We all lust after intricate exotica, especially those originating in Italy, but it’s arguably the Germans that have been supplying our kicks in the real world. BMW has produced some of the most complete cars the world has ever seen, ranging from its first and only supercar to the iconic M3. Once dubbed ‘the ultimate driving machines’ we take a look at the marque’s greatest hits.
It has been tough picking just 10 from BMW’s illustrious back-catalogue of road cars, but here are our Bavarian all-stars.
10. BMW Z8
The BMW Z8 was designed to be a modern homage to the legendary 507 – a car so cool that Elvis had one. Penned by Henrik Fisker this handsome two-seater was an all-aluminium effort and equipped with a naturally aspirated 4.9-litre V8 engine. A 0-62mph dash of 4.7 seconds wasn’t slow, but this automotive sculpture looked fast standing still. Today BMW Z8 values make them the pride of many collections.
While BMW’s involvement in the coveted James Bond franchise is often criticised by fans of the world’s most famous spy, the collaboration did result in 007 getting a Z8 as a company car. For a few glorious moments, this achingly beautiful sports car starred in an action sequence, heat-seeking missiles and all. Sadly, the rare roadster met its end when a helicopter carrying a buzzsaw cut it clean in half. Q was likely unimpressed.
9. BMW M5 Touring E61
This generation of 5 series split opinion in the looks department, but everyone was in agreement that its naturally aspirated 5.0-litre V10 was an astonishing unit. With 500bhp and a cylinder count few could match, it was one of BMW’s wonderfully bonkers moments.
Those who know their BMWs will note that we’ve specifically picked the Touring model. Why? Well, who doesn’t want a supercar with a boot big enough for the dog?
8. BMW 507
A true classic that’s worth serious money today. The BMW 507 was BMW’s precursor to Jaguar’s E-Type. A beautiful design that even tempted the likes of Elvis, this sports car was a real headline grabber. Its price when new was certainly noteworthy, being so vast that it went from mainstream model to exclusive motor overnight.
Just 252 507s were built between 1956 and 1959.
7. BMW 1 Series M Coupe
BMW initially had no interest in producing a hot version of its smallest car, but a band of enthusiastic engineers had other ideas. These M division rebels spent evenings and weekends cobbling together a prototype that would ultimately go on to inspire today’s excellent M2. The BMW 1 Series M Coupe is an out of hours project that was so good it actually made production.
Just 450 right-hand drive examples were built, each possessing a 335bhp twin-turbocharged inline six-cylinder engine. Its short wheelbase, stout stance, and rear-wheel drive made it a great driver’s car. Today it enjoys cult status.
6. BMW 3.0 CSL
Designed to homologate the racing car, the 3.0 CSL is lovingly known as the Batmobile thanks to its aerodynamic appendages. Amongst the fastest cars of its day, the CSL continued to evolve over the years, ultimately becoming the legend it is today.
An interesting fact is that BMW delivered road-legal CSLs with the aero parts in the boot. This was due to wings being illegal on road cars in Germany at the time.
5. BMW 2002 Turbo
Turbocharged cars are par for the course these days, but when BMW wanted to make its little 02 Series car a bit peppier, forced induction was the answer. In fact, the BMW 2002 became the German marque’s first turbocharged model. A success on both road and track, this car is now an icon.
4. BMW M5 E39
M5’s are a staple of BMW’s performance models. Sophisticated, premium, but also incredibly fast. The E39 was an iron fist in a velvet glove and its V8 engine would take it to a restricted top speed of 155mph.
During this car’s development, it lapped the infamous Nurburgring in just 8 minutes and 20 seconds.
3. BMW M3 E46
BMW’s E46-generation of 3 Series will be forever coveted as some of the best looking, and best handling, cars in its history. In M3 guise this model instilled itself into BMW iconography, a machine craved by almost every BMW enthusiast. Arguably the only modern BMW to hold a candle to the E30 M3, the E46 combined purposeful design with an engaging drive.
Powered by a 3.2-litre inline six-cylinder engine, this athletic coupe was also available with a manual gearbox. A run from 0-62mph could be covered in 5.1 seconds, and the car would gallop onwards to a limited top speed of 155mph. This model entered gaming culture when it was made the star of the worshipped Need for Speed Most Wanted title.
A more focused M3 CLS model was introduced in 2004 and numbered only 1,383 examples globally. This variant went on a diet and lost 110kg thanks to thinner glass and the addition of some carbon fibre bodywork. Sadly, the CSL was only ever offered with a lacklustre automatic transmission, but many have been converted to manuals by third parties.
2. BMW M1
The BMW M1 had a difficult birth to say the least, having to be brought back in-house after the project was initially outsourced to Lamborghini. It was the wrong car at the wrong time thanks to an oil crisis, but that doesn’t take away from the brilliance of BMW’s only supercar.
It was the very first M car.
1. BMW M3 E30
Are you even surprised? The E30 M3 is arguably the most iconic BMW ever, and with good reason. Designed to homologate a race variant, the E30 M3 was the first in a long line of cars that delivered 3 Series everyday usability, a sublime chassis and strong performance.
It is the car that formulated the recipe for every mainstream M car thereafter.
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Keyword: Top 10 BMW cars of all time