Last updated on July 24th, 2022
BMW is among the most esteemed German automobile manufacturing companies around. Since it has been in operation, the company has dramatically evolved and has provided superior engineering with state-of-the-art technology. The German automaker has been setting new standards consistently in all aspects of car manufacturing. They are world renowned for providing drivers with the best possible driving experience.
39 Interesting facts about BMW cars
1. BMW was established in 1916 and has now been in operation for more than 104 years.
2. The company was founded by Camillo Castiglioni, Franz Joseph Popp and Karl Rapp. Rapp left the company in 1917 and it was not until then that their first product, the BMW Illa aircraft engine, was manufactured.
3. BMW is the acronym for Bayerische Werke, which translates to Bavarian Motor Works, in English. The shortened version was then adapted and popularized.
4. The BMW logo is actually a symbol of the blue and white flag of the Federal state in Germany, Bavaria, where the company has its roots. The logo is also an important tribute to the original logo of the Rapp Motor and their role in the BMW creation.
5. “The ultimate driving machine” is the most popular slogan used by the BMW company. The company has used it in their marketing materials and campaigns for over 35 years. The slogan is still used to this day.
6. In 1919, the company made its first motorcycle engine and manufactured their first motorcycle (the BMW R 32) in 1923.
7. During World War I, there was a lack of German airplane engines and BMW came through and started to produce them.
8. The BMW creations were referred to as the “greatest engine” by Red Baron, who was a legendary fighter pilot. the fighter pilot was only 25 years old when he died, but his 80 confirmed aerial victories proved to be the most of any pilot on either side of World War I.
9. It was after the Treaty of Versailles that BMW got involved in making automobiles because the treaty stipulated that they were banned from making warplanes and warplane engines. BMW shifted to making motorcycles up until 1928 when they shifted into automobiles and began the journey in becoming the company that exists today.
10. The company has not manufactured an airplane engine since 1945. However, they still design airplane interiors and this includes planes in the Singapore Airlines fleet. The Singapore airliner is renowned for offering their passengers one of the most lavish flying experiences around.
11. The highest-performing units from BMW typically feature six cylinders; however, much of the history and legacy of the company rests on its 4-cylinder engine.
12. So much so that the BMW German headquarters is a remarkably interesting building that is made to resemble the 4 cylinders of a car engine.
13. In 1928, the Dixi, which is the first car produced by BMW, made its debut; the name was later changed to DA-1. The DA-1 reached a top speed of 75 miles per hour, which was viewed as being quite fast as the car had just 15 brake horsepower. The car mileage on the DA-1 was very economical as well, delivering 51 miles per gallon.
14. Even though their first car was the Dixi, it was not actually designed by them. It was, in fact, an English Austin. The English Austin is the same car that was built in America as a Bantum and Japan as a Datsun.
15. On a BMW, the front signature grille is referred to as a kidney grille. The BMW 303 was the car that debuted the first kidney shaped grille in 1933.
16. In 1937, the company produced the fastest motorcycle in the world. It was an aerodynamic motorbike that went up to speeds of 173.7 miles per hour.
17. Ever since then, their motorcycles have broken approximately 200 different world speed records. About 25 of these records still stand to this day. The motorcycle division of BWM is still pushing the boundaries of possibility by continuing to develop products that are highly desirable as it relates to aesthetic and power.
18. The drivers of the BMW Rennsport RS54 and the motorbike itself were so remarkable that between 1955 and 1973 they won 19 consecutive titles.
19. BMW were at the forefront of innovative design and aerodynamics and one occasion when this was evident was when they slashed the rear end of the 1940 328 Kamm Coupe to boost straight-line speed by up to 30 percent.
20. The aerodynamic success of the company has gone as far as the train industry. Their success has even been merited for a return to the aerospace business.
21. In recent years, the company has been tasked with replacing the old train interiors of the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) system in San Francisco with ones designed by BMW.
22. BMW was among the most troubled companies in the post-war era. In 1959, they were was almost taken over by Mercedes Benz before they received funding from a private investor.
23. In 1962, the M10 four-cylinder engine was manufactured by BMW and was originally 75 horsepower. By 1983, the engineers managed to work on the design of the M10 4-cylinder engine until 1,400 horsepower was achieved.
24. This was the same engine that was in the car used by Nelson Piquet to win the Formula One World Championship.
25. The engine went on to become a major success for BMW and in nearly three decades, more than 3.5 million has been produced.
26. In 1972, the company built the 1602e, its first electric car. However, because it could only manage to go for 37 miles on a full charge, it was not viewed as a huge success. Instead of being a marketable invention, BMW used the advancement of the vehicle as an exercise in their engineering capacity.
27. In 1994, the British Rover Group was acquired and BMW now produces vehicles like Mini Cooper, Land Rover and Rover MG.
28. BMW made the decision to maintain their standards and revamp the Mini design to include attributes of the BMW brand. The same concepts used in the classical Mini Cooper car were utilized by BMW to produce an opulent line of compact cars referred to as the BMW series one.
29. Rolls-Royce was later acquired by BMW and in 2003, the first car using their name was produced. These acquisitions were essentially part of a bigger move by BMW to acquire a number of brands that became prominent in England.
30. The BMW CSL is among the most unique cars made by the company. Its design is frequently compared to the bat mobile.
31. The BMW M1 supercar should have been made in collaboration by Lamborghini; however, they had financial constraint and had to back out. This set the stage for BMW to produce the M1 by themselves.
32. The BMW M1 was designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro who was also responsible for making the legendary DeLorean from the Back to the Future cult film.
33. The BMW Z1 doors, which vertically slide up and down rather than swinging outward or upward, are the hippest of any production car ever.
34. BMW still manufactures parts for a number of its vehicles going back to the 1940s. This makes it easier for those who are into restoring old BMW vehicles.
35. They bought back their old Munich motorcycle factory to ensure they can make the old parts for their customers.
36. One of the latest additions to the BMW fleet of vehicles is the hybrid supercar brand, the i8. In addition to the extraordinarily futuristic design, the i8 is renowned for remarkable 420 foot-pounds of torque that fuels an impressive acceleration capability.
37. The top speed of the i8 claims is 150 miles per hour even though this is actually restricted by electronic governance so as to keep in line with laws governing car manufacturing.
38. In response to the rise in demand for eco-friendly vehicles by customers who are concerned about climate change, BMW has stated that it intends to further its venture into the world of hybrid and electric vehicles. By the year 2026, this is likely to make up a full 25 percent of the company’s sales.
39. Not only is BMW working on remarkable car concepts, but they are also still actively involved in the motorcycle market. Currently, BWM is working on some quite groundbreaking and amazing things for motorcycle lovers as well.