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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  Turbine Smooth - 2004 BMW M3
  By Dick de Kroon - June 4 - 6:24 am

  I have owned 58 cars - this is the very best - first drove a friends new one in 1994 and vowed Id get one, one day - well I am fortunate to own such a magnificent beast! The grin factor is huge - I always enjoy starting her up , letting her warm up - then giving more and more stick - and then theres still the Sport button - wow what could a person want? Looks good in an understated way - just the way I like it - best thing I ever did on the motoring side of things! Find myself wondering what I could replace it with - nothing comes to mind!

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  2010 335i xdrive best in class - 2010 BMW 3-Series
  By joaoeast - June 3 - 8:14 pm

  Truly the best car I have ever driven. Living in a hilly part of Long Island, NY AWD really comes in handy. This car has it all Its a sports car, sedan, summer car, and great in the snow, the best of all worlds. Transmission is amazingly smooth and power is always available. BMW 3 series continues to be the one to beat. G37 is nice but not nearly as refined in the transmission and ride quality. C class has a great feel but no power. A4 simply cannot compete while the S4 on the other hand is amazing but quite a bit more money. Acura puts out a great car with amazing tech and great ride but lacks low end torque. Love this BMW and my wife whos not a big car nut fell in love instantly.

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  Peace of mind - 1994 BMW 5-Series
  By piece of mind - June 2 - 5:29 pm

  I love my 5 series its the best car Ive had in years. Comfort and drive ability are awesome, I just lowered it for better handling because man I love cruising it, only minor repairs done like fuel and air filter and an aftermarket exhaust along with brake kits for front and rear, if you want a great car with good mpg then this is the way to go.

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  2011 Z4 35i rocks! - 2011 BMW Z4
  By wahoo - June 2 - 12:31 pm

  I have had this car for three days and I love everything about it. Styling is beautiful, the cockpit is so roomy that you do not feel like you are in a two-seater at all, visibility is very good also. The retractable hard top is a big plus, I was always turned off by rag tops or having to stow a removable hardtop, this is the perfect solution. I did not want to give up the luxuries and conveniences of my larger car and I didnt, this car is loaded with all of the "bells and whistles". Performance is amazing, this is my first BMW and it is an "ultimate driving machine". Last night I tried the sport transmission for the first time and it floored me!

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  Awesome - 2010 BMW X5
  By Dr.K - June 1 - 9:01 pm

  Just purchased X5 35D it is a great vehicle addresses all the short coming of the previous X5 specially in fuel economy and space utilization. The I-drive takes sometime to get used to but a great improvement over the previous one. We love the all around view of the camera, simply said WELL DONE BMW.

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  2010 BMW X5d - 2010 BMW X5
  By Retired Dan - May 31 - 5:11 pm

  My wife and I love this car. It is very easy to drive and comfortable. The memory seats and adjustments work well for us because she is "short" and I am "tall". As soon as you unlock the doors with the remote, the proper adjustments to driver seat, mirrors, etc. are done for you. Weve had cars with this in the past but this one just seems to work better. The diesel is great with lots of power and the mileage is good, 18-23 mpg. The diesel is very quiet except when its cold but when it warms up, it purrs like a kitten. We have the 3rd row seat for our grand-kids and it works fine for them but I dont think 2 adults would be comfortable.

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  Fun car, i love it - 2000 BMW 5-Series
  By GE - May 31 - 4:03 am

  Bought the car used, unfortunately it had rear axle problems so we went through 3 sets of tires before it was found but after that problem was fixed everything is running perfectly. The car originally had 70k miles on it and there is now 111k miles on it and we have not had to do anything but routine maintenance on her. I plan to drive her until she dies. Mom has an 86 3.25es and it still runs like it did the day she bought it, so Im hoping for a long life.

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  2010 BMW X5d - 2010 BMW X5
  By Retired Dan - May 30 - 1:27 pm

  We love this car. The diesel is a strong performer and good mileage. We have not experienced the lag time on start up that testers have stated. We got the 3rd row seat to accommodate grand kids and it works great for that, not enough room for adults though. The ride is quiet and firm which we like. We dont even notice the diesel noise, it purrs like a kitten!

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  Solid, Powerful & Comfy - 2010 BMW 3-Series
  By PH de CA - May 30 - 1:52 am

  After years of driving economy cars I finally splurged and bought a beautiful 335d + Prem Pkg, Nav, Comfort Access, Logic 7. One week and 600 miles later, I cant believe I waited so long. Its an absolute pleasure to drive -- powerful, stable & comfortable, with good fuel economy. The diesel engine has a deep, satisfying growl at low speeds, but is almost silent on the freeway, the best of both worlds. iDrive is easy to use, & live traffic on Nav is accurate. After babying it for several hundred miles, I allowed myself the pleasure of flooring it to pass someone. OMG - on an uphill grade, but seconds later they were a distant dot in my rear view mirror. Ive been smiling a lot in this car!

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  Still the best but has lost something. - 2006 BMW 3-Series
  By allan adderley - May 28 - 9:57 pm

  This is my 3rd 330i after a 2001 and 2002. Like the others this car had the Sports & Premium packages. Extra CPO warranty and bought tire & wheel insurance. Got an automatic after having 5 speeds because of my wife and regretted it immediately. New automatics are better but still dont have that "connected" feel of a manual. The handling is even better than previous models but didnt feel as fun to drive somehow. The car has definitely gotten bigger and heavier and you feel it. Some systems have almost gotten too complicated. Would have probably kept the car if it had a manual transmission but sold it at 38,000 miles. Now thinking about getting a 135i but the styling puts me off.