BMW Top 5 Kidney Grilles

[Rainer271]

Top 5 BMW Kidney Grilles

One of the absolute most iconic designs to ever grace the automobile is BMW’s twin kidney grille. People who don’t even know much about cars would know a BMW just by looking at the grille. Very few automakers have grilles so famous, with Jeep and maybe Aston Martin having the only other truly famous grilles I can think of.

The front grille is an important part of car design, as it’s the face of the car. It also, usually, houses the emblem or sits directly underneath. The grille is always heavily incorporated into the design and is one of the first things seen on a car, so it must be important. BMW’s famous kidney grilles are such a special item, because even without the emblem, people can still identify a BMW by just those two grilles.

Because the kidney grilles are such an important part of BMW design, let’s take a look at the top five best kidney grilles.

5. 1938 BMW 328

Being one of the first applications of the iconic kidney grille, and using a nameplate still in existence today, the original 328 deserves a spot on this list. With the almost nosferatu-like kidney grilles, spanning from the entire front end, vertically, the 328 is the very definition of kidney grille.

4. 3.0 Liter CSL

The original CSL is easily one of the most beloved of all BMWs, and the design is a large reason why. The kidney grilles lend themselves so well to the front-end design of the 3.0 CSL. They’re tall and narrow and tilt forward with the shark-like nose of the car. The kidney grille on the CSL perfectly matches the style of the era, and is easily identifiable with the car.

3. F30 3 Series

This pick is a bit controversial, as many fans aren’t pleased with the F30’s introduction of merging the grilles with the headlights. However, I do find the look to be growing on me, especially on cars like the X5 and X6. The reason I chose the F30 3 Series, though, is because it’s the inception of the new design language. Most bimmers from here on out will have this design cue, like it or not. So because of it’s bold new direction, it deserves a spot on the list.

2. BMW 507

We’ve discussed the 507 on here many times. We also know that the 507 is one of the most beautiful BMWs ever made. It’s also one of the only cars with a mustache. Those two kidney grilles look just like a ‘50s mustache and that gives it so much character. The car is from the ‘50s and has the mustache to match. What says timeless classic more than mustaches?

1. BMW i8

While at first glance, the i8’s kidney grille may not look all that different than any other BMW. But look a bit closer and you’ll see striking similarities to it’s second place brother, the 507. Both cars feature kidney grilles which are low and wide, acting like mustaches. The i8’s is obviously blue, but there are definitely some similarities, which is high praise indeed. But the main reason for the first place finish for the i8 is philosophical. The i8 is the most technologically advanced and by far most modern BMW ever created. Yet it still wears a kidney grill similar to a car almost a century older than it. The iconic design is still there and looks as modern as ever. That’s tough to do, to keep a design for almost 100 years and, year in and year out, make it modern on each and every car. But to have one of the most futuristic cars in history share a similar grill to one of the most classic, and still have it feel new, is nothing short of incredible. So the i8 takes the crown and brings home the prom queen.

Top 5 BMW Kidney Grilles

 

[Rainer271]

Top 5 BMW Headlights

BMW has always had distinct looking headlights, with the typical two-circle design in each headlight. So let’s take a look at the some of BMW’s best designs.

Car enthusiasts are often times funny people who obsess over the finest of details about the cars they love. Obsessions can range from city parking lights (to show drivers where your car is parked on tight streets) to side mirrors. But as obscure as any automotive obsession may be, enthusiasts love them.

Headlights are a popular item for enthusiasts to obsess over, and one of the more logical ones. Headlights are displayed front and center on each and every car. They act almost as the eyes to the face of a car. BMW has always had distinct looking headlights, with the typical two-circle design in each headlight. So let’s take a look at the some of BMW’s best designs.

5. BMW i3

The i3’s very different take on design extends throughout the entire car, including the headlights. BMW headlights all follow a somewhat specific design, with their two-circle design, so when a BMW can shake the design up a little bit, it’s refreshing. The i3’s funky little headlights sit above what seems to be an under bite perfectly match the funky styling of the rest of the car.

4. BMW E30 M3

The headlights on the E30 M3 don’t look all that different from the standard E30, or any bimmer from the era for that matter, but the square jaw looks with the straight grille give the headlights an excellent look. Plus the E30’s looks are timeless and instantly recognizable. I just love the look of the exposed circular headlights of that era and the E30 M3 is the best example. So while not necessarily exciting, they are very good looking and reminiscent of a time period of BMW’s that are so revered.

3. BMW M4

The first of its kind, the M4 has some very cool looking, menacing headlights. The two-circle design have their tops and bottoms chopped off to make them flat at each end, which almost make it look like the M4 is squinting. Kind of like the Clint Eastwood of cars. Combine that with how the headlights merge with the grilles and the M4 has an angry, aggressive face.

2. BMW i8

Talk about squinting cars, the i8 is the biggest squinter of all. With those narrow, flat headlights that sit atop an LED light bar that runs the length of the bottom of them, the i8 looks positively futuristic. Everything about the i8 drips with futuristic technology and it starts with the face. The headlights are part of the face that makes up one of the best looking BMW’s of all time. Combine that with the fact that European ones get laser headlights and the i8 skyrockets to the top half of the list.

1. BMW 3.0 CSL

It seems I can’t make a top five list without mentioning the CSL. It’s not only one of the best Bavarians of all time, but one of the best looking as well. The downward sloping shark nose and big round head headlights are absolutely gorgeous. I love the wide spacing between the headlights and the tight, slender kidney grilles. Definitely one of the prettiest BMWs of all time.

