Why are BMW's so popular?

Question

I have driven only 2, to be honest. But to be called a luxury car, the ones I drove had hard, uncomfortable seats, very plain interiors, rough rides, and loud road noise/acceleration. Not what I expected in a luxury car. So, what makes them so desirable? Thanks for your input

Answer 1

Ok, let me sort this one out for ya. Obviously you mustnt be talking about the newer models. You must be talking about some 80s or 90s versions because the car i bought is out of sight and extremely comfortable. I drive a 2006 model and the seats couldnt get more comfortable. Im sitting on stuffed top of the line leather with a** warmers to boot.

The loud noises youre speaking of must be because you have an old rust bucket that has 100,000 miles on it. The ride couldnt be smoother, there is no noise at all and it comes with all the latest technological gadgets. For christs sakes everytime i see it it takes my breath away.

Ive been in Porsche, Mercedes, amazing top of the line brands and none could compare to the BMW's comfort and advantages. The mercedes was nice but it was no more comfortable or luxurious than the BMW. And the Porsche was snug and tiny and you werent that comfortable in it. I mean you couldnt ask for anything more with this car. For christs sakes its like Knight Rider with the people talking to ya through the car itself.

Not only that but what other car company treats you like youre part of an exclusive family of driving enthusiasts? They go above and beyond for their customers. They call and congratulate you on your car and make sure you are satisfied with every aspect. They send you emails, little courtesy items, if you ever have a problem they are there in 5 minutes to fix it.

The looks are breathtaking and everytime i leave the house in it i get WOW, THATS YOUR CAR????! 'Can i sit in it??' Can i ride in that thing?? The thing is out of this world and the people at the shop even go nuts over it. And it wasnt at the shop for any problems just regular inspection. I dont think im better than anybody for drivin it its just a great ownership experience and im glad i bought it. That guy cant own a shop or he wouldnt be talking about being made in south carolina when the thing has all German parts. It is no different if it was made in south carolina or germany. It has the same parts. Thats my experience. If you dont like em , dont drive em, its that simple. Go get yourself a toyota or a honda.

''Just listen to the guy above, he thinks Ford and Toyota are the epitome of luxury'' , enough said.

Its not a matter of money its a matter of preference

Answer 2

Depending on what series (3, 5, 7) and the year, they can be great cars.

I own a 1997 540ia (black with beige interior) with only 74,400 original miles and it runs great!

The ride will also depend upon the tires placed on the car. If you have the typical stock Continental brand tires, you will hear a lot of road noise.

Low profile tires will also make the ride rough.

Also the M-series with the sporty exhaust will make it noisy.

I would consider getting a 540/545 (V8s) rather than the 3 series and the lower-end 5 series (V6s).

You get the same engine in the V8 5 series as you would in the 7 series.

I'm 6'5" and ergonomics are very important to me in a car. The center console in the 6 series is too high and awkward for me. It reminds me of the feel of the Mitsubishi Eclipse from the mid to late 1990s.

The old 8 series look great, but as some may know...were a maintenance nightmare. The same applied to the 7 series V12s

The 1997-2001 body styles looks as some would say "sexy".

I like my 540ia and still receive compliments on how I have kept it in mint condition.

Answer 3

Broz215 is right. He just needs to put his thoughts in smaller paragraphs so we can read them more easily.

Among other things, it's my business to recommend cars to my clients. I work exclusively from referrals. If I recommended bad cars, I'd soon have no business. I recommend most BMWs without reservation. I'd never recommend a Mercedes-Benz. They are among the three makes (Jaguar and Range Rover are the others) that Consumer Reports lists as the least reliable you can buy.

BMWs have their faults, the same as any car. The automotive journalist community is just about unanimous in despising their iDrive. It's voice-activated now so it's easier to use.

Driving contemporary cars, an unbiased driver will usually find the BMW is the best compromise between a compliant ride and responsive handling. Your priorities may be different, so you may disagree.

An example I will offer is a little old lady whose greatest automotive challenge is getting to church on Sunday. We test drove (and I'm talking about more than just a swing around the block) Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, and BMW. Within a block and a half, this non-professional could tell the differences in the way the three cars drove. The BMW is the most responsive car to your directions of any non-two-seater.

There is some truth in the statement that their popularity is partially due to their visibility. Everyone knows that a BMW is more expensive than most makes of comparable (or in some cases better) straight-line performance, so some people buy them to impress strangers. (Their friends know the truth, and are not fooled.)

