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Visit also: 1931 BMW 3/15 DA 4 | 1933 BMW 303 | 1934 BMW 309 | 1934 BMW 315 | 1935 BMW 3/15 Ihle Type 600 / 800

The BMW 3/20 PS was German manufacturer's third model and was launched shortly after the discontinuance of the 3/15 PS. BMW developed the new Type 3/20 PS in Munich and introduced it in March 1932. Four versions of the 3/20 were built: AM 1, AM 2, AM 3 and AM 4, where AM denoted Automobil München. This was the first 4-wheel model entirely built by BMW.

1932 - 1934 BMW 3/20 PS
Type	AM 1, AM 2, AM 3, AM4, Saloon, 2 & 4 Seater Cabriolet, Roadster and Van
Engine
Code	-
Displacement	782cc
Cylinders	4
Fuel type	Gasoline
Power	15kW | 20HP
Torque@RPM	-
Performance
Top Speed	80km/h | 50mph
Acceleration 0-100km/h 0-60mph	-
Fuel Consumption (l/100km | mpg)
City	-
Highway	-
Combined	-

Dimensions
Length	3200mm
Width	1420mm
Height	-

General
Units produced	7215

Source for technical specifications: bmwhistoricmotorclub.co.uk.

The main failing of the 3/15 was its lack on interior space and Frank Josef Popp instructed Alfred Böning to create a larger successor. Böning stretched the wheel-base by nearly 11" and although the chassis still carried echoes of Austin practice in its "A"-shaped layout, he gave it tubular side-members for greater rigidity. He also added the BMW-designed independent front suspension seen on the last DA-4 models of the 3/15 and then went one better by designing an independent rear suspension - advanced thinking for the early 1930s. Journalist and engineer Josef Ganz, who had criticized the 3/15 DA 4's suspension system in the magazine Motor-Kritik, was contracted in July 1931 as a consultant in the design of the 3/20 AM 1.

The engine was Austin-derived. Starting with the 747cc Austin unit, Böning gave it a new long-stroke crankshaft with plain instead of roller bearings. He replaced the side-valves by pushrod-operated overhead valves and substituted a water pump for the thermo-syphon cooling system. The 20bhp (five more horsepower than the BMW 3/15) put out by this engine gave the new car its name - the BMW 3/20. In addition to the saloon/sedan there were four other body styles, which BMW had built by Daimler-Benz at its Sindelfingen plant, although the contract was later switched to Ambi-Budd in Berlin. The last of the 3/20 PS models, the AM 4, had a four-speed gearbox.

Source: Wikipedia, Unixnerd

Visit also: 1931 BMW 3/15 DA 4 | 1933 BMW 303 | 1934 BMW 309 | 1934 BMW 315 | 1935 BMW 3/15 Ihle Type 600 / 800

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