Top 5 BMW Headlights

 

[Rainer271]

I want to say some rankings don't reflect my opinion.

 

[Mick Briesgau]

I particularly love that BMW 3.0 CSL

 

[bmwblog]

A little bias can always be found in those "tops" We try to eliminate that as much as possible...

Those are fun for us to do.

I want to say some rankings don't reflect my opinion.

 

[Rainer271]

Top 5 best technology BMW has to offer

Technology is on the forefront of the automotive landscape at the moment. Competition amongst car companies used to be about horsepower or lap times, but now it’s about how many gizmos and gadgets one can fit into a car. Most customers care about connectivity and technology, so that’s what automakers must give them. BMW has been developing some of the most interesting and exciting technology in the entire automotive world.

So let’s take a look at some of the best technology BMW has to offer.

5. Surround View Cameras

One of today’s most popular in-car technologies is the parking camera. Having backup cameras and parking sensors makes life considerably easier. BMW’s Surround View camera system takes it a step further. Utilizing numerous cameras and parking sensors around the car, it’s able to give you a complete overhead view of the car’s surroundings and display it on the nav screen. This allows for effortless parking in even the tightest of spaces and makes life just that much nicer.

4. Head-Up Display

Head-up displays have been around for decades now. The C5 Chevrolet Corvette was available with one, which was impressive for the time. But BMW completely changed the way we look at the HUD. BMW’s is in full color, can show which gear you are in, speed, engine rpm, navigation instructions and even local speed limits. The HUD in modern BWMs is so advanced, when being utilized, you almost don’t need the actual gauge cluster anymore. This allows drivers to drive with more focus, without need to take their eyes off the road.

3. Night Vision

As a kid, the idea of night vision was always so cool. The ability to be able to see in perfect darkness by wearing only a set of goggles was amazing to me. But to push that fantasy even further, BMW has allowed us to use night vision while driving. A night vision camera is mounted in the front grille of the car and lets you see up to 900 feet ahead of you. The night vision image is displayed on the navigation screen and even highlights any animals or humans that may walk into the street ahead. This allows for driving on extremely dark streets to be considerably safer, while also being incredibly cool. The night vision feature might not be the most practical of features, being that it’s really only that useful under very specific conditions, but it’s so damn cool that it deserves to be high on the list.

2. Laser Headlights

Everyone loves cool looking headlights. It’s the reason why even people who know little to nothing about cars claim they love Audis. “I love those headlights!” they’ll proclaim about the LED light bars in them. But do you know what’s cooler than LED headlights? Frickin laser headlights. That’s just one of the coolest things to have on a car, period. Having laser beams being what’s illuminating the road ahead of you. It’s also amazing at how bright and clear the light actually is. Plus, the actual laser headlights themselves look the business, especially on cars like the BMW i8. Too bad the US market isn’t getting them just yet, because I think I need them.

1. Gesture Control

This technological feature is one of one. The G11 BMW 7 Series is the first car in the history of the automobile to have gesture control. It’s like something from the future, being able to wave your hand in different motions and control the car. Not only is it rare and incredibly cool, but it’s quite practical as well. With the ability to simply make a small hand gestures to control certain features, the driver is able to keep their eyes on the road and never search for buttons, touch or otherwise, for simple tasks. It makes life nicer, easier and is a damn cool parlor trick. It’s also the only technology of its kind and BMW had it first. So, it’s got to be number one.

Top 5 best technology BMW has to offer

 

[Betty Swollocks]

With the ability to simply make a small hand gestures to control certain features, the driver is able to keep their eyes on the road

But not their hands on the steering wheel.

 

[SFF]

3.0 CSL's grille looks like the feeders at the entrance of a crab's mouth

 

[Human]

The Kidneys together with the "Eye's" or headlights my mind creates a picture of predatorily face.

Or rather - read my signature, below

 

[Mr Robert]

Other BMW top 5's:

E30 M3

M3 CSL

3,0 CSL

507

E36 GT

 

[hoffmeister_fan]

E9 3.0 CS/CSL
E30 M3
E39 M5
E46 M3
E24 M635i

Honorable mention: E36 M3

I think this was the easiest "top 5" list I've ever composed

 

[Rainer271]

Top 5 Fastest BMWs of All Time

While there is much talk about BMW becoming soft and not making the kind of performance car that its customers are used to, it’s fair to say that this talk is a bit ill-founded. Sure BMWs may not be the scalpel sharp tools they once were, but there’s no denying that current BMWs are the highest performing of all time. To prove that, we’ll look at the top five fastest BMWs of all time.

One thing you’ll notice about this list is that all of these BMWs are of the modern era. While this is obvious, as engines get more powerful and efficient every year, it’s safe to say that this metric alone proves that BMW still cares very much about performance. So let’s take a look.

5. X5 M/X6 M

These mammoth super SUVs both pack a 4.4 liter twin-turbocharged V8 under hood. Mated to an eight-speed ZF automatic and powering all four wheels, the X5 and X6 M are able to achieve 0-60 mph in 4.0 seconds. That’s an incredible feat of engineering, to get these two elephants to dance so well. Top speed is electronically limited to 155, but we suspect it would be a lot higher than that, without the limiter. Either way, these two SUVs are scary quick.

