574:
449:
40:
631:
821:
569:
called the later
Bavaria "delightful" and "superb", concluding that it was "one of the world's best buys". Aside from the larger engine, the 2800 also had bigger tyres and a somewhat sportier suspension, as well as various creature comforts such as a heated rear window, a full tool set, Boge Nivomat
655:
size in the
Bavaria was increased to 3.0 liters. The former 2800 was then called the 3.0 S reflecting the 3.0 liter engine. These two models, the 3.0 S and the Bavaria, made up the North American E3 sedan line-up for 1972 through 1974. For the 1974 model year the E3 received the ungainly,
617:
was presented, going on sale in
January 1974. It had the longer wheelbase and a bigger engine, although the power was no more than that of the 3.0 Si. Instead, more torque meant to provide a more luxurious rather than BMW's usual sporting feel. This engine was updated to fuel injection in June
638:
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 $ 5,600 in 1970-equal to $ 44,000 today. The 2800 offered full leather interior, power windows, and power sunroof, which
490:
A new feature was the twin headlights, set into the grille, a design which was to define BMW styling for decades. Early mockups of the E3 featured broad rectangular single headlamps with rounded corners, but these never went into production - perhaps as a result of the lukewarm reception of the
647:
6,000 ($ 45,000 today), the
Bavaria came to replace both older models. It is generally considered the forebear of the modern BMW high-performance large luxury sedan as it combined brisk acceleration, sporty handling, plenty of room for four people and a large trunk. An optional three-speed
643:, the BMW importer for the USA, convinced BMW AG to build the 2500 configuration car but use the 2800 engine — offering more power without the weight and expense of the 2800's luxury features. This new E3 configuration was called the "Bavaria" and was unique to the US market. Priced at about
581:
The dual-carbureted 3-litre 3.0 S was introduced in 1971, being a more powerful and expensive model 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
659:
In 1975 BMW introduced fuel injection to the US market M30 motor, replacing the twin two-barrel Zenith carburetors used since its inception. The
Bavaria was dropped from the line-up, nominally replaced by the fuel-injected M30 powered
606:
in 1974. The West Mercia Police's car was in an unusual livery called "truck yellow". Following the success of the 3.0 Si, many police forces in the UK began purchasing BMW cars, next one being the 5 Series (E12) in late 1970s.
495:. The new car also required a new welding plant at BMW's Munich site. In spite of the car's all-new construction it only cost 70 million D-mark to develop. This was less than half of what one might have expected at the time.
590:
UK also produced an estate (tourer) version. Surprisingly, considering their respective marketing profiles, the 3.0 Si sedan was faster than the 3.0 coupé; which was a heavier car by 50 kg, with the same drivetrain.
622:, this slightly smaller model found its way into the 3.3 Li as well. The E3 Sedan was in production from 1968–1978, with a total of circa 190,000 cars produced. Of these, 71,804 were of the US-only "Bavaria" model.
610:
The body was surprisingly light for its size, weighing less than the smaller E9 coupé. Vision is also good, with narrow pillars and no less than 2.5 m (27 sq ft) of overall glass area.
456:
After a long hiatus, BMW decided to develop a six-cylinder car in the early 1960s. Work on what was to become the E3 commenced in 1965. The engine was based on the existing
1123:
424:
engine. It marked BMW's return to the full-size luxury sedan market after a hiatus of 5 years and was introduced as a response to growing market segment dominated by
664:, and the fuel-injected 3.0 Si became the highest end of the BMW model range. The fully optioned 3.0 Si was sold during the 1975 and 1976 model years.
437:) are built on a shortened version of the E3 platform. The E9 coupés share engines, transmissions, some suspension and many other features with the E3 sedans.
