5 Best BMW's

[slayer72]

First lets make it clear, I did not write this article, but I do agree with some of the choices

http://www.nydailynews.com/autos/str...icle-1.2290856

[petalmasher]

Not Sure I'd have the X6 on the list... All the top-heavy lumbering awkwardness and poor efficiency of an SUV without the cargo loading ability normally afforded by vertical lift-gate. sticking a 570 HP engine in it only makes it more grotesque.

[fecurtis]

Originally Posted by petalmasher

Not Sure I'd have the X6 on the list... All the top-heavy lumbering awkwardness and poor efficiency of an SUV without the cargo loading ability normally afforded by vertical lift-gate. sticking a 570 HP engine in it only makes it more grotesque.

Apparently they're a blast to drive and gets a shit ton of attention.

I used to hate the way they looked but there's someone with an X6 M in our office building that I park near or next to everyday...for reasons unknown to me we have a "BMW corner" in our parking garage....I'm part of that crew. Anyway, staring at the car everyday, the car kinda grew on me. Would still never own one.

Others included a 330i, i3, two 528i's, and who knows what else. We all get to work early (around 7-8 AM) so there's no one really in the garage and we all just kinda congregate in this one secluded corner.

[Chihuahua]

X6 is hideous and senseless, X1 isn't far behind on the ugly scale.

No 2002 on that list?!?!? I mean, that's kinda the car that 'started it all'

I know it's subjective, but a resounding "meh" to that entire article.

[fcman]

3 X cars in the top 5 BMWs available right now? The X1, really? LOL, I honestly don't even know what to say

[GuidoK]

So the best bmw has a hood that is so flimsy that it breaks when you dont shut it with 2 men?

Also the parting from the angel eyes (exact words from the lovely hostess at bmw welt) and putting in an audi style drl is also something I don't like in the i8

BMW is slowly losing its unique character.

For me it should look something like this (note: best is not fastest):

5. e87 130i : introducing a rwd hot hatch in this millennium... brilliant and not seen since? the 70's?
4. e36 m3 euro spec facelift 1996. can you imagine, a light coupe in 1996, with 321 hp, and not pay ferrari money?
3. e61 m5 touring: an estate with an engine that sounds like a F1 racecar.
2. e46 m3: the pinnacle of the NA inline six
1. E39 540i facelift: bulletproof car, introduction of angel eyes, the v8 lump often dynos at very high mileage still higher than factory specs. A car that can outlast all of us.

What could also be in there: the e53, for starting (or redefining) the (luxoury) SUV market (before that suv's where all terrainvehicles with ladderchassis and a posh interior.
E90 335d: the first truely fast diesel...
e30 325ix: first awd bmw, good chassis, good engine.

[rjd598]

Originally Posted by petalmasher

Not Sure I'd have the X6 on the list... All the top-heavy lumbering awkwardness and poor efficiency of an SUV without the cargo loading ability normally afforded by vertical lift-gate. sticking a 570 HP engine in it only makes it more grotesque.

sure have fun when it leaves you in the dust

[paradoxical3]

Originally Posted by fcman

3 X cars in the top 5 BMWs available right now? The X1, really? LOL, I honestly don't even know what to say

I drive an X1 and get this from a lot of people, usually right before I pass them on the road course.

What makes the X1 one of the best current BMWs is that it is basically an xdrive hatchback version of your car, minus the DCT that I wish I had.

The X1 35i is literally a 135i with a hatch - you can get underneath the car and look at chassis components and they have e82 stickers on them.

The really nice thing about this is that nearly all modifications for the 135i and e92 335i bolt right on. The suspension is even compatible with e92 M3 parts - I swapped my rear subframe bushings, control arms, etc. Wavetrac LSDs bolt right in, the turbo swaps all work, transmission flash, big brake kits, radiators, oil coolers, etc. It's all compatible.

So if you spend a little money to mod your car (which all of us do) you wind up with an AWD car that runs low 12's in the 1/4 mile and is very fast and reliable on the race track, while being an extremely practical and fun daily driver in any weather.

