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BMW's new 5-Series sedan introduction at the 1995 Frankfurt Auto Show continued a tradition—the company's 1500 Series had bowed at Frankfurt in 1961. Popularly known as the "New Class" or "New Range," the 1500 initiated a successful line of agile, midsize BMW sedans that continues to this day.
Built by BMW's elite M subsidiary, the M5 is the most capable car in the Bavarian maker's storied product line. The M5 starts out as a garden-variety 5 Series sedan, so it has all the core virtues inherent in the breed. There's comfortable room for five in a leather-lined interior that's characterized by fine attention to detail and quiet solidity.
BMW's M squad has always been in a class by itself, even when judged against its sibling Ultimate Driving Machines. The latest M3 raises that blatant-overachiever benchmark to a heretofore-unseen level.
Sporting roadsters have long been an integral part of BMW's motoring heritage. From its original 315/1 to icons like the 328 and 507, these al fresco two-seaters helped establish the character of the marque by adding stylish sensuality to their underlying performance capabilities.
BMW 6 Series -- 2004 First Drive: Ask BMW North America chief Tom Purves why BMW has encouraged the development of a risky design vocabulary that elicits love it or hate it response in the buying public, and he'll reply, "No risk, no reward.
I've owned a lot of great cars (some sporty, some not) and have driven many others. When I shopped for a new car, I included BMW's in my spree. I first drove a gorgeous BMW 525 model and was disappointed. I loved its design! The BMW is in an elite league partly because of their design style.
BMW 3 Series -- 2006 First Drive: Fans of the brand know that the brilliance of a BMW - and in particular the 3 Series - shines most brightly on back roads in the hands of a person who loves to drive.
2006 BMW 3-Series Preview: BMW aficionados around the world have just one question when it comes to the redesigned 2006 3-Series: What will Chris Bangle and his merry band of stylists do to our beloved Bimmer.
BMW 7 Series -- 2007 Preview: In the land of luxury, prestige is as important as bread and butter.
BMW M5 -- 2006 First Drive: Normally, it takes years to achieve mythical status, but the new 2006 BMW M5 is already there.
BMW M6 -- 2006 First Drive: It takes something special to shake the cynicism of a seasoned reviewer.
When you're arguably one of the best luxury automotive brands on the market, coming off of a banner sales year, and charged with protecting the reputation of the "ultimate driving machine," what do you do next.
2006 BMW Z4 M Roadster - Preview: Over the past few years, one might get the impression that BMW has been dissing the buying public.
With the 2006 Z4 Roadster, BMW has created the ultimate driving machine that has a beautiful combination of appeal, power, and performance. In this article, you'll find a discussion of new roadster features found in the 2006 Z4.
The BMW 3 Series coupes have been completely redesigned for 2007. These all-new, fifth-generation coupes follow on the heels the new BMW 3 Series sedans that were introduced last year.
2007 BMW 3 Series Coupe First Drive - the overhauled 3 Series Coupe offers power and performance encroaching on M3 territory for thousands less...
BMW M6 - 2007 Review: Driving the BMW M6 might remind you of the Batmobile.
When it arrives in late November, the 2007 BMW X5 aims to meet the challenge with a more powerful, 260-horsepower inline six, an available 350-horsepower V8, a new six-speed Steptronic automatic transmission, a newly available third-row seat...
The 2007 BMW X5 has both the power and the handling to make you think sport, not utility.
the 2007 Z4 M Coupe was created, filling the void created when the Z3 Coupe had its last curtain call in 2002.
Like models before it, the 2008 M3 appears as a 3 Series Coupe or Sedan that's been to the gym - not like a dude on 'roids but rather someone who's been doing twice-a-days and eating nothing but chicken and tuna...
BMW 5 Series -- 2008 First Drive: BMW offers the 2008 5 Series in a variety of trim configurations, with different powertrains and drivetrains, not to mention varying levels of equipment.
BMW 5 Series Preview - Chicago Auto Show: You wouldn't know it at first glance - or even a second or third glance - but the BMW 5 Series receives styling updates for the 2008 model year.
BMW 1 Series tii Concept Preview -- 2008 Chicago Auto Show: Long time fans of the Roundel logo will recognize the tii suffix as being one that graced the later model 2002 sedan of the 1970s.
New Cars: 2008 BMW 1 Series Convertible Preview - At BMW's rather busy press conference, they saved the best for last: the 1 Series Convertible.
New Cars: 2008 BMW X6 Preview - In BMW lingo, it's a Sport Activity Coupe, but most people will probably call it a funny looking SUV.
