BMW -- the ultimate driving machine

BMW ALWAYS stood for fast, exciting automobiles -- as its advertisement proudly proclaims, ``the ultimate driving machine''. But few knew that BMW, which stood for `Bayerische Motoren Werke', started in 1916 to make aeroplane engines. Auto production was initiated in 1922 and BMW rolled out its first motorcycle in 1923. It started car production at Eisenach with ``Dixi'' which was essentially an Austin 7 produced under licence in 1928. The first true BMW, the 4-cylinder 800-cc 3/20 with independent swing axle suspension and a backbone chassis, did not appear until 1932, followed by the 6-cylinder 303 a year later. Further developments were the 1490-cc 6-cylinder 315 and the 1936 1911-cc 319 models that acquired a sporting reputation and culminated in the 2-litre 328 sports car of 1936 with 80 bhp from triple carburettors and a top speed of over 161 kmph.

During 1935-39 BMWs were imported to Britain and sold under the Frazer Nash-BMW name. The Eisenach factory in East Germany was nationalised in 1945, but production of pre-war BMWs continued here until 1955. The first car to emerge from the Munich factory was the 501 in 1952 with 1971-cc 6-cylinder engine, while the 507 Coupe built from 1956-59 was a classic sporting model with 3168- cc V8 engine developing 150 bhp. The maximum speed of this two- seater was about 201 kmph. In 1955, the BMW Isetta bubble car appeared, followed by the rear-engined 2-cylinder 700 in 1957. A return to the building of proper cars came in 1961 with the Michelotti-styled 4-cylinder 1500 and its larger version the 1800. They marked the start of the present BMW prestige executive image, which was enhanced by the 2000 coupe of 1965. The 1600 and 2000 saloons of 1966, with 4-cylinder 1573- and 1991-cc engines respectively, were important too and the 1600 two-door saloon was fitted with the 1991cc 4-cylinder engine in 1968 to produce the 100 bhp 2002. This was a small saloon with real sports car performance - 0-100 kmph in about 10.7 seconds and a 177kmph top speed. Later the same year the new overhead cam 6-cylinder 2500 and 2800 saloons were announced, together with the 2800CS coupe, which used the 2800 mechanicals in the 2000CS body.

In 1972, the 2000 was replaced by the four-door 520 saloon with a new body but using a developed version of the 1991-cc ohc 4- cylinder engine offered with either carburettors or Kugel-fischer fuel injection. The power output was 115 or 130 bhp respectively. The first figure of the number denoted the body and the second two the engine size in litres, a system that was applied for a long time. The 170-bhp 2002 Turbo, the first of the modern European turbo-charged cars, with a 210 kmph top speed, arrived in 1973. That year a version of the 520 with 145-bhp 6-cylinder 2494-cc engine was launched as the 525 and there was a 3.3-litre long-wheelbase model added at the top of the range. In 1975, 1766-cc 518 and 2788-cc 6-cylinder 165-bhp 528 models were introduced. Later that year the 1602/2002 models were replaced by the 3-Series with engine sizes of 1573, 1754 and 1977 cc respectively for 316, 318 and 320 models, which shared the same wheelbase two-door saloon body. The 630 and 633 big coupe models with 209 kmph top speed were introduced in 1976.

In 1977, BMW reverted to 6-cylinder engines for some models, with the 320 and 520 sharing the 1990-cc 122-bhp unit and a new 2315- cc fuel injected engine for the 323i. The 528 received fuel injection at the same time, boosting power to 184 bhp. The big saloons came right up to date the same year with the new 2795-mm wheelbase 7-Series that echoed the styling of the 6-Series coupes. Among the features were high-pressure power hydraulics for the brakes, height adjustable seats, central locking and air conditioning. The least powerful 6-cylinder 728 had 170 bhp and in 1979 there was a top 745i version with 3210 cc engine giving 252 bhp. Completely different was the exotic 1978 MI, which was the company's first mid-engined car and had an Ital-styled glassfibre bodyshell and multi-tubular chassis.

After this, BMW grew by leaps and bounds to become one of the foremost producers of cars in the world. It had a number of notable innovations to its credit including the world's first service computer system that warned drivers by means of coloured LEDs when the car needed service. Later came trip computers that could communicate in more than six languages. Other notable innovations included turbo-diesel engines with the power and performance of petrol engines and lately the common-rail injection diesels that are so silent that others are often tricked into believing they are petrol! BMW's sports cars like the Z3 introduced in the early 1990s has been a great success and the recently introduced Z8 has received wide acclaim from motoring critics and people generally. Another landmark in the history of BMW was the loaning of its engine to the great World Marques the Rolls Royce and Land Rover. It has also successfully been manufacturing motorcycles for discerning riders in Europe.

Tutu Dhawan

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