BMW New Class

BMW
BMW 1500
Type 115, 116, 118, 120, 121
Production period:	1962-1972
Class :	upper middle class
Body versions :	Limousine , coupe
Engines:	Petrol engines : 1.5–2.0 liters (59–96 kW)
Length:	4500-4530 mm
Width:	1675-1710 mm
Height:	1360-1450 mm
Wheelbase :	2550 mm
Empty weight :	1040-1180 kg
successor	BMW E12

The " New Class " (internal model designation 115 (1500), 116 (1600), 118 (1800), 120 (2000 Coupé), 121 (2000)) was the first mid-range model series from the car manufacturer BMW after the Second World War and filled the There is a gap between the Isetta scooter or the BMW 700 small car and the luxury class BMW 501/502 ("Baroque Angel").

The "New Class" was produced from summer 1962 to spring 1972 and then replaced by the first generation of the BMW 5 Series ( E12 ).

New class sedan

Assembly of the BMW 1800 and BMW 2000 in the Munich plant

BMW 1500

In 1961 the BMW 1500 notchback sedan (BMW-internal designation: Type 115) was presented at the IAA and was enthusiastically received by the trade press and the public. The body was created in-house under Wilhelm Hofmeister , then head of the body development department. Giovanni Michelotti - who worked on the dress for the BMW 700 - only had an advisory role. The car had a 1.5 liter - four cylinder engine with overhead camshaft and 59 kW (80 PS), the first version of of Alexander von Falkenhausen constructed BMW M10 motor control. The M10 engine was used in the 3- series BMW 316/318 until 1988 . The car ran at a top speed of 150 km / h and accelerated to 100 km / h in 16 s with an empty weight of 1050 kg . The tank capacity was 53 liters - the consumption was 10 l / 100 km. What was remarkable was the good elasticity of the engine, despite the high rated output , which could be accelerated smoothly from 25 km / h in the highest gear. A special feature of the vehicle were three-chamber rear lights in which the tail light (not the brake light , which was quite common at the time) and direction indicators were housed in the same (lower) chamber.

The first BMW 1500 rolled off the assembly line in August 1962. At the IAA 1961, the cost price was given as 8,500 DM. However, this price could not be realized and so the official sales price of the four-door car was 9,485 DM, which, taking inflation into account, corresponds to today's purchasing power of around 20,400 euros. By December 1964, 23,807 units had been produced - in 1991 only 78 BMW 1500 vehicles were registered with the Federal Motor Transport Authority.

BMW 1600

In March 1964, the BMW 1500 was supplemented by the BMW 1600 (type 116) with a 1.6-liter engine and 61 kW (83 hp), with production of the BMW 1500 ending at the end of 1964. The BMW 1600 was produced until April 1966. To mark the 50th anniversary of Bayerische Motoren Werke , the two-door BMW 1600 was presented at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1966. In order to avoid confusion with the four-door BMW 1600, the designation was unofficially supplemented by a "-2". The BMW 1600-2 established the independent BMW 02 series (114 series) and was named 1602 from 1971.

BMW 1800

In 1963 the BMW 1800 (Type 118) was added with an engine with 66 kW (90 PS) enlarged to 1.8 liters, also in the sporty version BMW 1800 TI (Turismo Internazionale) with an engine output increased to 81 kW (110 PS) . The 1800 engine built on the remarkable qualities of the 1500 unit, which were further enhanced by better swirling of the fuel-air mixture. Once again, the result was an extremely favorable power and torque curve with relatively low fuel consumption (provided that a downdraft carburetor was used). The engineers achieved the significantly higher engine output of the 1800 TI with two Solex horizontal double carburetors and an increase in compression to 9.5: 1.

The BMW 1800 with round headlights was replaced in 1970 by the BMW 2000 1.8 L and got the look of the 2000 model with wide rectangular headlights and the larger taillights.