New Cars: 2009 BMW 335d Preview - BMW, not content to let rival Mercedes-Benz bask in the diesel spotlight, is bringing a twin-turbo, diesel-powered 3 Series sedan to all 50 of these United States late in 2008.
New Cars: 2009 BMW X5 xDrive35d Preview - Despite the cumbersome moniker, the xDrive35d is a turbo-diesel powered X5, and it's going to be a 50-state vehicle when it arrives late this year.
BMW Vision EfficientDynamics Concept Preview - 2008 New York Auto Show: This is shaping up to be the year that BMW shows off its green side.
2009 BMW M3 Convertible Preview - 2008 New York Auto Show: The M3 has evolved over time from a racer into a full-fledged lineup unto itself.
BMW Launches a new concept vehicle that looks as if it's intended for production as the new 8 Series, and, hints at the future of its vehicle design.
The 3-Series was completely redesigned for 2007, but given some mild styling changes for 2009, the 3-Series continues to dominate the segment with an uncanny mix of luxury, sport, driving pleasure, and laudable attention to detail. Either inline-six delivers excellent power and notable smoothness; the base engine is surprisingly frugal. Styling is elegant and graceful both inside and out.
There's no denying the raw power and ultimate handling of BMW's 6-Series, but the model teeters on the edge of techno overload.
The M3 offers a lot of high-tech features to go along with its top performance--and some of these are driving aids more than gadgets. BMW is making the steering wheel-mounted M Drive button a part of the optional Technology Package for 2009.
For almost two decades, nimble, efficient sport-utility vehicles have been decidedly out of fashion. The BMW X3 3.0si is a leader among the first wave of an inevitable trend toward more svelte and energy-efficient SUVs.
The 2009 BMW X3 is a compact crossover vehicle built in South Carolina, and it takes on the likes of the Acura RDX and the Land Rover LR2 as BMW's entry-level off-roader. The 2009 X3 is a four-door with a wagon back, a taller ride height, and all-wheel drive.
Replacing the Z3 in BMW's lineup in 2003, the BMW Z4 is a sporty, rear-wheel-drive 2-seat convertible with a power-operated soft convertible top and a heated glass rear window. With a choice of 6-cylinder engines under the hood, BMW's Z4 has proven itself fun to drive and yet still frugal at the pump with EPA fuel economy ratings of 19 mpg city and 28 mpg highway (Z4 3.0i with automatic transmission).
It was only a matter of time before Audi and BMW entered the compact cabrio sector. With prices for drop-top versions of the larger A4 and 3-Series starting at £26,545 and £31,025 respectively, the German firms were in danger of abandoning the lower end of the market, handing the advantage to models such as the Volkswagen Eos and Vauxhall Astra TwinTop.
The best thing about the exterior appearance of the BMW 135i coupe is that this time around, it looks like a real car, unlike the late 318tii which was a cheapened, cut-off version of the 3 Series that attracted a small cult following but never sold well in the U.S.
TheCarConnection.com's editors read the latest reviews on the new 2008 BMW 1-Series to write this comprehensive review. Experts from TheCarConnection.com also drove the BMW 1-Series in Sweden, Spain...
In an age when children can't play conkers without protective specs and no one dares eat anything that's out of date, it's reassuring that BMW is still brave enough to put triple tons of both horsepower and torque into the smallest car it produces.
When the BMW 1-Series first arrived back in 2004, its shape polarised opinion. But whatever you think of the styling, there's no doubt that the car has a premium look and feel.
Volkswagen's 100-horse, 1.9-liter diesel and the formerly available 134-hp, 2.0-liter diesel engine, although fuel efficient, didn't arouse us in any meaningful way. However, the BMW 2.0-liter diesel that arrived in the 120d proved to be a pleasant surprise.
BMW is betting the world has tilted. Its Mini brand proved that subatomic could be cool, and now BMW is leaning to the little using its own hallowed spinner. To make the sawed-off, snub-tailed 1-series coupe, BMW cut four inches out of the 3-series coupe’s wheelbase, 8.4 inches from its length, and 1.4 inches from its beam.
Every car in BMW's 3 Series is a fine performer and a technological tour de force. Driving has never been much better, or at least not with seating for four or five, decent mileage and a high level of comfort.
Design is the most subjective of all automotive traits, and clearly the 325i and 330i retain some basic BMW qualities or character. Yet in certain respects they also look more generic than their predecessors.