4. BMW i8

Who said hybrids have to be slow and boring. The BMW i8’s combination of a 1.5 liter three-cylinder engine paired to two electric motors, one in the rear aiding the engine drive the rear wheels and one in the front driving the front wheels, might not sound like much but it packs more than enough punch. The i8’s lightweight frame allows its hybrid setup to get from 0-60 in 3.9 seconds. That’s Porsche 911 Carrera S fast and it also gets superb fuel economy. It’s top speed is also limited to 155, but I’m not sure how much faster it would go, given its small engine.

3. BMW M6 Gran Coupe Competition Package

The M6 Gran Coupe was already one of BMWs fastest cars. But BMW decided to give it a competition package which bumps power from 560 hp to 600. This power bump, along with a slight weight decrease and some suspension stiffening, allows the M6 Gran Coupe CP to nail 60 mph in 3.8 seconds. That’s blistering for a massively luxurious four-seater. Though it has more power, BMW didn’t raise the electronic limiter of 155 mph. We suspect it can do much more, given the 600 hp and slippery aerodynamic design.

2. BMW M4

The M4 is one of BMW’s fastest cars. This is as it should be. The M3/M4 should always be BMW’s best performing cars. The M4’s 3.0 liter twin-turbocharged I6 engine produces 420 hp and, when mated to BMW’s DCT gearbox, can get from 0-60 mph in 3.7 seconds, according to Car and Driver, and limited 155 mph top speed.. That’s mighty quick for a car starting at $64,200. The M4 is not only one of BMW’s fastest cars, it’s one of the fastest sports cars on the road.

1. BMW M5 30th Anniversary Edition

The 30th Anniversary Jahre Edition M5 is a special car. Packing 600 hp from its 4.4 liter twin-turbocharged V8, the BMW M5 Jahre can do 0-60 in 3.7 seconds. Now, while this is the same as the lighter and smaller M4, the Jahre is still the fastest BMW ever made. And that has to do with top speed. The Jahre M5 has a “limited” top speed of 199 mph. While the M4 is limited to 155 mph and can probably far exceed that, it most likely can’t touch the Jahre’s 199 mph limit. Plus the Jahre would almost definitely break 200 mph if it was unrestricted. This makes the massively powerful 30th Anniversary Jahre Edition M5 the fastest BMW of all time.

Top 5 Fastest BMWs of All Time

 

[Rainer271]

Top Five BMW Manual Shift Knobs

While today’s automotive technology improves, cars become faster, more efficient and even easier to drive. One of the biggest innovations to come to road cars, that makes cars both faster and easier to drive fast, is the dual-clutch transmission. A DCT offers about 80 percent of the fun of driving a manual gearbox but is as easy to operate as a standard automatic transmission. The only downside to the DCT is the fact that it’s still missing that extra 20 percent of engagement that a manual transmission brings.

No matter how fast and involving DCTs get, they will never have the level of driver involvement and enjoyment that a proper manual gearbox has. The best part of the manual gearbox experience is feeling the shifter slot into each gear in your hand. It’s a lovely and engaging feeling. And since the best part of driving a manual happens in the palm of your shifting hand, the actual shift knob itself must be nice. BMW has always made good shift knobs, nothing ostentatious like a golf ball like some cars, but always quality feeling shift knobs that are just the right size. So let’s take a look at the top five best BMW shift knobs.

5. BMW M1

@Petrolicious

The BMW M1 is one of the best looking BMWs of all time. Styled by Giugiaro, the M1 is one of the most iconic cars of the late ‘70s and early ‘80s. But its interior is never talked about much, mostly because it’s quite black and drab and plain. Ironic, I know, as the exterior is so striking, but it’s true. However, one bright spot of the M1’s interior was the shift knob. It was tall and chunky and the some of the shift lever was exposed on top of the leather boot, so it looked old fashioned. But it just looks so old and so fitting with the times and the car that it just makes you want to grab hold of it and click it through gears while listening to that iconic mid-mounted inline-six roar.


4. BMW Z8

The Z8 is another beauty of BMW’s. Except this time, the beauty follows to the interior. The inside of the Z8 is one of the best looking interiors BMW’s ever made. It looks like a classic ‘50s roadster on the inside and the shift knob has a bit to do with that. Almost entirely aluminum, the bright silver shift knob stuck out from its interior colored leather boot stood out amongst the see of colored leather. Some of the shift boot’s color made it onto the shift knob, matching the interior color, and giving it a hint of class. It was also placed perfectly and fit nicely in hand.

3. BMW E46 ZHP

@ECS tuning

The ZHP packaged E46 is one of the most highly sought after second-hand BMWs on the market. Much of that has to do with sportier interior. Part of the interior upgrades that the ZHP package brough was a shorty shifter with a small leather shift knob for the six-speed manual. This shift knob fit perfectly in hand and looked as if it was begging to be rowed. Maybe it’s just the allure of the actual ZHP package itself, but the ZHP’s shifter is one of the most tantalizing of all BMW shifters.

2. BMW 2002 tii

The little BMW 2002 helped define the small sports car segment forever. It’s plucky looks and fun-to-drive dynamics made it an instant fan favorite and a car that is still loved and desired today. One of the great things about the 2002 is the four-speed manual, With perfect gearing and an old-school feel, shifting the 2002 yourself is one of the great driving experiences you can have. Part of that experience is the optional old, chunky wooden knob that sticks out from the console. This shift knob takes you back to the late ‘60s and early ‘70s and shows you what driving a manual looked and felt like. It’s also one of the best looking shift knobs ever made, by any company.

