BMW is a brand that sticks. Once you start driving a BMW, you’re hooked as a BMW fan forever. At least that’s the way it seems, often times. But the reasoning is different for so many people. Some people like the way BMWs drive, some like the way the look, some like how most BMWs are available with manuals and some like they feel. I can tell you exactly why I love BMWs and maybe you can share why you do.
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The very first time I drove a BMW, it was a 1993 E34 525i and was my parents’. It was black on black with an automatic, sadly, but it was still a BMW.
This was only the second car I had ever driven, the first being a 1989 Honda Civic, also with an auto, as it was the car I tested for my driver’s permit in. But I can remember so vividly, the sense of control that I felt in the 5er compared to the Civic. Not that the Civic was bad, in fact you’d be hard pressed to find a car that old and for that kind of money that is as fun, but the BMW just felt so much more connected. I felt like my inputs were so direct, with no lag in the response to the road. It felt instantaneous.
But that was just the steering and chassis. I also got hooked on the engine. As good as the little Honda engine was, because don’t kid yourself, Honda makes excellent engines, the BMW’s 2.5 liter I6 was better, it was so creamy smooth and would rev out with little sign of exhaustion. Granted, it had somewhere around 150,000 miles on it at the time so it wasn’t perfect. But that little motor still pulled to redline with nary a complaint. Admittedly, I do wish it was a proper five-speed, but at 16 I was just happy to be driving a BMW.
A year later, I saved up and bought my own BMW. It had a bigger, more powerful engine, a 2.8 liter I6 and was smaller and more nimble than the big 5er. My bimmer, which I still own today, was a 1996 E36 238i sedan. Still automatic (at 17 I bought whatever bimmer I could afford, regardless of trans, I just wanted one) but was far more fun than the big 5 Series. I remember just how sharp it felt, even in comparison to the E34. The non-adjustable steering was so pure and full of feel it almost felt as if my hands were running along the road in front of me. Each steering input responding so immediately that it felt like the car and I were one, not like I was operating a machine. After having driven all of the different cars, both old and new, that this job allows me to drive, I still love driving my E36. Maybe it’s the rose-tinted glasses I wear for it, or the nostalgia I have for it, but it’s still my favorite car I’ve ever driven.
So that’s why I love BMWs. They connect with the driver more than any other car I’ve ever driven. They stick.They make me feel like I’m part of the machine, not just its operator. It goes beyond the capabilities of the chassis or the smoothness of the engine. It’s the character and nature of the car itself. So why do you love BMWs?
I love that they make the best drivers cars in the world!
There is a lot to find love in BMW but them making race spirited cars for the streets is the one that stands out the most for me!
The short answer: Straight six + rear wheel drive.
+ 6-speed manual!
I love BMW because I think they make very beautiful, desirable and reliable cars. The ultimate of course has a straight six and RWD, but with modern BMW’s the straight fours are so amazing: a lot of power, torque and at the same time fuel efficient. I also think it’s amazing that a car brand keeps doing about the same things for as long as possible: making the Ultimate Driving Machine. And things like the Kidney Grills and Hofmeister Kink; they keep that in ALL BMW’s for almost 100 years now. Which other brand does that? Those are only a few reasons why I love BMW and why I will always drive BMW, and nothing else!
Perfect throttle design that maintains whatever speed you need and with little effort. You can actually rest your foot on that brilliant pedal.
The steering wheel does not transmit road surface problems to hour hands as much as lesser vehicles do. Happily, it exists not to give you feedback about the kind of surface you’re on but as a silent and responsive tool for you to navigate where you want to .
Finally, its near perdlfect 50/50 front/rear weight distribution allows me to attack curves with little to no body roll and giving the impression that I’m actually wearing the car instead of just driving it.
I love that my father’s E36 saved him from a terrible accident and that it was sold with 400.000 km for lots of money.What a car it was.
I love beautiful cars and factory aggressive and that you can easily make them more aggressive and beautiful and you can put the soul in them. And for their amazing performances.
The history of the brand, their products, the engines, the character of the cars, the design direction of the car, and the fact that they try to erase their problems, or at least make them a little bit less important (reliability issues mainly)… But i still have to have one to really understand what it means :/
I like my BMW because it has a V8 sending power to the real wheels, incredible handling, holds a car seat (with room for another), and looks relevant at the valet despite being 10 years old.
I LOVE my BMW because it unlocks only for me a second before I touch the handle, it shows me how close I’m parking to the curb, tells me loudly when I’m getting too close to something behind me, makes and takes my phone calls on demand, keeps my coffee cup right where I need it, and puts up with my constantly changing satellite music moods with quick response.
It’s the little things that make me say ‘Oh, thank you for that.’ to a car.
Used to hate the BMW mainstreamness throughout my youth, then I got my first job and I knew what I wanted: a coupé with something bigger than an inline-4 (I live in Europe where 1.8 liter is average and anything above 2l considered big) and rear wheel drive. Had the choice between an E36 328 and an MKIII Supra. The BMW was much lighter and got those striking looks without having to shout about it, so I bought it. That one and another E36 coupé passed by which both were total crap, one rusted out and another blew an engine almost instantly after purchase. But the third one – that one I have now, hell what an awesome machine. It’s never let me down and always make me take longer routes everywhere, because it’s always so rewarding.
Nowadays I love BMW (at least until the Bangle Butt, I would probably not be interested in anything after it). Good thing not being a fanboy anymore – you can enjoy whatever you want.