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-   -   What does BMW stand for and where are they built? Just curious.. (http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/off-topic-discussion/16432-what-does-bmw-stand-where-they-built-just-curious.html)

Machnumber2 04-13-2001 02:54 AM

What does BMW stand for and where are they built? Just curious..

jjrodger 04-13-2001 03:46 AM

BMW = Bayerische Motor Werken

They are built near Munich, Germany and in Spartanberg, USA.

The BMW roundel badge represents a propeller and the Bavarian flag (BMW started out making aero engines).

s60 04-13-2001 05:07 AM

BMW=Bavarian Motor Works(English)
The propellers represent what the company used to be which, was airplane engine producer

jjrodger 04-13-2001 05:11 AM

I may be wrong (it has been known) but I gather the "B" in BMW derives from Bayern and not Bavaria. I gather that Bayern is a smaller area within Bavaria.

ymsin 04-13-2001 05:43 AM

Bayern .. hmm .. sounds more like the soccer team *Bayern Munich* thats gonna face Man Utd in the Champions League next week. I've always known the "B" in "BMW" to stand for "Bavaria".

I was told by my Dutch Uncle that BMW "was" represented in one of the 4 Audi rings, but no longer since Audi became independant. I was told, in the same line, that Audi was established by 4 German car makers which included BMW but not MB. He also told me the 4 makes, but I can't for the life of me remember them now. I can only recall BMW, VW and 2 others of which they may no longer be existing.

Hmm.. that was off topic. But, no, its Bavaria.
:)


jjrodger 04-13-2001 06:33 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by ymsin
Bayern .. hmm .. sounds more like the soccer team *Bayern Munich* thats gonna face Man Utd in the Champions League next week

Er, precisely. And where are BMWs built? Munich.

Bayern is a smaller part of Bavaria, in fact a Munich district. If you're interested in the BMW story, they have a heritage website at:

http://www.bmw.com/bmwe/pulse/heritage/bmw_story/index.shtml

ymsin, you're part right about Audi: the four rings represent the amalgamation of 4 car manufacturers that is Audi. None of them is BMW or VW. One is Horch. I think one is NFU. Can't remember the others; I have a good book which confirms these things at home, I'll check it out tonight.

By the way, the English translation would be Bayern Engine Works. Interestingly they seem to have made early links with Pratt & Whitney.

ymsin 04-13-2001 07:30 AM

Interesting website.

Jonathan - do check up the history of Audi as this was told to me some erm .. 15 years ago? I was very sure BMW and VW was part of it. Anyway, I'd wait for your homework :)

So - the English text IS Bayern Engine Works? Auto Bavaria ... Auto Bayern ... :)

Now, for the next trivial question : BMW is state-owned?

Ps. BTW - My mom is dang proud that her first car was a BMW which my dad crashed it when he collided with a cow on the road. This was the 60s.

ymsin 04-13-2001 07:43 AM

www.audi.com
 
I've got the info here:

"A watershed date in Audi's history was June 29, 1932. That was when Audi joined Horch, DKW and the Wanderer Automobile Department to become the AUTO UNION AG, under the sign of the four rings. The joint Chemnitz-based firm was soon to become the second largest manufacturer of motor vehicles in Germany. The symbol of four linked rings, now known the world over, stood for the unbreakable union of the four founder companies.
Within a few years, the firm's models took on a uniform profile as chassis frames were standardized and all four manufacturers began to use the same constructive elements. An outstanding example of aerodynamic form appeared in the streamlined body that became a recognizable feature of the DKW and Horch automobiles in 1939."

That was just the tip of the iceberg. Look at how the Daimler-Benz group and VW was involved .. http://www.audi.com/java/facts/index.html

Amazing stuff.

Looks like they've been around longer than BMW ...


[Edited by ymsin on 04-13-2001 at 07:50 AM]

jjrodger 04-13-2001 07:44 AM

Is this a test?

I believe BMW is largely owned by the Quandt family (although they are increasingly tempted to sell). The same family also had (has??) a small stake (about 20%) in Marcedes Benz. I don't know if this survived the Daimler-Chrysler merger (what were they thinking of???).

ymsin 04-13-2001 07:52 AM

Its not a test. Its putting rest to myth and fiction.

My MB mechanic used to work for Bimmer, and he is so confident that BMW was state owned unlike MB, which is a private enterprise.

But the stuff on Audi is totally amazing for consumption of auto history!

jjrodger 04-13-2001 08:17 AM

I must admit to being quite fascinated by this stuff. I recently bought an excellent book about Mercedes which deals with just about every model in the company's history. Beautifully photographed and printed. I believe it is published by Konnigsmann; foreword by Bruno Sacco (sp?). Not too expensive either given its size, quality and content: GB Pounds 40.

ymsin 04-13-2001 08:35 AM

I saw a similar book lying on the shelf on our local bookstore (MPH), but I wasn't impressed with it as the series stopped at the W140.

endeavor 04-13-2001 08:43 AM

Meaning of the BMW logo
 
BMW is referred to as Bavarain Motor Works in engish.
More importantly is their symbol which also has meaning.
The two blue quadrants represent that prop of airplane engines whicb is what BMW made very early on in WWI.
Barry Shah

jjrodger 04-13-2001 08:59 AM

ymsin,

My book stops--I think--with the new S-Class and includes the CL coupe. It also includes the Smart Car and the A-Class, the face-lifted E Class and the ML. It does not include the new C-Class. Inevitably books will go out of date, but I was quite chuffed to see how much was in this one.

rickjordan 04-13-2001 09:54 AM

Just a little more automotive trivia. I recently saw a show on the History channel and they said the prototype for what became the VW Beetle was built by Mercedes-Benz. Dr. Porsche designed it and MB built it. This was, if I remember correctly, was in the mid '30s. The original car did not have a rear window. Dr. Porsche was "asked" to design a "people's car" that would be economical for the average German family during the recessionary times Germany was in at the time.
Speaking of logos. I was told that the 3 point star for Mercedes represents the 3 areas of engine building Mercedes was involved in, land, sea and air. Now I know BMW made airplane engines, but I have never heard of MB being involved in aviation. Also I have never heard of them being involved in boat/ship engines.


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