1935 BMW 315

When BMW introduced its 94.5-inch wheelbase platform in 1933, it was the largest car the Bavarian Company had ever built up to that point. First used on the 303, this 94.5-inch wheelbase was later used on the BMW 309 and the 315. The BMW 303 (produced from 1933 to 1934) was the company's first motorcar with a six-cylinder engine and the first to wear the 'kidney grille,' which would become a hallmark of the company. The BMW 309 was a four-cylinder version of the 303, and the 315 was a 1.5-liter version of the 303.

BMW 315
The BMW 315 was produced from 1934 to 1937 with a total of 9,765 examples built, including touring cars, convertibles, sport convertibles, two-door saloon cars, and 315/1 roadsters.

The BMW 315 was powered by a 1,490cc (90.9 cubic-inch / 1.5 liter) engine offering 40 horsepower at 4,300 RPM. The straight-6 engine was the same as the M78 1,182cc unit powering the previous 303, but its bore was increased to 58mm and its stroke to 94mm (thus, a displacement size of 1,490cc).

It had a four-speed manual transmission, a ladder frame constructed from tubular side members and box-section cross members, an independent front suspension with a transverse-mounted leaf spring positioned above the wheel center line, and a live rear axle with semi-elliptic leaf springs. The four-wheel drum brakes were operated via a pedal using rods and levers; the rear brakes could also be operated via cables from the handbrake lever.

BMW 315/1 Roadster
The BMW 315/1 was a sporty version of the 315 saloon, having the same chassis and engine displacement but with a compression ratio increased to 6.8:1 (up from 5.6:1 in the saloon) and a trio of Solex carburetors. The BMW 315 saloon weighed approximately 850 kg, while the 315/1 Roadster weighed around 750 kg.

The total production of the 315/1 Roadster was 242 units.

The BMW 315/1 Roadster was the company's first car to achieve success in motorsport; in 1934, the BMW works team entered five cars in the Alpine Rally, and at the completion of the event, they were the only cars in their class to score maximum points.

by Daniel Vaughan | Jun 2024