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1-Series

2004 on

BMW 1-Series Hatchback
Hatchback 2004 on
  • Great to drive, excellent diesels, newer cars come with Efficient Dynamics
  • Premium price, space in the rear is tight
BMW 1-Series Coupé
Coupé 2007 on
  • Good to look at, a delight to drive
  • Premium pricing
BMW 1-Series Convertible
Convertible 2008 on
  • Great to drive; stylish; well made
  • A bit on the pricey side; not much room in the back
3-Series

2005 on

BMW 3-Series Saloon
Saloon 2005 on
  • Great to drive, decent level of standard kit
  • Expensive options
BMW 3-Series Convertible
Convertible 2007 on
  • Beautiful roof; great engines; finesse
  • Coupe is much cheaper and does a similar job
BMW 3-Series Touring
Touring 2005 on
  • Impressive all-round ability
  • Could be bigger in the rear.
BMW 3-Series Coupé
Coupé 2006 on
  • Great engines, excellent handling
  • Some expensive options
BMW 3-Series M3
M3 2007 on
  • Purposeful styling additions over standard 3-Series, great to drive, standard leather and navigation
  • List price now north of £50,000

1998 to 2007

BMW 3-Series Saloon
Saloon 1998 to 2005
  • Roomy, quick, pleasure to drive
  • Popular equals common, pricey
BMW 3-Series Compact
Compact 2001 to 2004
  • Refined, packed with gizmos, image
  • Expensive, ugly, cramped in the back
BMW 3-Series Touring
Touring 1999 to 2005
  • Roomy, refined, technically brilliant
  • Expensive, no longer best in class
BMW 3-Series Coupé
Coupé 1999 to 2006
  • Beautifully styled, technically superb
  • Expensive, poorly equipped
BMW 3-Series Convertible
Convertible 2000 to 2007
  • Refined, roomy, technically brilliant.
  • High prices.
BMW 3-Series M3 Coupé
M3 Coupé 2001 to 2007
  • Looks as good as it goes
  • Perhaps overshadowed now by Audi's RS4
BMW 3-Series M3 Convertible
M3 Convertible 2001 to 2007
  • Wind in your hair makes M3 even more thrilling
  • A lot of money for a 3-Series BMW

1991 to 2001

BMW 3-Series Saloon
Saloon 1991 to 1998
  • Image; smooth six cylinder engines; great to drive
  • Not much standard equipment; limited rear legroom; less exclusive than some rivals
BMW 3-Series Compact
Compact 1994 to 2001
  • Image; smooth six cylinder engines; great to drive
  • Not much standard equipment; limited rear legroom; less exclusive than some rivals
BMW 3-Series Touring
Touring 1995 to 1999
  • Smooth six cylinder engines; great to drive
  • Not much standard equipment; limited rear legroom; less exclusive than some rivals
BMW 3-Series Coupé
Coupé 1992 to 1999
  • Image; smooth six cylinder engines; great to drive
  • Not much standard equipment; limited rear legroom; less exclusive than some rivals
BMW 3-Series Convertible
Convertible 1993 to 2000
  • Image; smooth six cylinder engines; great to drive
  • Not much standard equipment; limited rear legroom; less exclusive than some rivals
5-Series

2003 on

BMW 5-Series Saloon
Saloon 2003 on
  • Aspirational image, good to drive, exceptional fuel economy
  • Styling still not to everyone's taste
BMW 5-Series Touring
Touring 2003 on
  • Aspirational image, good to drive, exceptional fuel economy
  • Styling still not to everyone's taste
BMW 5-Series M5
M5 2005 on
  • Awesome engine and gadgets galore, Touring version's practicality
  • Porsche 911 money; waiting list

1996 to 2004

BMW 5-Series Saloon
Saloon 1996 to 2003
  • Understated elegance, engines, driving pleasure
  • Little chance of finding a bargain
BMW 5-Series Touring
Touring 1997 to 2004
  • Understated elegance, practical, image, good to drive.
  • Hardly a proper estate car.

1988 to 1997

BMW 5-Series Saloon
Saloon 1988 to 1996
  • Good to drive; refined engines
  • High running costs; changing ownership profile
6-Series

2004 on

BMW 6-Series Coupé
Coupé 2004 on
  • BMW delivers on its promise of the ultimate driving machine
  • Given its size rear space is limited
BMW 6-Series Convertible
Convertible 2004 on
  • Muscular styling, great engines
  • More for posing in than driving
BMW 6-Series M6
M6 2005 on
  • Jekyll and Hyde personality, performance, convertible version
  • Pricey relative to M5
7-Series

2002 on

BMW 7-Series
Saloon 2002 on
  • Softer looks from 2005-on; refined
  • High tech controls and styling will not suit everyone.

1994 to 2002

BMW 7-Series
Saloon 1994 to 2002
  • Performance, refinement.
  • Running costs.
X3

2004 on

BMW X3
Estate 2004 on
  • Comfortable, refined, stylish
  • Expensive for what it is.
X5

2007 on

BMW X5
Estate 2007 on
  • Bigger, roomier, more efficient, better to drive . . .
  • . . . and a bit more expensive

2000 to 2007

BMW X5
Estate 2000 to 2007
  • Image, space, refinement.
  • V8s lose money quickly
X6

2008 on

BMW X6
Estate 2008 on
  • Road presence, performance
  • Rear headroom restrictive
Z3

1996 to 2002

BMW Z3
Roadster 1996 to 2002
  • Build quality, easy to drive, retro styling.
  • Expensive, smaller engines are unexceptional.
Z3M

1998 to 2002

BMW Z3M Coupé
Coupé 1998 to 2002
  • Awesome engine, distinctive looks, rewarding chassis
  • M3 has similar performance and more practicality
Z4

2003 on

BMW Z4
Roadster 2003 on
  • Performance, looks, quick-action roof
  • Looks might put off some
BMW Z4 Coupé
Coupé 2006 on
  • Good to look at and drive
  • No affordable engine options
Z4M

2006 on

BMW Z4M
Roadster 2006 on
  • Awesome engine
  • Hard work in a traffic jam