1. BMW 507

The 507 could very possibly be the most beautiful BMW ever made. With lovely, beautiful curves and an interior fit for James Dean, the 507 is one of the most desirable cars of all time. Its interior looked like a place you wanted to stay in for hours at a time. One of the coolest things about the 507, at least for me, is the shift knob. It sticks out from floor and makes a little bend toward the driver. This old-school style of shifter, bendy with a very small leather boot, brings you back to the ‘50s. The long throws of the gearbox are a delight and are made even better by the fact that you’re rowing that old shifter. Maybe the allure of the 507 has something to do with it, but the 507’s shifter is the best looking manual shifter in BMW’s history.

Top Five BMW Manual Shift Knobs

 

[Rainer271]

Top Five LCI Updates

BMW is known for updates its cars at the mid-point through their life cycles. This is known as an LCI, or Life Cycle Impulse, in BMW terms and it happens to every car about three years into its model year. Most recently, the F30 3 Series got its LCI treatment for the 2016 model year. These LCI updates don’t typically change much, it’s usually just headlights, taillights and maybe some interior bits, but it’s never revolutionary. It’s just meant to freshen up the design so it stays relevant as newer competitors come out.

But BMW has had varied success with its LCI updates. With some cars, the LCI made the design far better while on others, many felt the design looked better before it. So let’s take a look at the five best LCI treatments BMW gave cars.

5. E60 BMW 5 Series (LCI 2007-2010) – The E60 BMW 5 Series got mixed reviews when it first launched back in 2004. It was far bigger than the E39 it replaced, was packed with more technology and had far different proportions. The Bangle-designed 5 Series was never considered beautiful, even by its fans. But it was a good car underneath the technology and “flame surfacing” design. So in 2007, when it came time for its makeover, BMW tweaked the headlights, taillights and some interior bits. The exterior looks got a bit tighter and cleaner looking, not dramatic but much improved. The interior, though, was a big upgrade. The iDrive system was updated, thankfully as the original was almost universally hated. The interior door panels, handles, trim and window switches changed, as well as the gear lever, which became the sleek electronic one used today. All in all, the E60’s LCI treatment turned a strange looking car into something that was almost handsome.

Post-LCI E60 5 Series

4. E65 BMW 7 Series (LCI 2005-2008) – Probably the most unloved BMW of all time is the E65 7 Series. The E65 is Chris Bangle’s most criticized work, as it’s constantly mocked for its Bangle Butt. While the E65 was never a pretty car by any means, the LCI treatment that came along in 2005 certainly helped improve things. The LCI changed the entire front and rear ends, making them far more attractive than before. The headlights changed from a sort-of double bubble style to a much sleeker design. The grilles also grew a bit and became more curved than before. The bumper also changed a bit as well. At the rear, the 7 Series got a new bumper and far improved taillights. Gone was the center light bar than ran across the trunk lid and the taillights grew into the trunk. The interior changed only minutely, as the materials got an upgrade, the steering wheel changed and the climate controls got a bit of a refresh. Overall, the E65 7 Series went from something almost ugly to a car that could actually be called attractive with its LCI.

Post LCI E65 7 Series – No more Bangle Butt

3. F06/F12.F13 BMW 6 Series (LCI 2015-present) – When the 6 Series debuted in 2011, it was absolutely gorgeous. It managed to be both seductive and aggressive, something automakers often struggle with. But the F12/F12 6er was an absolute stunner. Then, the F06 6 Series Gran Coupe debuted and peoples jaws were permanently dropped. But that didn’t stop BMW from updating it in 2015. Now, it didn’t need much updating, so BMW didn’t do much. However, new full-LED headlights were added as well as a larger lower front air intake and a slightly redesigned Hofmeister Kink. The F06/F12/F12 6 Series is now one of the better looking gran tourers on the market.

2. E90 BMW 3 Series (LCI 2009-2012) The E90 BMW 3 Series is actually one of the more handsome 3ers ever made, post-LCI. Before the facelift, though, it wasn’t all that good looking. The original car had these odd silver mustaches above the kidney grilles and the taillights were small and oddly shaped. It just wasn’t a very beautiful car. In profile, from the side, it was great looking. But catch a glimpse at either the front or rear of the car and you’re in for a bit of a shock. However, after BMW’s LCI treatment, the E90 became a very handsome car, indeed. The weird mustaches were gone and the taillights became bigger and much nicer looking. The headlights were also improved, as well as some of the interior bits. The mark of a good LCI is when it can transform a car people aren’t sure they like into something people love. That’s what happened with the E90 BMW 3 Series.

E90 3 Series Pre-LCI – Notice the mustaches

1. F20/F21 BMW 1 Series (2015-present) The original F20/F21 BMW 1 Series hatchback was a bit dumpy looking. It was actually the worst looking modern BMWs. Neither the front or rear end seemed quite right. Much like the E90 3 Series, it looked good in profile and had good proportions, but had frumpy looking headlights and taillights as well as a dumpy looking grille. The original looked kind of sad. But after the facelift LCI treatment, the 1 Series became a real looker. The headlights are now far better than before and much sleeker. The grilles are bigger and more pronounced and the lower front bumper is much improved. The previous iteration was known for being ugly but fun. There’s no such compromise with the post-LCI, as it’s both fun and attractive. This could possibly be the biggest improvement from a BMW LCI to date.