1059:
464:
97:
1028:
555:
design was roomier than BMW's existing range and appeared rather large overall, in spite of being no more than 1 cm (0.4 in) longer than
1116:
536:
3.0Si, 3.0Li, 3.0CSi (2985 cc, 200 or 195 PS (143 kW; 192 hp), depending whether Bosch D-Jetronic or L-Jetronic was installed)
159:
1139:
1132:
1109:
1616:
835:
models were based on the standard 2800 sedans, and looked very similar from the front. But they were also related to the earlier
252:
551:
The two initial models, introduced in 1968 and sold through 1977, were the 2.5 L 2500 and 2.8 L 2800. The airy, large
1000:
563:
cars with fully independent suspension and four wheel disc brakes that handled well and impressed contemporary reviewers.
977:"1973 BMW 3.0si Police Car and BMW R75/5 Police Motorcycle Original Full Page Vintage Magazine Advertisement - Etsy UK"
594:
In the UK, some 3-litre cars were used by the police in the 1970s, with the infamous ad "It takes one to catch one".
976:
618:
1975, with a few more horsepower. Subsequent to the introduction of a 3.2 liter version of this engine in the 1976
1063:
479:
saloons had. The new sedan was noticeably a "driver's car", focusing on the front-seat occupants, and the smaller
1601:
599:
533:
3.0S, 3.0L, 3.0CS (2985 cc, 180 PS (132 kW; 178 hp) using twin Zenith 35/40 INAT carburetors)
836:
573:
492:
267:
1596:
1500:
1299:
1035:
656:
federally mandated 5 mph (8 km/h) bumpers front and rear, significantly altering its profile.
484:
885:(in German). Vol. XIV. ZĂĽrich, Switzerland: Verlag Internationale Automobil-Parade AG. p. 70.
595:
1621:
560:
472:
463:, sharing their overall layout, though not merely adding two cylinders. The design team was led by
448:
261:
206:
503:
Models were given names denoting their engine sizes, and suffixes to indicate the long-wheelbase (
1466:
1461:
1444:
1421:
1397:
1392:
1387:
1375:
1332:
1327:
1315:
1101:
619:
603:
556:
475:
studios. A goal was to offer more passenger space and comfort than the earlier, somewhat smaller
386:
109:
1606:
559:, which were generally considered to compete in a lower class than the new E3. They were large
154:
92:
1547:
552:
1611:
852:
428:. It was important in establishing BMW's reputation as a maker of sporting luxury sedans.
565:
1558:
508:
468:
126:
1590:
1411:
1382:
1359:
1322:
587:
583:
476:
425:
403:
114:
1437:
1433:
1368:
1364:
1308:
1304:
407:
166:
1480:
640:
349:
144:
135:
1518:
1428:
421:
1281:
282:
141:
118:
39:
630:
523:(for light-weight models, which also had fuel injection and higher power).
1473:
1404:
1339:
1263:
832:
639:
its price of $ 6,874 ($ 54,000 today) reflected. For the 1971 model year
539:
3.3L, 3.3Li (3295 cc, 190–197 PS (140–145 kW; 187–194 hp))
460:
410:
1487:
1449:
1346:
1286:
661:
652:
570:
self-levelling rear suspension, and a smattering more external chrome.
457:
418:
376:
240:
231:
222:
213:
202:
17:
1527:
1511:
1416:
1268:
815:
515:) available on later cars. The coupés were all named CS, followed by
480:
433:
192:
179:
85:
881:
Becker, Clauspeter (1971). "BMW 2500/2800". In Logoz, Arthur (ed.).
820:
839:, as is evident at the rear. The first model was the well-equipped
1569:
819:
629:
572:
530:
2800/2.8, 2800CS (2788 cc, 170 PS (125 kW; 168 hp))
447:
527:
2500/2.5, 2.5CS (2494 cc, 150 PS (110 kW; 148 hp))
1105:
644:
414:
58:
1096:
651:
For the 1972 model year, the 2500 was dropped while the
847:
models introduced in 1971. In 1974 the smaller engined
382:
372:
367:
360:
1,470 kg (3,240 lb) (extended sedan)
348:
334:
320:
313:
4,801 mm (189.0 in) (extended sedan)
300:
293:
2,794 mm (110.0 in) (extended sedan)
281:
276:
251:
191:
186:
175:
165:
153:
125:
108:
103:
91:
80:
72:
64:
54:
49:
32:
1154:
440:A total of 221,991 sedans and coupés were built.