The BMW 3 Series coupe represents the newest and fifth generation of a vehicle that traces back nearly four decades to the BMW 2002, one of BMW's most famous cars and which many consider to be the original European sports sedan (in this case, sedan means four- or five-passenger car with a fixed metallic roof, as opposed to a two-seat roadster or convertible).
The heart of any BMW is its engine, and the one in the new 3 Series is first rate. It remains true to BMW's commitment to inline six-cylinder engines, as other manufacturers have switched almost exclusively to V6s.
The 2006 BMW 325i and 330i sedans comprise the fifth-generation of a car that created a concept, or at least cemented that concept indelibly in the buying public's awareness. For 40 years the 3 Series had delivered a special mix of sporting performance, practicality and European luxury in a compact package.
The 3 Series shares many of its design features with BMW's other sedans. Some critics claim the 3 Series has been spared: that it has not suffered from some of the styling excess in BMW's current 5 and 7 Series. Certainly the approach with the 3 Series has been more conservative, and it's easy to understand why.
For 2007, 3 Series sedans and wagons come with powerful new engines, a couple of new colors and some minor interior tweaks. The 3 Series is expanding for 2007 with the introduction of an all-new, two-door 3 Series coupe and an all-new 3 Series convertible.
In a sector where style is so important, having the latest design is vital – and as one of the newest kids on the block, BMW's 3-Series has something of an unfair advantage.
You've got to love a car with 428lb ft of torque. Even if you don't understand exactly what torque is, put your foot down and you understand what it does. And over 400lb ft shoves a medium-weight car like this 3-series coupe up the road like it's got a 5-litre engine under its bonnet.
For many, the 3-Series is the definitive small sports saloon. It’s blend of balanced handling, high quality and strong performance have seen sales rocket past traditional family motors, such as the Ford Mondeo.
The 3-Series is a convertible that feels taut. There's a complete lack of body twist and no shaking around the A-pillars. A tiny amount of vibration is noticeable in the steering, but the 3-Series has far better body control than many rivals, and remains admirably composed over rough surfaces.
In a sector where style is so important, having the latest design is vital – and as one of the newest kids on the block, BMW's 3-Series has something of an unfair advantage.
The 2008 BMW 3-Series is BMW's best-selling vehicle line--a series of compact sport sedans, wagons, coupes, and convertibles. The 2008 BMW 3-Series sedan covered in this review comes with one of two different inline six-cylinder engines, with models designated 328 and 335. The 328's engine makes 230 horsepower, while the 335 gets the 300-horsepower, twin-turbocharged version.
Believe it or not, you can have your cake and eat it. The BMW 320d provides the premium badge and punchy performance you would expect from a diesel compact executive model – and it also features the firm’s EfficientDynamics stop-start fuel-efficiency hardware.
With BMW's regular four-door 3-Series such a familiar sight on our roads, it was always going to take something special to make the Coupé stand out. It's tauter than the saloon, with its metalwork stretched tightly over the wheels. But when lined up against dedicated sports cars like the TT and Cayman, it looks a little ordinary.
So what's this twin-turbo version of BMW's familiar 3.0-liter inline-six doing under the hood of this 2007 3-series coupe? For starters, it's making 45 more horses and 80 more pound-feet of torque than last year's naturally aspirated 330i sedan.
Beyond its longer, lower profile, the coupe is distinguished by a "powerdome" hood, a deeper front air dam, illuminated surrounds for the standard xenon adaptive headlights, and horizontal LED taillights.
The BMW 5 Series cars are a pleasure to drive, though it's hard to say which model we'd choose. The light-on-its-feet 525i makes clean, satisfying driving without a lot of high-tech drivers aids to get in the way. We're quite happy in one.
For as long as fast, comfortable 4-door sedans have been called "luxury sports sedans," the BMW 5 Series has served as the quintessential example of the category. First, with the inline-6-powered 535i, then the V-8 540i, BMW's popular midsize bahn-burner has always balanced luxury-class comfort with driver-oriented performance.
The big news for the 2008 BMW 5 Series sedans lies under the hood of the six-cylinder models. For 2008, the base 528i gets a horsepower increase that makes it the most powerful entry-level 5 Series ever.
The BMW 5 Series puts an emphasis on the driving. This mid-size luxury sedan remains a true sports sedan in any of its variations, including the 530ix wagon and other models equipped with all-wheel drive. Regardless of engine size or equipment level, the BMW 5 Series delivers lively acceleration, precise handling and outstanding brakes.
From entry-level 520d to flagship 507bhp M5, the BMW 5-Series never fails to impress – dynamically at least. In terms of styling, it' s a different matter.