Top Five LCI Updates

 

[Rainer271]

Top Five BMWs of 2015

It’s almost 2016 already. Crazy, right? So many interesting things happened in the car world in 2015 that it just flew by so fast. 2015 was also a big year for BMW, despite getting off to a slow start. I remember at the New York International Auto Show, BMW didn’t have any brand-new releases and it was a pretty dead showing for the Bavarians. However, towards the end of the year, things started to really amp up.

In the summer, we learned about the new 3 Series LCI and the brand-new BMW 7 Series. In October, we were able to test the new BMW 340i and X1 and we learned about the releases of the M2 and M4 GTS (which aren’t actually out yet). So with all of that goodness happening for BMW towards 2015’s later months, let’s take a look at the top five BMWs of 2015.

5. BMW X5 xDrive40e

BMW’s first plug-in hybrid SUV, and one of the first plug-in hybrid BMWs to actually hit the steets, must make the list. While there are some philosophical issues with making an already heavy SUV even heavier by adding batteries to try and make it efficient, the X5 xDrive40e was an incredibly impressive car. Its hybrid powertrain was incredibly smooth and operated almost imperceptibly. The only real way to tell if the car was being powered by the electric motor alone was to watch the rev needle drop to zero. Other than that, it was whisper quiet and smooth all of the time. It also handled much better than anticipated for such a big girl and was quick, too. But the reason the X5 xDrive40e makes the list is because its powertrain is just such an achievement. Not only was BMW able to make a 2.5 ton hybrid SUV decently quick with a four-cylinder under the hood, but it was able to do so while keeping it incredibly efficient and still incredibly luxurious. It’s a very impressive engineering achievement.

4. BMW X1

The new BMW X1 isn’t very liked by many BMW enthusiasts for its front-wheel drive-based platform. However, once you can get behind the wheel and actually put rubber to road, it’s a fantastic little SUV (I’m sorry, SAV). It’s genuine fun to drive and a proper BMW, regardless of which wheels are driven. Plus, it’s fantastically practical, with loads of cargo space, passenger space and a seemingly endless amount of cubby storage. It also looks great, it really is one of BMW’s better-looking SUVs, and has a very nice interior. Its engine and transmission are great, despite the transmission being an eight-speed Aisin unit and not the typical ZF. With the X1 being one of BMW’s least expensive cars and having it as fun and practical as it is, it’s a hard proposition for anyone to pass up and is easily the best in its class.

3. BMW 340i

I wanted to say 3 Series LCI here, but not much changed with the 328i. The big news is the new engine in the 340i and, wow, what an engine. With 320 hp on tap and either an eight-speed automatic or a six-speed manual swapping cogs, the BMW 340i is the most fun you’ll have in a car without an M badge. BMW was said to have changed some suspension and chassis bits in the 3 Series LCI to make it more dynamic while also being more comfortable and the Bavarians have most certainly succeeded. The new BMW 340i is back to the ways of the 3 Series, in terms of handling, but it’s that engine that keeps us coming back for more.

2. BMW 1 Series LCI

The BMW 1 Series hatchback sold in pretty much every other market except the North American market (because we can never have nice things) has been considered one of the most fun BMWs on the market since its inception. No one had any qualms about the way it drove. It was always fantastic fun, especially in M135i guise. However, it was ugly. There’s no two ways about it, it looked bad. Really bad. But that all changed with the LCI refresh. Calvin Luk was the lead designer on the 1 Series LCI (he also did the fantastic-looking X1) and did an incredible job. He turned what was once the ugliest car in its segment to the best looking one. Now that the looks match the exciting driving dynamics, the BMW 1 Series is easily one of BMW’s best cars.

1. BMW 7 Series

The most recent of launches for BMW also happens to be the best. The brand-new BMW 7 Series, the Bavarian flagship, is one of the most impressive vehicles in the automotive world not just in BMW’s stable. It’s built using groundbreaking Carbon Core chassis technology, has some of the most innovative cabin technology and is one of the best driving luxury vehicles on the market. The 7 Series sets the bar for all BMWs and is the car that future BMWs will improve from, as the 7 Series’ technology trickles down to them. But it isn’t just a luxurious techno-fest, as the 7 Series can properly handle, too and has great engines. It’s the most exciting BMW to come out this year, so it must be number one on the list.

Top Five BMWs of 2015

 

[Rainer271]

Top Five current diesel BMWs

Despite all of the stigma surrounding diesel engines in the past six months or so, thanks to Volkswagen’s dieselgate scandal, you’d think that companies like BMW might be pulling back a bit with diesel engines. But that isn’t the case at all. In fact, BMW is very committed to diesel engines and even BMW’s CEO, Harald Krueger, drives around in a brand new BMW 730d. BMW likes its compression-ignition engines and isn’t going to stray from them anytime soon.

Unfortunately for us Yanks, most BMW diesels don’t make it here to the ‘States. For the myriad of reasons that I won’t get into now, Americans don’t like diesels, so they stay on the Eastern side of the Atlantic. But, in Europe, BMW sells many diesel-powered vehicles, most of them excellent. So many, in fact, that it can be difficult to choose from and some of them actually offer very serious performance alternatives to similarly priced petrol variants. So which of these excellent diesel engines are the best from BMW? Well, let’s take a look.

