After several BMW e9s, now our first BMW e3 from the first series. The car came to us from its hometown of Munich, where it is used by the owner as a daily driver. Even today, it is surprising how well this carburetor variant responds to the accelerator in a sporty manner and without hesitation. The owner wanted a restoration of the bodywork including a new paint job. Unfortunately, after removing the fenders and removing the interior, it turned out that, as so often in the past, someone had already "restored" the holes with filler. So small cosmetic defects ultimately turned into a complex and complete restoration of the bodywork.
Encyclopedia
The BMW E3, also known as the "Große Baureihe," was produced from 1968 to 1977 and was a significant vehicle in BMW's history. This luxury sedan was a precursor to the later 7 Series and marked BMW's entry into the luxury vehicle market, which until then had been dominated by other brands.
The BMW E3 was offered with a range of six-cylinder engines, ranging in displacement from 2.5 to 3.3 litres. These engines, known for their smoothness and power, gave the E3 a sporty driving dynamic that was unusual in this class of car at the time. Particularly notable was the 3.0 Si, which was equipped with fuel injection and produced 200 bhp, giving the car an impressive top speed of over 200 km/h.
The E3's design was modern and elegant, with clean lines and a striking front end characterized by the twin headlights and the characteristic BMW kidney grille. The interior offered luxurious materials and a high level of comfort for the time, making it popular with both businessmen and car enthusiasts.
Safety features such as disc brakes all around and a reinforced body structure set new standards for the luxury class and underlined BMW's ambition to gain a foothold in the luxury class. The E3 also set new standards in terms of chassis technology: the combination of McPherson struts at the front and independent suspension at the rear ensured balanced and sporty handling.
The BMW E3 laid the foundation for BMW's reputation as a manufacturer of sporty luxury sedans. Even today, the E3 enjoys cult status and is valued as a classic that decisively shaped BMW's path to modernity. It remains an important milestone in the company's history and a sought-after collector's item among classic car enthusiasts.
