BMW E9
Overview
Manufacturer	BMW
Production	1968–1975
Assembly	Germany:Rheine (Karmann)[1]
Designer	Wilhelm Hofmeister
Body and chassis
Class	Grand tourer
Body style	Coupé
Layout	Front-engine, rear-wheel-drive
Platform	BMW New Class
Related	BMW E3 (sedans)
Powertrain
Engine	2.5-3.2 LM30I6
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2,624 mm (103.3 in)
Length	4,660 mm (183.5 in)
Width	1,670 mm (65.7 in)
Height	1,370 mm (53.9 in)
Chronology
Predecessor	BMW 2000C / 2000CS
Successor	BMW 6 Series (E24)

TheBMW E9 is a range of coupés produced byGerman automakerBMW from 1968 to 1975. Initially released as the 2800 CS model, the E9 was based on theBMW 2000 C / 2000 CS four-cylinder coupés, which were enlarged to fit theBMW M30 six-cylinder engine. The E9 bodywork was built byKarmann.

As a racing car, the E9 was very successful in theEuropean Touring Car Championship and theDeutsche Rennsport Meisterschaft, especially the 3.0 CSLhomologation model.

The E9 range was replaced by theE24 6 Series.

The E9's predecessor are 2000 C and 2000 CS models, which were produced from 1965 to 1969 as part of the BMW New Class range.

The first of the E9 coupés, the 2800 CS, replaced the 2000 C and 2000 CS in 1968. The lead designer wasWilhelm Hofmeister.^[2][3] The wheelbase and length were increased to allow the engine bay to be long enough to accommodate the newstraight-six engine code-namedM30, and the front of the car was restyled to resemble theE3 sedan.^[2] The rear axle, however, remained the same as that used in the lesser "Neue Klasse" models and the rear brakes were initially drums - meaning that the 2800 saloon was a better performing car, as it was also lighter. The CS' advantages were thus strictly visual to begin with.^[4] The 2800 CS used the 2,788 cc (170.1 cu in) version of the engine used in the E3 sedans.^[2] The engine produced 125 kW (168 hp) at 6000 rpm.^[5]

Not only was the 2800 CS lighter than the preceding 2000 CS, it also had a smaller frontal aspect, further increasing the performance advantage.^[6] The curb weight of the 2800 CS is 1,420 kg (3,131 lb).^{[citation needed]}

At the1969 Geneva Motor Show, BMW unveiled the "2800 Bertone Spicup" concept car.^[7] This model, which has a similar appearance to the 1967Alfa Romeo Montreal, did not reach production.

The 2800CS was replaced by the 3.0 CS and 3.0 CSi in 1971, which was bored out to give a displacement of 2,986 cc (182.2 cu in). The 3.0 CS has a 9.0:1 compression ratio, twin carburetors and produces 134 kW (180 hp) at 6000 rpm. The 3.0 CSi has a 9.5:1 compression ratio,Bosch D-Jetronic electronic fuel injection, and produces 149 kW (200 hp) at 5500 rpm.^[2] Transmission options were a 4-speed manual or a 3-speed automatic.

In the United States, 1974 models haveprotruding 5 mile per hour bumpers.

Introduced in May 1972,^[8] the 3.0 CSL was ahomologation special built to make the car eligible for racing in theEuropean Touring Car Championship. 1,265 were built.

The "L" in the designation meantleicht (light), unlike in other BMW designations, where it meantlang (long). The lightness was achieved by using thinner steel to build the unit body, deleting the trim and soundproofing,^[9] using aluminium alloy doors, bonnet, and boot lid, and usingPerspex side windows.^[8] The five hundred 3.0 CSLs exported to the United Kingdom were not quite as light as the others, as the importer had insisted on retaining the soundproofing, electric windows, and stock E9bumpers and 195/70R14 Pirelli Cinturato CN36, later Michelin XWX on these cars.^[8][10] The CSL was not sold in the United States.