5. BMW X5 xDrive35d – This is actually one that we get in the ‘States, thankfully. We made an argument awhile back that the BMW X5 xDrive35d was one of the best, if not the very best, luxury BMW on the market. Obviously, this was before the new G11 7 Series debuted, because nothing with a roundel is going to upstage that, in terms of luxury. However, it’s still an astonishing car and one that offers fantastic duality. It’s torquey, punchy and smooth, offering excellent performance and luxury with enough grunt to move the big X5 off the line with surprising authority. Plus, there’s just something so reassuring about starting up an SUV in the winter time and hearing the faint clack clack of a diesel engine. But on the flip side, it’s also incredibly economical, rivaling its own xDrive40e plug-in hybrid sibling in terms of efficiency. Personally, I actually preferred the xDrive35d to the xDrive40e after recently testing the new hybrid model. So the BMW X5 xDrive35d is absolutely on the list of the best diesel BMWs.

4. BMW 125d M Sport – The current BMW 1 Series hatchback is something that’s lost among most Americans. Being offered only in the European market, the 1 Series hatch is typically the one car that American BMW enthusiasts would want to import over here, as it offers an almost unbeatable blend of performance, efficiency, fun and affordability. It’s small, practical, inexpensive and great fun to drive. The BMW 125d M Sport is the most expensive diesel 1 Series in Europe, but it’s also the most powerful and therefor the most fun. If it’s the most fun diesel powered 1 Series, which is one of the most fun BMWs on the market, then it’s one of the best diesels in the Bavarian stable.



3. BMW 535d – We just spoke about how this car lost a Top Gear test to the Jaguar XF 3.0d S, but that isn’t necessarily a knock against the 5 Series. In fact, the current F10 535d’s ability to keep up with a brand new Jag, despite being almost six years older, shows just how good it is. It’s fantastic at blending performance and efficiency in a smooth, luxurious package that takes a brand new Jaguar to beat and the Jag only won by a very small margin. The BMW 535d is still one of the very best BMWs on sale today, regardless of engine type, as it’s able to be all things at once. For this reason, it’s on the list.

2. BMW 730d – The new BMW G11 7 Series is superb in every way. I’m struggling to think of a single area where the brand new 7 fails to be excellent, as there doesn’t seem to be a single one. The new 7 Series is fantastic and its 730d variant might just be the sweet spot in the lineup. It’s punchy enough to be fast, efficient enough to soften the blow of how expensive the car is and it’s got the range to allow for wonderfully long journeys in that gorgeous back seat. We previously mentioned that the 730d is the car that BMW CEO Harald Krueger drives(or gets driven in). He’s the damn CEO of the company, he can drive whatever BMW he wants. He can have a 750i xDrive, an M6 Gran Coupe or even the new M760Li (which he might switch to, as it could be too tempting not to), but instead he has the 730d. If it’s good enough for Krueger, it’s good enough to be number two on this list.

1. BMW 320d – It’s obvious, isn’t it? A BMW 3 Series diesel had to be number one on this list, as there’s no other car in BMW’s lineup, or in any car manufacturer’s lineup for that matter, that offers the blend of fun and efficiency as the 3 Series diesel. And the very best 3 Series diesel is the 320d, making it the best diesel car BMW offers. It may sound weird that a lowly 3 Series diesel could be better than the almighty flagship 7 Series diesel, but it’s true. The 320d is still a 3 Series, so it’s fantastic fun to drive. It has the same great steering, chassis dynamics and fun-to-drive personality as every other 3 Series but comes with an engine that has incredible efficiency and a range that would absolutely shame the world’s best hybrids. The 320d can pull 120 mph on the highway (unrestricted Autobahns only, if anyone’s asking), despite its little 2.0 liter diesel, it gets from 0-60 mph in around 7.5 seconds and can even get around 54 mpg. It’s hard to argue with its combination of excellence couple with affordability. The BMW 320d was the number one choice the whole time.

Source: BMWBlog

 

[Rainer271]

Top Five best BMW Art Cars

Back in 1975, French racing driver, Hervé Poulain, wanted to have an artist paint a canvas on a race car for him to drive. Poulain ended up getting American painter, Alexander Calder, to paint a 1975 BMW 3.0 CSL race car, a car Poulain ended up racing. This became the beginning of a tradition that would last until today where BMWs, both race cars and road cars, become canvases for painters to create impressive works of art. To date, there have been 17 BMW Art Cars, so let’s take a look at the best of them.

5. Roy Lichtenstein’s BMW 320i – In 1977, American painter, Roy Lichtenstein, painted a BMW 320i Group B race car and he wanted to depict the road and countryside telling the car where to go. It’s an interesting design, one that does bring the countryside to mind. “The design also shows the countryside through which the car has travelled. One could call it an enumeration of everything a car experiences – only that this car reflects all of these things before actually having been on a road.” said Lichtenstein. It’s also a cool looking race car in its own right, as it’s body work makes the E21 3 Series look similar to the 3.0 CSL race car.

4. A.R. Penck’s BMW Z1 – The BMW Z1 was one of the most interesting roadsters to ever come from BMW with its crazy doors that slid down into the body instead of opening normally. In 1991, Penck, a Dresden-born artist, painted the Z1 with shapes and designs reminiscent of prehistoric cave paintings . It’s an interesting idea to paint cave paintings on a car that, at the time, had some very intriguing technological ideas. A cool blend of old-school and new-school. Plus it just looks cool.

