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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  Made a Mistake - 2003 BMW 3-Series
  By made a mistake - May 19 - 10:00 am

  It is a noce car, but not worth the money. There are many other cars that I test drove that I sould have purchased. This car is a waste of money, they are surviving on their name only at this point.

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  Low miles, great car. - 1995 BMW 5-Series
  By ken1 - May 18 - 2:00 am

  CA always had low sulfur, 2001 for all of US. Nikasil failures were small percent. Diagnose: Open front doors wide, start engine. Rough idle-doors bounce, compresion/leakdown test. These cars are now a GREAT buy since most failures are old news. 80 mph = 28 mpg!

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  Everything perfect so far... - 2002 BMW 5-Series
  By Snow Queen - May 18 - 2:00 am

  Despite my reluctance to move from a Z3 to the 530i sedan, I feel like Ive sacrificed just a small amount of performance that is far outweighed by the luxuries and amenities of this outstanding car. I might beat others out of a light a little slower now, but not by much, and Im doing it in comfort. This is a grown-up, safe, well-built car that I can still view as a toy.

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  Great handling, excellent value - 1997 BMW 3-Series
  By mdriver - May 17 - 2:00 am

  This is a very fun car. It has acceptable fuel economy in my opinion and has very good build quality. Easy to maintain if you like to work on the car yourself, though dealer visits can get very expensive very quickly.

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  Best In Class - 2004 BMW 7-Series
  By bmw30 - May 17 - 2:00 am

  After driving all the contenders, including the Jag XJ, Audi A8, LS430 and of course the Merc S, nothing makes as strong a statement as this one. Unbeatable drive and handling, smooth, beautiful, kicks the hell out of anything in its league. Only qualms are there are still some electronic glitches

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  Fun to Drive - Reliability Issues - 2004 BMW X5
  By khalsamd - May 17 - 2:00 am

  Vehicle is fun to zip around in. The ride is stiff/sporty compared to other Luxury SUVs. The biggest problem I had with the vehicle was that its AC broke down 3 times during the 1st year. Only thing hotter than the Texas temperature was my temper during this period. To have plunked over $50K for a vehicle with an unreliable AC is unthinkable. Once this problem was resolved, I have had a very nice experience overall with the vehicle. The standard Audio system for this vehicle is a joke. Its the worst in this category of vehicles.

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  Be prepared for questions - 2007 BMW Alpina B7
  By GCM - May 16 - 2:40 pm

  I traded a Corvette Z06 for the Alpina and have yet to miss the Corvettes performance. The build quality of the BMW is amazing. The BMW warranty and service plan cannot be beat, everything from wipers, oil changes,to brake rotors are free. Just an all around awesome large car.

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  bmw x5 - 2004 BMW X5
  By poopy - May 16 - 2:00 am

  the bmw x5 is an unbelievable car. The gas milage is much better than most of the other suvs i have used and its 4.4 liter v8 engine is terrific. Furthermore i reccomend the bmw x5 to drivers out there who want a car that has a lot of space and which works well on the road.

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  M4 - 2016 BMW M4
  By Karim Kefi - May 15 - 10:05 am

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  Great Handeling - 2004 BMW X3
  By BRL - May 15 - 10:00 am

  The 2.5L engine seems to be a little under powered for the wieght of this car. The handeling is by far the best out of any SUV on the market. This car seems to be way over priced for what it is. If it wasnt for such a great lease, the car wouldnt be worth it if I had purchased it. What your buying from the X3 is BMWs great handeling engineering.