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Fascinating BMW Facts Nobody Seems To Know

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The German carmaker BMW is renowned for producing some of the most iconic motor vehicle designs during the last fifty years. Their logo is recognisable around the world, and the brand has become a symbol of luxury. Still, there are lots of interesting facts most people don’t seem to know about the company. With that in mind, automobile enthusiasts are going to love this post. After performing a lot of research, we’ve come up with some truly fascinating snippets of information that everyone should read. Contrary to popular belief, BMW is not just another fly-by-night car firm. Over the years, people working for that organisation have done some astonishing things. So, let’s take a look at some of the most exciting facts about this upmarket automobile legend.

BMW started out making aircraft engines

BMW first came into existence during World War 1 because the German government was short on parts for its fleet of aircraft. Buying the items from overseas proved difficult due to trade restrictions and the fact that the country was in the middle of a war. The company made an incredible profit from the venture, and successfully assisted Germany in boosting their efforts. However, under the Treaty of Versailles, the German government was no longer allowed to produce airplanes after 1919. By 1920, BMW decided to shift their efforts towards motorcycles, and by 1927, the company began to focus their ambitions on automobiles. Were it not for the fact that Germany became involved in the conflict, BMW might never have become a household name.

 

BMW almost became part of Mercedes

In the late 1950s, BMW risked bankruptcy after a series of systematic failures. The Cold War didn’t help the situation, and money was tight. In an attempt to perform a hostile takeover, the parent company behind Mercedes tried to buy the firm. They made a point of employing redundant ex-workers in the hope of making the deal. However, eventually, a private investor came to the aid of BMW and assisted the brand in getting back on track. Still, for a while there, it looked as though Mercedes might have taken over and closed the company down. The situation was not unlike the ones we see today where Google buys their smallest competitors to control the market.

 

The BMW logo isn’t a spinning propeller

Most people tend to think the BMW logo is made up of a spinning propeller. However, that couldn’t be further from the truth. In reality, the image represents the national colours of Bavaria. That’s the area of Germany where the firm first launched their first aircraft parts all those years ago. The blue and white colours were part of the Bavarian regional flag back then. So, the company just wanted to show some national pride when they first developed the logo. The original graphic was designed in-house at Bayerische Motoren Werke. Unfortunately, nobody knows the name of the person who came up with the concept. Still, it’s probably one of the most recognisable logos in the world. So, that individual should give themselves a well-earned pat on the back.

 

BMW produced their first electric car in 1972

The world is going mad for electric and hybrid vehicles at the moment. Most people seem to think they’re a new concept, but that just isn’t true. BMW created their first electric model in 1972! Unfortunately, the design never became commercially available, and there are some obvious reasons for that. The battery left a lot to be desired, and performance levels were not as BMW customers would expect. However, the vehicle still managed to travel at decent speeds all things considered. Reviewers from the time said the battery would cut out after around twenty minutes. Still, for the first attempt at electric travel, that isn’t too bad. The action also helps to highlight how this manufacturer has always led the way when it comes to innovation.

 

BMW built the world’s first motorcycle

Motorcycles were always going to be a difficult concept to master. However, BMW successfully bought the first one to the marketplace in 1937. The vehicle had a supercharged engine, and it could reach speeds of 278 km/hr. It’s still possible to find models from that time in motorbike museums. However, anyone who wants to purchase one will have to carefully manage your debt because they sell for hundreds of thousands of dollars. So, it’s probably best to just buy some museum tickets and take a look from behind the rope. BMW managed to break the mold when they released that bike onto the market. It led to immense success, and the company reportedly produced 82,000 motorcycle models by 2009.

 

BMW has a slogan

Here is a shocking fact most people don’t seem to know. Contrary to popular belief, the carmaker BMW has a slogan! The phrase has been in use for more than thirty-five years, so it’s rather odd that most folks can’t repeat it. Anyone who’s ever seen an advert for a BMW car on the television will have seen these words written somewhere on the screen. Even so, the vast majority of people have never paid attention. So, here goes:

BMW’s slogan is: “The ultimate driving machine.”

