Overview & Reviews

BMW is an acronym for Bayerische Motoren Werke AG -- or, in English, Bavarian Motor Works. Whatever you call it, the German-based company is one of the world's most respected automakers, renowned for crafting luxury cars and SUVs that offer superior levels of driving enjoyment.

Founded in Munich, the company began in the early 1910s as an aircraft manufacturer. BMW's current logo, designed to represent white propeller blades against a blue sky, reflects these origins; its blue-and-white color scheme also references Bavaria's blue-and-white checkered flag.

It wasn't until 1928 that production began on the first BMW automobile, the Dixi. The car proved tremendously popular, and its success helped the manufacturer weather the Depression. BMW's best-known pre-World War II vehicle was the Type 328 roadster, a supple two-seater that racked up more than 120 victories on the motorsport circuit between 1936 and 1940. Postwar BMW cars maintained this tradition, with several racing, rallying and hill climb victories.

The early 1950s saw the launch of the BMW 501, a roomy, voluptuous sedan that was resplendent with all of the hopefulness of that era. It was soon followed by the 502, which was powered by the world's first light-alloy V8, foreshadowing BMW's ongoing commitment to developing new technology. The best-selling BMW of that decade was the Isetta, a petite two-seat "microcar" typically powered by a 12- or 13-horsepower engine. The mid-'50s also saw the debut of the limited production and breathtakingly beautiful 507 sports car, which had an alloy body and used the 502's V8 for propulsion. In the 1960s, BMW sales strengthened significantly, thanks in part to the immense popularity of the 1500, a sporty family sedan.

By the 1970s, BMW was establishing itself as a full-fledged car company. It was a pioneer for many emerging technologies, including turbocharging and advanced vehicle electronics. BMW of North America was established at that time, and consumers who coveted both sports and luxury cars became loyal "Bimmer" owners. The '70s also saw the birth of BMW's three-tier sport sedan range consisting of the compact 3 Series, midsize 5 Series and large 7 Series cars and the creation of its performance M division. Though the 3 Series could be had with four-cylinder power, it was the company's inline-6 engines that developed BMW's reputation for spirited, yet highly refined performance. At decade's end, the limited production, short-lived M1 supercar debuted.

Throughout the 1980s, BMW became the unofficial poster car of yuppies, as the brand ostensibly signified one's financial success as well as a passion for driving. The elegant 6 Series coupe debuted, and the latter part of the decade saw the high-performance M division working its magic on various production models.

In the early 1990s, BMW replaced the 6 Series with the powerful (V12-powered at first) but heavy 8 Series grand touring coupe. A bit later, BMW introduced its popular Z3 roadster. The company also opened its first U.S. manufacturing plant in the latter half of the 1990s.

The 2000s brought a midsize SUV (the X5) as well as a compact SUV (the X3) as BMW joined the hot-selling segment. Since then, BMW has replaced the Z3 with the Z4, introduced the compact 1 Series, produced hybrid versions of a few models and debuted the X6 fastback crossover. The company has also expanded its empire to include Mini and Rolls-Royce and continues to build motorcycles, something it has done since the 1920s.

BMW's famous advertising slogan describes each of its vehicles as "the ultimate driving machine," and it's not mere hyperbole. Over the past couple of decades, BMWs have become the standard for performance and luxury in most of the "over $30,000" segments. With family-friendly wagons, crisp sedans, distinctive coupes, nimble sports cars and spacious SUVs offered, BMW's model roster is diverse. But its vehicles all share a common characteristic: the ability to make drivers feel gloriously connected to the road.

User Reviews:

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  2002 M3 COUPE - 2002 BMW M3
  By rm - March 23 - 2:00 am

  THE TRANNY HAS AN IRRITATING KLUNK APPARENTLY DUE TO THE LOCK UP DIFFERENTIAL, THE STEREO VIBRATES [HK] ON TALK STATIONS, OTHERWISE THE CAR IS A CONSTANT SOURCE OF ENTERTAINMENT.

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  M3 Cic SMG - 2002 BMW M3
  By LGBAaron - March 23 - 2:00 am

  We have a carbon black with black leather, xenons, H/k sterio, navm and cold weather. The kicker is the SMG transmission, I dont like manuals, but this is incredible. Well worth the money. We were told its the only carbon black M3 convertible with SMG in the country

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  review 328is - 1996 BMW 3-Series
  By dlouie - March 23 - 2:00 am

  Great Car

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  Great Car - 2003 BMW 3-Series
  By Boiler89 - March 23 - 2:00 am

  This car is a blast to drive. I actually had it at 130mph one day on a flat stretch of highway, felt like I was doing 90. Only stayed at that speed for a few seconds. Unsafe, I know. The only problem Ive had with it is it has stalled a couple times after initial start-up. Like in the parking lot, starting to pull away, accelerate, then hit the brake and it dies. This is a steptronic transmission. Otherwise it has been perfect.

