Motor Museum / Manufacturers / BMW

Manufacturer history

BMW

—manufacturer era begins

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41published models

Origins

How the company began.

The founder story explains why the later cars took the form they did.

Manufacturer history

BMW through time.

Read the company as a sequence of engineering, design and business decisions.

Museum catalogue

Every model gets a plaque.

An image on the right, a concise interpretation on the left and a clear statement of why the car belongs in the chronology. Missing images fall back gracefully until you upload the WebP.

1950s

1 model

1956–1959Passenger Car

507

Discovery Timeline model-nameplate record. Historical curatorial starter.

Why it matters: This model forms part of the manufacturer’s evolving road-car chronology.

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BMW 507

1960s

1 model

1968–1976Passenger Car

2002

Discovery Timeline model-nameplate record. Historical curatorial starter.

Why it matters: This model forms part of the manufacturer’s evolving road-car chronology.

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BMW 2002

1970s

4 models

1972–2024Passenger Car

5 Series

Discovery Timeline model-nameplate record. US catalogue + historical curatorial range.

Why it matters: This model forms part of the manufacturer’s evolving road-car chronology.

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BMW 5 Series

1975–2024Passenger Car

3 Series

Discovery Timeline model-nameplate record. US catalogue + historical curatorial range.

Why it matters: This model forms part of the manufacturer’s evolving road-car chronology.

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BMW 3 Series

1977–2024Passenger Car

7 Series

Discovery Timeline model-nameplate record. US catalogue + historical curatorial range.

Why it matters: This model forms part of the manufacturer’s evolving road-car chronology.

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BMW 7 Series

1978–1981Passenger Car

M1

Discovery Timeline model-nameplate record. Historical curatorial starter.

Why it matters: This model forms part of the manufacturer’s evolving road-car chronology.

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BMW M1

1990s

4 models

1992–2024Passenger Car

8 Series

Discovery Timeline model-nameplate record. US catalogue observation.

Why it matters: This model forms part of the manufacturer’s evolving road-car chronology.

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BMW 8 Series

1992–2023Passenger Car

M5

Discovery Timeline model-nameplate record. US catalogue observation.

Why it matters: This model forms part of the manufacturer’s evolving road-car chronology.

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BMW M5

1995–2024Passenger Car

M3

Discovery Timeline model-nameplate record. US catalogue observation.

Why it matters: This model forms part of the manufacturer’s evolving road-car chronology.

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BMW M3

1996–2002Passenger Car

Z3

Discovery Timeline model-nameplate record. US catalogue observation.

Why it matters: This model forms part of the manufacturer’s evolving road-car chronology.

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BMW Z3

2000s

11 models

2000–2002Passenger Car

M

Discovery Timeline model-nameplate record. US catalogue observation.

Why it matters: This model forms part of the manufacturer’s evolving road-car chronology.

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BMW M

2000–2024Passenger Car

X5

Discovery Timeline model-nameplate record. US catalogue observation.

Why it matters: This model forms part of the manufacturer’s evolving road-car chronology.

Open full museum record ↗

BMW X5

2000–2003Passenger Car

Z8

Discovery Timeline model-nameplate record. US catalogue observation.

Why it matters: This model forms part of the manufacturer’s evolving road-car chronology.

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BMW Z8

2003–2024Passenger Car

Z4

Discovery Timeline model-nameplate record. US catalogue observation.

Why it matters: This model forms part of the manufacturer’s evolving road-car chronology.

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BMW Z4

2004–2019Passenger Car

6 Series

Discovery Timeline model-nameplate record. US catalogue observation.

Why it matters: This model forms part of the manufacturer’s evolving road-car chronology.

Open full museum record ↗

BMW 6 Series

2004–2024Passenger Car

X3

Discovery Timeline model-nameplate record. US catalogue observation.

Why it matters: This model forms part of the manufacturer’s evolving road-car chronology.

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BMW X3

2006–2019Passenger Car

M6

Discovery Timeline model-nameplate record. US catalogue observation.

Why it matters: This model forms part of the manufacturer’s evolving road-car chronology.

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BMW M6

2006–2008Passenger Car

Z4 M

Discovery Timeline model-nameplate record. US catalogue observation.

Why it matters: This model forms part of the manufacturer’s evolving road-car chronology.

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BMW Z4 M

2007–2008Passenger Car

Alpina B7

Discovery Timeline model-nameplate record. US catalogue observation.

Why it matters: This model forms part of the manufacturer’s evolving road-car chronology.

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BMW Alpina B7

2008–2013Passenger Car

1 Series

Discovery Timeline model-nameplate record. US catalogue observation.

