Mechanic Advisor

10 Amazing Facts About BMW That You Never Knew

Posted July 10, 2014 by Ken Kupchik



BMW's enthusiasts believe that their cars are the pinnacle of automotive engineering. It's one of the cars that people get to symbolize that they've finally "made it." BMW mechanics are some of the best trained technicians in the business, as the cars have some unique engineering. The Bavarian automaker has a long and interesting history dating back to 1916 and the middle of World War I. But there's much more to this company than the iconic numbers and letters that identify the "Ultimate Driving Machine." Here are some incredible facts about the BMW brand that you probably never knew:

1) BMW started out making airplane engines - BMW came about after a company called Rapp Motors merged with an airplane maker named Otto Werke and started making airplane engines for the World War I effort. After Germany's loss in the War, the Treaty of Versailles forced Germany to disarm, and the company switched to making motorcycles and automobiles.

2) What does the blue and white in the logo mean? - Although many people believe that the blue and white in the BMW logo symbolize the sky behind the spinning propellor, the blue and white are actually the national colors of the German state of Bavaria, home of the BMW brand.

3) Mercedes almost bought BMW - In the late 1950's BMW was in serious financial trouble. Mercedes' parent company, Daimler-Benz attempted a hostile takeover of the struggling brand, but was rebuffed as BMW fought back, with even the lowest-level employees helping to buy back the company's stock. Could you imagine a world where the two popular German automakers weren't competing against each other?

4) BMW even makes bicycles - Over the years, BMW has actually created many variations of high-end bicycles that are available for sale online and through stores. Although the availability in the United States is limited to a Cruiser Bike and a Kid's Bike, you can just imagine how popular a BMW mountain bike would be in the suburbs as everyone tried to one-up their neighbor with the newest model.

5) Why did BMW designate their platforms with an 'E'? - Instead of using automobile platforms, BMW identified their different 'generations' by a development code. The 'E' stands for 'entwicklungsnummeren' or 'development number,' hence the E60, E90, E91 etc. BMW has since switched to 'F' since they ran out of E-numbers.

6) BMW also owns some other well-known automakers - A BMW might symbolize that you've finally "made it," but one of the other car-makers they own symbolizes that you've "really MADE IT." BMW owns Rolls-Royce, considered the pinnacle of luxury automotive manufacturing, through their ownership of MINI-cars, which is the parent company of Rolls.

7) They still manufacture parts from the 1940's - BMW still produces parts from decades ago, with a program aimed at keeping classic BMW collectors happy and their cars on the road. You can find out more information about the program here.

8) Land Rover was once owned by BMW - If there is such a thing as a luxury car overdose, it might have happened when BMW owned the British company Rover Group, manufacturer of Land Rovers and Range Rovers, from 1994 until 2000. The experiment didn't work out and after some heavy losses, Ford purchased the Land Rover brand.

9) BMW celebrates April Fool's day in the UK -
The marketing team for BMW publishes humorous advertisements in newspapers on April 1, which are actually hilarious. They've spoofed everything from a tiny windshield wiper that keeps the car's emblem badge clean, to a feature to control your car's tire pressure from the dashboard. You can view some of the best ones here.

10) So what does BMW actually stand for? -
The million dollar question that not many people actually ask is what do the three iconic letters actually mean? Drum-roll please....BMW stands for Bayerische Motoren Werke, which translated into English means Bavarian Motor Works.


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