50 YEARS OF THE BMW’S M-DIVISION

May of 1972 saw the formation of one of the most famous names in performance cars. A few months earlier, BMW recruited Robert A. ‘Bob’ Lutz from Opel as their Executive Vice president of Global Sales and Marketing, who urged the company’s return to touring car coemption. In turn, he hired Ford of Germany’s head of motorsport Jochen Neerpasch and his technical manager Martin Braungart. The result was the formation of the Motorsport GmbH ‘M’ division, with a select group of 35 employees initially worked on two major projects; a lightweight version of the 2002 for rallying and a specialism version of the 3. 0CSL intended as BMW’s weapon of choice for the 1973 racing season.

The first incarnation of the E9 coupe range was the 1968 2800, followed in 1971 by the 3.0S/Si - and the CSL. ‘L’ denoted ‘leight’ or light, and so BMW constructed the CSL from thinner gauge steel combined with aluminium doors, bonnets, and boot lids. Under the bonnet was the M30 2,985cc straight-six capable of 132 mph, and the suspension featured Bilstein gas struts and progressive-rate springs. Martin Buckley noted in Classic & Sports Car that “The carburetted CSLs seem, then, to have been a pre-production dry run for the lightweight coupé project; the arrival of Neerpasch in Munich, armed with the promise of being able to build a separate Motorsport company, finally giving the idea the momentum, it needed”

One of the M Division’s first tasks was to complete at least 1,000 lightweight coupes before the autumn homologation deadline. The coupe went on to gain a 3,003cc engine ( so BMW could compete in the over three-litre class and Bosch D-Jetronic fuel injection and in July of 1973, a 3,153cc unit with combined with Bosch L-Jetronic. As for the bodywork, the aerodynamic modifications quickly gained the name ‘Batmobile’. The familiar profile now featured a front air dam, a roof spoiler and detachable rear wings (they were illegal on German roads). BMW also made some 500 UK models with the rather more luxurious ‘City’ specification on the demands of the importer. Apparently, well-heeled British drivers were unable to live without power steering.

As every enthusiast knows, 1973 was the year ‘The Batmobile’ won the European Touring Car Driver’s Title and did so again no fewer than five times between 1975 and 1979. By the end of the decade, the 3.0CSL in the blue, purple and red stripes (originally due to a Texaco sponsorship deal) became world-famous. If the full-size vehicle was financially out of reach, you could always buy the Burago scale model and dream of winning at Sebring, Daytona or Le Mans. By that time, BMW had unveiled their first ‘M-badged’ car, the 1978 Giorgetto Giugiaro - styled M1. But it was the CSL that established the Motorsport division, and today, every one of their current line-up - owes a debut to CSL. And, in tribute to this truly great machine, here is some footage of the ultimate E9 in action.