3. Sandro Chia’s BMW 3 Series Touring Racer – The E36 BMW 3 Series isn’t the best looking BMW of all time, and can be quite plain. But Chia’s 3 Series Touring racer looks great. The Florence, Italy native decided to paint the car until there wasn’t a square inch of the original paint left, graffiti style. “The automobile is a much coveted object within our society” said Chia of the 3 Series. “It is the centre of attraction. People look at it. This car reflects those looks.” There are faces drawn into it, various different colors and shapes that it genuinely looks like graffiti. It’s very cool and very different.

2. Andy Warhol’s BMW M1 – Probably the most famous BMW Art Car was the BMW M1painted by Andy Warhol back in 1979. Andy Warhol is certainly the most famous painter to paint a BMW, regardless of your feelings on him. Warhol always had interesting taste in art, and most of the time only he understood it, but this BMW M1 is very good looking, much better than his Campbell’s Soup cans. On his painted BMW M1, Warhol said “I have tried to give a vivid depiction of speed. If a car is really fast, all contours and colours will become blurred”. It helps that the BMW M1 was a gorgeous car to begin with, but the Art Car looks very cool and one of the best BMW Art Cars of all time.

1. Jeff Koons’ 2010 BMW M3GT2 – While Warhol’s M1 might be more famous, Jeff Koons’ BMW M3GT2 is absolutely stunning. Not only is the E92 BMW M3GT2 an awesome car, but Koons’ Art Car version is exciting and gives the impression of speed and power. “These race cars are like life, they are powerful and there is a lot of energy,” said Koons. “You can participate with it, add to it and let yourself transcend with its energy. There is a lot of power under that hood and I want to let my ideas transcend with the car – it’s really to connect with that power.” Everything Koons said about the car makes sense, as his M3GT2 looks like it’s exploding. It’s awesome and fantastic looking and the best looking BMW Art Car since their inceptions.

The rest of BMW’s Art Cars over the years can be found here, so let us know which ones you think should be in the top five.

Source: BMWBlog

 

[LaArtist]

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Honorable mention:

hahah sorry i just had to with the last one

 

[Rainer271]

Top Five BMW sedans currently on sale

At the moment, the two most popular BMWs are the BMW M2 and BMW M4 GTS, as they’re the two newest sports cars from BMW. Both of them happen to be powerful sports coupes and, to be honest, hearing about them is getting a bit tiring. So let’s talk about a different kind of BMW, arguably a more important kind of BMW — sedans.

While sedans typically don’t have the sex appeal of their two-doored counterparts, they’re actually the bread and butter of BMW’s lineup. The two biggest model lines for BMW, the 3 Series and 5 Series, are sedans. So the four-door, despite their relative lack of sexiness, is actually the most important style of car for BMW. Being that sedans are BMW’s biggest sellers, let’s talk about the best BMW sedans currently on sale. And for the same of being different, we won’t pick any M models.


5. BMW 535i – The current F10 BMW 5 Series has been criticized lately for being a bit too heavy and a bit too lifeless. Compared to previous generations, the current F10 5er doesn’t drive with the same enthusiasm as its predecessors. However, the current 5 Series is an absolute sales monster and is one of BMW’s best selling cars. And, in our opinion, the BMW 535i is the best of the non-M 5 Series sedans. Its 3.0 liter turbocharged I6 engine is a gem and helps make the 535i quite quick indeed. The 550i’s big V8 is great, but it makes the 5er a bit too nose heavy for our tastes. The 535i is the best blend of power, performance and fun while also being luxurious, good looking and spacious. We’d choose the M Sport package, as it looks best with it.

4. BMW 428i Gran Coupe – We are big fans of BMW’s Gran Coupe models, despite the fact that they’re not actually coupes. The idea is that you get a sexy, coupe-like design but on a practical four-door sedan. This allows you to have your cake and eat it too, sorta kinda. The 4 Series Gran Coupe is the smaller one of the two Gran Coupes in BMW’s lineup, but it’s still fantastic. The standard 4 Series is a sensational car, one that’s lighter, wider and lower than the 3 Series, making it handle better. So the 4 Series Gran Coupe is like a more fun 3 Series, on account of its four doors. Of the 4er GC models, we feel as if the 428i is the better of the bunch. Opting for the GC variant of the 4 Series shows a desire for some sort of practicality and the 428i’s 2.0 liter turbocharged engine allows it to be both fun and efficient, giving it a more practical side to it. It’s also plenty fast enough and doesn’t ever feel as if it needs more power. So it’s worth saving the extra money from the cost of the 435i GC and stick with the 428i.

3. BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe – There’s only one downside of the 6 Series Gran Coupe and it’s the cost. The 6er GC is expensive but if you can afford it, it’s entirely worth it. Its gorgeous and seductive looks match its power and luxury on the inside. Oddly enough, despite its size and weight, it’s actually one of the more engaging BMWs on the market to drive. So there’s no dynamic penalty for having such a big luxurious car. Both the 640i GC and 650i GC are excellent choices. The latter is more expensive, obviously, but it’s more powerful and turns the 6er GC into more of a luxurious bullet train. The former, though, is a bit lighter in the nose, making it a bit more nimble, and it’s cheaper. The 6 Series Gran Coupe is one of the best looking BMW on the market, if not the best looking one, so any choice is a great one because you’re getting one of the best looking and most different luxury sedans on the market.

