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BMW 303 from 1933 - early pioneer of BMW brand success

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Created on April 26, 2011

Text:

Bruno von Rotz

Photos:

Daniel Reinhard

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Bruno von Rotz

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Copyright BMW AG

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Archiv

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Daniel Reinhard

26

Bruno von Rotz

5

Copyright BMW AG

2

Archiv

17

BMW 303 (1933) - compact middle class

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BMW 303 (1933) - slim and slender design for the time

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BMW 303 (1933) - open is the most fun

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BMW 303 (1933) - the rear windows cannot be lowered

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BMW 303 (1933) - not fast but fast enough

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BMW 303 (1933) - the impressive radiator ensured overtaking prestige at the time

Bild von Partner Porsche AMAG Mai Foto-Galerie 2026

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BMW 303 (1933) - most enjoyable to drive on leisurely country roads

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BMW 303 (1933) - in closed condition

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BMW 303 (1933) - Convertible in closed condition

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BMW 303 (1933) - open after a few minutes

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BMW 303 (1933) - this is what the 303 looks like from the driver's perspective

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BMW 303 (1933) - beautiful displays on the dashboard

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BMW 303 (1933) - the windshield can be raised for additional cooling in the interior

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BMW 303 (1933) - beautiful hood

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BMW 303 (1933) - the engine has enough air on all sides

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BMW 303 (1933) - the first six-cylinder in-line engine from BMW

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The ignition distributor in the BMW 303 (1933)

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BMW 303 (1933) - the convertibles were assembled in Eisenach

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BMW 303 (1933) - the winker

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BMW 303 (1933) - the journey begins

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BMW 303 (1933) - anticipatory driving is the order of the day today

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BMW 303 (1933) - the soft top is relatively easy to open

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BMW 303 (1933) - curved fenders are typical for cars of this era

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BMW 303 (1933) - invites you to go on open tours

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BMW 303 (1933) - the kidney grille was used for the first time in the 303

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BMW 303 (1933) - the characteristic BMW trademark with the propeller

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BMW 303 (1933) - the wonderful interplay of chrome and painted sheet metal

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BMW 303 (1933) - the BMW kidney grille was used for the first time on the 303

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BMW 303 (1933) - beautiful details on the small BMW

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BMW 303 (1933) - the rear-view mirror can be moved upwards so that you can see over the roof bulge

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BMW 303 (1933) - only gears 2 to 4 are used in normal driving mode

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BMW 303 (1933) - Sedan

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BMW 315 (1935) - BMW customer service in Berlin

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BMW 315 (1935) - resting instead of racing

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BMW 303 (1934) - Chassis of the early BMW six-cylinder cars

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BMW 303 (1933) - front swing axle of BMW vehicles of this period

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BMW 315 Cabriolet (1935) - from the 1935 sales brochure

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BMW 315 (1934) - on the 2000 km test through Germany

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BMW 315 (1935) - Dashboard of the 0.9- and 1.5-liter convertible

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BMW 321 (1936) - The 2-liter convertible had different cooling openings in the hood

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BMW 315 (1935) - The 1.5-liter touring car

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BMW 315 (1935) - The 1.5-liter convertible 315 was largely identical in construction to the 303

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BMW 319 1 (1935) - View of the small sports car

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BMW 303 (1933) - Control elements convertible - from the owner's manual

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BMW 303 (1933) - Quick guide - Page 1 of 2

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BMW 303 (1933) - the first six-cylinder in-line engine from BMW

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BMW 303 (1933) - Engine view - from the operating manual

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BMW 303 (1933) - Engine view - Distributor side - from the operating manual

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BMW 303 (1933) - Control panel - from the operating manual

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BMW 303 (1933) - Convertible control panel - from the owner's manual

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BMW 303 (1933) - offen macht es am meisten Spass

BMW 303 (1933) - die hinteren Scheiben lassen sich nicht versenken

BMW 303 (1933) - nicht schnell aber schnell genug

BMW 303 (1933) - der imponierende Kühler sorgte damals für Überholprestige

BMW 303 (1933) - auf gemütlichen Landstrassen am schönsten zu fahren

BMW 303 (1933) - im geschlossenen Zustand

Summary

The BMW 303, built in 1933 and 1934, was a pioneering achievement. For the first time, BMW produced a six-cylinder, and for the first time, the BMW "kidney grille", which has been present on (almost) all BMW automobiles ever since, adorned the front of the car. The ascent into the middle class was complete.

This article contains the following chapters

Start up and drive off
And stopping again
Where is first gear?
Many duties for the driver
A look at the early history of BMW
BMW primeurs
Mid-range, yet compact
Exceptionally rare
Three owners in 78 years
Original condition - as if from a time machine
Technical data:

Estimated reading time: 7min

Preview (beginning of the article)

The BMW 303, built in 1933 and 1934, was a pioneering achievement. For the first time, BMW produced a six-cylinder, and for the first time, the BMW "kidney grille", which has been present on (almost) all BMW automobiles ever since, adorned the front of the car. The ascent into the middle class was complete. This car is 78 years old and yet its operation is not fundamentally different from what we are used to today. However, a few additional steps are necessary, as the operating instructions state: First check the oil level, then fill up with cooling water, then open the fuel tap (position A). Now pull the start button, switch on the ignition and then press the starter button on the control panel.

Welcome to Zwischengas!

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Images of this article

BMW 303 (1933) - offen macht es am meisten Spass

BMW 303 (1933) - die hinteren Scheiben lassen sich nicht versenken

BMW 303 (1933) - nicht schnell aber schnell genug

BMW 303 (1933) - der imponierende Kühler sorgte damals für Überholprestige

BMW 303 (1933) - auf gemütlichen Landstrassen am schönsten zu fahren

BMW 303 (1933) - im geschlossenen Zustand

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