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:

• 

  GRADE I thoroughbred import. - 2004 BMW X3
  By Beemo - January 5 - 2:00 am

  This thing is a winner. Theyre at the post!!!

• 

  Worth every penny!! - 2008 BMW 3-Series
  By Bob - January 2 - 2:30 am

  I live in New Hampshire. We just experienced the snowiest winter in 135 years of record keeping! I got this car on 12/31/07, what perfect timing!! I cannot say enough about how impressive this car is. The Xdrive system was engineered for exactly what weather we experienced this winter. I felt so confident every trip I took in absolutely terrible weather conditions. Aside from the obvious top notch winter weather performance, this car with all the bells and whistles (nav, iPod, prem. pkg, cold pkg, steptronic) is so much fun to drive! Its scary fast! The 328xi is nice, but this car is awesome! I highly recommend getting all the options I did. You will not be disappointed.

• 

  hopefully i get a car like that - 2004 BMW 3-Series
  By angelsoft88 - December 31 - 10:00 am

  i want a car just like that so when you need it the most you can crank your sterio and put down the top and let all your stress fly throught the air and hope it dosent catch back up with you. the wind in you face is so refreshing and it just helps you relax, so when ever i get in a car like that i know i will feel secure and i hope i will have no worries in the car of my dreams!!! the end!! that is my dream car!!!

• 

  The best, but not perfect - 2007 BMW 3-Series
  By William Fuller - December 30 - 8:56 pm

  I thought I would buy the new G35 sedan, but after test driving the 335i, there was no doubt that this was the car for me. Great power, Great design, Many cool bells and whistles, Amazing leather. Though the car is an amazing performer, it needs some refinement with its "adaptive" transmission. I like to drive aggressively, but when the wife and kid are in the car, I try to take it easy. The transmission causes the car to lurch off the line when I try to take it easy.

• 

  Love, Love, Love - 2008 BMW 3-Series
  By Cookie - December 30 - 12:50 pm

  I love this wagon. Have driven Jeeps, Expeditions, and Honda CRVs. After driving SUVs for twenty years, I wanted something different but utilitarian. Its great... lots of room with fold-down seats. It handles so well, I hate to drive my husbands Mercedes E class as its got so much more play and bigger turning radius. It feels so loose compared to responsiveness of my wagon. Got the AWD wagon for peace of mind. I was a Mercedes lover before this. Not anymore!

• 

  Looks great but is always trying to break. - 2001 BMW 3-Series
  By Mo - December 28 - 9:59 am