2. BMW 750i – The new BMW 7 Series has been impressing everyone who’s driven it so far, as it blends incredible luxury, class-leading technology with great looks and great performance. While we wouldn’t call such a big, heavy and luxurious car fun to drive, it’s certainly one of the best big luxury cars to drive. It’s surprisingly nimble and actually very capable for such a big luxury car. But its handling isn’t what you buy a 7 Series for. The 7 Series incredible luxury is like nothing else on the market. The cabin of the new 7 Series is like something out of an ultra modern private jet and is packed with enough technology to make most space shuttles blush. It also has some technology that leads the segment, such as Gesture Control and Remote Parking. Is it expensive? Of course, but it’s also the most luxurious and and enjoyable premium sedans on the market and one of BMW’s best sedans.

1. BMW 340i – The BMW 3 Series has always been the bread and butter of the BMW lineup. Its the car that basically put BMW on the map and made the brand into the giant success that it is today. The current F30 generation 3 Series might not be the best 3er in the brand’s history, but it’s still a fantastic car and one of the best overall cars BMW makes, regardless of body style. It doesn’t matter which model you get, the 3 Series is fun to drive, performs either near, or at the top, of the class and is practical enough to be a family sedan. The 340i is probably the best variant of the current-gem 3 Series, despite it being a bit pricey. The reason for that is the new B58 engine, which is an absolute gem. An all-new 3.0 liter turbocharged I6 that makes 320 hp is about as smooth as an engine possibly can be. It’s also punchy, powerful and has probably the best exhaust note of any BMW not named the BMW M2. Also, the new post-LCI 340i has some revised suspension and steering bits that bring back the sensation of fun and feel that its predecessors had. So the BMW 340i, being fast, fun, comfortable and practical, is the best overall BMW sedan on the market right now.

Source: BMWBlog

 

[Rainer271]

Top five BMW niche vehicles

We all know that BMW is famous for its niche-busting ways. The Bavarians have been creating new niche cars, segments and body styles for years now. It seems that every couple of years, BMW has an answer to a question nobody asked but somehow become incredibly popular. Like Apple, BMW seems to know what the customers want better than they do themselves.

It all seemingly started with the BMW X6, the brand’s first “Sports Activity Coupe”. But the X6 is just the first niche BMW that actually went into mass production. BMW has been creating strange vehicles and concepts for ages now; the BMW Z1, Z18 Concept and the BMW GINAare all strange cars that BMW has dreamt up with the Z1 being the only car to make even limited production. So BMW has developed quite a few niche vehicles in its day.

So which of them are the best?

5. BMW 3 Series Gran Turismo – In Italian, Gran Turismo roughly means ‘Grand Touring’. Grand Touring in car-speak means driving long distances, quickly, in comfort. While traditionally grand tourers are two seaters, have big engines and are extremely stylish, the 3 Series Gran Turismo is none of those things. However, it can drive long distances, quickly and in comfort while carrying luggage. Built on the Chinese-market F30 BMW 3 Series, the 3 Series GT is a bit longer than the sedan and the roofline is a bit more crossover-like. It comes with a lot more cargo space than the standard 3er and still has the same fin-to-drive dynamics. So despite its strange looks, the 3 Series Gran Turismo is actually one of the better niche vehicles BMW has made.

4. BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe – A four-door version of a two-door version of a four-door car. That’s essentially what the 4 Series Gran Coupe is. However, despite its strange oxymoronic nature, it’s actually a very good looking, very good driving car. There’s always been something awesome about BMW’s Gran Coupe vehicles. They’re more useless than a sedan variant and have less headroom, while looking better than a coupe even though they have more doors. It’s such a weird contradiction to the automotive norm that it’s awesome. The 4 Series GC keeps the standard 4er’s fantastic driving dynamics while adding a bigger backseat and a cool hatch-style trunk. So it allows owners to have their cake and eat it, too.

3. BMW X4 – Sportier than the X3 but smaller than the X5, the BMW X4 fits nicely in between both. It’s an SUV designed for people who need something practical but also want sporty dynamics. The BMW X4 is admittedly less practical than the X3, but it is much more fun to drive. In fact, the BMW X4 genuinely competes with the Porsche Macan in terms of driving dynamics. All while coming with great cargo space and one of the most interesting designs of any crossover on the market. Most people thought making an X4 was just BMW filling needless niches. But now that it’s out, I think we’re all pretty happy it’s here.

2. BMW X6 – The original niche SUV for BMW, the X6 has had its fair share of both praise and criticism. Admittedly, the standard X6 is more useless than it is great. However, the BWM X6 does have an X6 M in its lineup and it’s amazing enough to elevate the X6 high on this list. The BMW X6 M is so big, so heavy and yet so incredibly fast and capable that it would have Sir Isaac Newton questioning his every discovery. The X6 M is simply one of the coolest vehicles on the road, regardless of segment, because it can flat-out embarrass almost any sports car on the road while carrying five adults and a ton of cargo. If that isn’t one of BMW’s best niche vehicles, I don’t know what is.

1. BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe – While Gran Coupes aren’t as silly of niches as coupe SUVs, they are still niche vehicles and the BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe is the best one from Bavaria. The 6 Series GC is the best BMW niche for one exact reason — its looks. The BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe is one of the best looking cars on the road and easily on of the best looking BMWs. It also drives equally as good as it looks. Plus, there’s a BMW M6 Gran Coupe variant which is one of the best driving M cars the brand currently makes. With the way it looks, drives and the fact that it comes with a monster M6 Gran Coupe, there’s no way the M6 Gran Coupe isn’t BMW’s best niche vehicle.

Source: BMWBlog