
cars that handled well and impressed contemporary reviewers. Road & Track
called the Bavaria "delightful" and "superb", concluding that it was "one of the world's best buys". The big-bore, dual-carbureted 3.0S was introduced in 1971. It was more powerful and expensive than the 2800; a fuel-injected version was also made. Also produced were long-wheelbase L models (3.0L, 3.3Li, etc.), whose sharp handling was a stark contrast to the large Mercedes-Benz
models of the time. Langley Motors in Thames Ditton
UK also produced an estate (tourer) version.
In the US market, the 2500 and 2800 were introduced in 1969. The 2500 was shy of many of the luxury features included in the 2800, and with the smaller engine, it sold for about $5600 in 1970. The 2800 sedan was heavily optioned with such things as full leather interior, power windows, and power sunroof, which its price of $6,874 reflected. For the 1971 model year Max Hoffman
, the BMW importer for the USA, convinced BMW AG to build the 2500 configuration car but use the 2800 engine — i.e. the classic "American hotrod" formula of taking the lower option, lighter weight chassis and fitting the largest engine. This new E3 configuration was called the "Bavaria" and was unique to the US market. Hence the 1971 E3 sedans available in the US were, initially, the 2500, and 2800, then the Bavaria replacing the former models. The Bavaria is generally considered the forebear of the modern BMW high-performance sedan as it combined excellent acceleration, good fuel economy, plenty of room for four people and a large trunk. The majority of them were sold with a four-speed manual transmission
, reflecting the sporting nature of the sedan. With a fully independent suspension along with four wheel disc brakes, the E3 was well ahead of its time in the early 1970s.
For the 1972 model year, the 2500 was dropped while the M30 engine
size in the Bavaria was increased to 3.0 liters. The former 2800 was now called the 3.0S reflecting the 3.0 liter engine. These two models, the 3.0S and the Bavaria, were the E3 sedan line-up for 1972 through 1974. However, in 1974 the E3 received the ungainly, federally mandated 5 mi/h bumpers front and rear significantly altering its profile.
In 1975 BMW introduced fuel injection to the US market for the big-six M30 motor replacing the twin two-barrel Zenith carburetors used on the M30 motor since its inception. The Bavaria was dropped from the line-up, and the 3.0Si was now the highest end of the BMW model range (the "i" added to the 3.0S to designate fuel injection). The bargain end of the 6-cylinder sedan range was now the newly introduced E12 530i
. The fully optioned 3.0Si was sold during the 1975 and 1976 model years.
The E3 Sedan was in production from 1968–1978, with a total of 221,991 units produced.
Bavaria Production:
The CS models were coupé
s based on the standard sedans, and looked identical from the front. But they were also related to the earlier 2000CS
, as is evident at the rear. The first model was the well-equipped 2800CS of 1968. The 3.0CS models introduced in 1971. In 1974 the smaller engined 2.5CS was made in small numbers, in response to the fuel crisis
. The CSL models were lightweight racing versions which competed in Group 2
form in the European Touring Car Championship
, with CSL drivers winning the Drivers title six times in the years 1973 and 1975 to 1979. The CSL also competed in Group 5 Special Production
guise, winning three rounds of the 1976 World Championship for Makes. In FIA Group 4 spec, notably when driven by Hans-Joachim Stuck (car featured in Enthusia Professional Racing
), they competed against racing versions of the Porsche 911
and Ford Capri
with some success. With all the aerodynamic spoilers for racing, the car became known as the 'Batmobile'.
Straight-6
The straight-six engine or inline-six engine is a six-cylinder internal combustion engine with all six cylinders mounted in a straight line along the crankcase...
luxury cars produced by the German automaker BMW
BMW
Bayerische Motoren Werke AG is a German automobile, motorcycle and engine manufacturing company founded in 1916. It also owns and produces the Mini marque, and is the parent company of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. BMW produces motorcycles under BMW Motorrad and Husqvarna brands...
from 1968 to 1977. The series was introduced as a response to the Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz is a German manufacturer of automobiles, buses, coaches, and trucks. Mercedes-Benz is a division of its parent company, Daimler AG...
-dominated large luxury car class and was very important in establishing BMW's reputation as a maker of sporting, luxury sedans. A two-door coupé
Coupé
A coupé or coupe is a closed car body style , the precise definition of which varies from manufacturer to manufacturer, and over time...
version was produced alongside. Racing versions of the coupé enhanced BMW's reputation in auto racing
Auto racing
Auto racing is a motorsport involving the racing of cars for competition. It is one of the world's most watched televised sports.-The beginning of racing:...