Why it matters: This model forms part of the manufacturer’s evolving road-car chronology.

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BMW 1 Series

2008–2024Passenger Car

X6

Discovery Timeline model-nameplate record. US catalogue observation.

Why it matters: This model forms part of the manufacturer’s evolving road-car chronology.

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BMW X6

2010s

12 models

2010–2024Passenger Car

X5 M

Discovery Timeline model-nameplate record. US catalogue observation.

Why it matters: This model forms part of the manufacturer’s evolving road-car chronology.

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BMW X5 M

2010–2024Passenger Car

X6 M

Discovery Timeline model-nameplate record. US catalogue observation.

Why it matters: This model forms part of the manufacturer’s evolving road-car chronology.

Open full museum record ↗

BMW X6 M

2013–2024Passenger Car

X1

Discovery Timeline model-nameplate record. US catalogue observation.

Why it matters: This model forms part of the manufacturer’s evolving road-car chronology.

Open full museum record ↗

BMW X1

2014–2024Passenger Car

2 Series

Discovery Timeline model-nameplate record. US catalogue observation.

Why it matters: This model forms part of the manufacturer’s evolving road-car chronology.

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BMW 2 Series

2014–2024Passenger Car

4 Series

Discovery Timeline model-nameplate record. US catalogue observation.

Why it matters: This model forms part of the manufacturer’s evolving road-car chronology.

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BMW 4 Series

2014–2021Passenger Car

i3

Discovery Timeline model-nameplate record. US catalogue observation.

Why it matters: This model forms part of the manufacturer’s evolving road-car chronology.

Open full museum record ↗

BMW i3

2014–2019Passenger Car

i8

Discovery Timeline model-nameplate record. US catalogue observation.

Why it matters: This model forms part of the manufacturer’s evolving road-car chronology.

Open full museum record ↗

BMW i8

2015–2024Passenger Car

M4

Discovery Timeline model-nameplate record. US catalogue observation.

Why it matters: This model forms part of the manufacturer’s evolving road-car chronology.

Open full museum record ↗

BMW M4

2015–2024Passenger Car

X4

Discovery Timeline model-nameplate record. US catalogue observation.

Why it matters: This model forms part of the manufacturer’s evolving road-car chronology.

Open full museum record ↗

BMW X4

2016–2024Passenger Car

M2

Discovery Timeline model-nameplate record. US catalogue observation.

Why it matters: This model forms part of the manufacturer’s evolving road-car chronology.

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BMW M2

2018–2024Passenger Car

X2

Discovery Timeline model-nameplate record. US catalogue observation.

Why it matters: This model forms part of the manufacturer’s evolving road-car chronology.

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BMW X2

2019–2024Passenger Car

X7

Discovery Timeline model-nameplate record. US catalogue observation.

Why it matters: This model forms part of the manufacturer’s evolving road-car chronology.

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BMW X7

2020s

8 models

2020–2024Passenger Car

X3 M

Discovery Timeline model-nameplate record. US catalogue observation.

Why it matters: This model forms part of the manufacturer’s evolving road-car chronology.

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BMW X3 M

2021–2024Passenger Car

M8

Discovery Timeline model-nameplate record. US catalogue observation.

Why it matters: This model forms part of the manufacturer’s evolving road-car chronology.

Open full museum record ↗

BMW M8

2021–2024Passenger Car

X4 M

Discovery Timeline model-nameplate record. US catalogue observation.

Why it matters: This model forms part of the manufacturer’s evolving road-car chronology.

Open full museum record ↗

BMW X4 M

2022–2024Passenger Car

i4

Discovery Timeline model-nameplate record. US catalogue observation.

Why it matters: This model forms part of the manufacturer’s evolving road-car chronology.

Open full museum record ↗

BMW i4

2022–2024Passenger Car

iX

Discovery Timeline model-nameplate record. US catalogue observation.

Why it matters: This model forms part of the manufacturer’s evolving road-car chronology.

Open full museum record ↗

BMW iX

2023–2024Passenger Car

i7

Discovery Timeline model-nameplate record. US catalogue observation.

Why it matters: This model forms part of the manufacturer’s evolving road-car chronology.

Open full museum record ↗

BMW i7

2024Passenger Car

i5

Discovery Timeline model-nameplate record. US catalogue observation.

Why it matters: This model forms part of the manufacturer’s evolving road-car chronology.

Open full museum record ↗

BMW i5

2024Passenger Car

XM

Discovery Timeline model-nameplate record. US catalogue observation.

Why it matters: This model forms part of the manufacturer’s evolving road-car chronology.

Open full museum record ↗

BMW XM