BMW Reviews and Road Tests

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BMW


BMW turned to car manufacture after successfully manufacturing aero engines (from which the emblem is derived), and then motorcycles. Took over the Dixi concern, who were manufacturing Austin Sevens under licence, slowly expanding its range, the majority featuring a glorious 6 cylinder engine. The company concentrated on motorcycle construction during the war, then from the ruins choose to manufacture exclusive and expensive limousines. Able to fund the development of sports cars by building, under license, the hugely successful Iso Isetta bubble car.

After many close calls, things did not look good for the marque in the late 1950's, the make or break model was the 1961 1500 saloon. The formula used was to build a sublime chassis more befitting a true sports car, equip it with an eager but economical engine and have it power through the rear wheels - this same formula is used today.

Also see: BMW Heritage | BMW Colour Codes | The History of BMW | The History of BMW (USA Edition)
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BMW 328  

BMW 328

1936 - 1940
The combinantion of a light-weight body and fully independent front suspension set new standards for the time, offering levels of roadholding, cornering and handling precision previously unheard of. It is no wonder then that many collectors consider the 328 to be the best sports car of the 1930's. More>>
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BMW 335  

BMW 335

1936 - 1940
In the 1930s, as the war clouds were gathering and Germany could boast the most advanced road system in the world, several European manufacturers started thinking about building super cars to make full use of these new super roads. Mercedes used raw power and cubic inches to push its barn-door radiators through the air at high speed, and BMW designed a streamlined “autobahn special” for release in 1936. More>>
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BMW 507  

BMW 507

1955 - 1959
The BMW 507 was arguably one of the most beautiful cars of the 1950's. Built to add a glamour car to increase American sales as well as well as boost their flagging post war image, BMW used Albrecht Goertz to design their new sportscar. More>>
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BMW Iso Isetta Bubble Car  

BMW Iso Isetta Bubble Car

1955 - 1962
With folding roof and wrap around rear window, the driver and passenger entered via a front hinged door that also lifted the steering wheel when opened. More>>
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Alpina BMW 2000C and 2000CS New Class Coupe  

BMW 2000C and 2000CS New Class Coupe

1965 - 1969
There has always been something special about the Teutonic approach to building a car. It seems the collective objective of all the German auto makers is to use a no-nonsense concept of design and the meticulous precision of assembly. More>>
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Alpina BMW 2002  

Alpina BMW 2002

1967 - 1972
Alpina's Bavarian headquarters took a BMW 1600 2-door sedan (then BMW's smallest car), installed a super-tuned 2-litre BMW engine (BMW's biggest engine) and all the attendant devices necessary to bring the chassis specifications in line with the engine. More>>
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BMW E3 Straight Six Sedan  

BMW E3

1968 - 1977
The “BMW New Six” was a line of full-size luxury sedans and GT coupes produced by BMW from 1968 to 1977. All models used the then-new M30 straight-6 engine - an engine that would become renowned for silky smooth power delivery which punched far above what its litre capacity should have allowed. More>>
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BMW CS Series  

BMW CS Series

1971 - 1975
The CS coupes are among the best of all BMW classics, it has one of the best six-cylinder engines in the world - powerful, smooth and refined. More>>
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BMW 3.0 CSL  

BMW 3.0 CSL

1971 - 1975
The CSL was first produced in May 1971 as a lightweight version of the six cylinder coupe and to homologate for European Touring Car Group 2 races. It had thinner body panels, no front bumper, fibreglass rear bumper, racing latches to the bonnet, side windows made from Plexiglass and alloy-skinned opening panels, all to aid in weight reduction. More>>
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BMW E12 5 Series  

BMW E12 5 Series

1972 - 1981
In Australia BMW imported the 528i, and marketed it as a sporty sedan, rather than as a sports car - a subtle distinction maybe, but it did provide an accurate description of what the car offered by way of performance and handling. The 528i's injected 2788cc six cylinder SOHC engine was never a sluggard, but its performance allied to some fine suspension tuning transformed the machine fully into the same sports car class as the smaller 323i. More>>
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BMW 2002 Turbo  

