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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  Best Decision Ive Made..BMW 7series - 2004 BMW 7-Series
  By LSB - September 22 - 2:00 am

  My first BMW, it took me years to break down and buy one. Everything is perfect. Lots of room (3 kids) and extremely nice to handle.

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  buy this car - 2002 BMW 3-Series
  By otherpath - September 21 - 10:00 am

  rocket, perfect handling for 4 door sedan. High price but worth every penny. If you need 4 doors and seat 3-4 people and want a sports car- this is it. Absolute rocket, the only sedan I will buy. Compared to any other sedan (audi, mercedes ,etc)- this is it. Not my first 3 series and the only sedan I will buy.

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  Why I Like My BMW 325CI - 2005 BMW 3-Series
  By Anita - September 20 - 12:13 pm

  When I drive my BMW, I feel like I am floating. It is responsive, quick and a "Sweet" Ride.

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  City Slickers Perfect Blend - 2000 BMW 3-Series
  By agko - September 20 - 2:00 am

  This is the perfect vehicle for commuting in style and quick weekend getaways for a couple or small family. It makes city driving fun and winding roads a thrill.

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  BMW 325 Ci Convertible - Awesome !!! - 2002 BMW 3-Series
  By apple0124 - September 20 - 2:00 am

  Fun to drive. I have the steptronic automatic transmission. The manual mode is great. Quick off the blocks. Otherwise the automatic is also great for fun driving. Controls are well appointed. Power top is a must I feel, the Premium package is worth its value. Great car. So far... Currently the best convertible in the market.

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  short of expectations - 2006 BMW 3-Series
  By ed rosenthal - September 19 - 1:43 am

  Run flat tires are a disaster. Three flats in 750 miles. Need a mouhpiece to protect your teeth if you hit even a small pot hole. Software is poorly integrated. Give me a few mechanical options like a simple switch to control dash lights. Dealer service people couldnt readily explain "initializing" the tire pressure. Handles very well and engine is smooth. Brakes are excellent. Thankfully I only leased this car. Would never buy it. Had previous 5 series: much better. Just could not stand the new styling.

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  Fun Ride, but prepare for frequent maintenance - 2002 BMW 3-Series
  By michael roma - September 18 - 7:40 pm

  I always remembered having love for BMWs. After years of wanting one, I was finally able to when my grandfather was finally selling his (black 325i sedan with 111k miles) after buying a newer 3 series. For $2,500, he gave me a great deal because he kept it in great condition. After purchasing it in August 2016, I took it down to college (400 miles away). Even though it has a firmer ride than my former 01 accord, the ride is still comfortable on long journeys. (If one finds the ride uncomfortable on long trips, take the back roads route and forget about comfort when you have a big smile on your face from discovering the sublime road handling on twisty unknown turns, away from zoned out interstate cruise-controlled journeys.) Mileage: Decent for a 6-cyl (I avg. 450 hwy miles on 1 tank) Under avg. for city driving (My lead foot doesnt help) The Bad: The wave of random component break-downs began in sept 2016, having to replace the alternator. Before driving back home for winter break in dec., the driver door window is stuck down. I cover it with plastic and drive 400 miles. Then during winter break (Dec-Jan), I went ahead and replaced the window motor and regulator myself. THEN, 2 days later, the rear passenger window regulator fails. I repair and replace it myself again. AND THEN, the 3 month old alternator takes a crap went ahead and replaced it myself again..(Being somewhat mechanically knowledgeable, I figured i could save a lot of money on repairs a shop would charge) As of now, July2017, it is sitting at the mechanic. It recently started misfiring and wouldnt run for more than a minute. I replaced a bad valve cover gasket, spark plugs. After that didnt solve the problem i took it to the mechanic, and Ive had to have them replace ignition coil boots, injector, fuel filter, fuel pump, and mass airflow sensor. But tomorrow, the maf sensor will be installed, and they believe (hopefully) that will be the last thing needed to make her run smooth again. Summary: For $2.5K, it was initially great value for a lower mileage luxury sports sedan. There are honda civics the of the same year and mileage in that price range. The obvious and inevitable lack of reliability is common for these bmws, most are reliable, a lot are not, and some unfortunately run into a lot of problems like my example. Therefore, its a good thing to have some mechanic know-how when owning one. If you enjoy working on your cars, this one is actually quite easy to learn about and work on. Even though i was expecting to experience problems, I was shocked as to how bad it has been because my grandfather kept it in great shape, and had a reputable mechanic perform mandatory and regular maintenance. I have continued to (try to) keep it in good shape and keep it maintained. I dont know, it must be just bad luck. I still love it though, and I am going to continue to own and enjoy it after i get it fixed.

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  Reliable dog car - 2008 BMW X5
  By brenda Craig - September 16 - 10:49 am

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  Z4 tires - 2004 BMW Z4
  By Lubbe - September 16 - 2:00 am

  Overall, the Z4 is a nice car. The problem is tha run flat tires. They have a tread wear rating of 140 which translates about 15,000 miles. It will cost in excess of $1,000 to replace them. They cannot be repaired if punctured and they cannot be found in stock at any Bridgestone dealer I know of and they can only be replaced by a run flat certified dealer. The tires are not warrented by BMW so you are pretty much on your on. A tire problem on the road will probably result in a delay of several days.All of this so BMW could leave off the spare.

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  happy - 2004 BMW 3-Series
  By Big Foot - September 16 - 2:00 am

  Great car, Im tall and I have all the room in the world. There is even room for two golf bags in thre trunk.