. The sedans have the internal name E3, while the coupés are E9.
Models were given names denoting their engine sizes, and suffixes to indicate the long-wheelbase (L) and fuel injection
Fuel injection
Fuel injection is a system for admitting fuel into an internal combustion engine. It has become the primary fuel delivery system used in automotive petrol engines, having almost completely replaced carburetors in the late 1980s....
(i) available on later cars. The coupés were all named CS, followed by i (for fuel injection models) or L (for light-weight models, which also had fuel injection and higher power).
- 2500/2.5, 2.5CS (2478 cc, 150 PS)
- 2800/2.8, 2800CS (2769 cc, 170 PS)
- 3.0S, 3.0CS (2966 cc, 180 PS using twin Zenith 35/40 INAT carburetors)
- 3.0Si, 3.0Li, 3.0CSi (2966 cc, 200 or 195 PS, depending whether Bosch D-Jetronic or L-Jetronic was installed)
- 3.3Li (3188 cc, 200 PS)
Sedans (E3)
The two initial models, introduced in 1968 and sold through 1977, were the 2.5 L 2500 and 2.8 L 2800. In 1971, the Bavaria, made exclusively for America, replaced the 2500/2800 models, but used the 2.8 L engine with some interior features stripped out to give a more attractive price, about US$5,000, less than the $6,874 of its full-featured predecessor, the 2800.They were roomy 6-cylinder
Straight-6
The straight-six engine or inline-six engine is a six-cylinder internal combustion engine with all six cylinders mounted in a straight line along the crankcase...
cars that handled well and impressed contemporary reviewers. Road & Track
Road & Track
Road & Track is an American automotive enthusiast magazine. It is owned by Hearst Magazines, and is published monthly. The editorial offices are located in Newport Beach, California.-History:...
called the Bavaria "delightful" and "superb", concluding that it was "one of the world's best buys". The big-bore, dual-carbureted 3.0S was introduced in 1971. It was more powerful and expensive than the 2800; a fuel-injected version was also made. Also produced were long-wheelbase L models (3.0L, 3.3Li, etc.), whose sharp handling was a stark contrast to the large Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz is a German manufacturer of automobiles, buses, coaches, and trucks. Mercedes-Benz is a division of its parent company, Daimler AG...
models of the time. Langley Motors in Thames Ditton
Thames Ditton
Thames Ditton is a village in Surrey, England, bordering Greater London. It is situated 12.2 miles south-west of Charing Cross between the towns of Kingston upon Thames, Surbiton, Esher and East Molesey...
UK also produced an estate (tourer) version.
In the US market, the 2500 and 2800 were introduced in 1969. The 2500 was shy of many of the luxury features included in the 2800, and with the smaller engine, it sold for about $5600 in 1970. The 2800 sedan was heavily optioned with such things as full leather interior, power windows, and power sunroof, which its price of $6,874 reflected. For the 1971 model year Max Hoffman
Max Hoffman
Max Hoffman, , was an Austrian-born importer of automobiles into the United States during the 1950s. Doing business among gentlemen who knew one another well, he was known for his handshake deals that always were upheld without a written contract...
, the BMW importer for the USA, convinced BMW AG to build the 2500 configuration car but use the 2800 engine — i.e. the classic "American hotrod" formula of taking the lower option, lighter weight chassis and fitting the largest engine. This new E3 configuration was called the "Bavaria" and was unique to the US market. Hence the 1971 E3 sedans available in the US were, initially, the 2500, and 2800, then the Bavaria replacing the former models. The Bavaria is generally considered the forebear of the modern BMW high-performance sedan as it combined excellent acceleration, good fuel economy, plenty of room for four people and a large trunk. The majority of them were sold with a four-speed manual transmission
Manual transmission
A manual transmission, also known as a manual gearbox or standard transmission is a type of transmission used in motor vehicle applications...
, reflecting the sporting nature of the sedan. With a fully independent suspension along with four wheel disc brakes, the E3 was well ahead of its time in the early 1970s.
For the 1972 model year, the 2500 was dropped while the M30 engine
BMW M30
The BMW M30 is an inline-6 cylinder engine built by BMW and was used in many different models since 1968. It was originally developed in the late 1960s as an extended 2.5-liter version of the robust inline four-cylinder BMW M10 first used in the 'Neue Klasse' BMW 1500, with which it shares a...
size in the Bavaria was increased to 3.0 liters. The former 2800 was now called the 3.0S reflecting the 3.0 liter engine. These two models, the 3.0S and the Bavaria, were the E3 sedan line-up for 1972 through 1974. However, in 1974 the E3 received the ungainly, federally mandated 5 mi/h bumpers front and rear significantly altering its profile.