Does that ring any bells? Probably not, right? Still, it’s a term the company has used to promote its products for almost four decades. Look for it the next time a promotional clip pops up on the TV.

 

Those were six mostly unknown facts about the German carmaker BMW. Be sure to remember them because nobody knows when the information might help them to win a pub quiz. Whatever people think about the company, BMW has achieved more success than almost every other brand over the years. From aircraft engines to the first motorcycle. From electric cars to attractive logos, the people behind that world-renowned brand name are the most innovative and creative minds in the industry. Did we miss anything important? Are there other fascinating facts about BMW we need to consider? Let us know in the comments.

 

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Cool 1934 BMW R7 Concept Bike

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As cool bikes go, this vintage classic BMW R7 concept motorbike is in a league of its own. Issue #3 of BMW Motorcycle Magazine showcases the amazing R7 concept, describing it as “one of the most important, innovative and visually stunning motorcycles ever produced.” We agree. Although this BMW is over 70 years old, it could almost be a contemporary concept. It was shelved as WWII approached, and put in a box. In 2005, that box was opened, and BMW Classic started the restoration.

Think back 70 or 75 years to a time when design began to break away from the traditional and elaborate rationalism that had ensued for hundreds of years. As the styles of Art Nouveau, Art Deco, Streamline and Zigzag Moderne emerged after the Industrial Revolution, designers as well as consumers fully embraced the Age of the Machine. Shiny chrome surfaces lay across curving forms or over expansive horizontal planes and glorified a dynamic new world on the move.

And suddenly, design was muted as World War II approached. Inspiration was buried away, along with some innovative and visually stunning design work. Skip ahead to 2005 when some curious members of BMW Classic opened a box and found the R7 bike 75 assembled – although not in shining condition. The engine was corroded, the metalwork was in dire shape, the battery was unusable, but the opportunity for restoration could not be ignored.

Various specialists at the BMW workshop discovered the original design drawings in the archive collections and conjured up the ghosts from Streamline Moderne’s past. Missing parts were sourced, others were rebuilt, the chrome was polished and the frame was painted black. And the final test, retuning the 1934 BMW motorcycle to the street, proved to be worth the wait nearly three quarters of a century later.

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The Life Of Luxury: Cars You Can Afford

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As with a lot of industries, the automotive business is finding new ways to provide luxury to customers, without a massive premium. In the past, these sorts of cars would be reserved for big events and hire only, for most people. Now, though, you can get great deals on cars with loads of features.


What is a luxury car?

The definition of a luxury car is a little loose. But they will have; more features, better comfort, and higher performance than regular cars. These features will usually come with a higher price point, though.

Lexus

Lexus have been making luxury cars for years, and most people will know their name. But in more recent times, they’ve been focusing on melding luxury with economy. The result is a series of hybrid cars, which are topping the charts for fuel usage and low emissions. The CT is the smallest of their offerings; but they have models in different sizes, right up to large SUVs.


The luxury features on these cars include keyless entry and smart interior mirrors, amongst a host of other utilities. These cars can even save you money, as they’re all road tax exempt. It’s best to go to a specialist for a Lexus, as they’re not as common as other cars. Dealerships are common place in a lot of countries; whether you need Inchcape Lexus or Lexus Dubai, you’re likely to have a shop near you.


BMW

BMW is the standard choice for a lot of car owners, worldwide. Their entire range assumes that luxury is a requirement. Right from their cheapest hatchback to their most expensive coupe. Of course, you get what you pay for. So the lower budget cars aren’t quite as fancy as the top end. But, with BMW you tend to get excellent value for money.


BMWs are popular; they’re no trouble to find. Using BMW’s site, you can search for recommended dealerships, which are close to home. In every used car lot around the world, you’ll probably find a BMW. So, secondhand shopping isn’t a problem.

Rolls Royce

Although some would consider them unpractical, Rolls Royces can’t be missed from this list. They’re the first car manufacturer people think of when you mention luxury cars. Anyone, from Royal Families to Brides and Grooms, will use a Rolls. These cars only suit those looking for the very height of luxury, or those willing to do some work.