In 1965, in addition to the standard types, the special model BMW 1800 TI / SA (SA = special version) was manufactured in 200 units as a homologation car for motorsport . The vehicle was delivered exclusively to licensed racing and sports drivers in Europe and the USA. Technically, the BMW 1800 TI / SA is characterized by the following changes: Extensive modifications to the engine (larger valves, 300 ° camshaft, two Weber twin carburettors, compression 10.5: 1, crankshaft with 8 counterweights, so "at least" 130 hp at 6,100 min ^-1 ), maximum speed over 180 km / h (test value ams 24/1964 192 km / h), strut front with enlarged bearings and hubs, and enlarged discs, greater stabilizer front and rear, five-speed transmission and a more direct steering ratio . Visually, the BMW 1800 TI / SA largely resembles the BMW 1800 TI, as only the nameplate of the BMW 1800 TI adorns it. In the interior, the TI / SA can be recognized by special Restall-Masterfit type bucket seats, a large protruding tachometer and a special wooden steering wheel.

BMW 2000 TI / tilux / tii

Six months after the presentation of the BMW 2000 CA (Type 120) coupé, the four-door BMW 2000 (Type 121) sedan appeared at the beginning of 1966, with a slightly different shape than the BMW 1800: Instead of simple round headlights, there were wider, rectangular headlights and larger taillights. From mid-1966 there was also a sportier version of the BMW 2000 TI with 120 hp (88 kW), which, like the BMW 1800 TI, had round headlights and narrow rear lights, and a more luxuriously equipped version, the BMW 2000 TI-lux (later "tilux") the same engine. The BMW 2000 tilux was replaced by the BMW 2000 tii at the end of 1969. Its engine developed 130 hp (96 kW) and was the first BMW engine with intake manifold injection . The second “i” stands for the mechanical Kugelfischer gasoline injection (“injection”) used.

• BMW sedans of the "New Class"
• 

  BMW 1500

• 

  BMW 1800

• 

  BMW 1800 TI / SA

• 

  BMW 2000

• 

  BMW 2000 tilux

• 

  BMW 2000 tilux

• 

  BMW 2000 tii

• 

  BMW 2000 tii, rear view

Model overview sedan

Vehicle type:	BMW 1500	BMW 1600	BMW 1800	BMW 2000
Construction time:	1962-1964	1964-1966	1963-1972 TI: 1963-1966 TI / SA: 1965	1966–1972 TI: 1966–1968 tilux: 1966–1970 tii: 1969–1972
Engine :	Four-cylinder four- stroke in - line engine , water-cooled; V-shaped hanging valves, controlled by an overhead, chain-driven camshaft via rocker arms; Aluminum cylinder head ;  Five-bearing crankshaft
Displacement :	1499 cm 3	1573 cm 3	1773 cm 3 (until 7/1968) 1766 cm 3 (from 8/1968)	1990 cm 3
Bore × stroke:	82 × 71 mm	84 × 71 mm	84 × 80 mm (until 7/1968) 89 × 71 mm (from 8/1968)	89 × 80 mm
Carburetor :	Downdraft carburetor Solex 34 PICB (later 36 PDSI) with accelerator pump and choke	Downdraft carburetor Solex 36 PDSI with acceleration pump and choke	Downdraft carburetor Solex 38 PDSI TI: 2 Solex flat- flow double carburettors 40 PHH TI / SA: 2 Weber flat-flow double carburettors 45 DCOE	Downdraft carburetor Solex 40 PDSI TI / tilux: 2 Solex flat-flow double carburetors 40 PHH tii: intake manifold injection Kugelfischer PL 04
Compression :	8.8: 1	8.6: 1	BMW 1800: 8.6: 1 BMW 1800 TI: 9.5: 1 BMW 1800 TI / SA: 10.5: 1	BMW 2000: 8.5: 1 BMW 2000 TI / tilux: 9.3: 1 BMW 2000 tii: 10: 1
Performance at 1 / min:	59 kW (80 PS) at 5700	61 kW (83 hp) at 5500	66 kW (90 PS) for 5250 TI: 81 kW (110 PS) for 5800 TI / SA: 96 kW (130 PS) for 6100	74 kW (100 PS) for 5500 TI / tilux: 88 kW (120 PS) for 5500 tii: 96 kW (130 PS) for 5800
Torque at 1 / min:	118 Nm (12 kgfm ) at 3000	124 Nm (12.6 kgf) at 3000	143 Nm (14.6 kgf) at 3000 TI: 148 Nm (15.1 kgf) at 4000 TI / SA: 157 Nm (16 kgf) at 5100-5400	157 N · m (16 kp · m) at 3000 TI / tilux: 167 N · m (17 kp · m) at 3600 tii: 177 N · m (18 kp · m) at 4000-4700
Drive :	Fully synchronized four-speed gearbox (1800 TI / SA: five-speed), 1800/2000: also three-speed automatic
Body :	Supporting all-steel body welded to the floor pan
Chassis :	Independent suspension; front: wishbones with struts, stabilizer on request; rear: semi-trailing arm with coil springs, telescopic shock absorber
Dimensions L × W × H:	4500 × 1710 × 1450 mm (1420 mm loaded)
Empty weight (ready to drive):	1050 kg		BMW 1800: 1070 kg BMW 1800 TI & TI / SA: 1040 kg	BMW 2000: 1150 kg BMW 2000 TI / tilux: 1130 kg BMW 2000 tii: 1140 kg
Top speed :	150 km / h		160 km / h TI: 170 km / h TI / SA: over 180 km / h	168 km / h TI / tilux: 180 km / h tii: 185 km / h
Number of pieces:	23,554	9,728	147,160 (of which TI / SA: 200)	143,464