In 1975 BMW introduced fuel injection to the US market for the big-six M30 motor replacing the twin two-barrel Zenith carburetors used on the M30 motor since its inception. The Bavaria was dropped from the line-up, and the 3.0Si was now the highest end of the BMW model range (the "i" added to the 3.0S to designate fuel injection). The bargain end of the 6-cylinder sedan range was now the newly introduced E12 530i
BMW E12
The BMW E12 BMW 5-Series was made between 1972 and 1981. The E12 was the first series to bear the 5 Series name: the '5' denoting BMW's fifth 'New Class' platform. Designed as a replacement for the popular BMW New Class mid-size sedan, the E12 5-Series models were smaller than the large BMW E3...
. The fully optioned 3.0Si was sold during the 1975 and 1976 model years.
The E3 Sedan was in production from 1968–1978, with a total of 221,991 units produced.
Bavaria Production:
| model | 2800 Bav | 3.0 Bav |
|---|---|---|
| 1968 | 2 | |
| 1969 | 13,211 | |
| 1970 | 13,210 | |
| 1971 | 4,817 | 8,414 |
| 1972 | 2,571 | 8,206 |
| 1973 | 2,371 | 8,286 |
| 1974 | 948 | 4,506 |
| 1975 | 14 | 2,548 |
| 1976 | 2,578 | |
| 1977 | 122 | |
| totals | 37,144 | 34,660 |
Coupés (E9)
Coupé
A coupé or coupe is a closed car body style , the precise definition of which varies from manufacturer to manufacturer, and over time...
s based on the standard sedans, and looked identical from the front. But they were also related to the earlier 2000CS
BMW New Class coupé
The BMW New Class coupé, sold as the BMW 2000C or the BMW 2000CS, was a coupé built by Karmann for BMW from 1965 to 1969. Based on the New Class platform, the 2000C and 2000CS introduced the 2.0 L version of the M10 engine...
, as is evident at the rear. The first model was the well-equipped 2800CS of 1968. The 3.0CS models introduced in 1971. In 1974 the smaller engined 2.5CS was made in small numbers, in response to the fuel crisis
1973 oil crisis
The 1973 oil crisis started in October 1973, when the members of Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries or the OAPEC proclaimed an oil embargo. This was "in response to the U.S. decision to re-supply the Israeli military" during the Yom Kippur war. It lasted until March 1974. With the...
. The CSL models were lightweight racing versions which competed in Group 2
Group 2 (racing)
The Group 2 racing class referred to regulations for cars in touring car racing and rallying, as regulated by the FIA. Group 2 was replaced by Group A in 1982....
form in the European Touring Car Championship
European Touring Car Championship
The European Touring Car Championship was an international touring car racing series organised by the FIA. It had two incarnations, the first one between 1963 and 1988, and the second between 2000 and 2004...
, with CSL drivers winning the Drivers title six times in the years 1973 and 1975 to 1979. The CSL also competed in Group 5 Special Production
Group 5 (racing)
Group 5 was an FIA motor racing classification which was applied to four distinct categories during the years 1966 to 1982. Initially Group 5 regulations defined a Special Touring Car category and from 1970 to 1971 the classification was applied to limited production Sports Cars restricted to 5...
guise, winning three rounds of the 1976 World Championship for Makes. In FIA Group 4 spec, notably when driven by Hans-Joachim Stuck (car featured in Enthusia Professional Racing
Enthusia Professional Racing
Enthusia Professional Racing is a racing game for the PlayStation 2. It is the first auto racing simulator made by Konami.-Description:Enthusia Professional Racing has five available play modes:· Enthusia Life· Free Race· Driving Revolution...
), they competed against racing versions of the Porsche 911
Porsche 911
The Porsche 911 is a luxury 2-door sports coupe made by Porsche AG of Stuttgart, Germany. It has a distinctive design, rear-engined and with independent rear suspension, an evolution of the swing axle on the Porsche 356. The engine was also air-cooled until the introduction of the Type 996 in 1998...
and Ford Capri
Ford Capri
Ford Capri was a name used by the Ford Motor Company for three different automobile models. The Ford Consul Capri coupé was produced by Ford of Britain between 1961 and 1964. The Ford Capri coupé was produced by Ford of Europe from 1969 to 1986...
with some success. With all the aerodynamic spoilers for racing, the car became known as the 'Batmobile'.