Only a small percentage of people can afford a brand new Rolls Royce, with the cheapest model coming in at £250,000. But, thanks to their astounding build quality, you can find loads of secondhand examples. To make it truly affordable, you need to be willing to do some work. Fully restored examples can sell for more than when they were new, so it’s cheaper to buy one that needs some attention. The best places to find these are at car auctions or specialist dealers.

This is just a handful of examples of the different and unique luxury cars available to you. Although more expensive than regular cars, they’re certainly not out of reach. When choosing a car, be sure to do plenty of research.



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BMW C650GT Review: The Best City Bike Around?

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In this review, we’ll take a look at the BMW C650GT. It’s a large scooter that’s dubbed as being great for riding around a city. I’ll find out what’s good and bad about it and answer one critical question. Is it the best city bike around?



Looks


We’ll start this review off by judging the looks of this BMW bike. Personally, I think it looks great. I love the design, and it’s very sleek and sexy. It’s very similar to a lot of the cars BMW create too. They’re built with a sense of elegance and class while maintaining some gorgeous looks. This bike is the same; it’s a classy bike for a classy person. You can see this beautiful bike in action here…



Performance



The BMW C650GT is a great little scooter to ride. The quality of the ride is right up there with the best around. You don’t feel as though you’re being thrown all over the place; everything is smooth. It corners like a dream, and the brakes are extremely responsive. The only slight issue I had was with the tyres. I felt as though they didn’t grip the surface as well as I expected. But, it’s not so much of an issue with the bike, it’s more to do with the tyre manufacturer. Plus, there are sites like www.bikersbasics.com that review tyres for you. So, you can pick out the best ones to fit your GT and enhance the ride even more.


Reliability

During my testing period, I found no problems with this bike at all. Everything continued to function as you would expect it too. There were no mechanical faults or issues with the body. As far as build quality goes, it’s one of the best around. You’re certainly getting a reliable bike when you buy this bad boy.

Price And Running Costs

Price is the thing that trips this bike up a bit. Buy it brand new and it can set you back quite a bit. Compared to a car, the price is fairly reasonable. However, there’s no denying that there are much cheaper bikes out there on the market. Plus, it’s not the most economical of bikes. It’s still cheaper to run than most cars, but I was hoping for a bit more. Are you getting good value for money with this bike? Probably not, but at least it looks cool!

Final Thoughts

Generally speaking, this bike is extremely elegant and classy. It’s the type of bike you buy if you want to make a statement. Is it the best city bike around? I wouldn’t say so. I think there are smaller bikes that are better at getting you through tight roads and traffic. But, it is one of the best and coolest looking bikes on the market today.


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Tech, Style And Speed Makes The New BMW A Dream

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We love when a new car is released onto the market, and the BMW 7 Series is no different. We know what you’re thinking. Does it capture the look of a BMW? Is it a winner on the track? How fast and how far will it go? What is this new tech you speak of? Don’t worry; we’re going to answer all these questions and more as we take the new BMW for a ride.








Looks


You’re not going to be wowed and amazed by the looks of this car. But that’s not because it’s not visually beautiful. It’s because you’ve seen it before. The new BMW doesn’t look all that much different from the older model. So much so we could show you a picture of the old one next to the new one and only true car fanatics would be able to tell the difference. The changes to the exterior are subtle and barely noticeable.



It’s still got the beautiful curves of the classic BMW. It still has the typical gorgeous bodywork. While the car does look modern, the latest BMWs always have so there’s no change there. The front is similar too, with distinguished curved headlights and a grand double grill. All in all, if you loved the older BMW you’re going to adore this one. But it’s when you step inside that things start to get interesting. Or rather when you approach the car for the first time. The new technology this car uses is where it excels, and it’s what’s going to make it stand out from the crowd.



Tech


We can promise you one thing. If you buy this car, you’re going to have some fun showing off the tech. As you approach the car, the door unlocks for you. There’s a sensor in the fob that does this automatically. You don’t have to touch anything. It works like magic. It’s everything you wanted and more from a car of the future. But that’s just the start of this vehicle’s hidden secrets.



