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In the slipstream of the Mercedes 280: BMW 2800 and Opel Diplomat E in comparison

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Created on February 28, 1970

Reading time 8min

Written by:

Heinz Kranz

Photos:

Archiv Opel / General Motors

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Archiv

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Archiv Opel / General Motors

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Archiv

19

Opel Diplomat (1969) - mit dem beliebten Vinyldach

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BMW 2800 gegen Opel Diplomat E von 1970 - Vergleich im Grenzbereich

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BMW 2800 gegen Opel Diplomat E von 1970 - die Heckpartien im Vergleich, elegant bei BMW, an Chevrolet erinnernd bei Opel

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BMW 2800 gegen Opel Diplomat E von 1970 - alles im Blickfeld bei BMW, aber Blinkerhebel recht - Hauptinstrumente beim Opel zu tief unter der Schalterliste positioniert, Scheibenwischerhebel nicht gut erreichbar

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BMW 2800 gegen Opel Diplomat E von 1970 - gut im Griff bei beiden, Handschalthebel bei BMW und Automatik-Wahlhebel bei Opel

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BMW 2800 gegen Opel Diplomat E von 1970 - hohe Nutzlast von 470 kg beim BMW, etwas knapp geratener Kofferraum mit praktisch angeordnetem Reserverad beim Opel

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BMW 2500 (1970) - mit vitalem Sechszylinder

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BMW 2500 (1970) - optisch kaum vom grösseren Bruder 2800 zu unterscheiden

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BMW 2500 (1970) - praktisch nur am Typenschild vom 2800 zu unterscheiden

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BMW 2800 (1970) - 170 PS für aussergewöhnliche Fahrleistungen

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BMW 2800 (1970) - formschöne Heckpartie

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BMW 2800 (1970) - unverkennbar ein BMW

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BMW 2800 (1970) - Durchsichtszeichnung zeigt die Technik

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BMW 2800 (1970) - aufgeräumtes und fahrerorientiertes Interieur

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BMW 2800 (1970) - Oberklasseninterieur

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BMW 2800 (1970) - das Werkzeug in einem eigenen Fach sauber versorgt

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Opel Diplomat (1969) - mit herrlicher Farbgebung

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Opel Diplomat (1972) - aufgenommen bei Bad Homburg

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Opel Diplomat (1971) - mit stattlichen Ausmassen

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Opel Diplomat (1971) - Interieur mit Sitzbezügen aus Cord, die Kopfstützen werden auf Wunsch geliefert und sind mehrfach verstellbar

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Werbung für den BMW 2800 in der Zeitschrift 'hobby' im Jahr 1970

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Summary

Although the Mercedes 280 was the top dog in 1970, the BMW 2800 and Opel Diplomat were hot on its heels. The magazine 'hobby' therefore compared precisely these two competitors and came to the conclusion that not only the BMW 2800, but also the Diplomat E was a good car. This article reproduces the original wording from back then and is illustrated with extensive historical images and a luxury brochure on the big BMW.

This article contains the following chapters

Mercedes as registration winner
Image advantages for BMW and Mercedes
Opel catches up
BMW with elegance and engine advantages
Opel catches up with modern technology
Comfort chapter goes to Opel
Sobriety versus glitz and glamor inside
A little more overtaking prestige for BMW
Does the price decide?
BMW and Opel compared to the competition

Estimated reading time: 8min

Preview (beginning of the article)

The classic three-liter is dead, even though 3000 ccm can be divided wonderfully smoothly into 6 cylinders. But there are other dimensions, for example in the USA, where 170 cu. in. = 2790 cc are common. So it is no wonder that Opel came out with the first 2.8-liter engine in Germany, which was then adopted by Mercedes and BMW. The 2.8 liter was therefore not launched to save DM 30 a year in road tax compared to the three-liter, and it is not a magic formula either, because among the 2.8 liters there are extreme short-stroke engines (Opel), but also long-stroke engines (Jaguar). Only Mercedes and BMW, with a bore/stroke ratio of around 86:80 mm, seem to have been given an 'insider tip'.

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