Parts Catalog Accessories Catalog How To Articles Tech Forums
Call Pelican Parts at 888-280-7799
Shopping Cart Cart | Project List | Order Status | Help



Go Back   PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum > General Discussions > Off-Topic Discussion

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 04-13-2001, 02:54 AM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Mar 2001
Posts: 223
What does BMW stand for and where are they built? Just curious..

__________________
1996 E320
2000 C230 Kompressor
1988 190e 2.3 - 225K miles, owned for 7 years. I cannot say enough good things about this car. Very well built, even at 225 it ran like new.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 04-13-2001, 03:46 AM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Northumberland, UK
Posts: 1,294
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).
__________________
JJ Rodger
2013 G350 Bluetec
1999 SL 500
1993 E300 diesel T
1990 190
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 04-13-2001, 05:07 AM
s60
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
BMW=Bavarian Motor Works(English)
The propellers represent what the company used to be which, was airplane engine producer
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 04-13-2001, 05:11 AM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Northumberland, UK
Posts: 1,294
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.
__________________
JJ Rodger
2013 G350 Bluetec
1999 SL 500
1993 E300 diesel T
1990 190
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 04-13-2001, 05:43 AM
ymsin's Avatar
Driver, Mercedes-Benz
 
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Malaysia
Posts: 1,645
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.


__________________
... Kerry

126 tailed by a 203, 129 leading the pack.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 04-13-2001, 06:33 AM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Northumberland, UK
Posts: 1,294
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.
__________________
JJ Rodger
2013 G350 Bluetec
1999 SL 500
1993 E300 diesel T
1990 190
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 04-13-2001, 07:30 AM
ymsin's Avatar
Driver, Mercedes-Benz
 
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Malaysia
Posts: 1,645
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.
__________________
... Kerry

126 tailed by a 203, 129 leading the pack.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 04-13-2001, 07:43 AM
ymsin's Avatar
Driver, Mercedes-Benz
 
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Malaysia
Posts: 1,645
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]
__________________
... Kerry

126 tailed by a 203, 129 leading the pack.
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 04-13-2001, 07:44 AM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Northumberland, UK
Posts: 1,294
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???).
__________________
JJ Rodger
2013 G350 Bluetec
1999 SL 500
1993 E300 diesel T
1990 190
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 04-13-2001, 07:52 AM
ymsin's Avatar
Driver, Mercedes-Benz
 
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Malaysia
Posts: 1,645
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!
__________________
... Kerry

126 tailed by a 203, 129 leading the pack.
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 04-13-2001, 08:17 AM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Northumberland, UK
Posts: 1,294
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.
__________________
JJ Rodger
2013 G350 Bluetec
1999 SL 500
1993 E300 diesel T
1990 190
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 04-13-2001, 08:35 AM
ymsin's Avatar
Driver, Mercedes-Benz
 
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Malaysia
Posts: 1,645
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.
__________________
... Kerry

126 tailed by a 203, 129 leading the pack.
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 04-13-2001, 08:43 AM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Feb 2001
Posts: 84
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
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 04-13-2001, 08:59 AM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Northumberland, UK
Posts: 1,294
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.
__________________
JJ Rodger
2013 G350 Bluetec
1999 SL 500
1993 E300 diesel T
1990 190
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 04-13-2001, 09:54 AM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Vernon, CT
Posts: 1,848
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.

__________________
1999 MB SL500 (110,000 mi)
2004 Volvo V70 2.5T (220,000 mi)
2014 Tesla Model S 85 (136,000 mi)
MBCA member
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
HAHA Acura's an upscale honda making fun of a kid Benzman500 Off-Topic Discussion 5 03-10-2004 09:12 PM
BMW driver insecurity pentoman Off-Topic Discussion 14 02-22-2004 05:10 PM
New BMW Owner: hill Off-Topic Discussion 9 02-08-2004 11:47 AM
7 becoming an unlucky number for BMW Chicagoland Off-Topic Discussion 20 06-21-2002 02:22 PM
BMW 7 by NYTIMES yal Off-Topic Discussion 8 05-15-2002 08:51 PM



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 11:48 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.6.0
Copyright 2024 Pelican Parts, LLC - Posts may be archived for display on the Peach Parts or Pelican Parts Website -    DMCA Registered Agent Contact Page