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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  My first BMW - 1998 BMW 5-Series
  By mseals - November 13 - 2:00 am

  I cant believe how incredible this car is. Even though it is a used CPO, this car continues to amaze me with it features. Power, smoothness, quietness, are just a few words that epitomize this car. I dont think I can ever go back to a plain car again.

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  terrible reliability - 1998 BMW M3
  By M3er - November 12 - 2:00 am

  so far this has been the most unreliable car I have ever owned. The CPO warranty is pretty worthless also, as BMW has many loopholes that allow them to deny coverage of failures. I am sorry I bought the car, despite its performance.

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  The Best Car for under $60K - 1998 BMW M3
  By iam4ecu - November 12 - 2:00 am

  This is an amazing car - it was everything I wanted it to be. It makes me smile every day. As a car that won every award and review, I had high expectations and they have been met. If you are considering one of these, find one that is well-maintained and get it. Youll never regret it!

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  Best SUV Ever Made! - 2004 BMW X5
  By aoninc - November 12 - 2:00 am

  I have never driven a finer SUV, including my Range Rovers, Mercedes G500, and my fathers Porsche Cayenne Turbo.

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  330i - 2004 BMW 3-Series
  By kc402 - November 12 - 2:00 am

  excellent performance superior wokmanship fun to drive handles great with little routine main.

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  Very happy - 2014 BMW 3-Series Gran Turismo
  By CAS - November 11 - 7:38 pm

  I purchased a certified pre-owned 2014 328GT with the sport package, climate and nav. I am impressed with the cars versatility, performance, appearance, comfort and gas mileage. I am averaging 25.5 mpg city and 37.2 highway. I am not a fan of the iDrive system (programming a radio station takes 5 minutes and/or reference to the owners manual, in the age of smartphones why is this so difficult?) however and the run-flat tires transmit considerable noise on rough roads. I originally had wind noise but the dealer was able to adjust the close point of the sunroof and this had not been a problem since, even with frequent opening/closing. A couple of things I wish this car had include 1) a more accessible location for the rear hatch button 2) remote start 3) wider side bolsters on the seat backs (front only).

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  Reliable old Rock! - 2003 BMW X5
  By Cody - November 10 - 3:23 pm

  Ive owned the SAV since new and it still runs like a Swiss watch. One early glitch, fixed by the dealer A.S.A.P. Great dealer experience for years (Boston). I now live in FL and given the age of the car I have it serviced at local shops specializing in BMW/German cars. I baby my cars. This one has 108,000 k. Had it so long it is hard to remember that it was cutting edge when new. It is easy to forget that some of the flashy gizmos available on new cars today were not available in 03. It is a crazy good driver in all weather and conditions. Power/torque feel stronger than stated. Handles, brakes and corners like a thoroughbred. MPG OK for age, better on newer models. Interior has held up well. Had a few minor parts replaced. Dealer did some at no cost after warranty was up. Was a city car, so I gave it a facelift two years ago and looks showroom. Weaknesses? The radio, esp. AM. I dont listen much. FM is better. Diodes are blinking off in the instrument displays, which is a major weakness of all X5s of the era. If you are handy, you can buy rebuilt computer units on Amazon and install yourself. I keep the tires inflated above the stated PSI on the doors and ride and MPG are better. Will be trading in a year or so. Nothing in the current BMW lineup interests me, but have my eye on a MB GLC300. Update: Recently traded the BMW for a 17 Lexus NX200T. It is proving to be a nice ride. Takes some time to get used to all the new tech. Only quibble so far is infotainment controls are needlessly complicated and overly sensitive. They are a real pain, otherwise a good car. Sound system in the F Sport is amazingly good.

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  great car! - 2002 BMW 5-Series
  By avid driver - November 10 - 10:00 am

  shopped them all...drove them all...almost went for the G35, but in the end there is nothing to compare with bmw. 530i with premium and sport packages sends the price up, however there is nothing BORING about this sedan. i selected the 5 speed tranny (wife was a bit hesitant) but now glad we went this route. performance, comfort, luxury in one great looking package. replaced an SUV with a sedan version of our porsche!

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  Love this Car. - 2003 BMW M3
  By Arthur Bartosik - November 10 - 2:00 am

  Awsome car, suggestion, lower price a little, more people will buy.

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  Best car Ive ever owned - 2010 BMW 3-Series
  By Areeje Ayyash - November 8 - 5:20 pm

  Where to begin; Ive always been a huge fan of BMW but started driving Mercedes for a while. I finally switched back because I found this car at an incredible deal and since then my love of driving has returned. The interior for this car feels like its made with significantly higher quality than competitors, there is no comparison in the drive quality as its one of the main things BMW is known for, and Ive found the car has less repairs than others. I will concede that the car is a bit on the small size, its perfect for me cause Im short but my husband (62) struggles sometimes to find a comfortable spot with headroom. Once he finds it he loves the car as much as I do and usually takes it to work and leaves me his car (not nearly as fun). All around its the perfect car for me but if you arent into the BMW feel then youll most likely feel meh about it.