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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  Meditation - 2005 BMW 3-Series
  By al - February 17 - 7:11 pm

  I took the German delivery and picked up my 2005 325i in Munich at the factory. I drove it for two weeks through Europe - some at max speed. The car has now 58K miles, every single one has been a love affair. I had an Acura that started to shake when I went over 85 miles. When I maxed out my BMW in Europe, ca 135 miles, it felt like meditation. Perfectly calm, stead, and totally focused. Back in the US I feel I am just using the top of the iceberg but that is fun, too. I love the tight cornering and the knowledge that the car has untapped reserves. This is my third BMW and by far the most reliable. Zero repairs so far.

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  Awesome Car - 2006 BMW 3-Series
  By =D - February 17 - 12:00 pm

  This car is awesome. It has enough space to accommodate 2 adults in the front and 2 kids and a baby carseat in the back, along with 3 duffel bags, one giant bag, and 2 carry-on bags in the trunk. Going on I-5, we got from San Jose to Los Angeles on 1 tank of gas!! Best sedan ever.

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  Great Cars!!! - 2004 BMW 7-Series
  By BMW man - February 16 - 11:47 pm

  I own a Z4 and 530 but obviously this is my absolute favorite. This car is powerful but a bit touchy on take off but very smooth when switching gears. All of the options are a bit confusing at first but now I like them. I get more than enough looks and comments when I drive it. Im 65" and 240 lbs and this vehicle adjusts to my size very easily with more than enough fun and comfortable features. If you want something to brag about and be admired, this is the car for you!!!

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  Great looks with muscle to back it up - 2009 BMW 3-Series
  By swiz454 - February 16 - 9:52 am

  Blk/blk auto w/sport package. This car is fast. It pulls hard like a V8 and has a great engine note. Since my previous cars were manuals I was hesitant getting the auto but with the sport mode it holds the gear longer & you can run it to redline. I like this a lot mostly coming out of a turn - youre always in the right gear. The new iDrive is light years better than the previous version. The car is an excellent mix of daily driver & rocket. I catch myself doing 90+MPH on the hwy, feels like 50 mph. It has all the latest technology anyone could need (bluetooth w/phone import, GPS w/lrg scrn, itune integration).

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  BMW - Solid Fun - 2007 BMW 3-Series
  By Marek - February 15 - 11:51 am

  At first I was a little skeptical about purchasing a BMW as many reviews including consumer reports stated that the electronics fail often and overall reliability is not as high as other Japanese companies. However when I read about the 335 twin turbo engine I had to take a test drive. My first car was a 2001.5 1.8T Audi with a chip and exhaust. Loved the Audi but once I had 150K miles I sold it and got an Acura. I pledged never to get another non-AWD car again. The Acura was plain boring. Once I drove the 335xi it was obvious that this was a special car. I bought it the same day and traded in my Acura TL.

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  I miss my car - 2007 BMW 3-Series
  By Jamie K - February 15 - 11:03 am

  Sadly, I had to get rid of my new coupe when I moved to Manhattan. This was my second newly leased 3 Series, and I loved it. The interior just improved on its predecessor, but perhaps the drive of the car was a slightly looser, lower and heavier than my 2003 sedan. But so much fun, I had a 6-speed manual, and just loved pushing this car. The interior defined luxury for me. I understand "editor’s obsessions” with buttons, but the eccentric, simplistic design of this car is one of its best assets. That and rear-wheel drive, and of course, everything always worked.

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  SOOO expensive to repair - 1996 BMW 3-Series
  By Heather - February 15 - 9:38 am

  The head gasket is a major issue... YIKES. The engine components are made up of lots of plastic. I have had lots of electrical issues and the convertible top gets stuck sometimes. The top is leaking and caused mold damage to my back seats.

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  Its no Saab - 2017 BMW X3
  By Rob - February 15 - 8:35 am

  The menu system on a BMW dashboard is not intuitive - it’s just a random annoyance that’s the most consistent feature of this vehicle for a driver. With three clicks, you can turn it off, but it won’t stay off. Every time you start the vehicle, it will come back to annoy you – first with a legal disclaimer and then an array of meaningless menu choices. It’s impossible to make the screen display something useful like a digital clock (a Kia will do that, but a BMW won’t). I’d settle for a BMW logo on the screen, but even that’s not an option. The menu is loaded with choices leading quickly to lots of useless information, but changing the audio source for the stereo is 3-4 clicks and a couple of knob-spins away. You’ll find the FM/HD radio choice is in a different section of the menu than the CD player and Bluetooth devices. Perhaps it’s just German humor. Info that’s more easily accessed includes the owner’s manual (should you be reading that on the dashboard while driving?) and contact info for the BMW complaint center (maybe BMW owners use that one a lot?). You can also schedule a service appointment with a random BMW dealership with just a couple of clicks. But they can’t fix your menu. Want to “search by picture” and learn more about “screw thread for tow fitting” on this car’s front bumper? That’s literally choice #3 of 12 on an image of the vehicle, just two clicks and a quarter-spin away. But once again – is this info you should be using while the vehicle’s moving? However if you need to call your spouse, plan on pulling over to the side of the road and scrolling through the alphabet, because the “favorites” from your iPhone will not upload to this system and the voice-dial feature is erratic at best. I like a lot of things about my 2017 BMW – great steering and acceleration, quiet and steady ride, nice lines, quality trim everywhere. But the stupid, amateur-designed, useless menu stuck in the middle of my dashboard is a daily irritation that won’t go away. Yes, I’m a little obsessive – but how many non-obsessive people buy BMWs? I owned three Saabs. This is my first BMW and my last.

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  06 SMG Dream Ride - 2006 BMW 5-Series
  By GWF - February 15 - 12:52 am

  Purchased 06 CPO with 37k miles. After researching for 2yrs, finally purchased gray beauty. The balance and performance are amazing.Purchased the SMG model, it took a little getting used to, but is truly fun to drive. Many of the reviews about iDrive scared me, but after the initial set up, the iDrive is great. It makes driving easier. We have the Sirius Satellite and this makes long drives a pleasure for all.The ride? Amazing, with active steering and Sports package a great combination. The seats are great and it is truly a fun ride. Great value for a used car, make sure you have a car warranty and service warranty. Can be costly.

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  Nicest SUV at the Trailhead - 2004 BMW X5
  By John - February 14 - 2:41 pm

  We purchased our X5 with approx. 53,000 miles under BMWs Certified Pre-Owned program and bought the service package to 100,000 miles. The X5 has been great. We live in Denver and drive to Vail almost every weekend. Average MPG is 19.2, not bad for 300+ HP, 5,000# car. Run Pirrelli snows in winter and Yokahoma Geolander in summer. The X5 is remarkably capable off road - Hill Descent Control is very impressive. The only funny part is the looks we get from other SUV drivers. Trips to the dealer for unscheduled service have been minimal and not expensive.