The BMW Museum in Munich is a demonstration of the history of the development of the brand and the company as a whole. Its area is about 5 thousand square meters, each of which has interesting exhibits. Here are cars, motorcycles, engines - everything that helps to imbue the spirit of the popular brand.
Historical background
In Munich, in addition to the engine plant, the main headquarters of the company, a museum and a multifunctional center BMW Welt are located. All objects are ultra-modern buildings.
The museum opened its doors in 1927. By this time, the construction of the company's headquarters was also completed.
The dealership of the automaker is designed as a four-cylinder engine that "hovers" above the base. The buildings were designed by Karl Schwanzeron. In 1999, the 22-storey building was included in the list of architectural monuments of the city.
The museum has the shape of a bowl, which is covered with the BMW emblem on top and represents a gas tank cap.
The three-level spiral structure of the museum can be entered from the BMW Welt side or through the suspension bridge that connected the two objects. Tourists are immediately offered to buy a ticket and go down the escalator to the beginning of the exposition, so that later they can only move up. In the halls of the museum, visitors have the opportunity to get acquainted with all the creations of the legendary company, tracing its almost 100-year history.
Exposition
The museum displays BMW cars and motorcycles, as well as engines and propellers from aircraft - the original specialization of the company. After all, initially at that time a small firm BMW produced aircraft engines, and the propeller is still a recognizable emblem of the manufacturer.
However, in 1919, the production of aircraft in Germany was banned, and the company began to produce brakes for trains, and later cars.
The exposition of the museum is huge. Among the exhibits you will find:
- aircraft engines and propellers;
- motorcycles;
- sports cars that were created in conjunction with the Lamborghini brand;
- all car models produced since the beginning of the company's existence (this is more than 90 years).
The visitor's eye is attracted by the variety of car models. Here you will see, for example, the small class Isetta passenger car. Due to its bizarre egg shape with bubble windows, it was known as a bubble car. The first motorcycle, which was produced under the BMW brand, will not leave anyone indifferent.
Anyone who has watched the James Bond film will be honored to stand next to the presentation model of the BMW Z3. True, the subsidiary BMW Motorsport, which was founded in 1972 to support the racing program, became the manufacturer of this legendary car.
Production of the first racing cars began in 1970. In addition to the BMW Z3, other sports cars of the subsidiary are on display in the hall, for example, the BMW M1, which was produced from 1978 to 1981 together with the Italian manufacturer Lamborghini. The model was created to participate in races of the 4th and 5th groups.
The BMW H2R Hydrogen Record Car with a hydrogen engine will attract the attention of every car enthusiast.
BMW employees are convinced that the future belongs to hydrogen fuel.
At the end of the exhibition, visitors will find an incredible spatial composition: many small steel balls, which are suspended from the ceiling on a thin line. As they move, they take the form of a BMW kinetic model. If you stay longer in this room, you will see how the upper part of the car body is built out of balls.
In addition to the main exhibition, the museum carries out a projection of images on the walls. In one of the rooms, you can see many plates with the names of car models, which are suspended from the ceiling on multilevel cables.
Also on the territory of the museum there are children's rooms with interesting game models and several cafes. To remember your visit to this showroom, you can buy souvenirs at the BMW and Mini souvenir shop.
On the ground floor of the salon, not only the latest models of the company are presented, but also the latest technologies are demonstrated in the form of interactive stands. For example, X-Drive is demonstrated on a game console, which can be used to drive on roads with different surfaces.
Opening hours and ticket prices
The BMW Brand Museum is open every day, except Mondays, from 10 am to 6 pm. The salon is closed from December 24 to 26, as well as December 31 and January 1. You can visit the museum both independently and as part of an excursion group.
Entry to the multifunctional BMW Welt Exhibition Center is free. A regular entrance ticket to the museum costs 12 euros, a family ticket for 2 adults and 3 children - 24 euros, the price of a group visit (from 5 people) is 9 euros.
The cost of a regular tour of the museum is 13 euros, a tour of the museum and exhibition center - 16 euros, and if you still want to visit the factory, you will need to pay 22 euros.
Visitors to the Olympic Park can enter the museum for 8 euros. Visitors arriving at the museum with large luggage can use a luggage room, which costs 1 euro.
A full tour of all sites lasts 3 hours 15 minutes. This tour includes a basic tour of the museum, a visit to the highlights of the exhibition center and a visit to the BMW factory. During this time, visitors will have to cover about 5 km.
You can get to the plant only as part of an excursion tour. It is better to make an appointment in advance - several months before the visit.
To find contacts and other necessary information, you need to go to the official website. In addition, on the website you will find an action plan for 2021.
It is only necessary to reserve a seat by phone, booking via e-mail is not possible. Sightseeing tours to the plant are carried out from Monday to Friday, opening hours - from 9.00 to 16.30.
The tour is conducted in German and English; you can additionally take an audio guide in other languages, including Russian. It is advisable to arrive at the place half an hour before the start of the tour.
How can you get to the museum
The BMW Museum is located at Munich, Am Olympiapark 2, 80809.
It takes only 15 minutes to get to the museum from the city center. The nearest bus and metro stops are Olympic Center and Olympic Park.
The most convenient way is to take the metro. To do this, at Marienplatz you need to take the U-3 train in the direction of Moosah and go to the Olympiazentrum stop. Exit towards Lerchenauer Strasse. It remains to walk only 100 m to the museum to the left.
You can also get to the museum by private car. Visitor parking costs € 2 per hour, but no more than € 15 per day.
Finally
The BMW Museum in Munich is a modern building that houses car models from 1910. Models of the future are also presented in the halls, for example, a car powered by a hydrogen engine. The museum of the legendary brand is rightfully considered the pride of not only Germany, but the whole of Europe.
Every year, the museum is visited by about 850 thousand people, including fans of the brand, experts in the automotive industry or simply lovers of German premium cars. There are also people who are fond of the engineering innovations of the Bavarian automaker in the field of car design and the history of the formation of a popular concern.
Each visitor can view the exposition on their own, with an audio guide or as part of an excursion. It is possible to book a comprehensive tour, which includes a visit to the museum, exhibition center and factory, for only 22 euros. A regular one-time visit to the museum will cost you 12 euros, and with a guided tour - 13 euros.