BMW 2002 Turbo

1972 - 1973
The BMW turbo was built during 1973, a period that saw skyrocketing fuel prices. Rare and definitely exciting, the BMW 2002 is now one of the most collectable 1970's BMW's. More>>
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BMW E3 3.3 Li Sports Limousine  

BMW E3 3.3 Li Sports Limousine

1974 - 1977
The 3.3L Limousine came at a time when Europe was suffering from rising inflation and rushing towards poverty, while Germany, who had lost the war, was very obviously winning the Industrial battle of the 1970s.The 3.3L Limousine came at a time when Europe was suffering from rising inflation and rushing towards poverty, while Germany, who had lost the war, was very obviously winning the Industrial battle of the 1970s. More>>
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BMW 320 E21  

BMW 320 E21

1975 - 1981
Although the BMW company's reputation was built on its large saloon and sports coupe models, since the 1970's its major source of revenue has been supplied by the company's bread-and-butter family saloons. Typical of these models was the 320 range, introduced during mid 1975. The 3-series model replaced the 1602/2002 series which for many years had proved the mainstay of BMW's production. More>>
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BMW 733i  

BMW 733i

1977 - 1979
The 733i used the well known 3.3-litre straight-six engine which featured a cast-iron cylinder block and aluminium head with virtually hemispherical combustion chambers. This apart, the single-overhead-cam engine was a relatively simple design, but nonetheless it developed a very healthy 197 bhp at 5500 rpm, and 200 lb ft of torque at 4300rpm. More>>
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BMW E21 323i Alpina  

BMW E21 323i C1 Alpina and 328i B6 Alpina

1978- 1983
The Alpina BMW C1 retained the Bosch K-Jetronic fuel injection system and had a claimed top speed of 208 km/h (129 mph), with acceleration figures of 7.9 sec for 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) and 28.9 sec for a standing start kilometre. More>>
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BMW E28 535i B9 Alpina  

BMW E28 535i B9 Alpina

1978- 1983
The top of the Alpina range in the late 1970's was, as usual, a BMW, based on the then new 5 series. The previous 5 series was the base for cars powered by a 3-litre turbo developing 300 hp and a 330-hp 3.5-litre unit, but the B9 was a normally aspirated 3.5-litre which developed 245 hp. More>>
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BMW M1  

BMW M1

1979 - 1980
The Motorsport 1 (M1) remains the only mid-engined beamer to be developed, and that in itself if enough to make the car truly unique. But more important than any break away from traditional design was the cars fabulous handling and performance. More>>
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BMW 635 CSI  

BMW 635 CSI

1979 - 1989
It may not be the greatest of BMW classics, neither today nor in the future, but the precise handling and sense of involvement lost in the current 8-series make this car very memorable. More>>
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BMW 7 Series E28  

BMW E28 745i Turbo

1980 - 1986
Although announced at the 1979 Frankfurt Show, the 745 Turbo was not launched until the middle of 1980. BMW had taken a little time et their high performance flagship into shape, but its emergence certainly gave a boost (in more ways than one) to the power/prestige race between Munich and Stuttgart. More>>
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BMW Z1

BMW Z1

1989 - 1991
The BMW Z1 was first presented as a concept in 1986, generating such enthusiasm that 5,000 advance orders were placed. BMW rushed the car into full production, and both the prototype and final road going version made clever use of plastic body panels and a flat composite undertray for improved aerodynamics. More>>
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BMW Z1

BMW Z4

2002 - 2016
The BMW Z4 followed a long line of past BMW roadsters such as the BMW Z1, BMW 507, BMW Z8, and the BMW Z3. Production of the first generation started in 2002 at a plant in Greer, South Carolina, of BMW US, with both roadster and coupe versions of the car. More>>
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