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Thread: What makes BMW so special?

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jul 2010
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    1997 BMW Z3 2.8L

    What makes BMW so special?

    I was asked by a friend why I thought BMW s were so great. The ever so popular m3 was slower then an evo. And it got me thinking. Why did you choose BMW?

  2. #2
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    Feb 2009
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    vestavia hills, alabama
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    95m3,1967 351cougar
    e36 m3s just feel better in the drivers seat than any other car i have ever driven. yes there are faster cars, there are cars that handle better, but nothing feels as good. I had coilovers on my 95 m3 and i could feel everything it was like you where part of the car. plus bang for youre buck in a daily driver you cant beat. thats why i chose bmw. now with that said e46s dont have that feel and they dont have the bang for youre buck and the e30s dont make great dailys. so for me it was just a love for the e36.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    May 2007
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    Ottawa Ontario CANADA
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    21 M3 6MT Dravit/KO/ZPP
    Great combination of handling, power, convenience, luxury, comfort and amenities. Sure other cars are better in one or more of these categories, but there are very few, if any, that combine them so well. And I love their high revving engines.
    Last edited by mryakan; 09-15-2010 at 05:26 PM.
    Current Car (delivered 20/10/21): 2021 G80 M3; 6MT; DravitGrau/Kyalami Orange/Black Extended Merino; Permium Pkg (ZPP); 826M bicolor wheels; Black M Compound brakes; Sunroof (yes no CF roof)
    (more pictures here)

    Previous Cars: 2018 F30 340ix 6MT Msport(Dec 2017 - Sep 2021); 2013 F30 335ix 6MT Msport (Nov 2013-17); 2011 e90 328i 6MT ZSP (Aug 10-Nov 13); 07 e90-323i ZSP (May 07 - Aug 10); 97-318ti ZSP (Feb 97 - May 07)

    "Mit der Dummheit kämpfen Götter selbst vergebens", Friedrich von Schiller -- "Life is simple, people make it complicated", Me (About me)

  4. #4
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    '03 Z4, '85 Subaru Wagon, '87 Suzuki Savage LS650
    Ǽthetics.


    I buy what I like, I don't care what you like or what your friend likes. If you don't like a bmw, I don't think you should buy one regardless of how it compares to another car.
    Not so much a signature as a cry for help.

    Hold on, saw this in a cartoon once...think I can pull it off.

  5. #5
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    May 2007
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    Jackson, MS
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    See sig. & avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by mryakan View Post
    Great combination of handling, power, convenience, luxury, comfort and amenities. Sure other cars are better in one or more of these categories, but there are very few, if any, that combine them so well. And I love their high revving engines.
    Just what I was going to say, pretty much word for word.
    [IMG][/IMG]

  6. #6
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    Jun 2006
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    06 325ci
    Quote Originally Posted by Nighthawk399 View Post
    Why did you choose BMW?
    Because MB's are boring and Audi's are ugly. Can't afford a descent Porsche, and the rest of makes are out of the question to me.

  7. #7
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    E34 M5
    To expiereince the greatness of the Roundel, one needs to drive one. Most people who like to compare BMWs by how they look on paper often have never driven one.

    They're drivers cars.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jul 2010
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    1997 BMW Z3 2.8L
    For the record I own a BMW. My dream car was a z3 since I saw my first one when I was 8 and when I went to the dealer I test drove it and I fell in love. That's why I drive one.

  9. #9
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    Aug 2009
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    Glastonbury, CT USA
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    Jeep, BMW
    Mojo, baby.

  10. #10
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    Jul 2007
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    Sconnie
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    95M3, 78 T/A
    Quote Originally Posted by Nighthawk399 View Post
    For the record I own a BMW. My dream car was a z3 since I saw my first one when I was 8 and when I went to the dealer I test drove it and I fell in love. That's why I drive one.
    Exact same thing happened to me when I saw an M3 when I was a kid.

    95'///M3 Cosmos Black with AA intake, Gen III Exhaust, AA chip, BMP Front strut bar, Koni S/A's, H&R OE springs.
    Origin ID: RomCommm

  11. #11
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    1995 M3, 2003 Viper
    Quote Originally Posted by mryakan View Post
    Great combination of handling, power, convenience, luxury, comfort and amenities. Sure other cars are better in one or more of these categories, but there are very few, if any, that combine them so well.
    Pretty much sums it up for me, too. It's not my favorite type of car, but it's so well balanced in all things. Very much a total package.
    '95 M3
    '03 Viper

  12. #12
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    Dec 2009
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    Sydney, Australia
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    2009 E82 125i M Sport
    My friends dad has a chauffeur business. Got into a late model 7 series when i was about 14 or so (i'm 21 now), and it was just an amazing car. The best thing i had ever sat in.

    I can't remember anything about it other than being amazed by how gorgeous it was, how comfortable i felt, and how smooth the ride was. Ever since then i've just looked toward BMW as the benchmark for what cars should be like.

    I'm sure there are faster cars, and i'm even more sure there are cars with greater reliability... But BMW is a mixture of status symbol, power, speed, comfort, luxury, and the feeling of being connected to your car.

  13. #13
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    Jul 2010
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    Los Angeles, CA
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    2000 323Ci RIP, e34 525i
    Having had 3 bimmers, I realize that it is more than just a car, it is a way of life. These aren't the fastest, most powerful, or even the best handling cars out there but they have it where it counts and that's what matters most.

