BMW Museum – Munich, Germany
Another famous marque museum visit, I do love these and this time it’s the BMW Museum, Munich, Germany. And wow, was this worth the trip to Munich. BMW is an acronym for; Bayerische Motoren Werke. Now, I’ve heard all sorts of things, but that’s the correct version of the name, which was born out of the merging of three manufacturing companies. Rapp Motorenwerke, Bayerische Flugzeugwerke and Fahrzeugfabrik Eisenach. This collection of companies formed the basis of what BMW represented, Rapp with it’s Aero Engines, Fahrzeugfabrik Eisenach for their cars and Bayerische Flugzeugwerke for it’s motorcycle side production as the main interest was Messershmitt aircraft. So it’s a little complex… But one thing has been consistent, the Quant family having a controlling interest from 1960.
BMW has a long tale of success and near bankruptcy three times over. The end of First World War closing down production then the end of the Second World War saw them reduced to pots and pans. Germany not being allowed an air force meant that aero engine manufacture was in decline. The third time in 1959 when nothing it made was profitable. Motorcycle sales were in decline and the Isetta bubble car not really being profitable. However, this resilience and a drive for high quality engineering has seen them become incredibly successful and profitable.
Pre War BMW
The museum is split into two parts. One detailing the history and containing displays of some of it’s finest products, the other looking towards their future and is more interactive. Naturally I headed straight for the old stuff and came a gorgeous 1923 R32. The first vehicle to wear the BMW name and it’s iconic roundel. This was essentially a heavy re-design of the Bayerische Flugzeugwerke Helios bike, which used the BMW engine, which was designed as a portable industrial engine. Strangely it found itself more popular with German motorcycle manufacturers of the time. One of them was responsible for BMW making the unmistakable flat twin bikes we still get today.
In the same section their first cars could be found, now see if this looks at all familiar to you.
Automobilwerk Eisenach were making a version of the Austin 7 since 1927 called the Dixie 3/15, which became the BMW 3/15 in 1930.
The museum continues and you pass a huge wall of motorcycles spanning the ages. I would rather like an old BMW, they certainly have something about them.
Next up in the history of important BMW’s is the 328, quite a well known numerical model number. The 328 goes back as early as 1936, this version lasting four years until 1940. They only made 464 apparently, the timing of it may not have helped it to greater success. This was a significant car for BMW and was just getting into it’s stride with Mille Miglia wins. Stunning too.
Post War BMW
BMW built a variety of engines and cars of the period, between and during the Second World War. Much of which were fantastic aero engines. But it was after it that the company really had it’s work cut out just to stay alive. Most of it’s production facilities bombed and destroyed BMW couldn’t resume the work it was undertaking. It didn’t help that Germany was out of the air business and BMW had to apply to restart motorcycle production which was granted in 1947. The 501 saloon appearing in 1952 restarting what would be car production. Unfortunately it wasn’t a huge seller, not the volumes that were needed for sure.
So it’s no wonder that next we have something quite different. BMW no stranger from building or reworking someone else’s designs they built under license the Isetta bubble car. With their own power plant, the car being redesigned to accept the BMW R25 engine. This was a closed cabin compact car that gave weather protection to motorcyclists and people loved them, I mean who couldn’t.
The BMW Isetta
First appearing in 1955, the Isetta was quite a good seller for BMW even in the UK, even if it wasn’t massively profitable. BMW desperately needing something after the Second World War as the company was effectively on it’s knees. BMW’s Motorcycle sales had all but evaporated. The German economic miracle meant that people were abandoning the small motorcycles in favour of cars. Cars were quite an investment back then. The company that originally created the Isetta was ISO, which went on to develop beautiful sports cars like the Rivolta and Grifo. They sold licences for the Isetta all over the world, perhaps we need something like this again.
BMW were facing bankruptcy and were going to do a deal with Daimler Benz as a merger offer was on the table. This would have been the end of the company for sure, making Mercedes products may have been the ultimate outcome. But, the Quant family increased their shareholding in the company and provided investment for the future.
