BMW New Six

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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).

• 2500/2.5, 2.5CS (2478 cc, 150 PS (148 hp/110 kW))
• 2800/2.8, 2800CS (2769 cc, 170 PS (168 hp/125 kW))
• 3.0S, 3.0CS (2966 cc, 180 PS (178 hp/132 kW) using twin Zenith 35/40 INAT carburetors)
• 3.0Si, 3.0Li, 3.0CSi (2966 cc, 200 or 195 PS (192 hp/143 kW), depending whether Bosch D-Jetronic or L-Jetronic was installed)
• 3.3Li (3188 cc, 200 PS (197 hp/147 kW))

The New Sixes are the direct ancestors of the current 7 Series.

[edit] Sedans (E3)

The two initial models, introduced in 1968 and sold through 1977, were the 2.5 L 2500 and 2.8 L 2800. The Bavaria used the 2.8 L engine with some interior features stripped out for a price point well-below the 2500. In the US market, the pricing of the line ranged from US$5,000 for the Bavaria to $6,874 for the full-featured 2800.

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 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 2800 sedan was heavily optioned with such things as full leather interior, power windows, and power sunroof while the 2500 was a more spartan configuration. 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 the 2500, 2800 and the Bavaria. 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 well designed fully independent suspension, front and rear, along with four wheel disc brakes, the E3 was well ahead of its time in the early 1970's.

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 mph (8.0 km/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.

[edit] Coupés (E9)

Main article: BMW E9

The CS models were coupés 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. 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. It went on to win the European Touring Car Championships (ETCC) six times in the years 1973 and 1975 to 1979. With all the aerodynamic spoilers for racing, the car became known as the 'Batmobile'.

[edit] External links

• The Senior Six Registry - Dedicated to the E3

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Type	Series	1950s										1960s										1970s										1980s
		0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9
Microcar							Isetta 250 / 300
Small family car									600			LS/700
Compact exec	3 Series	340/340-2																1602/2002											E21							E30
Executive	5 Series	327												1500,1800,2000											E12									E28							E34
Luxury	7 Series			501/502																E3										E23										E32
Coupé																			1600GT
	6 Series							503						3200 CS			2000CS				E9							E24
Roadster	Z Series							507																																Z1
Sports car/GT	M1, 8 Series																										E26														E31