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BMW car reviews

1-Series

2004 on

Hatchback 2004 on
BMW 1-Series Hatchback
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  • Great to drive, excellent diesels, newer cars come with Efficient Dynamics
  • Space in the rear is tight, styling not to everyones taste
Coupé 2007 on
BMW 1-Series Coupé
  • A delight to drive, good choice of efficient engines, superb build quality
  • Tricky access to rear seats, styling ungainly from some angles
Convertible 2008 on
BMW 1-Series Convertible
  • Great to drive, neat styling, wonderful cabin, feels as solid as the Coupe
  • Limited room in the back, fabric roof operation is slow
3-Series

2005 on

Saloon 2005 on
BMW 3-Series Saloon
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  • Great to drive, decent level of standard kit, premium image, superbly built, refined interior
  • Expensive options, firm ride
Convertible 2007 on
BMW 3-Series Convertible
  • Beautiful folding metal roof, great choice of efficient engines, superbly refined
  • Small bootspace, much more expensive than the similar 3-Series Coupe
Touring 2005 on
BMW 3-Series Touring
  • Great to drive, decent level of standard kit, premium image, economical engines
  • Small load area for an estate, limited rear passenger space
Coupé 2006 on
BMW 3-Series Coupé
  • Great choice of efficient engines, supreme handling, beautifully styled, sophisticated and refined cabin
  • Firm ride, some expensive options, tight legroom in rear
M3 2007 on
BMW 3-Series M3
  • Ultimate driver's car, purposeful styling, sublime V8 engine, standard leather and sat nav
  • High running costs, hard ride, fairly plain cabin

1998 to 2007

Saloon 1998 to 2005
BMW 3-Series Saloon
  • Roomy, quick, pleasure to drive
  • Popular equals common, pricey
Compact 2001 to 2004
BMW 3-Series Compact
  • Refined, packed with gizmos, image
  • Expensive, ugly, cramped in the back
Touring 1999 to 2005
BMW 3-Series Touring
  • Roomy, refined, technically brilliant
  • Expensive, no longer best in class
Coupé 1999 to 2006
BMW 3-Series Coupé
  • Beautifully styled, technically superb
  • Expensive, poorly equipped
Convertible 2000 to 2007
BMW 3-Series Convertible
  • Refined, roomy, technically brilliant
  • High prices
M3 Coupé 2001 to 2007
BMW 3-Series M3 Coupé
  • Looks as good as it goes
  • Perhaps overshadowed now by Audi's RS4
M3 Convertible 2001 to 2007
BMW 3-Series M3 Convertible
  • Wind in your hair makes M3 even more thrilling
  • A lot of money for a 3-Series BMW

1991 to 2001

Saloon 1991 to 1998
BMW 3-Series Saloon
  • Image; smooth six cylinder engines; great to drive
  • Not much standard equipment; limited rear legroom; less exclusive than some rivals
Compact 1994 to 2001
BMW 3-Series Compact
  • Image; smooth six cylinder engines; great to drive
  • Not much standard equipment; limited rear legroom; less exclusive than some rivals
Touring 1995 to 1999
BMW 3-Series Touring
  • Smooth six cylinder engines; great to drive
  • Not much standard equipment; limited rear legroom; less exclusive than some rivals
Coupé 1992 to 1999
BMW 3-Series Coupé
  • Image; smooth six cylinder engines; great to drive
  • Not much standard equipment; limited rear legroom; less exclusive than some rivals
Convertible 1993 to 2000
BMW 3-Series Convertible
  • Image; smooth six cylinder engines; great to drive
  • Not much standard equipment; limited rear legroom; less exclusive than some rivals
5-Series

2009 on

GT 2009 on
BMW 5-Series GT
  • Supremely refined, incredibly spacious and high class cabin, clever twin-opening tailgate, practical and large boot
  • Rather ungainly looks, not as agile to drive as a standard 5-Series

