Comments on: Do BMW Drivers Carry A Bad Rep??? Say It Ain’t So!

By: bmwDriver

bmwDriver — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 02:24:21 +0000

Personally I drive and have never had problems anywhere with other bmw’s cutting me off or driving recklessly. I know someone who drives a 318ti and he is a real A-hole, and a monumental moron. But other than him and his annoying loud bass system, I think bmw drivers in general are just like other drivers. Smart and sensible, except for a select few. but maybe that’s because I drive one.

By: SkullCrusher

SkullCrusher — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 12:43:22 +0000

Sad to say, but most BMW drivers I encounter are A-holes on the road. Regardless of how you feel in the car, cutting off people, swerving, driving reckless, aggressive, etc. Whatever you feel about your car is no excuse for treating other drivers that way.

By: lennardt

lennardt — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 11:40:53 +0000

@Shawn:
“In a BMW, the chassis must always be faster than the engine.”
Nice one! Thanks!

By: Shawn

Shawn — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 21:42:07 +0000

Auday,

That was one of the most eloquent responses I have ever read, very well articulated!

Another facet to this topic is insurance premiums. This type of immature behavior on the roads – whether it results in an accident and directly affects insurance premiums (through stats and $) or it does not result in an accident but 100s of drivers in the live audience develop stereotype and prejudice – will cause higher insurance costs to specific vehicles.

As a rule, I’ve almost never experienced such barbaric behavior from fellow owners of late model BMWs. It’s typically only when a “Spiky-haired pimple covered teen” scrapes together enough coin to buy a 5 to 10 year old BMW that videos like this surface. The exception is when Dad or friend lends his keys out; parents take note! Do this with caution as not every one can “stroll through the jungle with their head held high” and their throttle in check – some do not have this presence of mind and self control.

I feel that once you’ve fully pushed your BMW through a 10/10ths track day and mastered how to artfully drift – you are totally content to relax on public roads, fully content to enjoy your “stroll.” It’s those not sure of their cars or not sure of their driving ability that drive like animals to endanger other peoples lives.

Generally speaking, it only takes 5% to create a bad image and ruin it for 95%

To lennardt, there is a beautiful phrase coined further to your point:

“In a BMW, the chassis must always be faster than the engine.” This is a BMW design philosophy as old as their RWD layout.

By: Choi

Choi — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 01:20:16 +0000

There is a discussion on bimmer stereotypes in the bimmerforum, some of the comments there are quite enlightening:
http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1329260

By: Joey Babs

Joey Babs — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 01:06:20 +0000

Exactly my point Horatiu. I mean I would be a complete hypocrite if I were to down talk BMW drivers and try to stain our name wouldn’t I? And to do it on a BMW Blog no less!?! Some of you are taking it too literally and I never intended it to be defamatory. I’m simply bringing attention to the stereotype and recognizing it exists. The same can be said for all brands and the people that support it not just BMW drivers. In all honesty I think that the X5 video is a viral video. I mean just look at the rims and beefed up tires on it, and bottom line who in their right minds would do that anyway?!?! It’s all in good fun and it was just an article to try and evoke some discussion, not disgust. Apologies all around.

By: Chester

Chester — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 00:35:12 +0000

Sorry, I meant to say what I said was the point, not does have a point, my typo.

By: Chester

Chester — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 00:34:07 +0000

@Joe

What Chester does have a point. Maybe it’s unfair to label bmw drivers, but the bimmer stereotype deos come from somewhere. Many here drives in a mature fashion but too many don’t, and it is those “rotten apples” that tends to tar the reputation for the rest of us.

By: Doug

Doug — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 20:31:52 +0000

Some crazy, idiotic, brilliant stuff in those videos. That last one……. what I wouldn’t give to do that.

However, endangering others like that is really bad. especially when you startle people, you have no idea if they’ll react in a way that causes disaster.

By: Doug

Doug — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 20:29:38 +0000

Was that an Avant RS4 (??).

By: Mike Messer

Mike Messer — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 19:20:47 +0000

I do believe that the vast majority of individuals who own a BMW are “mature”. I know of a few who are not and try to stay away from them. I have posted on here (mostly in the redesign blogs) but most would not think that I’m barely even 20 by the way I write, express myself, and how seriously I take driving. I leave my racing to the autocross track (I found this out very early in my driving career) and I volunteer/instruct at the Street Survival course in Long Island. Don’t get me wrong, if I find a back-country road with no one on it and no else in my car, I’ll have a little fun. But nothing to the extent of putting some else in danger.

And for Joe:
It sounds like you seriously need to rethink your perception on driving. Just because you may have a fast, agile car, doesn’t mean you know how to drive. For instance in that M5 vs RS4 video, what would have happened if someone wasn’t paying attention and cut the M5 off, leaving him no place to go?