If you spend a lot of money to mod your car (like I did), you wind up with an AWD hatch that runs 11's in the 1/4 mile and is faster than even mildly modified e92 M3s around the road course. And a 450whp daily driver that is faster than 95% of cars you will ever meet on the road, that is great in snow, and can fit a 52 inch assembled rolling tool box in the hatch.

And to top it off - it has the best steering feel of any new BMW since it uses the old hydraulic steering rack.

Aesthetics of course are debatable, and I do think the X1 is an awkward looking car from the rear 3/4 view. But it doesn't look too bad with a new set of wheels I think.

There is no other crossover or suv on the market, Porsche included, that can hang with a X1 around a race track. Even stock, the car is very capable (nearly as much as a 335i xdrive).

Basically, the X1 is a fantastic platform because the 135i and 335i are great platforms - they are the same. That's what makes it a great BMW.

If you want to see more of my build you can check it out here. http://e84.xbimmers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=971464








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[IEDEI]

definitely agree with the 1M being #1 and the E30 being #2. But after that i would put the 1600/2002 as #3. I like the E9, but honestly i'd choose the E28 or even the E21 over the E9 in terms of actual desirability...

i don't like too many of the current BMWs on sale...although i will say the X1 drives better than most of the other newer BMWs on sale today....i usually request it as a loaner...gimme that hydraulic steering any day!

[itrocks4u]

Didn't read this but sure hope E90 LCI 328i xdrive is on the list.

[///mawana]

This list is biased towards later cars, the content renders it inappropriate! The title should be altered to something like '5 Best newer BMW models'.

[bmwluvr24]

Originally Posted by GuidoK

So the best bmw has a hood that is so flimsy that it breaks when you dont shut it with 2 men?

Also the parting from the angel eyes (exact words from the lovely hostess at bmw welt) and putting in an audi style drl is also something I don't like in the i8

BMW is slowly losing its unique character.

For me it should look something like this (note: best is not fastest):

5. e87 130i : introducing a rwd hot hatch in this millennium... brilliant and not seen since? the 70's?
4. e36 m3 euro spec facelift 1996. can you imagine, a light coupe in 1996, with 321 hp, and not pay ferrari money?
3. e61 m5 touring: an estate with an engine that sounds like a F1 racecar.
2. e46 m3: the pinnacle of the NA inline six
1. E39 540i facelift: bulletproof car, introduction of angel eyes, the v8 lump often dynos at very high mileage still higher than factory specs. A car that can outlast all of us.

What could also be in there: the e53, for starting (or redefining) the (luxoury) SUV market (before that suv's where all terrainvehicles with ladderchassis and a posh interior.
E90 335d: the first truely fast diesel...
e30 325ix: first awd bmw, good chassis, good engine.

E61 M5 Touring has got to be in my top 2 for cars I wish BMW brought to the US market! I drove one as a rental car in Scotland and I was in heaven!!!! Good call brother.

[fcman]

Originally Posted by paradoxical3

I drive an X1 and get this from a lot of people, usually right before I pass them on the road course.

What makes the X1 one of the best current BMWs is that it is basically an xdrive hatchback version of your car, minus the DCT that I wish I had.

The X1 35i is literally a 135i with a hatch - you can get underneath the car and look at chassis components and they have e82 stickers on them.

The really nice thing about this is that nearly all modifications for the 135i and e92 335i bolt right on. The suspension is even compatible with e92 M3 parts - I swapped my rear subframe bushings, control arms, etc. Wavetrac LSDs bolt right in, the turbo swaps all work, transmission flash, big brake kits, radiators, oil coolers, etc. It's all compatible.

So if you spend a little money to mod your car (which all of us do) you wind up with an AWD car that runs low 12's in the 1/4 mile and is very fast and reliable on the race track, while being an extremely practical and fun daily driver in any weather.

