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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  Fun Car To Drive - 2004 BMW 7-Series
  By Bob P - February 22 - 2:00 am

  Great Car To Drive

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  nice car - 2004 BMW X5
  By sssad - February 22 - 2:00 am

  very reliable car though it is hard to jump when the battery dies. A good interior design.

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  Best car Ive had - 2001 BMW Z3
  By dave j - February 22 - 2:00 am

  No factory defects, No down time, basic service only

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  Fun to Drive but lacks Quality - 1999 BMW 5-Series
  By rpcmig - February 22 - 2:00 am

  Bought new in 99 and currently have 65k miles. Great handling and sporty ride.Awesome to drive but its starting to fall apart.Its been back to the dealer countless times to replace different sensors.Currently having electrical problems. Something keeps draining the battery and the car wont start after sitting for an hour.Dealer says repair could be expensive. Everyone knows the cupholders are awful. I feel we paid way too much for what we got. We would have been better served with a Lexus or Volvo.

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  Material quality and standard features are awful - 2013 BMW 1-Series
  By Jill - February 21 - 7:46 pm

  Sorry, I cant agree with the other 128i reviewers. I bought this 2013 128i used, having previously owned a 2004 330ci for 6 years. Granted, the 330ci had Premium package and the 128i is base. But the Sensatech seats and door material on the 128i look cheap, and the black shiny plastic in place of the wood grain or titanium trim is just plain tacky. The 330ci felt like a luxury vehicle. The 128i feels like an entry-level Hyundai or something. I actually just sold a Hyundai Genesis 2.0T Premium, which had keyless entry, keyless start, universal remote, moonroof, nice trim, automatic dimming mirrors and good bolstered seats. It cost about $24k new. The base 128i has NONE of those things, and cost over $33k new. Yes, the driveability is much better than a Genesis (but noticeably worse than a 330ci). The gas mileage is worse than both of these other vehicles. Overall Im not overly impressed with the 1 series. It feels like a step down (even with more power than the 330ci and the Genesis) and a step backwards in time. The BMW enthusiast in me wants to get rid of it as soon as possible and get a 2 series!

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  Great Car! - 1997 BMW 5-Series
  By Brendon - February 21 - 2:00 am

  Exellent performance. One of the nicest sounding engines ever! It goes like a bat out of hell.

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  Best Luxry Sedan, Get One - 1998 BMW 7-Series
  By arimah1 - February 21 - 2:00 am

  I replaced my Lexus LS400 with this car after I got rear ended. The car had 104k miles when I bought it and still looked and handled like new. I have put 15k miles in less than one year and all I have done to the car is change the oil. It is a blast to drive. One big surprise, I get 27 MPG on the highway driving at 80 MPH. What other V12 can do that? The faster you go, the more powerful it gets. Handling around corners is excellent for a vehicle this size. Interior has all the comforts one will need and quality of finish is great. Better than every car I have owned including the Lesus. Get one today and experience a new high in driving pleasure.

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  BMW SAV owner - 2004 BMW X5
  By dmkremr@aol.com - February 21 - 2:00 am

  Love the BMW style and performance. Fun car to drive and has tons of space. But very disappointed in the car phone and voice activiation unit. Was told "phone is as good as a land line" by salesman & that is why I purchased it.

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  Wouldnt Get Another One - 2016 BMW X1
  By Lime99 - February 20 - 9:36 pm

  Got stuck in a lease with one of these, I immediately regretted it. BMW must be paying for positive reviews, because it not that stellar of a vehicle. The car has stylish looks, has many bells and whistles, and is fun to drive in Sport mode, but thats about it - everything else is like driving a typical 4-cylinder, kind of boring and sluggish. The worst part about the X1 is the interior comfort and design. The front seats are the worst Ive ever seen, they have ZERO padding, way too firm like sitting on a park bench, theyre also too narrow and high. The leather is very grippy and not smooth, tugs your shirt. The steering wheel obstructs the dashboard, you cant get a clear view of the entire instrumentation through the top hole of the steering wheel. The controls for the screen and navigation are horrible and feel 20 years old. Selecting single letters or digits to input an address into the nav? Forget it. Its also unsafe having to look down at the control wheel and buttons instead of up. I would not describe the whole system as intuitive at all. Outside temp only visible to the driver, no digital speedometer, annoying. The on-wheel radio controls are not the easiest to set up or navigate. The whole cabin instrumentation is just overcomplicated, and kind of Frankensteined with new and old. The screen looks like it should descend, but it doesnt, its kind of unsightly like its tacked on. MPG is so-so unless you drive in Eco mode which turns engine off at stops. Overall very disappointed with the X1. It looks like a BMW on the outside, but it isnt on the inside.

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  Great Car - 2002 BMW 7-Series
  By import-autohaus - February 20 - 2:00 am

  Most amazing car on the market in its class.... blows mercedes away!!!