You can remotely alter air conditioning settings as well. That means before you get in your car, it will be waiting for you at the perfect temperature. It’s even possible to check the amount of fuel you have left. Do you need to top up? You’ll know before you ever turn on the engine. Some people will say all these little features are overkill. But as you’ll discover when we discuss the price, the cost thankfully hasn’t ballooned. You can look at the cost of the older models on a site such as Autoworld.


Then, there’s the new gesture control. We told you it was the tech that was going to make this car unique. We weren’t lying. This is the first car on the market with gesture control. Essentially gesture control uses a tiny camera to track your movements. Due to this, you can change a song, answer the phone or indicate with a flick of your finger. You don’t have to touch anything on the dashboard. 


As you can probably imagine, since this is the first incarnation of gesture control there are some kinks to iron out. It doesn’t always work. But when it does, you’ll feel like a wizard. You’ll half expect the car to start replying in the voice of HAL 9000. While it won’t quite manage that it will welcome you with an onscreen named response as you hop inside. It’s incredible and frightening at the same time.





Comfort



Just how comfortable is this car? Well, some reviews have described it as a spa on wheels. While we wouldn’t go that far, we can’t deny it’s a treat. The seats will warm and massage your back while you’re driving. It’s got one of the most advanced forms of air con that we’ve ever seen, and that’s just the start. The interior has been painstakingly designed that keep the driver relaxed and happy on the road. It succeeds on both marks.








Performance



For performance, this car has got a top speed of 155MPH. While it won’t beat many supercars, there also aren’t a lot of typical cars on the road that are going to be able to keep up. And, with an acceleration under five seconds, they’re not even going to have the chance to try. To help you on your journey, the car comes with yet more tech. Including cruise control and optimisation for different weather conditions. If it’s about to rain, the car may well figure it out and start to adopt how it performs on the road.



Cost



So how much are you going to be paying for this technological dream machine? If you’ve got just over sixty thousand, you’ll be pleased to hear you can afford this great car. If not, you can always look at one of the older models. After all, we’re sure you agree any BMW is worth owning.

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Expert Advice For Choosing Your First Car

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Choosing your first car can be a lot of hassle. You don’t have the experience to ensure you get a good deal, and you probably don’t know much about engines. The advice on this page should help to make sure you spend your cash wisely. At the end of the day, there are lots of fantastic models out there. You just need to work out which is the most suitable for you. Make sure you follow each of the steps on this page to guarantee you don’t overlook anything important. You will struggle to get a refund if you purchase from the private market. So, you need to be certain you are making the right decision.


Research suitable models online


There are lots of car websites that provide reviews on the most popular models. You should check some of them out before moving on. You shouldn’t have to look far to find recommendations for new drivers. The insurance costs you have to pay are going to be high. So, it makes sense to go for something with a small engine. Anything larger than 1.4 litres is going to break the bank. It could cost you more than £2,000 to keep it on the roads each year. That is not an expense you should pay for your first car. When all’s said and done, you are 50% more likely to be involved in an accident during your first couple of years with a licence.


Visit lots of different dealers


The manager of CooperMini recently said that fewer drivers are making impulse purchases these days. In the modern world, people want to make sure they are getting the best deal. So, they always shop around when looking to buy a new car. You should follow suit. There is no reason to opt for the first vehicle you view. In fact, it makes sense to check out lots of cars before settling on your final choice.

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So long as you use that advice wisely, you should get a good outcome. The only other thing you need to think about relates to your negotiation skills. It’s a good idea to brush up and learn some savvy techniques before talking money with the seller. When all’s said and done, people who use the right strategies tend to save a significant amount of cash. That is money you should put towards paying for your insurance costs.


Take a trained mechanic


Presuming you know little about engines, you should employ the services of a local mechanic. Just call the garages in your area and ask if they can spare someone. You will usually have to pay a fee for their help. However, that is much less than the amount you might lose on a bad deal. If the mechanic tells you the car has issues, you should look elsewhere. They are the ones best placed to offer advice. Always let the professional sit behind the wheel during your test drive. Experts can tell a lot from the way a car feels to drive.