By: lennardt

lennardt — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 17:40:36 +0000

i’m from germany and i can tell the same. audi a3s and optical ‘upgraded’ VW Polos, most with small engines but ridiculous big, cheap looking exhausts. Of course not ALL polo/a3 drivers are like that.
I have a female friend, that drives a standard vw polo 1.4 of ’98 and in her opinion bmws are ps-monsters, senselessly annihilating petrol in the first place and that are just cars with a too little legroom. She never drove one and so she doesn’t know, that a bmw is a well balanced system, that can handle the more-power for example to her 65hp-polo, because suspension and chassis are first class. Another friend of mine drives E36 316 of ’94. It has 102 hp, but it needs around 7 litres of petrol, like her polo does. She also says, that her polo is more reliable, because its newer and has less kilometres, but her polo is more often in repair than the 316.
I can understand, that people, who drive just smaller cars like polo or vauxhall/opel corsa, have prejudices, because with these cars it’s really uncomfortable to drive more than 160 at autobahn or not to brake at most turns. These people then see a fast bmw and think, they risk their live, because it’s driving 200 or more at autobahn.
I’d rather drive 250 in the 545 of my father than drive 140 in the corsa of my sister, because I was able to test both, but most people don’t have the chance to drive a fast car (in my opinion fast means much hp AND -more important- a good chassis and every bmw since middle 80s has a better chassis than vw polo or other compact).

By: Horatiu B.

Horatiu B. — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 17:28:23 +0000

To be honest, the stereotype applies more in other parts of the world, for example, in Eastern Europe, the BMW community is fighting to change these misconceptions.

But the stereotype also came from viral videos, like the one made by Audi, where they portray the M3 driver in a not very favorable light….

I could honestly say that I went from a snobby BMW driver to a mature, professional, courteous, but still adventurous driver in a matter of years.

I believe Joey was trying to show how those videos bring a bad rep to us, the owners, but honestly, the majority of us are exactly how you described: mature individuals.

Would I do what these people are doing on the streets with their bimmers? Probably not, but if you give me the chance on an empty road/track, I will push that car like there is no tomorrow.

By: Auday

Auday — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 17:14:13 +0000

I agree here, if you are a mature responsible adult you cant talk about the danger of driving this way, it’s one thing to put yourself in danger another to change others life in traffic with a little mistake that could even be someones else mistake but because you drive on the edge you don’t leave room for errors and the outcome could take lifes and injuries.

I love my M3 and I drive hard when the road is empty around me and I have no passengers, while it is still a bit irresponsible but at least I will be affected by my mistakes not some kid in another car or a passenger who trusted me to take a ride with me in my car.

As for BMW stereotypes, when did BMW become the kids with spiky hair and techno music car? apart from Jeremy Clarkson who creates his own stereotypes, BMW was always the mature sport sedan, not the punked subwoofed kids car, what did you leave to Honda civic?

my stereotype of BMW is a mature sport hightech car for the kind of owner who earns his car and knows everything about its technical details and drives her with a pride, …. a driver who gets challenged along the road by so many other cars but he/she would slow down and look at them with a smile that says “sorry but this is a BMW not a 300z or a Mustange, go look for some kids in Honda Civics to street race”.
BMW drivers do the right thing in the right time, they are not afraid of pushing the limits yet they know how and where to do that responsively, they consider everyone around and everyone admire their stance and presence on the road, like a lion strolling calmly in the forest with his head up, even if he is not aggressive or hunting he is still feared and respected for his stance, elegant walk, and the knowledge that he could be a beast if he decides to.

By: Rob

Rob — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 13:58:46 +0000

I think the best part is seeing / hearing the BMW trying to keep up with the RS4. :o)

By: Adam

Adam — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 13:51:17 +0000

In my experience, AUDI drivers are the biggest A$$ holes, jerks, or whatever you want to call them.

By: Andrew

Andrew — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 12:52:54 +0000

This isn’t a commentary on BMW drivers but bad drivers in general and people driving cars bigger than they can handle. That said, this person is an idiot and should be arrested for leaving the scene of an accident. How can you justify that other than no insurance?

By: Roger1

Roger1 — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 12:47:39 +0000

Well, if your driving is consistent with your writing, than I would say you don’t have your license yet? Sorry, just not the quality of writing that should be “published” – but anyway, to the point of your story I would say the following;

Racing is for race tracks. I have a blast in my BMW every day, particularly on off and on-ramps or any quiet curvy road thrown at me, but all-out driving on public roads is careless and stupid.

The kid you describe as some of us with the spikey hair and bad taste in music should give his DAD the keys back and get back to his X-Box. Very juvenile, and not representative of BMW drivers at all.

By: Joe McInnes

Joe McInnes — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 10:09:36 +0000

@Chester I definitely think this problem isn’t some “bimmer drivers,” it’s just drivers in general. I think generally BMW drivers, even if driving like a bat out of hell, tend to be safer drivers because (a) they know the capability of their car and the car is designed to take that kind of stress – a Kia could probably not handle extreme moves as well as a BMW, and (b) I would think they would want to protect their ~50k investment.

I, myself, would be burning rubber constantly had those tires not been so goddamn expensive ;)

By: Matt Stokes

Matt Stokes — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 08:59:54 +0000

Those above are bad, no question but lets be serious… This isn’t limited to BMW drivers.

Fair play to the drifter in the E34 though, that was some quality drift!