Throughout history, there have been many car manufacturers. Some have remained, while others have disappeared over the years. BMW is one of the companies that have prevailed and evolved with time. Founded in 1916, the company has introduced some of the most iconic vehicles in history.
BMW is synonymous with creating outstanding cars that are reliable, powerful, and high quality. Fans revere cars built by the M division as they are the sportiest offerings on BMW’s lineup. Only a few cars are considered to sit at the pinnacle of the lineup; here are 10.
10 E53 BMW X5
In the 90s, BMW was known for creating the ultimate driving machines. Therefore, they took the world by surprise when they introduced the E53 X5 in 1999. While BMW wasn’t the first to develop a luxury SUV, its first generation X5 was the most shocking.
BMW was known for creating simple, lightweight sports cars; therefore, no one would have expected an SUV from them. However, this model that was considered blasphemous back in the day was a pivotal point for the company. It helped skyrocket BMW sales since the SUV market was gaining traction. Surprisingly enough, BMW ensured that their new SUV got enjoyable driving dynamics.
9 E82 BMW 135i Coupe
The 1 series is one of the best drivers’ car on the market. When introduced in the market, the 135i was the closest you would get to a 1 series M car. It was smaller than most of their offerings and lighter. Making it fun to maneuver, be it on the road or track.
The 135i was no ordinary coupe; it had a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter engine and some upgrades that made enthusiasts fall in love. Its light weight meant that it was more agile. This gave drivers the confidence to throw it around tight bends. The M sport package had a better suspension that helped improve the handling.
8 E39 BMW M5
Fast sedans were part of BMW’s DNA. Most of these were available with powerful straight-six engines, leaving enthusiasts yearning for more. However, when the M division got to work on the E39 M5, they created an entirely new beast of a car.
The M5 received a thumping V8, making it the first M5 ever to receive a V8 engine. This engine upgrade made most supercar owners feel a little nervous. The S62 V8 came with a displacement of 4.9 liters, producing 394 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque.
7 E86 BMW Z4 M Coupe
The E86 Z4 M Coupe was a great replacement for the Z3. It had outstanding design, packaging, and performance. Over the years, the Z4 has aged gracefully with its elegant lines. All aspects of the Z4 made it entirely unique as a sports car and an M car.
Upon its arrival in 2006, the Z4 received various suspension and steering upgrades. It felt more raw and focused than the E46 M3 with its 343 hp 3.2-liter 6-cylinder engine. Its cabin focused on driving and driver enjoyment, especially because of its hydraulic power steering borrowed from the M3 CSL.
6 E63 BMW M6 Coupe
Besides the E24 M635CSi, the E63 M6 was the first true M6 from BMW. It had all the credentials of a great grand tourer with its luxurious interior that helped make high mileage journeys effortless. The 6 series was introduced in 2003 after a 14-year hiatus.
This fire-breathing M version followed two years later, with its naturally aspirated 5.0-liter V10 engine being its primary talking point. The engine was inspired by Formula 1 and was first introduced in the E60 M5. It helped make the M6 the fastest production car from BMW at the time with its blisteringly quick 4.6 seconds 0 to 60 mph time.
5 E90 BMW M3
Weight was one of the most impressive qualities of the E90 M3 when it was first introduced in 2007. It was super light at only 3,650 lbs, making it the lightest BMW M3 ever produced. The E90 M3 lost the carbon roof that would be considered a con to some.
However, this helped enhance its aerodynamics allowing the M3 to go faster. The construction of the M3 contributed to its affordable price, making this powerful ride more accessible than other M3s. The next substantial change with the M3 was its 4.0-liter V8 engine that could max out at 414 hp.
4 E60 BMW M5
The 2000s can be considered the golden era for the automotive fraternity. During this decade, we saw the birth of unique vehicles, one of them being the E60 M5. The focal point of the M5 was the 5.0-liter naturally aspirated V10 engine. It was an inspiration from BMW’s success in Formula 1.
The E60 M5 was available with a 7-speed automated SMG and a 6-speed manual transmission. It also got the honor of having the first and only production V10 powerplant. Also known as the S85, the V10 produced 500 hp and 384 lb-ft of torque.
3 E46 BMW M3 CSL
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The E46 was one of the most popular BMWs ever made. The CSL lived to become an iconic sports car that perfectly reflects what BMW was capable of. Its abilities were out of this world, with some enthusiasts considering it the perfect BMW vehicle.
It was the ultimate E46 series model, named after the legendary E9 3.0 CSL. To make it unique, BMW shed 240 lbs from the stock M3 and bumped the power of the S54 powerplant to 360 hp. With only 1,383 models produced, the CSL became the best collectible model in BMW’s collection.
2 E46 BMW M3 GTR
The M3 GTR is the car that takes the crown for many BMW enthusiasts. It was a car that was light years ahead of its competition, featuring a 335 hp 4.0-liter V8 powerplant. It was released in 2001 and was meant to race in American Le Mans, where it won 7 out of the 10 events in the season.
After the 2001 season, the rules changed, and it was removed from the competition. The GTR shared the same design with the E46 BMW M3, but everything had changed on the inside. It had no back seats, helping the brand lower its weight. It also had carbon fiber everywhere, eliminated unnecessary panels, and integrated a lot of airflow ducts.
1 BMW Sauber F1.08
The F1.08 is a crucial car for BMW because it was the only BMW that ever won in F1 to date. During its unveiling in 2008 by the Formula 1 team, BMW was also busy taking wraps off of the production X6. The F1.08 was based on the F1.07, the successful race-winning car of 2007.
The F1.08 introduced a few changes per the regulations. These were a standardized ECU loss of traction control and a longer-lasting transmission. The F1.08 was driven by Robert Kubica and Nick Heidfeld. It was a competitive model that scored a win in Canada, 11 podiums, two fastest laps, and a pole position.