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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  Besy Performance SAV - 2005 BMW X3
  By Rental EXP - August 7 - 7:03 am

  Outstanding Ext./Int. design and with one of the best 3.0 engine in the world

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  Great car, but fragile - 2002 BMW M5
  By Kim P - August 7 - 3:25 am

  I bought the car as a CPO and the clutch went out one week later and I had to fight with the dealership to replace it under warranty! The clutch is a known weak link on the M5. Beware: its the same as the clutch on the "regular" 5-series cars. I hope BMW upgrades the clutch on the 2007 manual M5. The performance is amazing and rivals my Corvette, but this car seats 5! I love the way the exhaust sounds on start up and under full acceleration! Im going to have to upgrade the suspension to get it to handle like the Vette though.

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  Now Im A Believer! - 2006 BMW 5-Series
  By New Believer - August 6 - 11:33 pm

  This is my first BMW and Im extremely impressed. My next door neighbor sells BMWs and gave me a great deal on my new 06 530i. Ive come close to purchasing a BMW on 2 other occasions in the past 5 years but didnt do it. Id have to say that this is by far the best car Ive ever owned in my 55 years of living. I dont agree with the criticism this car has received regarding the iDrive and its exterior design. Driving this car is pure joy and like nothing Ive ever driven before. Power, handling and comfort are fantastic. If youre not sure about this car, a test drive or two will make you a believer.

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  wow !!!! must have - 2005 BMW X5
  By regan r - August 5 - 5:12 pm

  This is a ride!!! Before I had a Lexus RX300 but by no means can you compare the Lexus to the BMW X5. The X5 has excellent power, pickup and it is quite easy to control. When you step on the gas she fly off and when you call for the brake she stops.

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  Solid fun driving car - 2005 BMW 3-Series
  By denise - August 5 - 11:09 am

  The car handles well especially in wet weather conditions. Has nice power very spacious inside.

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  A Beautiful Classic - 1991 BMW M5
  By Harteb - August 4 - 5:44 pm

  This car is a true classic in both design and power! Its first 10 years were spent on the Autobahn in Germany, followed by 3 years of tender care in storage by its previous single owner. All body parts and glass are original, with only a few rock chips to show in its nearly perfect exterior. The BMW mechanic that performed the checkout before I purchased it said it was the most powerful M5 hed ever seen, possibly with a high performance cam. It has fantastic torque to drive easily in town in 3rd/4th without effort, and it loves to cruise on the highway at any legal speed. I was shocked when I learned how to use the onboard computer and found out I was getting 25MPG. Wonderful CAR.

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  This car rocks! - 2005 BMW Z4
  By Jeff Wallowitz - August 4 - 3:07 pm

  My previous vehicle was an Audi TT. A great car that I absolutely loved. Once the warranty expired it was time for replacement. Decided on the Z4 3.0 manual. Car rules. I drove the 2.5 and I would call the acceleration spirited. The 3.0 rips. BMW has got the sound just right with a nice intake rumble and good pop from those chrome tips. The 6 speed gives nice shifts, although it feels a little notchy. You have to make sure you hit them just right. The top is if not the, one of the easiest to use on the market. No latches, fast, and no clumsy boot to take out of the trunk. A great car that I would reccomend to anyone interested in this type of vehicle.

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  All that we expected, and more. - 2006 BMW 3-Series
  By Dave - August 4 - 1:03 pm

  We were somewhat concerned about reliability but the 330i we test drove sold itself to us. We have had the 330i for 3 weeks and we love it. It has performance, handling, luxury features and best of all, it has given us piece of mind while driving it.

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  Fun to drive but expensive to maintain - 1998 BMW 7-Series
  By Dillon Lim - August 4 - 3:05 am

  Its a blast to drive this car. But reliability is a big issue. Common problems are radiator and reserviour, water pump, window regulators, O2 sensors, fading pixel displays. Great car if you can afford the maintenance.

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  Buyer beware!! - 2011 BMW 5-Series
  By AJ - August 3 - 8:59 pm

  If youre considering buying this car, please look into the N64 customer care program for this car. There are about 20 engine components that were essentially recalled. Depending on when, or if, your 550i went through this program will determine the number of components you may have had replaced. Initially, BMW changed out these components, one at a time and each time you had a check engine light come on the would replace the next most commonly malfunctioning part. Eventually, they started flat out replacing all the components since they would eventually fail (I believe due to the heat and pressure they are placed under with the twin turbo. This added up to owners paying for their vehicle while they spent months in the shop. While BMW did cover the costs of the replacement and extend the warranty, having engine issue undoubtedly will lead to transmission issues. This was the case of the most recent 550i owner I met at an German auto shop while getting another vehicle pre purchase inspected. He said he spend over 10k on transmission work and eventual replacement while he owned the vehicle for only 6 months, 2 of those months was spent in the shop. These repair costs were not covered by BMW. Some sleazy owners, will not mention this program/issue at all to you when selling the car (which was what happened in my case). Luckily the deal fell through in the 11th hour at the bank when the vehicle failed state inspection (due to worn out tires and brakes in this case). Owner claimed that both tires and brakes were replaced within the last 6 months. Some owners and used car salesmen are doing whatever they can to u load these problematic vehicles. Buyer beware!!!