2003 on

Saloon 2003 on
BMW 5-Series Saloon
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  • Aspirational image, great to drive, exceptional fuel economy on diesels, modern cabin
  • Styling still not to everyone's taste, firm ride
Touring 2003 on
BMW 5-Series Touring
  • Wide choice of strong yet efficient engines, good load area, great to drive, superbly built cabin
  • Styling still not to everyone's taste, similar-sized estates offer more boot space
M5 2005 on
BMW 5-Series M5
  • Awesome engine and performance, precise handling, available as an estate
  • High running costs, no manual gearbox, stiff ride

1996 to 2004

Saloon 1996 to 2003
BMW 5-Series Saloon
  • Understated elegance, engines, driving pleasure
  • Little chance of finding a bargain
Touring 1997 to 2004
BMW 5-Series Touring
  • Understated elegance, practical, image, good to drive.
  • Hardly a proper estate car.
6-Series

2004 on

Coupé 2004 on
BMW 6-Series Coupé
  • BMW delivers on its promise of the ultimate driving machine
  • Given its size rear space is limited, firm ride
Convertible 2004 on
BMW 6-Series Convertible
  • Muscular styling, hugely enjoyable to drive, excellent diesel engine
  • High list price, limited stowage space, firm ride
M6 2005 on
BMW 6-Series M6
  • Sublime engine and thunderous performance, superb handling, available as a soft top
  • Expensive to buy and run, M3 is much cheaper and even better to drive
7-Series

2008 on

Saloon 2008 on
BMW 7-Series
  • Incredibly comfortable, exceptionally well built, acres of rear space, superbly refined
  • Poor depreciation, high running costs

2002 to 2008

Saloon 2002 to 2008
BMW 7-Series
  • Supremely refined and comfortable, handles well for a large saloon, huge rear legroom
  • Ungainly styling, Mercedes S-Class more cosseting and sophisticated inside

1994 to 2002

Saloon 1994 to 2002
BMW 7-Series
  • Performance, refinement.
  • Running costs.
X1

2009 on

Estate 2009 on
BMW X1
  • Economical diesel engines with low CO2 emissions, available with two or four-wheel drive, large boot area
  • Some rather cheap feeling interior plastics, firm ride
X3

2004 on

Estate 2004 on
BMW X3
  • Refined and quiet on the move, efficient diesel engines, neat styling, good-sized boot
  • Expensive compared to similar alternatives, firm ride
X5

2007 on

Estate 2007 on
BMW X5
  • Upmarket image, robust build quality, comfortable and hushed on the move, seven seat option
  • Limited off road, cramped third row of seats, firm ride

2000 to 2007

Estate 2000 to 2007
BMW X5
  • Image, space, refinement.
  • V8s lose money quickly
X6

2008 on

Estate 2008 on
BMW X6
  • Plenty of road presence, strong performance, more exclusive than the X5
  • Restricted rear headroom
Z3

1996 to 2002

Roadster 1996 to 2002
BMW Z3 Roadster
  • Build quality, easy to drive, retro styling.
  • Expensive, smaller engines are unexceptional.
M Coupe 1998 to 2002
BMW Z3 M Coupe
  • Awesome engine, distinctive looks, rewarding chassis
  • M3 has similar performance and more practicality
Z4

2009 on

Roadster 2009 on
BMW Z4 Roadster
  • Strong performance, comfortable cabin, refined at high speeds, sharp handling, metal-folding roof
  • Limited boot space with roof down

2003 to 2009

Roadster 2003 to 2009
BMW Z4 Roadster
  • Sharp handling, sophisticated image, quick-action roof
  • Far from generous levels of standard kit
Coupé 2006 to 2009
BMW Z4 Coupé
  • Neat styling, enjoyable to drive, excellent build quality, acceptable economy
  • Only one engine option, firm ride, cramped cockpit
M 2006 to 2008
BMW Z4 M
  • Awesome engine and performance, dramatic looks, well built
  • Heavy clutch and gear change, cramped cabin, snappy throttle response, stiff ride
 
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