The BMW 6 Series comes with complimentary (everything except travel) high-performance driving instruction at the BMW Performance Center in South Carolina, half a day for buyers of the 650i, a full day for buyers of the M6. We can't think of a better way to get to know these machines.
Put simply, the BMW 650i is smooth and precise. It's easy to drive, always poised, and satisfying to drive at a brisk pace. The ride is taut but not harsh. It's easy to modulate the brakes and throttle and the steering is sharp.
The BMW 650i returns for 2007 all but unchanged from 2006. It delivers excellent performance, brilliant handling and that arrow-like stability that defines BMW. Available in coupe and convertible body styles, the BMW 650i is a premium grand touring car. It comes with a 360-hp V8 and a choice of three transmissions.
The 2008 BMW 6-Series is actually four cars: the 650i coupe and convertible, and the V-10-powered M6 coupe and convertible. They share a common profile, a 2+2 seating arrangement, and truly impressive performance, along with hefty 4,000-pound curb weights and a heavy feel at the controls.
When it comes to the driving, there's no hedging. The BMW 7 Series is one of the best sedans in the world. Measured by ride, handling, braking and engine/transmission performance, and more importantly how those elements are blended into a smooth, satisfying whole, the 7 Series is almost without peer.
Steering a 7 Series sedan is a joy. The rack-and-pinion steering is super sharp and precise. It's very light at low speeds for parking lots, but firms up at higher speeds for improved driver feel.
Whichever 7 Series you choose, starting with the standard 750i, you'll get a sedan that's big, smooth, fast and inspiring. It'll also be equipped with the latest safety technology.
Editors at TheCarConnection.com read road tests about the new 2008 BMW 7-Series to compile this definitive review.
BMW-luxurious range-topper has been given a restrained makeover in an effort to claim the title of the best car in the world. But can BMW really count on 7-Series on this? Let's see how 7-Series works?
Praise and hallelujahs for the 2009 BMW 7-Series--no, it's not the most practical vehicle on the road, nor is it the cheapest. But in its fifth generation, the big Bimmer gets a complete revamp for its formerly odd styling, while preserving its BMW driving feel.
Of most import to its owners will be the rear space and BMW claims the new car offers the most rear space in the luxury saloon class, with an additional 14cm of legroom for rear seat passengers over a standard wheelbase BMW 7 Series.
There’s an old design adage that form follows function, and this is certainly the case with the M3. While few would argue that the 3-Series flagship looks great and is beautifully detailed, much of the car’s appearance is driven by technology.
For 20 years and three generations, BMW's high-performance M3 has stood out as the ultimate of Ultimate Driving Machines, an icon on the level of the Porsche 911 and Chevrolet Corvette. Since an M car has always followed the introduction of a new 3-series, we awaited this latest M3, seen here, with nervous anticipation because the M3's big brother, the M5, although a technical triumph, had become complex to the point of creating an infuriating barrier between driver and machine.
The heart of the new M3 is its 4.0-liter V-8, which kicks out 414 horsepower through a delightful six-speed manual transmission. This tarted-up 3-Series coupe (a sedan is also offered) will claw its way to 60 mph in only 4.8 seconds, and rushes to a 155-mph top speed.
BMW has come a long way in the past 50 years, from the low point in the winter of 1959 when its fortunes were so bad that it was nearly sold to Mercedes-Benz, to becoming a world powerhouse of motorcycles, high-performance cars, luxury sedans and SUVS. Like Mercedes-Benz with its AMG in-house racing and high-performance specialists, BMW has created its M division, primarily responsible for motorsports, but also for high-performance cars, including the M3 version of the 3 Series, the M5 version of the 5 Series, and the M6 version of the 6 Series.
BMW replaced the steel roof on the stellar M3 Coupé with a power-operated 3-piece retractable hardtop. The chassis, retaining the M-specific performance upgrades, was modified accordingly. The resulting 2008 BMW M3 Convertible is one of the fastest and best handling droptops on the market.
Do you hate interruptions? So does BMW when it comes to the flow of power. Its solution is to fit the impressive 414-bhp M3 with a 7-speed M-DCT (M for Motorsport, DCT for Dual-Clutch Transmission), a gearbox where the ratio is preselected before the power is applied by alternately engaging/disengaging two wet clutches.
No doubt, the M3 Sedan is the varsity athlete of the bunch. From its styling — all lean muscle and sinew — to the lightest curb weight to the widest tires of the rear-drivers, the M3 both looks and acts the part. It practically takes down the road, pins it and forces a tap-out submission.