Motorsport

BMW 2000 TI by Hubert Hahne (1966)

In 1964 Hubert Hahne dominated the German circuit championship with a BMW 1800 TI, winning 14 of the 16 races. In the same year, Hahne achieved overall victory in the 12-hour race for touring cars at the Nürburgring .

1965 won Pascal Ickx and Gérard Langlois van Ophem with the factory race car, the 24-hour race of Spa-Francorchamps and ambitious private drivers won with the BMW 1800 TI / SA numerous victories.

In 1966 Hubert Hahne was the first touring car driver to lap the Nürburgring - Nordschleife in a BMW 2000 TI in less than 10 minutes. In a supporting race for the German Grand Prix on August 6, 1966, he drove the distance in 9: 58.5 (or 9: 58.9) minutes. In the BMW 2000 TI he won in the same year, together with Jacky Ickx , the 24-hour race of Spa-Francorchamps and was beyond European Touring Car Champion .

Other well-known drivers of the four-door touring cars were Rauno Aaltonen , Dieter Basche , Heinz Eppelein, Dieter Glemser , Jürgen Graehser, Ferfried Prinz von Hohenzollern , Helmut Kelleners , Hans-Peter Koepchen , Nicolas Koob , Hans Koster, Freddy Kottulinsky , David van Lennep, Gijs van Lennep , Wim Loos, Willy Mairesse , Klaus Miersch, Dieter Quester , Clemens Schickentanz and Josef Schnitzer .

New class coupe

BMW 2000 C / CA / CS

BMW 2000 CS (1965-1970)

Rear view

The New Class Coupé was presented in June 1965 as a “comfortable touring car with a sporty heart for long journeys”. It was not until November 22, 1965 that Karmann in Osnabrück started manufacturing the coupé bodies.

The 2.0-liter model variant (type 120) designed by BMW designer Wilhelm Hofmeister (“ Hofmeister-Knick ”) was available with 120 hp as the BMW 2000 CS and with 100 hp as the BMW 2000 CA with three-speed automatic. The car was offered as a BMW 2000 C with 100 hp and manual transmission from May 1967 to 1968. Only 443 pieces of the BMW 2000 C were produced.

Although the BMW 2800 CS (E9 series) was presented in September 1968 , the BMW 2000 CA and CS remained in the BMW range as an inexpensive alternative until mid-1970.

At Wilhelm Karmann GmbH, exactly 13,151 bodyshells left the factory between November 22, 1965 and July 11, 1970 and exactly 549 complete vehicles between August 18, 1968 and February 24, 1970, for a total of 13,700 new-class coupés. Unusual in the street scene at that time was the silver color available for the BMW 2000 Coupé (called “polaris new” at BMW), in which the car was often ordered in addition to the “chamonix” (ivory) color.