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Top 3 SUVs

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There’s nothing like going on a memorable road trip or holiday with friends and family, but it’s even better if you have a great car to travel in. SUVs are great for this because they are practical and spacious. They also make for great vehicle leasing options if you’re considering getting one.

If you’re still not convinced that getting an SUV is the way forward, consider the benefits, and check out our three favourite SUVs.

• You get extra seats! Some SUVs even have the option of seating up to 9 people. This is great if you want to take all your mates along for a weekend trip, or for fitting in all of your family’s luggage.

• You can carry loads of things that you wouldn’t be able to fit in a regular sized car, and your passenger’s space won’t be compromised either.

• SUVs have towing capabilities that other cars don’t have. They can handle extra weight such as a boat or trailer, which you normally wouldn’t be able to tow unless you got yourself a truck.

• It’s a lot safer. Because SUVs are higher up from the ground, they are able to drive over debris easily, and also handle more severe off-road and weather conditions. Most SUVs also have a grill on the front for extra protection for both the engine and passenger compartment.

BMW X5 

If you’re looking for a luxury crossover, the BMW X5 is great choice. It’s surprisingly agile for an SUV, and the engine offers some great performance. The rear space is a lot better than most of the SUVS in its class, and the fuel economy and emissions are pretty impressive too. The cabin is very driver friendly, with a very comfortable and supportive driving seat which can be easily adjusted. Dashboard controls are simple to use and the infotainment screen is definitely one of the best we’ve seen.


NISSAN JUKE 

Nissan Juke is a fun and funky, small crossover, which is quite speedy. It definitely stands out from the crowd with its dynamic and quirky style. Its light steering and all-wheel drive make it a great car for tearing down twisty, country roads and for throwing around bends. It also comes with plenty of tech, and has a pretty decent fuel economy. The only downside is that the boot is on the small side, and there’s not a huge amount of room for the rear passengers.

RANGE ROVER SPORT

A quiet car with tonnes of class. It’s also incredibly plush, so a great choice for people who enjoy travelling in comfort. The sport is also surprisingly practical with some pretty nifty handling and one of its best features is its luxurious cabin. The seven seats are incredibly comfortable, with an option to get a third row of seats fitted. There’s a handy infotainment screen and the all-round visibility is fantastic. However, it doesn’t come cheap, and the fuel economy isn’t great.

There are loads of UK car leasing options available online, so make sure you check them out!

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S1000RR – It’s Fast. Really Fast.

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BMW motorbikes are known for their performance and precision as a sport bike and here we showcase our favourite BMW motorbike to date, the BMW S1000RR. The bike was initially made by BMW Motorrad to compete in the 2009 Superbike World Championship. We love this bike because of it’s cool looks and it’s unbelievable acceleration as you can witness in the videos below. You just need to look at the awards that the S1000RR bike has won to see that this is a special bike including motorcycle of the year.

For a full gallery of S1000RR pictures then check out this page.

0 to 100km/h (62 mph) in just 2.9 seconds!


It’s fast acceleration thanks to its 14,000-rpm redlined 193 bhp engine coupled with the vast array of electronic trickery including top-notch traction control, sharp handling, comfortable ergonomics and excellent build quality make the S1000RR one of our favourites.

In March 2010, BMW released a video on YouTube titled “The oldest trick in the world”which highlighted the S1000RR’s acceleration by pulling a tablecloth off a long 20-seat dining table without disturbing the place settings and table decorations. Its popularity turned the ad viral, with 1.4 million views in the first ten days, and more than 3.7 million views as of October 2010. Here is that video:

The S1000RR is in our opinion the finest machine BMW have produced to date. We remember when the S1000RR first came out in 2008/09. The first 1,000 bikes that were produced were snapped up very quickly. This prompted BMW to go into full-scale commercial production in 2010.

BMW S1000RR vs Bugatti Veyron

Another cool video here demonstrating the power of the BMW S1000RR bike against one of the fastest cars in the World.

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