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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  Mikes BMW 530i - 2003 BMW 5-Series
  By Sticklmj - June 25 - 10:00 am

  Fun to drive. Transmission is best feature that provides smooth shifting matched to a capable engine. Steering, handling and suspension are excellent. The ride is ultra-smooth without sacrificing handling and performance. Climate and CD/radio controls are not driver friendly. Rear seat leg room is tight. Trunk is tight. Conti tires handled well, however they started making a "whining" noise after only 15,000 miles. Love the intense windshield washer fluid and the automatic wipers.

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  needs better feature quality. - 2000 BMW 5-Series
  By patrickandmike - June 23 - 2:00 am

  great drivers car, but why do so many things break on it? seems ours is cursed by that and being a "target" of problems (keying of total car, rock chips in windshield, nails in tires, shredding of tire sidewall when rotating, cupholder breaking, shimmying at fwy speeds a couple of times for no reason, cd changer jamming up, etc.). love the engine, but needs better interior quality.

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  Ultimate Paradox - 2003 BMW 7-Series
  By Steveh - June 22 - 2:00 am

  The car is a dream to drive . The workmanship on the car is definitely substandard and the electronics are woeful. Every repair has either been completely ineffective in remedying my problem or has created some new problem the dealer cant figure out. Strongly recommend anyone thinking about purchasing this car get detailed information about the dealership(s) srevice department, since youll be spending quite a bit of time there. I live in an area with only one BMW dealer in a 100 mild radius and the service department has been incompetent and as user unfriendly as the car.

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  Great performance, but very expensive. - 2016 BMW 3-Series
  By Michael - June 18 - 8:33 pm

  After several months of researching all types of different vehicles I ultimately decided on purchasing the 2016 340i xDrive. Overall, this vehicle met my needs and after reading countless reviews (consumer and professional) the 340i remained in my top three narrowed down selection. My personal needs for a vehicle required performance, luxury, AWD (due to the snowy winters in Chicago), and decent gas mileage (sub par mpg with my last vehicle, 2012 Dodge Charger SRT8). My 340i is equipped with the cold weather package ($800), driver assistance package ($950), M sport package ($2,600), technology package ($2,750), and the track handling package ($1,700). $8,800 for those added options is very steep in my opinion but after getting a good trade-in value along with very low APR financing, as well as a tax credit and 4 years free maintenance I felt that it all balanced out. As for my impression of the vehicle, let me start off with the interior. Although many people tend to favor the interiors of Cadillac, Audi, Mercedes, Lexus, etc...the BMW interior is still very nice and luxurious. I can understand if some people think its beginning to appear a bit dated, but nonetheless its still superior to many vehicles on the market. The Dakota leather sport seats are top notch quality and for the most part above average in terms of comfort. The anthracite headliner, aluminum and gloss black trim accents throughout the vehicle along with the ambient lighting (which is dimmable) all go together fairly nicely. The cabin is really quiet and there are no rattle like noises or unwanted vibrations. The exterior of the vehicle is the best looking to date for the 3 series sedan in my opinion. From the elegant lines on the hood and the minor refresh of the whole body in general gives the vehicle a great sporty look that is very tasteful but not overstated or too flashy. I opted for the black sapphire metallic paint and the 19" alloy orbit grey M sport wheels along with black kidney grilles complete the overall look. Now on to the performance. Let me tell you, this car can move and it is fast! It doesnt exactly give you the "throw you back in your seat" kind of feeling and I must admit I do miss that and all the rear wheel glory and torque of my previous SRT8, but I still experience an ultimate thrill and satisfaction while driving this car. The 8 speed automatic transmission is flawless. The AWD has a tenacious grip on the road and you feel like you have complete control at all times. I prefer to drive in the sport mode setting regularly as it is always responsive and ready to accelerate hard at any time. The start/stop fuel saver system is very intrusive and can be deactivated with a push of a button and I never use it. I have a lead foot and most of my driving is in the city and Im averaging 16 mpg which for me is acceptable especially considering the performance you get with the 3.0 liter twin turbo V-6. Ive read that 0-60 mph can be as low as 4.4 seconds which I dont doubt depending on the conditions and where you live of course. The adaptive M suspension is great, but comfort does suffer a bit if youre selecting the sport modes. The low profile run flat tires detract from the comfort too, but nothing that isnt tolerable. The handling on this car is great too. So much that it almost feels like youre driving a coupe. Although this is a sedan, it feels so light and steering it is so effortless without taking away from the overall driving experience. The M sport brakes are phenomenal and feel perfect and smooth (not too sensitive and not too soft) when I need to apply my foot to the pedal. I also really like the sound of the dual exhaust when I drive in sport mode. Youll definitely hear the "crackles and pops" when revving the engine and when you accelerate hard and ease off the gas pedal. I always look forward to getting behind the wheel of this car and just letting it open up on the road. But let me tell you, this car isnt perfect. I do have a few gripes with it. Mostly with the knob control of the display screen. It can get quite annoying. Turn the knob to scroll here, click this and click that, hit the back button to exit, and on and on. So many times I want to be able to just touch the screen and get to what I want with ease but I cant. I knew this beforehand of course and was willing to deal with it. Connecting your iPod or iPhone via Bluetooth or with a cable isnt the best in terms of integration with this vehicle either. The interface definitely needs some tweeking. For example, lets say you connect your phone via Bluetooth so you can play your music. Accessing playlists or trying to shuffle songs is not easy when dealing with the knob turn dial control. And with the lack of a touch screen, you cant just select what you want with ease. If youve had a Nissan/Infiniti or a Dodge, their infotainment systems are much better. Lack of a touch screen and remote start at this price point is disappointing.