Model overview Coupé

Vehicle type:	BMW 2000 C, CA (automatic)	BMW 2000 CS
Construction time:	C: 1967-1968 CA: 1965-1970	1965-1970
Engine :	Four-cylinder four-stroke in-line engine, water-cooled; V-shaped hanging valves, controlled by an overhead, chain-driven camshaft via rocker arms; Aluminum cylinder head; Five-bearing crankshaft
Displacement :	1990 cm 3
Bore × stroke:	89 × 80 mm
Carburetor :	1 downdraft carburetor Solex 40 PDSI	2 flat- flow double carburetors Solex 40 PHH
Compression :	8.5: 1	9.3: 1
Performance at 1 / min:	74 kW (100 PS) at 5500	88 kW (120 PS) at 5500
Torque at 1 / min:	157 Nm (16 mkp) at 3000	167 Nm (17 mkp) at 3600
Drive :	Fully synchronized four-speed gearbox (type 2000 C and CS) or three-speed automatic with hydraulic converter (type 2000 CA)
Body :	Self-supporting all-steel body
Chassis :	Independent suspension (front wishbones with spring struts; rear trailing arms with coil springs; type 2000 CS v + h stabilizer), telescopic shock absorbers
Wheelbase :	2550 mm
Dimensions L × W × H:	4530 × 1675 × 1360 mm (1330 mm loaded)
Empty weight (ready to drive):	1180 kg
Top speed :	172 km / h	185 km / h
Acceleration (0-100 km / h):	15 s (with automatic)	10.5 s
Number of pieces:	3249 (2000 CA); 443 (2000 C)	9999

Economic success

Sales, profits and losses of BMW AG in the years 1957–1965

As early as 1953/54, BMW had been working on concepts for an intermediate car, but initially there was a lack of financial resources for implementation. Looking back, Der Spiegel stated in 1965 that in 1959/60 BMW had only built cars for “day laborers and general managers”.

After the BMW 700 brought BMW AG back to profitability, MAN (Maschinenfabrik Augsburg-Nürnberg) took a 50 percent stake in the share capital of the BMW subsidiary Triebwerkbau GmbH and also granted a loan of 20 million DM for ten years, and the industrialist Herbert With his considerable financial commitment to the restructuring of BMW and by securing working capital loans, Quandt had helped the banks to put their trust in the company again, the prerequisites for the production of the intermediate car were in place. Series production of the BMW 1500 began in August 1962. At this point in time, BMW had received 20,000 orders for the car.

In 1962 the business year ended with no profit, but also - contrary to the forecast - no loss; the turnover was 294 million marks. In the 1963 financial year, sales increased by 47 percent compared to 1962 to 433 million marks, and for the first time in exactly two decades the plant again paid a dividend of six percent. Thanks to the business and type policy of the new management, the renovation work was successfully completed as early as 1964. The New Class became a huge success, with a total of 329,626 sedans produced by 1972.

Starting point for later BMW series

The side view of the BMW 2000 CS makes the parallels with BMW E9 recognize

The new class formed the starting point for many later BMW series. Almost all BMW models still have the characteristic " Hofmeister kink " in the C-pillar , which was introduced on the BMW 3200 CS and introduced in significant numbers for the first time with the New Class. The independent BMW 02 series (114 series) was derived from the new class ; Stylistically related to the New Class was also the upper-class E3 series produced from 1968 . Its coupé variant, starting with the BMW 2800 CS (E9) presented in 1968 , looked like a completely new car, but the Munich bodybuilder - as the side view of the BMW 2000 CS shows - actually only had a modified, slightly longer front section (for the M30 - six-cylinder ) and double headlights. The successors of these series established the still valid systematics of the BMW series: The BMW 02 was founded in 1975 by the BMW 3 Series (E21) replaced the New Class in 1972 by the BMW 5 Series (E12) , the BMW E9 was Replaced in 1975 by the BMW 6 Series (E24) and the luxury BMW E3 series followed in 1977 by the BMW 7 Series (E23) .

