Got way too much time on your hands? Got a feverish, almost OCD-like passion for everything from the Bavarian Motor Werks? Have we got an article for you!
That’s right, Car Magazine has a fascinating article listing off every model designation BMW has used, from 1968, right up to the present day. If you’ve ever wondered — or haven’t, but are really good at memorizing things and like to impress people at car-shows — you should wander over to Car for an update.
Ross Ballot 
Jeff Glucker
Perhaps you would rather use my abbreviated mental breakdown of BMW automobiles:
– 504. Wait, 507? Well, whatever that really sexy convertible was that I'll never see in person.
– Isetta
– 2002
– 2002 Alpina, the amazingly cool version of the 2002
– A bunch of square-ish sedans that start with "E"
– M3, the amazingly cool version of those square-ish sedans that start with "E"
– 318i, the amazingly slow version of the square-ish sedans that start with "E"
– That really cool 635CSi Hawk drove on "Spenser for Hire"
– M6, the amazingly cool version of that 635CSi Hawk drove on "Spenser for Hire."
– M1. Wait, Z1? Well, whatever that really sexy supercar was was that I'll never see in person.
– Z3 Roadster
– Z3 Coupe, the amazingly cool version of the Z3
– That really ugly replacement for the Z3 Roadster with the whacked-out side turn indicators
– Some weird SUV things
– BMW X6 M, the amazingly cool version of those weird SUV things.
M1 = sexy supercar I'll never see in person
Z1 = sexy droptop I'll never see in person, with the weird doors that drop down.
Saw one once at Cars & Coffee… it is seriously the best saturday morning car show on the planet.
It is. So blessed to be in Socal…
Yup, I have seen both an M1 and Z1 in San Diego too.
Z1 was the vertical-door wedge. M1 was the superwedge
At LeMons, there was a BMW 2000 Touring… very cool…
I saw that in your photos, and I almost had a coronary thinking someone was going to be racing it. I was going to march down there and box his or her ears. And then it dawned on me that no one could be that much of a Philistine.
It's an RHD car from Cyprus to boot!
Yours?
Bavarian Motor Werks? Is that seriously what BMW stands for?
/Dumb
Will you just sign up for an intense debate acct so my +1 means something?
What this really points out is BMW's exploding product line. For the longest time it was 3, 5 and 7 Series with an occasional 6 Series. All cars. All done very well. Then, all of a sudden, there's X3, X5, Z3, Z4, Z8, and M versions of those. Wow. Munich is busy.
i agree… though i have no arguements with the z3 coupe (shooting brake!… and not necessarily sadly known to us U.S. people as the M coupe..)… and honestly… the z4 coupe isn't too bad… like the 3 better… and no problem with the Z8 what-so-ever… there are 3 or or four around indianapolis that i occasionally get to see in parking lots… or driving… but screw all the SUVs…….