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  A Great Car for the Enthusiast - 2002 BMW 3-Series
  By - June 17 - 2:00 am

  Let me prefix by saying that I was a parking attendant for 7 years and while I did not get to really test drive very far I got a good feel for all of the manufacturers strenghts and weaknesses. I have waited a long time to be able to afford a BMW but worth the wait. I really like a car that is fun to drive. My BMW 330i was preceeded by a 94 97 and 87 integra, A 92 CRX Si, an 84 Mustang GT Convertible all new. This car is faster then all and handles like a dream. BMW has done a great job balancing the feel of this car. I was concerned about quality after owning a string of flawless japanese automobiles but have not be disappointed.

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  Too Many Defects - 2001 BMW X5
  By bcoomer - June 16 - 2:00 am

  Certified Preowned with 24k miles. Over 3 months we had over 15 different problems & took it in for repairs 6 times. From break problems to false airbags lights to buzzing under the dash to CD door sticking to loose driver side mirror they never could tighten even after installing a brand new kit. The dealership finally bought the car back from us.

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  2000 528i BMW Review - 2000 BMW 5-Series
  By Wildman66 - June 16 - 2:00 am

  I drove my first 5 series to my senior prom almost 20 years ago - borrowed my aunts and was 2 days late bringing it back! Finally able to get my own and am loving it. Ride is firm but supple - never harsh or unpredicatable. Solid vehicle throughout - wish my Ford SuperCoupe had some of the same characteristics.

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  Fun but Uncomfortable - 2004 BMW Z4
  By sctts233 - June 12 - 2:00 am

  This car is a lot of fun to drive, especially with the top down. With the top up, there is a lot of rattling noises and a very bumpy, unpleasant ride. I would not recommend this as an everyday car.

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  Good Car, Slightly Cheap Parts - 2003 BMW Z8
  By S. Ricardo - June 8 - 2:00 am

  I bought my Alpina in Feb, and its a great car. Unfortunately, some of the parts are rather cheap. I cant tell you how many times I broke the cupholder. And the mirrors rattle and look like theyre to fall off while driving down the highway. I recommend this car, but it can be beat. Try a Maserati Cambiocorsa Conv, or a Porsche 911 Turbo before purchasing this Z8.

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  Sweeet Ride!! - 1995 BMW 3-Series
  By theclosesthing2u - June 7 - 2:00 am

  I love this car!! Its so much fun to drive and its especially nice to get the looks from people that are checking it out!!! Pretty sweet ride indeed!