Initially using the same engine as the 3.0 CS,^[11] the 3.0 CSL was given a very small increase in displacement to 3,003 cc (183.3 cu in) by increasing the enginebore by one quarter of a millimetre to 89.25 mm (3.51 in).^[8][11] This was done in August 1972 to allow the CSL to be raced in the "over three litre" racing category, allowing for some increase in displacement in the racing cars.^[8] In 1973,^[9][12] the engine in the 3.0 CSL was given another, more substantial increase in displacement to 3,153 cc (3.2 L; 192.4 cu in) by increasing thestroke to 84 mm (3.31 in), rated at 206 PS (203 hp; 152 kW) at 5600 rpm and 286 N⋅m (211 lb⋅ft) at 4200 rpm oftorque .^[11][12][13] This final version of the 3.0 CSL was homologated in July 1973 along with an aerodynamic package including a large air dam, shortfins running along the frontfenders, a spoiler above and behind the trailing edge of the roof, and a tallrear wing.^[14] The rear wings were not installed at the factory, but were left in the boot for installation after purchase. This was done because the wings were illegal for use on German roads. The full aero package earned the racing CSLs the nickname "Batmobile".^[9][15][16]

The CSL competed inGroup 2 form in theEuropean Touring Car Championship, with CSL drivers winning the Drivers title six times in the years 1973 and 1975 to 1979.^[17] The CSL also competed inGroup 5 Special Production guise, winning three rounds of the1976 World Championship for Makes. InFIA Group 4 spec, notably when driven byHans-Joachim Stuck (car featured inEnthusia Professional Racing), they competed against racing versions of thePorsche 911 andFord Capri with some success.

The last version of the E9 to be introduced was the 2.5 CS in 1974. This was a response to the1973 oil crisis, such that the buyer could choose the smaller, more economical engine.^[18] The engine, from the 2500 sedan, displaced 2,494 cc (152.2 cu in) and produced 150 hp (112 kW) at 6000 rpm.^[19] Only 874 were made until the end of E9 production in 1975, and none were exported to the United States.^[18]

In 1973,Toine Hezemans won theEuropean Touring Car Championship in a 3.0 CSL and co-drove a 3.0 CSL withDieter Quester to a class victory atLe Mans. Hezemans and Quester had driven to second place at the 1973 German Touring Car Grand Prix at Nürburgring, being beaten only byChris Amon andHans-Joachim Stuck in another 3.0 CSL.^[20] 3.0 CSLs would win the European Touring Car Championship again in every year from 1975 to 1979.^[21][22]

The 3.0 CSL was raced in theIMSA GT Championship in 1975, withSam Posey,Brian Redman, andRonnie Peterson winning races during the season.^[20]

The 3.5 CSL was built forGroup 5 racing and BMW won three races in the1976 World Championship for Makes with this model.

The first twoBMW Art Cars were 3.0 CSLs; the first was painted byAlexander Calder and the second byFrank Stella.^[23]

• 
  3.0 CSL painted by Alexander Calder
• 
  3.0 CSL painted by Frank Stella

In 2015, BMW introduced the 3.0 CSL Hommage concept car at theConcorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este. The car is a tribute to the 3.0 CSL. It has an inline-six engine with an eBoost hybrid system in the rear of the car. As a homage to the original, the 3.0 CSL Hommage has a minimal interior to keep the weight as low as possible; carbon fibre and aluminium are used in the cockpit for the same reason. The Hommage has Laser-LED lights similar to those in thei8.^[25]

And in August 2015, BMW introduced the BMW 3.0 CSL Hommage R concept car at thePebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. The car celebrates both the 40th anniversary of BMW in North America and the racing success of the 3.0 CSL in 1975.^[26]

On 24 November 2022, BMW revealed an all-new 3.0 CSL based on the BMW M4, paying homage to the original E9 3.0 CSL. It features a more powerful 3.0-liter Inline-six cylinder engine producing 412 kW (560 PS; 553 hp) and 550 N⋅m (406 lb⋅ft) of torque and is being built to celebrate BMW M's 50th Anniversary. only 50 units will be produced.^[27]

• Media related toBMW E9 at Wikimedia Commons

• BMW vehicles
• BMW model codes
• Rear-wheel-drive vehicles
• Cars introduced in 1968
• Karmann vehicles
• Grand tourers

• Articles with short description
• Short description is different from Wikidata
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• Articles with unsourced statements from January 2019
• CS1 German-language sources (de)
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