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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  still turns heads - 1990 BMW 3-Series
  By miker g - November 27 - 2:00 am

  Not many NEW cars can compare to the feel of this car. The steering is so precise, the car is linear and stays that way even when you stomp on it in snow. Very comfortable driving position and all controls are right where they should be. Reliability & repairs have been a problem. Not sure if I would buy another bimmer for this reason.

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  Just got it - 2003 BMW Z4
  By Fred - November 24 - 2:00 am

  Just picked my 3.0 up. fully loaded except nav and cd changer. So far a gas to drive. handles and rides well. nothing to complain about. More later.

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  1995 BMW 325is - 1995 BMW 3-Series
  By busy3 - November 23 - 2:00 am

  This car has been a pleasure to drive since day one. The 5 speed transmission shifts with effortless motions, and the suspension handles the road with extreme confidence. My 325is has 142,000 miles and it doesnt consume one drop of oil. These cars are very fun to drive but can be somewhat costly to maintain in optimal condition, however if you are a DIYer it can cost far less to operate than when paying dealer fees to perform basic routine preventative maintanance. Overall I think this car is an excellent choice for those who need to drive a lot of miles and dont need very much room in the process.

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  GERMANS GONE WRONG - 2002 BMW 7-Series
  By GENGHIS - November 22 - 2:00 am

  IDRIVE IS IMPOSSIBLE. NEEDS REPROGRAMMING EVERY FEW MONTHS AND THEN VERY DIFFICULT TO OPERATE. INTERIOR TRIM IS CHEAP PAINTED PLASTIC AND PAINT CONTINUALLY PEELS OFF. HAVE USED TWO DEALERS TO SERVICE AND BOTH ARE WELL BELOW PAR FOR LUXURY DEALER. HAVE ALREADY GOTTEN NEW 2004 JAG VANDEN PLAS AND LOVE IT. NO COMPARISON!!!

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  Overall, good. Problems with hybrid system - 2017 BMW 3-Series
  By Dan O - November 21 - 8:42 pm

  I really love the looks, driving, and performance of this car. Mileage is fantastic with the hybrid system. I can drive to and from work on total electric power leading to a combined MPGe of 68. However, the hybrid system has some issues with cold weather. It often wont allow total electric driving and doesnt show the range available on electric power. Also, the system isnt charging to its full range.

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  BMW the cost of Luxury and repairs - 1999 BMW 3-Series
  By Jimbo1999 - November 20 - 2:00 am

  The car now has 98K miles. I had a few problems with the car since Ive owned it. My Air bag light came on around 80K miles. Diagnosis is a faulty Air bag computer, cost is $500. North American BMW will not assist in any way since warranty is not valid. Sunroof acts up by not closing as it should. I have found that this car needs alot of pampering to make it run problematic free. I have a toyota and no problems. Not sure if I would recommend one. Ill probably buy a Porsche or Mercedes next time.

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  A good 4WD and fun to drive - 2003 BMW X5
  By crsrehab - November 19 - 2:00 am

  I enjoy driving my X5 because of its overall good performance and handling capacities. However, the negatives are: noisy interiorly the engine is very thirsty limited luggage area and poor design of the cup holders.

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  The Z8 is Not Enough - 2003 BMW Z8
  By automobileman - November 18 - 2:00 am

  This car is awesome. It is truly a drivable work of art with performance that is almost scary. The Z8 is the best looking car on the road today and at 0-60 in about 4.5 seconds, a car that will blow away nearly everyone else off the road. And while this car is a dream to drive, it is not perfect. The radio/navigation system is too complex. There is a lot of plastic on and in the car (but it looks great). Sure, the speedo and tach are at the center of the dash....and it takes a little getting used to. But once you do, this quirk only adds to its uniqueness.

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  Love this SUV - 2003 BMW X5
  By LuvmyBMW - November 17 - 2:00 am

  This SUV doesnt ride like a SUV. It has a comfortable ride. We have a few different friends with different SUVs and they all agree ours rides the best and also has great pick-up. It is manuverable. We only had one minor problem in the past 8 months with it. The rear window arm broke and we had it replaced. Other than that, its been great.

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  Not worth it - 2003 BMW 3-Series
  By Sad_330i_Owner - November 17 - 2:00 am

  Engine, transmission, steering, suspension, and braking are superb, but the car it falls short in build quality. It was delivered with splotchy paint, a badly pitted windshield, and various broken pieces. Parts still fall off, it has numerous squeaks and rattles, and every time these are fixed something else gets screwed up. Parts are NEVER available and I have to chase them down to see if the part is in. Escalation is impossible and calls and emails to BMW are not returned. The car is not worth the headaches and BMW doesnt seem to care. My time, money, and sanity demands that my next car will be Japanese.