This fact has led some people who put people into convenient pigeonholes to paint all BMW owners with the same brush. But the people who put their own professional reputations on the line -- automotive writers -- agree that the 3-series, at least, have been best in class for 16 years straight.

There are people in this venue who will tell you that BMWs are trouble-prone and expensive to maintain and repair. I own two, and have not experienced the sort of horror stories some claim are common. In any case, repairs and maintenance are free for the first 4 years or 50,000 miles.

BMWs (especially the 7-series, which I seldom recommend) do have a less stellar frequency-of-repair record than, say, a Lexus. If that's your priority, buy a Lexus.

But trust me. There will never be a Lexus Driver's Club. If you enjoy a little savor in your food, why settle for blandness in your car?

And Runescape Kid is full of organic fertilizer. Ford owns Volvo and Jaguar. They have nothing to do with BMW, which is just about the only remaining viable independent car company. It's majority controlled by one family, the Quandts. He obviously has never driven a BMW. If he has, he must have hams for hands.

Answer 4

Well to make this plain and simple. BMW's in the early years were raised on the autobahn all about speed. RWD is very good and strong. I have and 87' 325 2.7 liters with an intake and its stick and it smokes most brand new cars I was very impressed. because they have such high torque. As for the rocky ride and uncomfortable seats thats just the sports suspension. This is a sports car its not exactly going to have the softest ride because you dont want to be bouncing around liek your riding around in a cop car or a buick the rough ride is the trade of for better handling. I have the sport version since its the 2-door and it has some of the most comfortable seats you just seem to sink down in to them. and this is only and 87' so......... as for the newwer models i dont know what to tell you.

Answer 5

I own a 328i Sport Coupe and its amazing. Its very well-made and the materials are quality - you just need to touch them to notice the difference. I loved the previous comment about Ford, GM , Toyota having more luxury. I assume they were just talking about the ride comfort. BMWs are skewed towards a relatively sporty drive, so you will not think of it as luxury if you are looking for a wallowy barge that floats like a cloud (especially the sport models). Mines a sport version, but its amazingly comfy and not crashy at all.

As for the status symbol comment, that really gets me when people say that about me. If I was just bothered about image I would have got the smallest engine (tiny 4 cylinder here in the UK). The reason I like BMWs is the engine (straight 6 that screams), the rear-wheel drive handling, the coupe shape (I hate hatchbacks which seem to be everywhere you look over here), and of course the quality.

Answer 6

I am a huge BMW fan and it all depends about what model you drive. If you get a 3 series it has more of a sports car feel to it, but if you get a 5 series or a 7 series those are more comfortable, it also depends on the cars settings as well.

Answer 7

Because they combine the best steering feel / feedback in a semi-luxury package along with RWD, the option of manual gearboxes and in the 3 series a lovely, balanced inline-6. Well, that's why driving enthusiasts love them. They're the sportiest upper-crust German automobile.

If you want a soft luxurious ride, go for a Mercedes Benz.

Answer 8

I drive a 1993 325i SE auto and in the 4 yrs I`ve owned it, nothing has broken and it`s never let me down. It still puts a smile on my face each time I get in it. The straight six lump under the bonnet has got to be one of the best engines around without a doubt.

Answer 9

They are beautiful cars and are getting cheaper to buy and lots of rich people love them

My dad has a 1998 BMW M3 coupe and it goes hard

Answer 10

I own a shop, and think they aren't as popular as you may think. BMW is not a Luxury car! They are now a mid range, sports car, that rides like a horse drawn wagon. It does seem like the people that own them "think" they are up on top of the totem pole of luxury, but as far as I'm concerned I wouldn't have one of them over priced piles of junk. They used to be an import luxury car, but now they are made right here in South Carolina (USA), and are over priced. A lot of people have them, and if you will notice, they think they are in some elite special group of better than thou rich people. When it comes to luxury, they don't even compete with Toyota, General Motors, or Ford in sales. Plain & simple; They are not worth what they cost, ride bad, perform lousy, and when one breaks, the cost of repairs is out of sight. They are cute, I will give that one to them, but outside of that, they can keep them. High priced junk is more the term for them.
For some people who think they are rich; If I could buy you for what you are worth, and sell you for what you think you are worth, I too would get rich. Oh, I forgot I am rich! If some people could afford something better, would they not drive it? Probably not, because people that are really rich have money to buy a luxury car. Some people mistake a little sports car for a luxury car, and I have yet to see a BMW Limo. BMW is so popular because they are a good conversation piece, and easy to get financed.
Glad to help out, Good Luck!!!