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  Nice when its not in the shop - 2003 BMW 3-Series
  By dapper1313 - March 23 - 2:00 am

  Make sure you lease and dont buy. Mine was a lemon.

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  For a used car, a great value. - 2008 BMW 3-Series
  By Al Powell - March 22 - 3:43 pm

  I do a lot of my own minor maintenance, and that matters when you own a German car, especially a used one. My 2008 328xi Wagon came with 98K miles, but was in beautiful condition. Ive driven it for a year and havent had to touch it other than an oil change and to mount winter wheels, which I did myself. If you have a German car, stay away from the dealer except for specialized work and find a good independent shop that knows German cars. Basic maintenance like brake pads, rotors, filters and other normal stuff is pretty easy to DIY, so Im not interested in paying labor rates for that. My 328xi Wagon and my wifes 09 328ix Coupe drive pretty much identically. Ive never driven a wagon that handled so much like a coupe; it makes my eyes light up when I find a twisty road! The handling is excellent and great fun, but if you stay with the factory run-flat tires the ride will be a bit harsh. The seats are firm, but somehow theyre still comfortable after 8 hours of driving. BMW has that exactly right, and the 3-series is fantastic on long trips! The instrumentation is too minimal (speedometer, tach, gas and but fuel mileage) but its not a problem for those who trust lights and dont want lots of gauges. The driving experience is why you buy a BMW. The turbos have higher maintenance costs and more issues, so I bought the normally aspirated 328, which is a very reliable engine. I am also one of the fortunate few who have the six-speed manual transmission, which makes driving at least 2x more fun. The shifter is quick and smooth, and the pedals are well set up for heel-and-toe shifting. BMW clutches tend to last a very long time, and my car has the original clutch at 105K miles. Clutch replacements will be expensive since BMW uses an unusual dual-disc flywheel thats expensive. Gas mileage is great for a sport sedan/wagon (mid to high 20s) for highway cruising, and in-town mileage depends on how heavy your right foot is (mine is heavy) and how much stop-and-go driving you encounter. The wagon model has enough room for four people (five only in a pinch) and a reasonable amount of cargo. If youre packing for a sports event and bringing a fold-up canopy, youll have to drop the smaller side of the 60/40 back seat to give yourself room for it. For groceries, trips with carry-on bags and a reasonable amount of cargo, youll have no problems.

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  Automotive Perfection? - 2002 BMW M3
  By Michael Martin - March 22 - 3:06 pm

  If you have been skeptical of the praise heaped upon the M3 by the automotive press, let me allay your concerns: this car is the real deal. Its performance limits are astoundingly high a sane individual will not exceed them on public roads. The build quality is typically Teutonic - read top notch. The styling, at least to my eye, is perfect: the proportions are just right, and the overall look is aggressive without being flamboyant. The M3 is a true sports car that allows you to share the fun with three of your closest friends.

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  Impressive but still a ways to go! - 2002 BMW 7-Series
  By talentwave - March 22 - 2:00 am

  Im having problems with the software, mostly. The Nav. system came written in German, I lose my settings frequently, the passanger door locked up on me with no way to open it, the trunk locked up on me with the e-mechanics failing, the comfort seats have some intrinsic glitches such as the headrest goes up if you move the seat forward or back, so its mostly the added features and the computers software that need improvement. The Nav is archaic compared to the rest of the car. Lets get DVD soon, OK?

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  New Classic BMW - 1991 BMW 3-Series
  By DavisKL - March 22 - 2:00 am

  Bought used from private party. Aprox. 70,000 miles, great condition all around, everything works great. Ive owned 3 cars like this one and can safely say that they are VERY reliable. Of course, as old as they are, buy one as nice as you can, and treat it with a little TLC and it should reward you for years to come. If you want a daily driver, this could work, but serves much better as a cheap classic car for summer fun.

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  Great Except - 2001 BMW 7-Series
  By Jeff Snell - March 22 - 2:00 am

  The navigation system is the worst Ive seen. Slow, inconsistant, and many incorrect directions.