Now that 2019 is soon coming to a close, we’re nearing the end of not just the year but the decade. The twenty-teens will be remembered for a lot of interesting things, spanning everything from social media to movies to politics. However, it was also a huge decade for the automobile.
The car industry has made massive changes over the course of these ten years, with BMW being one of the brands to change the most. Think about this for a second: in 2011, BMW fans were complaining about the 1 Series M having a turbocharged, non-M engine. Now, there’s a BMW M8 with two turbochargers, all-wheel drive and a brake-by-wire system. So BMW has changed a lot over the course of the past decade. Which begs the question — which BMW was best during that time?
It’s a genuinely tough question to answer because not only were there a ton of great Bimmers in the twenty-teens but a few extremely important ones as well. So let’s take a look at a few of the best/most important BMWs of the past ten years and you can comment on which you think is the best. We’re strictly talking cars that debuted between 2010 and now, so cars like the E92 M3 or E60 M5 don’t count because they actually debuted in the previous decade. So let’s dig in.
F90 BMW M5
The current BMW M5 is not only one of the very best all-around cars BMW has made in years but it’s one of the best all-around cars it’s ever made. The new F90 M5 is brutally fast, surprisingly fun, shockingly capable and usable all year long. It’s the most versatile, high-performance BMW M car ever made and it absolutely has to be on the short list of the best BMWs of the decade.
What makes the F90 M5 even more significant is how it changed the mentality of M fans. Before it debuted, the idea of an all-wheel drive M car sent Bimmerphiles into a frenzy. After seeing just how good BMW M could make an all-wheel drive car, though, fans have not only come around to the idea but embraced it with open arms. That’s changed the M Division forever, which means the F90 M5 isn’t just a brilliant car but it’s made a lasting impact on the M Division’s history.
BMW i3
While BMW’s first real attempt at a mass-production electric car hasn’t exactly turned out the way the brand had hoped, the i3 is a hugely important car in the history of BMW. It debuted in 2014 and was a massive hit right out of the gate. Its futuristic looks, carbon fiber construction, fantastic interior and rear-wheel drive powertrain immediately made it one of the most unique electric cars on the road.
However, its range, even then, wasn’t great and it hasn’t really gained much by way of fully-electric range, either. So while it started out of the gate hot, it’s drastically cooled down since then. Still, with it, BMW has proved to the world that electric cars can be fun, can have character and can change the way we think about mobility. So, like it or not, the BMW i3 is one of the most important car in a long time.
BMW 1 Series M
We’ve been talking a lot about the 1 Series M, lately, but I don’t think anyone’s going to complain. It’s also for good reason. The BMW 1M is one of the most interesting cars the brand has made in its recent history. It just squeaked into the twenty-teens, too, having debuted in 2011.
Prior to its original debut, there was a lot of skepticism surrounding its regular BMW engine (not a bespoke M engine), its turbocharged nature and the fact that it was seemingly made from M Division leftovers. However, the final product was much more than the sum of its parts and was universally beloved by BMW enthusiasts.
It’s probably the best pure driving BMW to come from this decade, as well. It’s also the last M car to debut with hydraulic steering and it’s probably the last true analog M car (sorry M2 CS) because of it. While it might not have the significance of the F90 M5 or i3, the 1 Series M is such an outstanding sports car that it’s hard to keep it off of the shortlist.
Those are just some of the great BMWs of this past decade. Honestly, there are probably too many to list. So those three are on our shortlist of the twenty-teen’s greats. What our yours?
Not been a great decade for BMW imo. But the f90 M5 and M2 are the standouts for me, no question.
Not been a great decade for record selling BMW.
Who does better?
Believe it or not, some people here measure success in more than numbers. The BMW badge carries weight and prestige, stick that badge on any old FWD bag of shit and people will buy it because they want the badge. You might call that success, I call it tragic, and this approach will bite them on the arse sooner or later.
BMW haven’t done that, check reviews on der neue 1er. You obviously don’t know the brand, their ENTIRE history has been expanding into new segments, as they continue to do with their €10+ bln. BEV investment. BMW have done nothing but prosper since coming back from near-bankruptcy 60 yrs. ago, if you knew anything about the industry you would see them emulating Alfred P. Sloane, creator of glory days’ GM’s cradle to grave marketing, something for everyone full range manufacturer. #s are irrelevant save for indicating growth, viability, independence, innovation, leadership (ALL things GM abandoned on their way to bankruptcy). Century+ old German tech./engineering/design firm know>than self-declared typist “enthusiasts”, how they revived MINI, Rolls, Range Rover & sell engines to over 1/2 a dozen other co.’s.
Best BMW of last decade? Although I am not a big fan, I would say i3 was the most important Bmw car. It helped Bmw a lot in terms of emmision regulations and without i3 we wouldn’t have cars like M5 Comp and M8 Comp with V8 today. M5 CS coming soon.
https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/industry/mercedes-downplays-75-amg-range-restriction-claims
1M and M2/M2 Competition
I think it’s the next M3/M4… and they’re not even out yet. :D
2021. A bit of a wait time.
I thought we were looking at next year towards the end?
To see the car, yes. Market launch 2021
Okay, that is what I thinking-seeing the car, that is.
Toyota Supra?
Yes, for the common man, the BMW i3 REX was the Height of BMW Innovation. A pure electric car with a Genius Gas Engine Backup.
For anyone who wants to STOP the Catastrophic effects of Global Warmings Whirlwind Economic Damage affecting California, the MidWest and Florida currently, with many more Red States and cities to follow, ( I’m looking at you Galveston, Texas, will you exist in 5 years? ), it’s got to be BMW’s ONLY Electric solution.
With the new CEO, we can only hope the original i4 and i5 CAD plans will get dusted off and put into production.
Every year the IEA puts out Global Warming projections, and every year it’s the WORST CASE projections that have turned into the real status of the tragedy.
The whole of humanity needs to get off carbon products 40 years ago, so we’re a bit behind. The only solutions today is to electrify everything and expand solar, wind, offshore wind, battery production, and expand education of young girls globally to slow down population growth. The planet cannot support our current population running on carbon products.
We are playing the game of Life and we’re Losing Badly nearing our extinction.
When did the “common man” (or anyone) star buying CFRP pricey German BEV?
When the price to buy a low-mileage 3-year old lease return fell to 35% of its original list price :)
Uncommon common man, then, as new i3 not a volume seller so limited CPO inventory also. Weren’t Costco offering a $10k promo discount on new units @ 1 point?
BMW i3 sales have cooled down in the US. But, sales have increased every year globally.
M5
There is no such thing as The Best BMW. This is clearly based upon personal wishes, therefore not objective. In terms of handling? In terms of feeling the road? In terms of what?
So, having this in mind, the best BMW is the one that hasn’t been produced yet. But if an answer must be written, the best is the M5 F90. The Best By Far as Land Rover once said….Second to this, is the M2. All the others are great cars, but not as pure pleasure as these ones…And certainly not as Hooligan as the M2!!
1M Coupé because it was purely built for fun. There are impressive cars, luxury and performance models but the 1M is completely special and has a focus on joy, not numbers.