417:from 1968 to 1977. All models used the then-new
851:was made in small numbers, in response to the
1117:
1097:The Senior Six Registry - Dedicated to the E3
310:4,953 mm (195.0 in) (US sedan)
8:
467:, with some detail work executed by Italy's
431:The BMW New Six coupés (better known as the
1124:
1110:
1102:
38:
29:
859:models were lightweight racing versions.
1151:
923:
921:
919:
894:
892:
671:
868:
1165:
1162:
1159:
876:
874:
872:
586:models of the time. Langley Motors in
1023:
1021:
598:bought a 3.0 Si in 1972, followed by
357:1,334 kg (2,941 lb) (sedan)
307:4,700 mm (185.0 in) (sedan)
290:2,692 mm (106.0 in) (sedan)
7:
648:automatic transmission was offered.
452:BMW 2800 (E3) "New Six" sedan/saloon
341:1,450 mm (57.1 in) (sedan)
327:1,750 mm (68.9 in) (sedan)
1083:From window sticker, US s/n 2150190
613:At the end of 1973 the new, larger
25:
1060:"57 Years Policing The Motorways"
413:produced by the German automaker
519:(for fuel injection models) or
160:Front-engine, rear-wheel drive
1:
1138:— BMW cars: 1960s to 1980s —
1062:. 2016-06-04. Archived from
1638:
1538:
1522:
1506:
1504:
1495:
1455:
1420:
1381:
1354:
1352:
1321:
1294:
1292:
1276:
1274:
813:
542:3.3Li (3210 cc, 1976-1977)
1535:
1531:
1526:
1524:
1517:
1510:
1508:
1499:
1493:
1491:
1486:
1484:
1479:
1477:
1465:
1460:
1453:
1448:
1427:
1415:
1410:
1408:
1396:
1391:
1386:
1379:
1358:
1350:
1345:
1343:
1331:
1326:
1319:
1298:
1290:
1285:
1280:
1272:
1267:
1262:
1149:
963:
951:
939:
927:
910:
898:
557:Mercedes' midrange sedans
487:than a full four-seater.
37:
1566:
1555:
1544:
1314:
1257:
1254:
1251:
1248:
1245:
1242:
1239:
1236:
1233:
1230:
1227:
1224:
1221:
1218:
1215:
1212:
1209:
1206:
1203:
1200:
1197:
1194:
1191:
1188:
1185:
1182:
1179:
1176:
1173:
1170:
1617:Cars introduced in 1968
634:1969 BMW 2500 Rear view
600:Derbyshire Constabulary
825:
635:
602:the same year and the
578:
453:
404:mid-size luxury sedans
1300:Compact executive car
1001:"BMW E3-series 3.3Li"
823:
633:
576:
451:
596:Thames Valley Police
483:coupé was more of a
1568: developed by
1557: developed by
1546: developed by
883:Auto-Universum 1971
668:Bavaria Production:
491:similarly designed
398:(also known as the
826:
636:
604:West Mercia Police
579:
465:Wilhelm Hofmeister
454:
387:BMW 7 Series (E23)
142:extended wheelbase
98:Wilhelm Hofmeister
1584:
1583:
1579:
1578:
1142:
1136:
1029:"BMW police cars"
807:
806:
392:
391:
16:(Redirected from
1629:
1572:
1567:
1561:
1556:
1550:
1545:
1441:
1383:New Class sedans
1372:
1312:
1152:
1140:
1134:
1126:
1119:
1112:
1103:
1084:
1081:
1075:
1074:
1072:
1071:
1056:
1050:
1049:
1047:
1046:
1040:
1034:. Archived from
1033:
1025:
1016:
1015:
1013:
1012:
997:
991:
990:
988:
987:
973:
967:
961:
955:
949:
943:
937:
931:
925:
914:
908:
902:
896:
887:
886:
878:
672:
566:Road & Track
350:Curb weight
104:Body and chassis
65:Also called
42:
33:BMW New Six (E3)
30:
21:
1637:
1636:
1632:
1631:
1630:
1628:
1627:
1626:
1602:BMW model codes
1587:
1586:
1585:
1580:
1575:
1565:
1564:
1554:
1553:
1543:
1542:
1431:
1412:2000 C, 2000 CS
1362:
1302:
1269:Isetta 250, 300
1145:
1130:
1093:
1088:
1087:
1082:
1078:
1069:
1067:
1058:
1057:
1053:
1044:
1042:
1038:
1031:
1027:
1026:
1019:
1010:
1008:
1005:The Independent
999:
998:
994:
985:
983:
975:
974:
970:
962:
958:
950:
946:
938:
934:
926:
917:
909:
905:
897:
890:
880:
879:
870:
865:
818:
812:
628:
549:
501:
446:
402:) is a line of
363:
344:
330:
316:
296:
272:
247:
149:
127:Body style
45:
28:
23:
22:
15:
12:
11:
5:
1635:
1633:
1625:
1624:
1619:
1614:
1609:
1604:
1599:
1589:
1588:
1582:
1581:
1577:
1576:
1574:
1573:
1570:BMW Motorsport
1562:
1559:Hans Glas GmbH
1551:
1539:
1537:
1533:
1532:
1530:
1525:
1523:
1521:
1515:
1514:
1509:
1507:
1505:
1503:
1497:
1496:
1494:
1492:
1490:
1485:
1483:
1478:
1476:
1470:
1469:
1464:
1459:
1454:
1452:
1447:
1442:
1425:
1424:
1419:
1414:
1409:
1407:
1401:
1400:
1395:
1390:
1385:
1380:
1378:
1373:
1356:
1355:
1353:
1351:
1349:
1344:
1342:
1336:
1335:
1330:
1325:
1320:
1318:
1313:
1296:
1295:
1293:
1291:
1289:
1284:
1278:
1277:
1275:
1273:
1271:
1266:
1260:
1259:
1256:
1253:
1250:
1247:
1244:
1241:
1238:
1235:
1232:
1229:
1226:
1223:
1220:
1217:
1214:
1211:
1208:
1205:
1202:
1199:
1196:
1193:
1190:
1187:
1184:
1181:
1178:
1175:
1172:
1168:
1167:
1164:
1161:
1158:
1150:
1147:
1146:
1131:
1129:
1128:
1121:
1114:
1106:
1100:
1099:
1092:
1091:External links
1089:
1086:
1085:
1076:
1051:
1017:
992:
968:
956:
944:
932:
915:
903:
888:
867:
866:
864:
861:
814:Main article:
811:
808:
805:
804:
799:
794:
788:
787:
784:
782:
778:
777:
774:
772:
768:
767:
764:
761:
757:
756:
753:
750:
746:
745:
742:
739:
735:
734:
731:
728:
724:
723:
720:
717:
713:
712:
710:
707:
703:
702:
700:
697:
693:
692:
690:
687:
683:
682:
679:
676:
627:
624:
548:
545:
544:
543:
540:
537:
534:
531:
528:
509:fuel injection
500:
497:
445:
442:
390:
389:
384:
380:
379:
374:
370:
369:
365:
364:
362:
361:
358:
354:
352:
346:
345:
343:
342:
338:
336:
332:
331:
329:
328:
324:
322:
318:
317:
315:
314:
311:
308:
304:
302:
298:
297:
295:
294:
291:
287:
285:
279:
278:
274:
273:
271:
270:
264:
257:
255:
249:
248:
246:
245:
236:
227:
218:
209:
197:
195:
189:
188:
184:
183:
177:
173:
172:
169:
163:
162:
157:
151:
150:
148:
147:
138:
131:
129:
123:
122:
112:
106:
105:
101:
100:
95:
89:
88:
82:
78:
77:
74:
70:
69:
66:
62:
61:
56:
52:
51:
47:
46:
43:
35:
34:
26:
24:
14:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1634:
1623:
1620:
1618:
1615:
1613:
1610:
1608:
1605:
1603:
1600:
1598:
1595:
1594:
1592:
1571:
1563:
1560:
1552:
1549:
1541:
1540:
1534:
1529:
1520:
1516:
1513:
1502:
1498:
1489:
1482:
1475:
1472:
1471:
1468:
1463:
1458:
1451:
1446:
1443:
1439:
1435:
1430:
1426:
1423:
1418:
1413:
1406:
1403:
1402:
1399:
1394:
1389:
1384:
1377:
1374:
1370:
1366:
1361:
1360:Executive car
1357:
1348:
1341:
1338:
1337:
1334:
1329:
1324:
1317:
1310:
1306:
1301:
1297:
1288:
1283:
1279:
1270:
1265:
1261:
1169:
1157:
1153:
1148:
1144:
1137:
1127:
1122:
1120:
1115:
1113:
1108:
1107:
1104:
1098:
1095:
1094:
1090:
1080:
1077:
1066:on 2016-06-04
1065:
1061:
1055:
1052:
1041:on 2017-03-28
1037:
1030:
1024:
1022:
1018:
1006:
1002:
996:
993:
982:
978:
972:
969:
965:
960:
957:
953:
948:
945:
941:
936:
933:
929:
924:
922:
920:
916:
912:
907:
904:
900:
895:
893:
889:
884:
877:
875:
873:
869:
862:
860:
858:
854:
850:
846:
843:of 1968. The
842:
838:
834:
831:
822:
817:
809:
803:
800:
798:
795:
793:
790:
789:
785:
783:
780:
779:
775:
773:
770:
769:
765:
762:
759:
758:
754:
751:
748:
747:
743:
740:
737:
736:
732:
729:
726:
725:
721:
718:
715:
714:
711:
708:
705:
704:
701:
698:
695:
694:
691:
688:
685:
684:
680:
677:
674:
673:
670:
669:
665:
663:
657:
654:
649:
646:
642:
632:
626:North America
625:
623:
621:
616:
611:
608:
605:
601:
597:
592:
589:
588:Thames Ditton
585:
584:Mercedes-Benz
575:
571:
568:
567:
562:
558:
554:
546:
541:
538:
535:
532:
529:
526:
525:
524:
522:
518:
514:
510:
506:
498:
496:
494:
488:
486:
482:
478:
474:
470:
466:
462:
459:
450:
443:
441:
438:
436:
435:
429:
427:
426:Mercedes-Benz
423:
420:
416:
412:
409:
405:
401:
397:
388:
385:
381:
378:
375:
371:
366:
359:
356:
355:
353:
351:
347:
340:
339:
337:
333:
326:
325:
323:
319:
312:
309:
306:
305:
303:
299:
292:
289:
288:
286:
284:
280:
275:
269:
265:
263:
259:
258:
256:
254:
250:
243:
242:
237:
234:
233:
228:
225:
224:
219:
216:
215:
210:
208:
205:
204:
199:
198:
196:
194:
190:
185:
181:
178:
174:
170:
168:
164:
161:
158:
156:
152:
146:
143:
139:
137:
133:
132:
130:
128:
124:
120:
116:
115:Executive car
113:
111:
107:
102:
99:
96:
94:
90:
87:
83:
79:
75:
71:
67:
63:
60:
57:
53:
48:
41:
36:
31:
27:Motor vehicle
19:
1597:BMW vehicles
1456:
1155:
1079:
1068:. Retrieved
1064:the original
1054:
1043:. Retrieved
1036:the original
1009:. Retrieved
1007:. 2007-09-10
1004:
995:
984:. Retrieved
981:www.etsy.com
980:
971:
959:
947:
935:
906:
882:
856:
848:
844:
840:
829:
827:
801:
796:
791:
667:
666:
658:
650:
637:
614:
612:
609:
593:
580:
564:
561:six-cylinder
550:
520:
516:
512:
504:
502:
499:Nomenclature
489:
455:
439:
432:
430:
408:grand tourer
399:
395:
393:
253:Transmission
239:
230:
