We had the opportunity to visit BMW’s North American manufacturing facility in Spartanburg, SC and, in addition to seeing the BMW X6, X5 and Z4 being built, we explored the Zentrum – a visitor’s center and museum that displays some significant moments in BMW history.

BMW Zentrum in Spartanburg, SC

We recently visited Greenville, SC to drive the new BMW X6 sports activity coupe. We also had the opportunity to visit BMW’s North American manufacturing facility in Spartanburg, SC and, in addition to seeing the BMW X6, X5 and Z4 being built, we explored the Zentrum – a visitor’s center and museum that displays some significant moments in BMW history.
The Zentrum is open to the public Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 5.30pm and entry is free. It houses a café and merchandise store, but the cars are the star attraction.

We were magnetically drawn to the E30 M3 DTM racer – one of the finest touring cars ever built. However, we were also attracted to the Z3 M Coupe racecar that wore a factory widebody and looked particularly impressive.
Looking back to its roots, BMW displayed several early aero engines that gave the Bavarian MotorWorks its propeller insignia. One of the most interesting was a 1928 Type VIIa engine that boasted 600hp from the 46.9 liter OHV V12. A pair of these engine were used to circumnavigate the globe in a Dornier flying boat in 1932.

There is also a display of BMW motorcycles old and new, including an R65 and R42. You can also see an example of the Boxer engine that was developed in the 1920s and its layout still survives today in the modern product.

We were also drawn to the display of Isetta bubble cars, including one with a tiny sleeping trailer. Iso SpA originally produced the Isetta in Italy in 1953. The company built refrigerators, motorcycles and scooters, developing the Isetta as a means of cheap transport for post-war Europe. BMW was also looking for more affordable transport than its 502 and 507 models, which few could afford, so licenced the small car in 1954. The following year, the BMW Isetta had a one-cylinder, four-stroke, 247cc motorcycle engine with 13hp. The Germans re-engineered and re-styled the Isetta, eventually going to a 298cc engine, then a two-cylinder 600 and later a 700cc version. Iso and BMW licenced the Isetta around the world and they sold in tens of thousands until the arrival of cars like the Mini in the early ’60s – a vehicle BMW would later own and build.
Anybody interested in BMW history should pay a vist to the Zentrum in Greenville, SC. Visit the website (bmwzentrum.com) for more information about the latest exhibits. You can also arrange a tour of the production facility, although it’s currently closed to the public while a $750 million expansion take place to increase production levels and incorporate the entire family of BMW X cars.