E3 Dashboard minutiae

[Dick Steinkamp]

My July of 1971, 1972 model year, 3.0 Bavaria came to me with a brushed metal under the heater controls and along the top of the glove box...

My original owner's manual shows the same...

However, my 1972 showroom brochure shows wood grain in these areas (and it is an early 72 brochure since it still shows the car with the painted rear panel)...

Every other Bavaria I have seen has the woodgrain.

To further complicate matters, some E3s I have seen have markings on the woodgrain that tell what each heater control does...

...and don't get me started on AC knob function with icons on the knobs vs decals on the panel

 

[bavbob]

I am convinced that the BMW execs sat around after work drinking a lager and said to themselves "How can we screw around with the Americans" and thus, your car was born!


Although I like the wood on mine, the chrome coating on the ashtray is bubbling so at least you don't have that to deal with.

 

[HB Chris]

At some point DOT requirements here in the US drove some of these changes. Early coupes only had icons for heater controls, then words were added and in 73 or so illumination was added to these controls. And someone can check this out, do early coupes say Lights on the alu dash trim or is there just an icon on the switch? My 73s have the word Lights. My 1970 2800 has no words on the A/C panel, same as 2800CS I believe, my 73 has words. The same happened with the lighter, first a cigarette icon and the Lighter.

And we know we can’t trust the brochures.

 

[dp]

Hi Dick I really enjoyed seeing your car come along! Like Chris said, I've seen arrow icons (on wood) word lettering (on wood) illuminated words (on wood.) I do not recall ever seeing the brushed panels you have I think they may have been an attempt at the cost saving "Bav" idea of Max Hoffman's, but I also wonder if I have those were used on the earlier 2500's... I'll check on the 68 2500 that I got forever ago, next time I am out there. Great post!

 

[Dick Steinkamp]

I'll check on the 68 2500 that I got forever ago, next time I am out there. Great post!

That would be interesting. Theoretically, the Bavaria was the 2500 with the big motor...at least initially. Over time, it looks like more and more "extras" were added to the stripper 2500 to make a Bavaria. It could be the 2500 had the brushed dash and maybe the Bavarias did also early in the 72 model year.

 

[Dick Steinkamp]

I just found this picture of a 1970 2500

 

[HB Chris]

I was going to send that to you! lol

 

[Dick Steinkamp]

Thanks for the thought, Chris!

 

[Christoph]

the BMW execs sat around after work drinking a lager

Most BMW guys were Bavarians, then. These people drink either "Helles", i.e. Export beer, or "Weißbier" aka Weizenbier. The rest of Germany drinks Pils or Pilsener. Very few exceptions. Lager is not German. No offense.

The brushed panels, to my knowledge, were exclusiveliy 2500 Series 1. Every other model got the wood trim. Most had the standard version, the LWB E3 hat burled walnut, don't know the exact name.

Early cars were fitted with icons, late cars with illuminated words. I have not yet seen lettered panels without lighting. Which does not mean that much. Onset dates of the later version should be documented in the parts catalogue, just because additional wiring was needed for the illumination.Thus, the dates or VIN are important. Dates might differ between ECE and USA models, probably the USA cars were the first to get the letter trim. It is astounding they did not have it from the start. Even pre-war Packards have words on every piece and switch, right down to the ashtrays.

Dick, be proud your E3 is a 1971 car. You don't need to call it a 1972 one. The official works name for the Series 2, i.e. your car, is "Modell 1971". The 1971 cars have a special charm, they are the start of the E3 as a seventies car. Looking at the brushed trim, why your car and a few other Bavarias have it is not sure. As usual. I can only imagine they had quite a few brushed ones left. Putting them into USA versions was easier, German customers might have complained. Or maybe all the nice wood trim was needed for the new 3.0 S and the less nice for the ECE 2800 & 2500. Who knows? Maybe Chris.

 

[Dick Steinkamp]

A West Coast IPA is MY 1st choice when it comes to a beer.

I've got one more theory on the brushed dash trim. Is it possible that it exists under the stick on wood grain trim? And that a prior owner peeled off the woodgrain trim?

 

[HB Chris]

Wiki: Until the 19th century, the German word Lagerbier (de) referred to all types of bottom-fermented, cool-conditioned beer in normal strengths. In Germany today, it mainly refers to beers in southern Germany, "Helles" (pale) and "Dunkel" (dark). Pilsner, a more heavily hopped pale lager, is most often known as "Pilsner", "Pilsener", or "Pils". Other lagers are Bock, Märzen, and Schwarzbier. In the United Kingdom, the term commonly refers to pale lagers derived from the Pilsner style.

I had wonderful Helles in Munich but enjoyed the Helles in Prague a bit more, and I loved the Pils!

 

[bavbob]

Sorry to deviate............For an experience, one must have a beer at McSorley's Ale house in the Village. Use to be 2 beers for $1.50. Have some crackers and cheese with mustard then 2 am go around the corner for some great Chinese food. Coined my best line there ...girl sitting next to me says "did you just pinch my arse" and I replied "if you liked it, then yes, if you didn't, then it was the guy on the other side of you".

 

[Christoph]

@HB Chris: Amazing. Should I better say: The term "Lager" is very rarely used in Germany? Additions to the list: "Kölsch" (light in colour and taste) in Cologne and "Altbier" (dark) on the lower Rhine.

@Dick Steinkamp: Maybe. The wood veneer trim has on the back side stickers with numbers, usually five or six digits, to identify matching trim sets. During production the cars got preselected parts that looked good near each other. Every car has its own numbered set. If the stickers were present on your trim, it would be proof for:
- Originally there was wood.
- The brushed trim was also numbered.
No stickers may mean:
- There were none.
- Someone did a throrough cleaning.
The possibilities are endless.

 

[Dick Steinkamp]

If the stickers were present on your trim, it would be proof for:
- Originally there was wood.
- The brushed trim was also numbered.
No stickers may mean:
- There were none.
- Someone did a throroug cleaning.
The possibilities are endless.

The mysteries with these cars are also endless. Part of the fun!