Individual evidence

1. ^ Franz-Georg Steidl, Dirk Trinn: BMW passenger cars . Walter Podszun, Brilon 1993, ISBN 3-923448-88-0 , p. 29 .
2. ↑ Middle car from BMW . In: Motor Vehicle Technology 12/1961, pp. 510-511.
3. ↑ alpha-retro: 1968 - Telekurs for motorists (part 6). In: alpha-retro (series on ARD-alpha ). Retrieved on July 16, 2019 (the information cited is only contained in the film itself from around 4:06 am , not in the synopsis). 
4. ^ Stefan Schrahe: The great BMW 02 book . HEEL, Königswinter 1988, ISBN 3-89365-509-3 , p. 16 .
5. ↑ This amount was determined using the inflation template , rounded to 100 euros and relates to January 2020.
6. ↑ The registration number listed was requested from the Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt and includes all units registered or not shut down for more than a year in the Federal Republic of Germany. Deadline: July 1, 1991.
7. ↑ More dynamics for intermediate cars In: Motor vehicle technology . 8/1964, pp. 300-301.
8. ↑ ^{a b c d e} Dieter Günther: BMW 2000 CS: The face in the crowd . In: Oldtimer Market . No. 2 , February 1999, ISSN  0939-9704 , p. 8-15 .
9. ↑ ^{a b} Production figures 2000 C / CA / CS. Retrieved February 24, 2012 . 
10. ↑ Dr. Karlheinz Lange: "From the saucepan to the new class" - BMW projects and products of the 50s . Johann Kleine Vennekate, Lemgo 2010, ISBN 978-3-935517-51-5 .
11. ↑ ^{a b} BMW - "Bavaria's Gloria" . In: Der Spiegel . No. 8 , February 17, 1965, ISSN  0038-7452 , p. 62–66 ( Spiegel Archive [accessed June 18, 2012]).
12. ↑ BMW is out of the red . In: Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung . September 30, 1961, ISSN  0174-4909 , p. 9 .
13. ↑ AUTOMOBILES - BMW - "Schräger Otto" . In: Der Spiegel . No. 42 , October 11, 1961, ISSN  0038-7452 , p. 91–94 ( Spiegel Archive [accessed June 18, 2012]).
14. ↑ BMW has opted for the MAN solution . In: Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung . May 24, 1960, ISSN  0174-4909 , p. 12 .
15. ↑ New men in the management of BMW . In: Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung . October 17, 1961, ISSN  0174-4909 , p. 18 .
16. ↑ INDUSTRY - BMW - "Cold Duck" . In: Der Spiegel . No. 36 , September 5, 1962, ISSN  0038-7452 , p. 30–33 ( Spiegel Archive [accessed June 18, 2012]).
17. ↑ The BMW 1500 goes into series production . In: Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung . August 30, 1962, ISSN  0174-4909 , p. 16 .

swell

• Dirk Ramackers: Really great? Purchase advice BMW New Class . In: Oldtimer Market . No. 7 , July 2011, ISSN  0939-9704 , p. 44-49 .

Web links

Commons : BMW Neue Klasse  - collection of images, videos and audio files

• BMW New Class. Limousine. In: BMW history. BMW AG, accessed on June 4, 2014 (dossier in the BMW Group Archive). 
• BMW New Class. Coupe. In: BMW history. BMW AG, accessed on June 4, 2014 (dossier in the BMW Group Archive). 
• The New Class as a section of the BMW V8 Club. In: www.neueklasse.de. Retrieved August 27, 2012 . 
• Model upgrade BMW 1500–2000 tii. In: www.bmw-02-club.de. BMW 02 Club eV, 2011, accessed on August 27, 2012 . 
• Stefan März: BMW 1800 The NEW CLASS. (Restoration report). In: KFZ-Kultur.de. January 2, 2007, accessed August 27, 2012 . 
• BMW 2000, purchase and restoration. In: KFZ-Kultur.de. October 19, 2006, accessed August 27, 2012 .