BMWs That Define Real Performance—Not Just Something You Plug In Overnight

Founded in 1916, BMW is renowned for producing uncompromising luxury and high-performance vehicles. The company has built many of the world’s finest and most iconic cars. Here are the 20 Best BMWs ever built.

20. 1955 BMW 507

This iconic roadster was based on the previous 501 and 503 models. The 507 sported a 3.2-liter V8 engine that cranked out 150 horsepower. It reached a top speed of 122 mph and accelerated from 0 to 60 mph in 11.1 seconds. Today, the 507 regularly collects above $1 million. A 1957 sold for $5M, the most expensive BMW ever.

19. 1956 BMW 503 Cabriolet

BMW took aim at the American luxury market with the 503 and delivered both comfort and power. It featured a 3.2-liter V8 that produced 140 horsepower. The 503 accelerated from 0-60 in 12.8 seconds and attained a top speed of 118 mph. US sales faltered, and only 413 units were produced, available in both coupe and convertible variants.

18. 1962 BMW 3200 CS

The BMW 3200 CS was designed by the Italian automobile company Bertone. It was the final luxury model, which began with the 501 in the 1950s. Powered by a 3.2-liter V8 engine, it was coupled with a four-speed manual transmission. The 3200 CS reached 0 to 60 mph in 8.9 seconds and achieved a top speed of 124 mph.

17. 1973 BMW 3.0 CSL

Considered the most powerful CS ever made, the BMW 3.0 CSL was the racing version of the BMW E9 Coupe. Its 2,788-cc engine produced 168 horsepower. The 1971 3.0 CS had a 2,986-cc engine delivering 180 ponies. A later CSL sported a 3,153-cc engine that cranked out a massive 206 horsepower and reached a top speed of 137 mph.

16. 1978 BMW M1

Produced from 1978-1981, all 460 were handbuilt, which makes the M1 one of the rarest BMWs ever. It featured a 3.5-liter, straight-six motor that delivered 271 horsepower. It was paired with a Kugelfishcer-Bosch mechanical fuel injection system and reached a top speed of 162 mph. A later 850 horsepower engine reached a maximum speed of 192 mph.

15. 1998 BMW M Coupe

BMW’s racing division produced this high-performance variant of the Z3 coupe. No compromises were made to its power production and featured quad-exhaust tips. Its engine and transmission were imported directly from Germany. The initial engine was a 3.2-liter, straight-six cranking out 321 horsepower. It reached 0-60 mph in 5.4 seconds with a top speed electronically limited to 155 mph.

14. 1999 BMW Z8

The BMW Z8 was a two-door roadster featuring a 5.0-liter V8 engine delivering 400 horsepower. The motor was placed behind the front axle, providing 50/50 weight distribution. It reached 0-60 in 4.2 seconds and could hit 180 mph but was electronically limited to 155 mph. About 5700 units were produced between 2000-2003, half of which were shipped to the US.

13. BMW M5 Touring

First produced in 1992, the BMW M5 Touring is a spacious wagon that’s also a powerful sports car. This five-seater sedan features race-based technology sourced from the M5. Its 3.8-liter straight-six DOHC motor delivers 340 horsepower. It reaches 0-60 mph in 5.9 seconds and is electronically limited to 155 mph. Only 891 units were produced, making it very rare.

12. BMW 2002

Dating back to the 1960s, the BMW 2002 is considered one of the best-looking BMWs ever. Initially, it was underpowered with a single carburetor, 2.0-liter engine delivering 100 horsepower. In 1974, a turbo version offered a 2.0-liter engine with 170 horsepower. Before the BMW M, this was the go-to sports car and remains one of the most in-demand vintage vehicles.

11. BMW Z3

The Z3 debuted in 1996 as a successor to the limited production Z1. This two-seat convertible was built on the heritage of the 503 roadster. The initial Z3 featured a 4-cylinder M43B18 engine providing 114 horsepower. A later upgrade featured a six-cylinder M52TUB20. In 1999, another upgrade offered a straight-six S50 motor pumping 316 horsepower.

10. BMW M6 Cabrio

This was the second-generation performance version of BMW’s 6 Series, and it blended a perfect combination of luxury, comfort, looks, and power. It’s part sports car and roadster. It’s powered by a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 engine with direct fuel injection that pumps out 500 horsepower. Standard speed tops at 155 mph, but with the driver’s package, it reaches 190 mph.

9. 2011 BMW 1M Coupé

Shortly after launch, this lightweight, compact Coupe set a benchmark for high performance. Its 3.0-liter straight-six motor delivers 340 horsepower at 5,900 rpm and accelerates from 0-62 mph in 4.9 seconds. In this model, air intakes were used for the first time to improve aerodynamics. It also features a rear spoiler and quad-exhaust tips.

8. 2016 BMW M2

The BMW M2 is the high-performance variant of the 2 Series lineup. The focus of the M2 was delivering uncompromising performance. It does this well with its 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-6 engine that kicks out 365 hp at 6500 rpm. It features a manual transmission and can accelerate from 0-62 mph in 4.5 seconds.

7. 2018 BMW M5

This luxury sport sedan is one of the most uncompromising cars in BMW’s lineup. It is the first in the M line to offer the “M xDrive” all-wheel-drive mode as standard, and drivers can switch to fully rear-wheel-drive mode. The BMW M5 features a 4.4-liter, twin-turbo V8 engine producing a monstrous 600 horsepower. It reaches 0-60 mph in 3.2 seconds.

6. BMW M8 Gran Coupe

The M8 Gran Coupe is an aggressive-looking sedan and the four-door coupé variant of the high-performance 8 Series. Its looks are due to its massive front air-intakes for its high-performance engine that delivers 617 horsepower. The M8 Gran Coupe features a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 that does 0-60 mph in 2.7 seconds. It’s paired with an 8-speed M automatic transmission system.

5. 1986 E30 M3

BMW has produced many iterations of the M3, but purists look to the first generation from 1986-1991 as the most desirable. This generation featured a light and nimble chassis and was available as a two-door only. It’s equipped with a compact S14, 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine up front that delivers 200 naturally aspirated horsepower.

4. 1955 Isetta 250

The Isetta was built to maximize compactness and efficiency. In that regard, this small car is unique in achieving its goals in extreme fashion. This five-foot-long Coupe holds two passengers, possibly three squeezed together. The original version was a three-wheel prototype, and BMW later added a fourth wheel for improved stability. Over 160,000 were sold between 1955-1962.

3. 1985 E28 M5

The E28 5 Series is a heavier, more powerful cruiser and was the very first BMW vehicle to receive the M performance designation. It’s powered by a M88 inline-six engine borrowed from the M1 supercar. Its 3.5-liter engine creates 286 horsepower at 6,500 RPM. Unheard of for a sedan at the time.

2. 1933 303

Two iconic features debuted in the 303 and carry on today: The rounded kidney grill styling and the in-line six-cylinder engine. The 303 also initiated BMW’s focus on sporty image and the available configurations of a sedan, coupe, and roadster. Also noteworthy was the rack and pinion steering system and independent front suspension, which is now a modern standard.

1. 2001 E46 M3 GTR Strassenversion

This is the rarest production vehicle BMW ever made. It is a homologation special for the M3 race car that competed in the Le Mans series. Only ten street-legal versions were ever produced. Differences in the E46 include swapping the in-line six for a 4.0-liter V8 detuned from 444 horsepower to 350. There are also various chassis and weight-saving mods.