Section 9: Older BMWs (Mid '80s and before, 1500s, Bavarias, 3.0s, etc)

9.1: Overview

9.1.1: 3.0 History
9.2: Body
9.3: Engine
9.4: Suspension & Steering
9.5: Brakes
9.6: HVAC
9.7: Electrical
9.8: Misc
9.9: Performance

> Is it likely to be a "CS" or was there really an "S" made? If so does the > "S" stand for "sedan" ? Also, I have seen several references to "vanos"

In markets other than the US, the 3.0S is the standard 3.0 liter 4 door E3 sedan. There were also 'Si' versions, which were fuel injected, and 'L' and 'Li' versions, which were the long wheelbase models.

In the US, the nomenclature used on the E3 sedans was a bit complicated. When they were first introduced in '69, there were two models available, the 2500 and the 2800. The 2500 used a 2.5L engine, and was relatively "stripped" as far as equipment was concerned. The 2800 had the 2.8 motor, and came more or less fully loaded with equipment that was optional on the 2500.

The 2500 and 2800 didn't sell too well, due to their high prices, so the then-US-importer of BMWs, Max Hoffman, came up with the idea of the Bavaria for '71. This was basically a 2500 sedan with the 2800 motor, i.e., a stripped 2800. This was a US-only model. I believe the Bavaria nameplate was used "connect" the car with its German origins. The trick was, other than the nameplate, that the price of the Bavaria was much lower than the 2800's, and considerably lower than the 2500's. It apparenly worked -- BMW sold quite a few Bavarias.

Then in '72, the 3.0L engine was introduced, partially to compensate for the reduction in power from the increasing emissions controls. The Bavaria continued on, but now with the larger motor. Some of the trim on the car, such as the taillights and air extraction vents were changed for '72. Also in '72, BMW resurrected the idea of having 2 sedan models, and thus, the 3.0 S came to the US. The 3.0S was meant to be the loaded model. All of the 3.0S's I've seen have been fully loaded -- leather, power windows and sunroof, rear headrests, A/C, etc. So from '72 through '74, there were 2 sedan models, the Bavaria and the 3.0S.

Then finally, there was one final change for '75. The Bavaria was dropped at the end of '74, and fuel injection finally appeared on a big-6 in the US. The 3.0Si was introduced in the US as the only E3 sedan for '75. The 3.0Si that ended up here was much different from the earlier euro-only 3.0Si. The euro 3.0Si was often a stripped car with a D-Jetronic, high compression 3.0liter, good for 200HP (there was a change to L-Jetronic around '75 in europe too). The US 3.0Si had the same motor as the 530i, with the thermal reactors, EGR, air pump, retarded ignition, etc., and was good for only ~176HP. The US models also came loaded (again, all of the US 3.0Si's I've seen have been loaded) like the US 3.0S. This model continued through '76, when it was dropped in the US, to be replaced by the E23 733i in '78.

Hope this was useful or at least interesting..... Ben