BMW 3/15

BMW 3/15 DA2 (1929)

BMW 3/15 DA2 Tourer (1929)

BMW-Ihle Typ 600 (1936), this is 3/15 with body made by Ihle brothers from Bruchsal

The BMW 3/15 PS was BMW's second car, first produced in July 1929.

After the end of World War One the situation for BMW - which was founded as an aero engine manufacturer became difficult. The Versailles treaty strongly restricted airplane manufacture in Germany and companies had to look for other fields of business. So BMW turned to truck and boat engine, motorcycle and later car manufacture. When the BMW Dixi line collapsed, BMW took the opportunity and bought the license for the Austin seven as well as the Eisenach factory. For the first months the production of the car continued as BMW 3/15 PS DA1. The BMW 3/15 PS DA1 had many different body shells so it was one of the first customizable cars. The designation was derived from the taxation class (3), engine power (15 hp with PS being the German equivalent of hp) and DA stands for “Deutsche Ausführung” (German version).

Engine: 4 cylinder water cooled four-stroke, 750 cc, 15 hp (11 kW)
Weight: about 400 kg (882 lb)
Top speed: 75 km/h (45 mph)
Acceleration 8 to 40 km/h (5 to 25 mph): 10 seconds
Fuel consumption: appr. 5.5 L/100 km (51 mpg imp/43 mpg US)

Versions

BMW 3/15 PS

Type DA 2 4 cyl, 15 hp, 1929-1931
Type DA 4 4 cyl, 15 hp, 1931-1932

BMW Wartburg

Type DA3 4 cyl, 18 hp, 1930-1931

BMW 3/20

BMW 3/20 type AM 4 (1933)

The BMW 3/20 PS was 3/15 successor produced between 1932 and 34, it was made larger with longer wheelbase and lower than the previous 3/15, it had still Austin derived 782 cc engine. The name came from 20 hp it generated.Four versions of the 3/20 were built: AM 1, AM 2, AM 3 and AM 4.