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
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    Mesa AZ USA
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    32
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    1998 540i/6, 2002 M3
    I've owned my share of cars, from tuned VTEC Honda's to an SR20 swapped S14 Nissan Silvia. After the rush of a turbo powered car, I was always reminded of my first BMW I had, a 93 325is and how well that thing handled. I ended up selling my Nissan to buy an E46 M3 and I'm getting a M3/4/5 next week for daily duties. I don't think I will ever switch back to another brand like I did before because I was just following a trend that didn't feel right. Sure that thing was fast but it was not a BMW. When people ask "why a BMW' it's because they have never driven one.

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
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    Noblesville, IN
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    '99 M3, '14 Civic
    It's just the overall package of the car.

    I took a buddy of mine out for a ride today and it was pretty neat seeing his reaction. He's a truck guy, and never understood what my friend was saying when he talked up BMWs so much.

    I took off and did a slow second gear pull and he said something about how 'fast' it was. . . . . This caught me off guard because I wouldn't say my car is fast at all, and especially not for the cars that I drive with and or have ridden in/driven. We did some spirited driving with some hard braking and hard corners. Even with my crappy front tires that induces a ton of under steer he was still impressed with the handling.

    I can see how he had fun though. I do give some entertaining rides.

    All the things you can experience from the passengers seat you won't experience from the drivers seat. Even if you do get a chance to drive one for a bit, you won't really get the driving experience. It's the way the steering wheel feels when you take a hard turn, or are correcting power induced oversteer. It's the way the pedals sit together that sets it up perfectly for crisp heel-toes. The slick feeling gearbox and crisp clutch. (My M3 clutch feels WAAAY different than series clutches at least with a e46 and Z3. It's quite a bit heavier, and add in a clutch stop and it just feels so precise)

  16. #16
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
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    00 328ci, 98 M3
    the overall balance of the car. And something just feels right about sliding into the driver's seat of one. if you've never driven/owned one, you can never understand. you might idolize from afar, but nothing compares with the first hand experience

  17. #17
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    Chattanooga, TN
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    '94 MX-6
    In a word: BALANCE.

    From the crisp dynamics of the handling to the quality to the power to the adequate luxury to the balanced smoothness of the engines themselves, the cars are just a great, complete package for those of us who love to drive.

    As a car guy from way back I'm embarrassed I hadn't owned one until last year, when I bought my old 635. I think I'll be a BMW driver for life now.

    -Matt
    Current: '94 MX-6 V6/5 • '72 240Z • '10 Mazda5
    Past: '02 330i/5 • '85 RX-7 GSL-SE • '95 540i/6'95 525i/5'86 635CSi/5 • '88 JZA70 • '86 4K quattro • '85 RX-7 S
    Wish list: Type 44 • Manta • Pre-'85 CGT • 405 Mi16 • SVX • W123 Coupe

  18. #18
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    00 328ci, 98 M3
    Quote Originally Posted by msuffern View Post
    In a word: BALANCE.

    From the crisp dynamics of the handling to the quality to the power to the adequate luxury to the balanced smoothness of the engines themselves, the cars are just a great, complete package for those of us who love to drive.

    As a car guy from way back I'm embarrassed I hadn't owned one until last year, when I bought my old 635. I think I'll be a BMW driver for life now.

    -Matt
    +1 I can't imagine driving anything else

  19. #19
    Join Date
    Jun 2009
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    McKean township Pennsylva
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    1999 M3 , 1999 328is
    Why did my family choose a BMW? Because there is no Jaguar dealership in my town or anywhere close. We would be driving in a Jag XJ instead of an e38 if there were a Jag dealer.

    BMW's are great for more reasons than I can list but the main one is the fact that they are amazing drivers cars. I know my e38 is not meant for the track but it is the king of the highway. BMW designed the ultimate highway cruiser with the e38, it is in my opinion the best in it's class.
    Current fleet:
    1999 BMW e36 M3
    1999 BMW e36 328is with rotary valve engine head
    1999 Oldsmobile Eighty Eight
    1990 Jeep Comanche Eliminator
    1962 Austin Healey Sprite

  20. #20
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
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    E90 330i
    The suspension that is compliant during normal driving and sporty during lively maneuvers. Other makers have tried to reverse-engineer it, but none have come close.


    Jeder lobt was Nürburgring-erprobt

  21. #21
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    Feb 2006
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    ChattaHOOD, TN
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    2000 323ci
    Compensating


  22. #22
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
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    Central MA
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    Some E30s
    It's a fun sports sedan and it has a little bit of character to it that other cars don't seem to have.

    88' 325i Vert
    91' 318is Slicktop

  23. #23
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    Quote Originally Posted by brad horton View Post
    and the e30s dont make great dailys.
    I DD my M50 swapped e30, and it's a great daily. Even with the old M20 it was still nice.
    i3 & Z3 M Coupe

  24. #24
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    M54,M52,EJ25
    I like the idea of a sports car chassis with a sedan body.

    Imitators make good 3 series clones too, but I liked BMW's interior and feel a little better. If I were in the market for a 5 series sized car, I'd probably do an Infiniti M instead.

    330ci ZHP + ZPP + ZCW - SilberGrau on Black Heated Leather - 6MT - Adaptive+Dynamic Xenons
    328is ZPP - Black on Sand Leather - BBS RX - ZKWs
    Subaru BG Outback 5MT - Blue/Gray - WRX Wheels + Altimax Arctics

  25. #25
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    Oct 2005
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    2014 Porsche Cayman
    They are an all around package, power, timeless designs, luxury, sportiness, great drivers cars.

    Rule the Bends, Bend the Rules

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