If you spend a lot of money to mod your car (like I did), you wind up with an AWD hatch that runs 11's in the 1/4 mile and is faster than even mildly modified e92 M3s around the road course. And a 450whp daily driver that is faster than 95% of cars you will ever meet on the road, that is great in snow, and can fit a 52 inch assembled rolling tool box in the hatch.

And to top it off - it has the best steering feel of any new BMW since it uses the old hydraulic steering rack.

Aesthetics of course are debatable, and I do think the X1 is an awkward looking car from the rear 3/4 view. But it doesn't look too bad with a new set of wheels I think.

There is no other crossover or suv on the market, Porsche included, that can hang with a X1 around a race track. Even stock, the car is very capable (nearly as much as a 335i xdrive).

Basically, the X1 is a fantastic platform because the 135i and 335i are great platforms - they are the same. That's what makes it a great BMW.

If you want to see more of my build you can check it out here. http://e84.xbimmers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=971464








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I agree with you on the performance aspect of the X1, I think it's a good blend of utility and performance, and I found it not too unpleasant to drive. But I found the interior quality absolutely unacceptable for the price. Maybe it's just the base model X1 that is like that, but I would have guessed I was in a car that costs in the low 20s, not the low 30s. I haven't checked out a better spec'd one though, hopefully it's more in line with the rest of the BMW lineup.

[Unknown_Car]

E39 m5 should of been on the list best looking 5 series.

[MKSixer]

Originally Posted by bmwluvr24

E61 M5 Touring has got to be in my top 2 for cars I wish BMW brought to the US market! I drove one as a rental car in Scotland and I was in heaven!!!! Good call brother.

Agreed!

Any, "Greatest BMW of blah, blah, blah", that doesn't include an S85 equipped car is invalid. It is one of the most celebrated engines every built by BMW and still kicks butt today!

[ShocknAwe]

Loved the X1 whenever I got it as a loaner.

[newoldbeemer]

I don't know about very old BMWs but here is my top five:

1. E92 M3
2. Z4M
3. 1M
4. M2
5. F82 M4

[gIzzE]

My Top 5 would be....


5th E30 325i (great everyday car that you could have real fun in).

4th E46 M3 CSL (as great as this was, I preferred my regular M3 as an all round package)

3rd E46 M3 SMG CS (just the perfect balance or refined and raw, and the SMG box in S6 is brutal and really adds so much more than even a 'stick' ever can. The CS just gives a better feel to the steering, but not worth the silly premium over the regular M3)

2nd E39 530i Sport Touring (best all round car ever made, made my F11 feel sterile and my 535d E61 feel cheap, and beats every A6 and Merc E Class as well).

1st BMW 507. Just a perfect looking classic.

[sygazelle]

I'd put the E39 on the list somewhere. I put over 200k on two E39 540s. They put a smile on my face every time I drove them. Bulletproof (except pixels, cupholders, and radiator necks), good looking, great size, and a blast to drive. I think we have the E39 to thank for upping the game in sporty sedans. When the E39 came out for the US market in '96 (model year '97) there was very little from which to choose for sporty sedans in that size and weight. I think its popularity got the attention of the industry and now we have many sporty sedans from which to choose.

[EternalVendetta]

5. X6 M
4. X1
3. X5 xDrive35d

"What the heck kind of list is this?!"

2. M235i

"...this list is actually one of the best lists that I've ever seen."

[F30lolz]

I used to have a X1 35i and loved it's power but let's not get nuts here. Top 5? It's a great SAV for what it is. +1 on the e39 M5 mentioned earlier. E39 5ers and e30 should have made that list. Would have been more comical if they had the Isetta on that list.

[kprocivic]

Originally Posted by F30lolz

I used to have a X1 35i and loved it's power but let's not get nuts here. Top 5? It's a great SAV for what it is. +1 on the e39 M5 mentioned earlier. E39 5ers and e30 should have made that list. Would have been more comical if they had the Isetta on that list.

banned for talking shit about urkels ride.