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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  THE Coupe - 2008 BMW Z4
  By red4zone - December 19 - 12:19 pm

  Its actually my first time writing a review on a car, I was looking for a sport cart 8 months ago. My first choice was a Porscha Cayman S with a manual transmission. I am not going to bring back the whole Porscha vs BM discussion but lets say you will have to try the car to know what you really want. I did love the Porscha but couldnt resist to test the Z4. My only concerns about the Z4 was the look and I really didnt like it in the beginning cause all I could find here in Canada was SoftTop Z4. The driving experience of the Z4 3.0Si was magic yes I said it MAGIC. You do feel like youre driving a beast, nervous and everytime you step on the pedal you get the "push" of adrenaline...

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  Realistic review for people who want to buy a used 535i - 2009 BMW 5-Series
  By rob2388 - December 17 - 1:00 pm

  I bought my 2009 535i with sport/cold/light packages with 49k miles. First make sure you find the service records on the car so you know what you will be facing. THIS CAR IS NOT A MAINTENANCE FREE CAR LIKE TOYOTA! With that being said, there is a lot of common issues with this car. Gasket leaks, the HPFP (high pressure fuel pump) and one of the taillights have recalls so make sure you have the new HPFP. Water pump also goes to shit after about 50k miles i read so that is something im looking forward to. This is not a smooth car like Mercedes, you will feel the road. Other than that, the car can take serious curves, and the twin turbos make the car go!

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  Overcomplicated & Unreliable - 2008 BMW 5-Series
  By samarthvader - December 8 - 9:55 pm

  My 2008 535xi has 50,000 miles on it. There always seems to be something going wrong with it every few months. It has been one of the most unreliable cars Ive ever owned, but when it is working it is a blast to drive. Even the simplest repairs are ridiculously expensive, and you are often forced to going to the dealer as most independent shops cannot work with the BMW computer system. I dont know what they were thinking when they designed idrive. It takes an engineering degree to change radio stations through idrive. I guess over engineering is the BMW way. This will probably be my 1st and last BMW...

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  Very balanced car - 2014 BMW 4-Series
  By rak76 - November 26 - 10:26 pm

  Ordered a 435xi luxury edition in sparkling brown with cold weather, driver assistance, premium and tech packages. The sparkling brown paint is lovely and depending on the lighting, it can appear black or purple too. The acceleration is quick and the car is fun to drive in sport/sport+ mode. I find the eco mode to be a little slugglish, especially after starting from a full stop. The engine auto shut-off is a nice feature and you can how much fuel you are saving by driving it in eco mode. The rear seats also have decent room for a mid sized adults. Overall, its definitely an improvement over the 335 since it has a wider stance and it feels more sure-footed especially in fast corners.

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  BMW Assist - Waste of money - 2013 BMW X5
  By milkcan - November 18 - 2:04 pm

  The engine of the X5 with ~4000 miles died while on the highway. When I pulled over the car smelled like a burning electrical fire. I called BMW/Assist - Wow the worst service over. It took numerous call, two tow trucks, and 4.5 hours to get home. You will get A+ service from GM/OnStar or Ford MySync, or AAA. BMW roadside was a joke. They screwed up just about every aspect of my SOS call. Stay away from BMW Assist. You will not be happy at all. Free for 4 years means nothing if they cant help.

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  First BMW X5 purhcase... - 2009 BMW X5
  By adam11b - November 14 - 11:54 am

  When you look past the iDrive and price, what a vehicle. Nothing this big I have ever driven handles as well as the X5. The interior is timeless and the exterior is just enough the combo of aggressiveness/luxury. I have the 4.8i with the big v8. Talk about ballsy, this thing gets up and goes, however I do not drive it hard as I am concerned for the price of gas. I will say that if you are genuinely considering buying one, you must have the money for maintenance (regardless of warranty or not) someone financially unstable should not even think of buying this SUV. The oil changes, tires WILL bite your wallet at some point. I have not found the rattling for rear gate, its bothering me..bad.

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  Loving the X3 - 2013 BMW X3
  By clayewi - October 21 - 1:39 pm

  I have had four successive 5 series wagons. Sadly, BMW doesnt bring them to the states so I had to really consider what to get next. The X1 was TINY and just didnt feel like a BMW to me. Without question my last 5 had a more luxurious interior, but thats expected. The X3 has a much nicer interior than the current 3 series. The screen is IN the dash where it should be, not sticking up like a design afterthought. The engine/transmission combo is amazing very quick and agile. It doesnt handle like a car, but much better than other SUVs. The tech package is very nicely done. Gas mileage is really good for the size. The car feels much lighter than my 5 wagon, much faster though.

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  This BMW lives up to the hype - 1995 BMW 3-Series
  By grmmjhnsn2 - October 19 - 3:10 pm

  This car is great to drive, lets make that one clear. Its just powerful enough to snap your neck back, but not so much so that it gets you noticed. Its handling is amazing, acceleration robust, and braking solid. If you love to drive this is your car. I take it out multiple times a week on local hilly and curvy roads and it eats them up. What they say about its maintenance costs are true - if you decide to make the plunge you better have spare cash. I bought mine with 130k for $4k and have dumped in 6k, EASILY over the past six months. If youre looking for a commuter car that just happens to be fun look elsewhere. This car is for those who want the rush and are willing to pay for it.

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  EDP X1 - 2014 BMW X1
  By bmwcca325xi - October 15 - 12:10 am

  Ordered car and picked up in Munich as an EDP car in June. Major options: M Package, Winter Package. Nice firm ride and soaks up bumps well. Drove car 2,850 miles in Germany, Austria, and France. Top speed driven was 125 mph on the Autobahn -- car was feeling floaty so did not go faster although the engine could handle it. No issues in Europe over 2,850 miles. Averaged 25 to 28 mpg. Back in Calif., I have driven 2,200 miles and averaged from 25 to 27 mpg since being back. I attribute the same MPG while driving much slower to the lower fuel quality (ethanol)

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  Do not fear the 4 Cylinder! - 2013 BMW 3-Series
  By michaelfb68 - September 25 - 8:48 am

  I had a 2003 325i for 9 years before the repairs became too costly. I loved the drive, but jumped to an Infiniti G37x seeking more room, interior refinement, and reliability. The G just didnt do it for me from a performance perspective though, so back I came. I surprised to see BMW went to a 4T, but once you drive it you wont know it. Quiet, smooth, and fast, plus it gave me a 9 MPG bump over my G and old 325. You get to 70 mph and think youre doing 45. The cabin is quiet, the engine is quiet, and its all BMW. The steering is softer (not soft, though), but gets tighter with speed. Even at lower speeds though, it is responsive.