221:
212:
201:
145:sedan/saloon
136:sedan/saloon
55:Manufacturer
853:fuel crisis
810:Coupés (E9)
641:Max Hoffman
444:Development
396:BMW New Six
377:BMW 501/502
373:Predecessor
238:3.3 L
229:3.2 L
220:3.0 L
211:2.8 L
200:2.5 L
1622:1970s cars
1591:Categories
1519:Sports car
1429:Luxury car
1070:2024-02-07
1045:2024-02-07
1011:2024-02-07
986:2024-02-07
863:References
824:BMW 3.0 CS
653:M30 engine
620:BMW 633CSi
615:3.3 L
577:BMW 3.0 Si
553:greenhouse
473:Michelotti
422:straight-6
368:Chronology
277:Dimensions
260:4/5-speed
187:Powertrain
73:Production
1323:02 Series
1282:Supermini
681:3.0 S/Si
477:New Class
461:inline 4s
383:Successor
283:Wheelbase
268:automatic
84:Germany:
76:1968–1977
1501:Roadster
1450:501, 502
1440:-series)
1371:-series)
1311:-series)
1264:Microcar
1135:previous
678:Bavaria
662:E12 530i
266:3-speed
232:M30B32LE
182:(coupés)
167:Platform
93:Designer
81:Assembly
50:Overview
44:BMW 2500
1548:Iso SpA
1536:Legend
1488:3000 V8
1481:3200 CS
1287:LS, 700
1143: »
1133:«
966:, p. 76
954:, p. 74
942:, p. 77
930:, p. 72
913:, p. 69
901:, p. 73
709:13,210
699:13,211
493:2000 CS
469:Bertone
241:M30B33V
176:Related
140:4-door
134:4-door
1612:Sedans
1607:Coupés
1347:1600GT
1166:1980s
1163:1970s
1160:1960s
964:Becker
952:Becker
940:Becker
928:Becker
911:Becker
899:Becker
855:. The
841:2800CS
837:2000CS
816:BMW E9
802:34,660
797:37,144
792:totals
776:2,578
766:2,548
755:4,506
744:8,286
741:2,371
733:8,206
730:2,571
722:8,414
719:4,817
675:model
547:Models
507:) and
434:BMW E9
411:coupés
400:BMW E3
335:Height
301:Length
262:manual
223:M30B30
214:M30B28
203:M30B25
193:Engine
180:BMW E9
155:Layout
86:Munich
68:BMW E3
18:BMW E3
1474:Coupé
1445:Sedan
1432:(pre-
1405:Coupé
1376:Sedan
1363:(pre-
1340:Coupé
1316:Sedan
1303:(pre-
1039:(PDF)
1032:(PDF)
849:2.5CS
845:3.0CS
833:coupé
781:1977
771:1976
760:1975
749:1974
738:1973
727:1972
716:1971
706:1970
696:1969
686:1968
321:Width
110:Class
1156:Type
1141:next
828:The
786:122
752:948
645:US$
471:and
406:and
394:The
1528:E26
1467:E32
1462:E23
1422:E24
1398:E34
1393:E28
1388:E12
1333:E30
1328:E21
857:CSL
763:14
485:2+2
458:M10
419:M30
415:BMW
59:BMW
1593::
1512:Z1
1457:E3
1417:E9
1258:9
1228:9
1198:9
1020:^
1003:.
979:.
918:^
891:^
871:^
830:CS
689:2
481:E9
244:I6
235:I6
226:I6
217:I6
207:I6
171:E3
1438:8
1436:/
1434:7
1369:6
1367:/
1365:5
1309:4
1307:/
1305:3
1255:8
1252:7
1249:6
1246:5
1243:4
1240:3
1237:2
1234:1
1231:0
1225:8
1222:7
1219:6
1216:5
1213:4
1210:3
1207:2
1204:1
1201:0
1195:8
1192:7
1189:6
1186:5
1183:4
1180:3
1177:2
1174:1
1171:0
1125:e
1118:t
1111:v
1073:.
1048:.
1014:.
989:.
521:L
517:i
513:i
511:(
505:L
121:)
119:E
117:(
20:)
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.