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:

• 

  2007 BMW Z4 - 2007 BMW Z4
  By JerefromYorbaLinda - September 10 - 12:07 am

  I wanted a little excitement in my life and this car really does the trick. Its so much fun to drive, I hate to get out of it. I leased the 3.0 convertible w/automatic trans and premium pkg. Punch this baby and youre on a roll. This car turns heads everywhere I go. It looks fast, it is fast, and it sticks to the road like glue.

• 

  M3 is a great buy! - 2002 BMW M3
  By Bryan Stone - September 9 - 4:51 pm

  Ive really enjoyed owning my M3, as it is large enough to accommodate my family, but plenty sporty enough to really enjoy driving on weekend getaways. On top of that, its stylish and catches a lot of attention on and off the road.

• 

  Sports Car Performance, SUV Size - 2007 BMW X3
  By BMWGUy - September 8 - 7:53 pm

  I bought this when it was between the Acura RDX and Lexus RX. The Bimmer won out with every feature available and I am loving it. Its reliability has been spot on and it has a better warranty than Toyota, Honda and GM! If bought, be sure to get a tire warranty. I got a nail in mine and got it repaired for $400! It shows how good the BMWs quality is. Best buy for sure!

• 

  Excellent Value For the Money - 1994 BMW 7-Series
  By Gaylene - September 8 - 6:24 pm

  Loved this vehicle! Owned it for 8 years, and would own another one in a minute, no question.

• 

  Z4 - 2006 BMW Z4
  By Margaret Garner - September 7 - 3:42 pm

  We have enjoyed it for the last 10 yrs. Time to move on.

• 

  rbbmw - 2003 BMW 3-Series
  By herrbeckmann - September 7 - 2:00 am

  Great car. Fun to drive. Excellant handling on curves. Great pick up in 3rd, 4th and 5th gears.

• 

  All I Expected and More - 2007 BMW X3
  By Nevada_X3_Owner - September 6 - 9:00 pm

  This is, without question, the best automobile Ive ever owned. It is powerful, responsive, agile for its size/weight and BMWs N52 straight-6 engine is buttery smooth and quiet. (Although one doesnt hear it inside the vehicle, from outside the vehicle the X3s exhaust note has a nice bit of a growl.) I opted for the 6-speed manual transmission, and I must say it takes a bit of getting used to. The clutch pedal has a lot of "travel" in it, but the engagement point is a fairly narrow area quite near to where the clutch pedal is in its undepressed state. Im impressed with the fit and finish of the vehicle and it just has a nice, solid feel to it.

• 

  BMW X5 - 2007 BMW X5
  By Alan Zorzi - September 6 - 6:06 pm

  We have had our X5 for over a week now and we love it. After reading reviews I was a bit nervous with iDrive. However, it takes about an hour to master. We really love everything about our X5 and would recommend this vechicle to anyone interested. The only problem is we do not want to stop driving it. It is truly fun to drive!

• 

  Understated - 1997 BMW Z3
  By Longshot - September 6 - 12:46 pm

  The "value" of this car is understated in many ways. It is so much fun to drive, and quite comfortable for an average size person. On many occasions I have driven 800 miles in a day quite comfortably. It continues to be reliable, and as it ages, the exceptional and unique design endures. I believe the 97 2.8 will become a collector vehicle.

• 

  Best Sports Car Amongst SUVs - 2002 BMW X5
  By Ronbo - September 6 - 11:20 am

  For an SUV this has been a great car for an auto sports enthusiast. Original tires (Michelins) were the worst thing about the vehicle. Once I put on good tires it has handled even better dry/wet/snow and nothing else got worse.