  I bought this car in 2014 on June and boy was i happy. Loved the looks and performance. IT was always polished and detailed once a month since the start of time. 2 months after buying this from BMW dealer from a one owner the belts and pulleys went bad. I Took it to the shop and had it replaced with the OEM parts. "Note i only did OEM replacements for everything your about to read." My shop during the repair found out the front axel had gone bad as well as the engine mounts and transmission mounts. Reminder to those reading my shop is a very reliable shop in the Bay Area with 100+ cars a day. So after finding out bought the new axel with the mounts right away. Drove the vehicle for a month and everything was ok. Winter night decided to go get a Starbucks coffee before i took off to go flying, "reminder i am a pilot". As i walk back i notice severe smoke coming from the hood. I popped the hood open the and expansion tank was cracked. I had the car towed to the shop and had that changed right away. As they where checking the saw the hose was bad as well as the water pump and the radiator looked as though it was ready to go. Ended up replacing all the parts right away thinking id keep the car still. A month goes by after all that and i get a check engine light after driving from Los Angelas. I diagnose the code since i use to work on cars at one point and it was the O2 Sensors. Jeez Lucky me it was the month i had to smog the car. Again back to the shop and had the O2 sensors replaced. Very expensive. After driving back from the shop i notice smoke again from the hood. Look under Valve cover gasket was bad. Turned around and left the car over night till they replaced that. I drive the car for two months and again smoke from the hood. I check and again valve cover leak. I take it to the shop and it was not the cover but the valve cover its self that went bad. $300 is the cost of that cover. I said screw it ill deal with it. YES the valve cover was torqued correctly when i had the gasket changed. Another month goes by and on the free way i get a check engine light and the car down shifted harshly to send gear from 4th. Found out the alternator went bad. Ridicoulas. I was about ready to destroy this car. Note i did change the differential fluid and the transmission fluid right away when i bought the car due to this generation having transmission problems on the automatic version. 3 months or so went by from all the BS and i decide to go to the snow with my new continental DWS tires. When i got on the freeway and got close to lake Tahoe and to the snow the steering wheel got very very heavy.... Power steering killed it self. Regardless since it was gone i was already in the snow. Drove it and ill say despite not having power steering this car handles amazing in the snow. So when i got back i poured a temporary power steering fluid fix. Aprox a week went by when i put the fluid and i was rear ended by a jeep in traffic and i hit the car in front. The impact was very hard. The winch on the jeep hit me and i damaged the impala in front. The front didnt have a scratch beside the license plate frame damaged on my car but the impala was damaged from behind. The back bumper had a hole but over all it was a hard hit and it coped well. Two months later sold the car with bad power steering and shocks. Never again buying a new BMW. Now driving a 2006 C55 AMG Mercedes. Ive always owned Mercedes and never again will i buy a bmw. My relative had a 1994 318i and that was bullet proof, close to 400,000, parts original. Other relative 2000 528i with 340,000 miles. It was also bullet proof. Both cars great. Other relative had a 2004 530i and had problems with tranny and electronics. 2006 325i electrical problem. 2008 750li electrical and engine problems. Overall BMW is not the ultimate driving machine and they are problematic. I SPENT $6,000 in repairs in a little over two years! IT DID 14MPG combined. Only freeway it did 25MPG. WORST DECISION IVE EVER MADE BUYING THIS CAR!

• 

  2007 BMW 328xi Coupe - 2007 BMW 3-Series
  By LT - December 27 - 6:06 am

  I ordered the car 18 months ago with Automatic, Premium Package, Cold Weather Package, Navigation and Parking Assist. Its worth every dime. It looks great, handles like a dream, and has top notch build-quality (very German). Though it is not anywhere near the top in term of horsepower count, power delivery is excellent, making highway passing and merging very easy. Fuel economy is surprisingly good for a car that offers such performance. Unlike many other V6s, real life MPG is pretty close to what is shown on the sticker. The free maintenance program is another nice touch.

• 

  325Ci Manual Coupe - What a Car - 2004 BMW 3-Series
  By stargazerm312 - December 25 - 10:00 am

  This is the best car Ive owned. It has great performance w/ 30 mpg! The 5- speed manual is flawless and the rid is firm but excellent for a sports coupe. The cornering and handling is first class. I cant wait to get into it and go. The 325 may not have as big an engine as the 330, but I dont feel it needs it. This has all the power I need. My 325 has the Cold Weather, Premium, and Sports package. The sport seates are wonderful. The gray leather gives the BMW an elegant look. The Xenon headlights make a huge difference. For the price, I got the dealer to throw in the 6-disk trunk CD-changer and the home-link type garage door opener.

• 

  Drivers luxury vehicle - 2003 BMW 7-Series
  By Wuon - December 23 - 2:00 am

  Only have 300 miles and so far so good. One minor software glitch that resetted itself overnight. Superb driving manner and abundant power. Engine initially idles a bit noisily on cold mornings. I-drive is little overwhelming initially but becomes intuitive with practice. Very comfy seats and cavernous interior. The odd styling grows on you. Cool power trunk.

• 

  BMW 330xi is excellent - 2003 BMW 3-Series
  By neil martin - December 23 - 2:00 am

  I recently purchased a BMW 330Xi and this is the best car ever. I previously owned an Audi A4 and that was a great car as well but this car is phenomenal. From the styling to the performance everything is exceptional and just all around fun.