Museums of Europe – BMW Museum, Munchen |
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 The BMW Museum Before its modernisation and re-opening in June 2008, the BMW Museum was one of the most popular attractions in München, but for BMW cognoscenti such as ourselves this futuristic building in the north of the city held an unpleasant surprise. It did not tell the story of Bayerische Motoren Werke AG in terms of the company’s products, and was more concerned with promoting BMW as a thrusting modern concern to those who had no knowledge of BMW as anything but a modern car manufacturer. It did, however, improve on further visits – perhaps after the initial shock that it did not follow our preconceptions. Many critics did however hope that after recent extensive changes it would rival the museums of those such as Porsche and Daimler-Benz. The museum was built as part of an expansion of the administration complex into the area between the factory and the nearby ring road. Incidentally, the adjacent ‘Four Cylinder’ tower block was built from the top floor downwards, each of the twenty-two individual floor decks of each ‘cylinder’ was assembled at ground level around its concrete core tower and lifted to mate with the upper floors, being suspended by steel cables. The tower has a commanding view across the city, the dramatic BMW Welt building across the road, and the massive BMW roundel on the flat roof of the circular bowl-shaped museum below.  BMW Competition Bikes During the recent remodelling, the museum’s large open spaces have given way to many smaller areas, where motorcycles and cars representing key production, racing, and record-breaking achievements are displayed. These are complimented by advertising posters from the appropriate period, copies of which are on sale in the Museum Shop. The vehicles range from the 1939 TT-winning 500 cc ‘Kompressor’ motorcycle (the model which actually won, in the hands of Georg Mier, is currently owned – and ridden – by John Surtees) to the mid-engined M1 coupé, which was developed by Lamborghini and built by Baur – what a pedigree! Photography is permitted, but smoking, eating, and drinking are expressly verboten, and it is mandatory to leave any bags in the lockers provided. A commentary in a range of languages is provided via radio headsets, and an excellent concise guidebook is available free of charge. The basic admission charge is very high, at 12 Euro, but a concessionary rate pf 6 Euro is available on production of your BMW Club membership card. For those with sore feet – a visit can take two hours – there is a pleasant snack bar offering a range of light refreshments. Remember that the Museum is closed on Mondays. As one admires the 328 coupe built for the 1940 Mille Miglia, or the wartime R75 military sidecar outfit (with driven sidecar wheel, lockable differential, reverse, and high/low range transfer box) or perhaps Ernst Henne’s world speed record fully enclosed streamlined motorcycle, one cannot but admire the resilience of a company which has not only survived two disastrous wars, one takeover, and two bankruptcies, but has actually thrived. After tracing car development from the licence-built Austin Seven ‘Dixi’ of 1928 to the beautiful ‘Baroque Angel’ 502 limousines, and 507 sports car of the ‘fifties – excellent cars, but the wrong products for the period – this survival becomes even more remarkable. Unfortunately the Museum fails in what should be its primary role – to show the story of BMW in terms of its varied products and the key personalities, not to mention the political, economic, and social conditions which controlled the dramatic history of our favoured manufacturer. For example, as a company which was a major aero engine manufacturer, the virtual absence of this product line is a major omission, while the motorcycle division – which saved BMW on several occasions – is relegated to being little more than a space-filler.  BMW Wall of Motorcycles Those who wish to see collections of ‘M’ cars, racers, and sports cars displayed in beautiful conditions will not be disappointed, but there is far more to the BMW story than this. Rather than providing the story of a small but remarkable Company, which should have died on several occasions but became successful in a world dominated by giants, the BMW Museum appears to be more concerned with promoting its position in to-day’s world. For example, there is no hint of BMW’s use of concentration camp inmates during WW2, or its relationship with the Nazi hierarchy, both subjects making interesting reading in the official company biography (‘BMW – A Company in its Time,’ by Hörst Monnich). One’s main impression of the Museum must be one of empty space, such as the area in which a few sports cars are loosely positioned, the large room holding only a full-size clay model of the current E90 3-Series, or the empty sides of the helical access ramp which used to hold some interesting exhibits. Lack of space is certainly not a problem, but interest in promoting the Company’s heritage certainly is. Perhaps those responsible should visit the new Daimler-Benz Museum at Stuttgart, and see how it should be done. That then is the BMW Museum – it can leave you puzzled and a little depressed, but may, as in its previous incarnation, improve with familiarity. The best way to enjoy it is of course to discard all you preconceptions at the door, and accept it for what it is. Perhaps in time more exhibits of interest will be provided from the massive collection of BMW Mobile Tradition, a wonderful collection of BMW products and memorabilia which is not open to the public. It is possible to visit Mobile Tradition in organised club groups, but that is another story.  BMW motorcycle's aesthetic development The BMW Museum is on the north side of the Petruelring section of the Mittler Ring, close to the Olympia Park, and is easy to find – simply follow the Mittler Ring and watch for the BMW tower. At the traffic lights turn north into Lerchenauer Strasse – the museum is on the corner. As you pass the tower, go past the BMW Welt building, turning into the underground parking just past the ‘Olympia Zentrum’ U-Bahn station. Article and photos by Mike Fishwick - first published in the BMW Club Journal
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