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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  3% better costs you 30% more. - 2004 BMW 3-Series
  By RicketyDick - October 11 - 10:00 am

  Japanese wannabes are either heavier (Newtons Laws will not be violated!) or less powerful. Im getting used to the SMG, and now I love it. I learned on US1 that youre glad you dont have to take your hand off the wheel to shift while passing on a 2-lane at 110+ w/ traffic coming! Proportions are spot-on. G35? Pulleeez! If you disagree, and cant feel the difference in the steering, save the 30%. Doors are long & heavy - you need to choreograph entry and exit. Valet parker white-lined it, but then lunched my left side wheels! Electric Red/Natural Brown; Sport and Prem. Pkgs., SMG, Xenons, 18" wheels.

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  Enjoying my first 3000 kilometers - 2005 BMW 3-Series
  By Marlan - October 7 - 11:33 am

  Overall a joy to drive. I have the sport supension, so at first the ride was quite rough, but after several long trips it has smoothed out; in other words the suspension is sporty when it needs to be sporty and comfortable when needs to be comfortable. As far as looks, it is a Clubsport model- absolutely gorgeous. 5-speed automatic, its great, but recomend the 6-speed manual. Previous car was a MBZ S-class. Happy for the change. It was like driving a quiet tank.

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  Great Car- Fiddly Controls & Bad Mileage - 2003 BMW 3-Series
  By Hank-NJ - October 3 - 2:00 am

  Steering, handling, engine & braking are perfect. Rides smooth & solid. AWD great in snow/rain. Looks beautiful. Good utility for couple with one toddler. Very happy with purchase. However. Horrible mileage for small car. Avg only 20 mpg hwy (and it was 12-17 during the 1st 1k miles). I dont expect an econ car, but it should come close to advertised. Controls are fiddly. Rear win washer dribbles into 1 corner and the headlt washers blow fluid onto hood (dealer says not adjustable). Seat cushions too short (Im told the opt. sport seat are better). But! Will take the negatives because of the driving experience. Fix the little things and its perfect.

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  The good and the bad - 2006 BMW 5-Series
  By squadless - September 30 - 12:28 am

  Ive had this 550i for about a year, the car is awesome. Very fun to drive, turns heads (especially those people who rev up their engines in their G35 or the equivalent). Reliability - not so good. In 1 year I went through 5 tires and 2 cracked rims. Note I do live in New York City where the roads are NOT the best but before this I had a Lexus LS430 since 2001 and I only went through 1 tire so do the math.

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  The Ultimate Unseen Cost Nightmare - 2006 BMW 3-Series
  By I Want My Lexus Back - September 28 - 9:39 pm

  Sell your BMW before the warranty runs out. Dont bother to buy a new BMW with run flat tires unless they give you tires for as long as you own the car. The front tires cost about $425.00 and the rear $375.00. I have had to replace 9 tires in the 3 years I have owned the car. They dont last and the flat tire sensor comes on all the time. If you take it to a BMW dealership they will not give you the car back unless you replace the tire. There is no fixing it. Im not even sure if there was anything wrong with the tire. They never let me see it. The passenger air bag sensor will cost you $1500.00. I have no idea what the LCD display for the stereo will cost, but it has completely faded.

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  Overall dissapointing - 2007 BMW 3-Series
  By MN - September 28 - 5:44 pm

  Extremely slow steering for a bmw. It takes so much cranking of the wheel just to make a simple turn, and on top of that the effort is really heavy. And they dont offer active steering in xi models. The bridgestone runflats are joke. A fairly quick stop will make them slide. Starting from a stop is jarring. Press the gas in automatic mode and it will first pause for a while and then buck and jerk while it decides if it should continue in second gear or downshift to first. It goes through coolant and oil pretty quickly. Much faster than scheduled maintenance happens. Oh, and forget about spirited driving without sports package..there is NO seat bolstering whatsoever.

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  Always in the service bay - 2008 BMW 5-Series
  By cunn5 - September 27 - 4:21 pm

  I have owned two 550is in a year and a half. The reason for two is that the first one was in service for massive computer troubles 14 times in a 12 month period. The dealership swapped me out of the trouble maker and now in only four months and 4000 miles I am in service overheating and all the windows and sunroof seem to open by themselves. Please avoid this model

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  So far, so good - 2004 BMW 3-Series
  By DanK - September 27 - 10:00 am

  I absolutely love this car. I take the long way home each day. I thought my V6 EX Honda Accord was a pretty good car. until I drove my 04 SP/6sp 330 Ci. I test drove the new Accord (coupe and sedan), S2000, and the Audi A4 1.8T before choosing this car. I tried to test drive an Infiniti G35 Coupe but was told I couldnt unless I put a deposit down. NO THANKS! The BMW dealers were fantastic!

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  Bugs gone, now its a blast! - 2007 BMW X3
  By pamela murray - September 25 - 4:07 pm

  Bought this vehicle used as I could not afford new. Unfortunately previous owner never serviced vehicle. Had to take into local BMW dealer 4x before we got the throttle response issue cleared. Car hesitated and bucked, was scared to be in traffic when I needed quick acceleration. But the warranty is awesome, treated like a queen at dealership given loaner each time, who still does that? No other automaker I know of. Computer need to be defragged and re-booted so we could start fresh. It worked, my little baby is performing fantastic and I love driving it, it truly is a driving experience like the ads say!

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  Disappointed - 2007 BMW X3
  By tlp - September 23 - 7:27 pm

  This is my second x3, the 1st a 2004 so I expected a better BMW but what I got was what others are complaining about: poor shifting patterns at speeds under 40 mph. Has been in the shop for software fixes but no improvements and the techs tell me they dont notice the problem. The sport drive is horrible and this is called a "sport utility vehicle". This is not what I expected from BMW.