Whilst this was happening something of a lifeline appeared in the form of the BMW 700. The motorcycle division helping out the car side by providing a power train for a compact 4 seat sedan which was BMW’s first monocoque car. This was a sales success and bridged the gap between the diminishing sales of the Isetta and larger 600 and what was known as the Neue Klasse, where BMW as we know it today was established.
The stunning coupe version of the 700 shows quite clearly the lengthy tail where the engine lived. BMW didn’t make small compact or let’s say cheap cars again after the 700 finished production in 1965, until they bought the Mini brand.
BMW Sporting Saloons
In 1966 a shorter version of the New Class chassis formed the bases of the 02 series of cars, beginning with the 1602 and then more well known the 2002. This is where the origins of the world famous 3 series can be seen. The profile is unmistakable, the sloping front shark nose, the proportions of the body, a proper compact saloon. The complete line up of 3 series arranged for this to be seen.
One of the most iconic of all the BMW cars was the CS. BMW’s first six cylinder engine after World War Two featuring in the coupe from 1968 which was also known as the E9. The German economic miracle finally applying to BMW.
BMW M Power
The 1978 BMW 3 series was quite a lively car in the right engine configuration, the 323i having a straight six engine and high performance. You associate that with all of the six cylinder 3 series cars. However it was this car below which was really quick, one of my favourite Top Trumps cars when I was younger.
This bewinged monster was a training ground for younger drivers and also a high performance turbo version. With it’s 2000cc four cylinder turbocharged engine would produce around 600 BHP, sometimes more…
This has a purposeful beauty to it, even though it’s harsh edges conceal the purity of the 3 series below, I think it is stunning.
Performance BMW’s are nothing new and don’t just extend to race cars. BMW created the M division in 1972 to support their racing activities. But a major step was taken in 1978 with the release of their first road car, the M1. Using one of the famous 3.5L straight six engines they turned out a purposeful 2 seat sports car.
BMW M Saloons
A series of M division based saloon cars followed, these becoming the mainstream models we are familiar with today. The first was the M535i in 1980, with it’s re tuned suspension and famous ‘dog leg’ five speed gearbox. But it wasn’t until the M5 that we really got what the M division was going to become, producing a model range of it’s own. The M cars retaining the best bits of the more ordinary cars they were based on, but different enough. The M5 is the longest running of the M cars, even though the M635i came before (known as the M6 in the US). They had quite a gap before the model name was brought back.
It didn’t take long to release the M3, only a year later in 1986. This is the volume seller of the lot. The first generation E30 sold over 16000, including nearly 800 or so convertibles, the following E36 sold nearly 86,000.
BMW Museum, Munich, Germany - The Future
The other half of the museum is more about the future and the building itself is quite fitting with the central escalator escape route. There is a large display of technology with a lot of detailed explanations of the engineering involved. Of course, this is the future and there are a few full sized exhibits within. I admit to being very impressed with the i range from BMW, but the one on the right is the hydrogen Skyfall prototype. We should be seeing something like this in 2020. The i3 coupe on the left being rather neat and an i8 concept in the middle. The future doesn’t look so bad from here.
But, I did find something old there to admire and take pictures of, I loved the old shell fuel pump. If only my living room was big enough…
The i8 being quite the star result of the application of a lot of the technology it’s quite right that it’s got a display all to itself. This roofless version is quite impressive. I might have to try one at some point.
There is too much detail to cover here, it would need pages of explanation, so you’d better go and have a look, it really is worth it.
Cape Town to Munich
Outside was a nice E30 3 Series, which had covered rather a large amount of kilometers. This 1990 318i had covered over 500,000km in the hands of a pilot who after a car accident was paralysed from the waist down. This car gave him the freedom he lost and a decision was made to return it to it’s maker and the Museum. I just hope BMW don’t recycle it and keep it on display.
Lots more images in the Facebook gallery to see, click the link here.
Many thanks to BMW, the BMW Museum and BMW Welt in Munich Germany.
Simon