Comparing the BMW M5 with its coupe brother — the M6 — is like arguing over who's hotter: Jennifer Garner or Jessica Biel. What's the point? Any self-respecting guy would be happy with either. Same goes for the M5 and M6. But off to Germany we went, to answer this simple question: If you had to choose (the M5 or M6, not Garner or Biel), which would it be?
The 2008 BMW M5 is a case study in the good, the bad, and the ugly. The good? The fastest, most muscular, most precise four-door ever from BMW will rocket from rest to 60 mph in 4.5 seconds, corner like a front-engine race car, and brake so hard it can bounce your eyeballs off the windshield.
Bursting with character and genuinely rapid, in terms of pure entertainment the M5 is still the king of supersaloons
Essentially a shortened, two-door version of the upcoming four-door M5, the M6 shares many of its internal organs with the M5. Foremost is the 500 horsepower V-10 created by BMW's M-division engineers.
For BMW fans everywhere, the past year has been an exciting, if not memorable one. Last spring, the introduction of the new E46-based M3 put an end to the Euro-spec-vs.-U.S.-spec engine argument, long a sore point with U.S. owners.
The BMW X3 resembles the larger X5, but a closer look reveals significant styling differences.Notable design cues include the front bumper that frames the traditional twin-kidney grille, its chrome vertical slats complemented by a chrome strip along the base of the side windows.
The interior of the 2008 BMW X3 carries the new style introduced in 2007. There's more storage, the plastics are of a higher quality than those in the first X3, and overall, the styling is more like BMW's own 3-Series cars, with a bit of wood trim on the panels. A little more cargo room has been allocated, but the BMW X3's interior is still a bit tight for adults, particularly in the second row.
BMW calls its SUVs Sport Activity Vehicles and, indeed, driving the BMW X3 is not like driving other SUVs. While the Lexus RX 330 tends toward the luxury end of the scale, the X3 leans more to turning two-lanes and the occasional twisty dirt track into a fun drive. Our first impression after driving an X3 3.0si around the Bavarian back roads south of Munich was one of smoothness and precision engineering.
BMW X3 doesn't offer the quietude of a Lexus, however. The exhaust note that initially sounds pleasingly sporty can become an irritating drone after awhile at constant speeds. Wind noise reaches levels surprising for a BMW, and this is without any crosswise racks on the standard roof rails. Enough tire rumble penetrates the cabin to suggest the desirability of some additional sound-deadening materials.
Let's give BMW credit where it's due: the X5 has proved something of a knee in the goolies for critics of crossover. But then it would have been hard to predict, back in 1999, that what was being touted as the world's first Sports Activity Vehicle would become such a spectacular global hit.
If you drove every mid-size SUV on the planet to the most trendy restaurant or club in town, the Porsche Cayenne and BMW X5 would get parked up front. Valets have a duty to pay attention to this styling stuff, since it identifies the likeliest over-tippers.
The X5's handling and ride have been improved. The automatic shifts with authority, but is smooth at cruising speeds and in Sport mode alike. With or without the optional Sport package (which adds 19-inch wheels, run-flat all-season tires, and BMW's AdaptiveDrive stability and automatic damping control system), anything like legal speed driving doesn't begin to challenge the X5's composure.
If sporting, on-pavement driving dynamics are the priority in a luxury SUV, the BMW X5 is a great place to start. If family friendly utility and minimal aggravation are most important, it may not be. As a tall sport sedan with reasonable towing capability, the X5 surpasses nearly all other sport-utilities. It's by no means an off-road vehicle, however. In terms of utility, the X5 lacks the cargo-passenger flexibility and ultimate cargo capacity of many competitors. It also comes with BMW's various efforts to re-invent or at least re-define basic things like turn signals and gear selectors, not to mention the infamous i-Drive interface. That will be good or bad, depending on your tastes and proclivities.
J.P. Vettraino reports to NewCarTestDrive.com. from Detroit, with Phil Berg contributing from rural Michigan.
SUVs began life as trucks. Trucks are bouncy and push a lot of air, which requires a lot of gas, and they're hard to maneuver. No fun. So SUV makers with sports car genetics, such as BMW and Porsche, have tried to marry fun driving with truck utility.
BMW engineers continuously developed diesel technology over the next 25 years, and demand for BMW diesel engines has grown worldwide. According to the manufacturer, 67 percent of all new BMWs delivered to customers in Europe are powered by diesel engines.
The 2009 BMW X6 is an oddity: a sport-utility vehicle designed to have a coupe-like shape. It's a derivative of BMW's successful X5 sport-utility, built alongside it at BMW's plant in South Carolina.