BMW or Bayerische Motoren Werke, ( Bavarian Motor Works) is a German automobile, motorcycle and engine manufacturing company founded in 1916. The circular blue and white BMW logo or roundel is portrayed by BMW as the rotation of an aircrafts propeller, that signifies the white blades cutting through the blue sky and also when combined, these two colours  represent the flag of Bavaria, Germany.

BMW entered its existence as a business entity following a restructuring of the Rapp Motorenwerke aircraft engine manufacturing firm in 1917. At the end of World War 2, in 1918, BMW was forced to cease aircraft engine production. By 1959, the automotive division of BMW was at a financial loss. It was only until the year 1992, when BMW acquired a large stake in California based company Designworks USA that it notably realigned itself financially.

In 1994, BMW bought the British Rover Group which it only owned for six years. By 2000, Rover was making huge losses and again BMW found itself in a financial predicament and then decided to sell the combined company. BMW then retained all rights to build the new Mini, which was launched in 2001. In 2006, the BMW group (including Mini and Rolls-Royce franchises) produced 1,366,837 cars, which were manufactured in five countries around the globe.

It has been reported that about 56 per cent of the BMW brand vehicles produced are powered by petrol engines and the remaining 44 per cent are powered by diesel engines. Of those petrol vehicles, about 27 per cent are four cylinder models and about nine per cent are eight-cylinder models.

BMW's  full sized flagship executive sedans are the 7 series family car. Typically, BMW introduces many of their innovations first in the 7 Series. The 7 Series Hydrogen vehicle, featuring one of the world's first hydrogen fueled internal combustion engines, is fueled by liquid hydrogen and emits only clean water vapor, something BMW is working to improve its stakes as a global warming conscious company.

BMW only really got going in the world markets with the release of the BMW E21 in the wake of the1973 oil crisis and was found, attracting customers seeking both prestige and economy and with it almost doubling BMW's worldwide auto sales figures in three years, and winning numerous automotive global car makers awards and honors for their efforts.

Three decades later, the BMW 3 Series is still the best-selling car in its class. There have been 5 generations of the 3 Series car, and their respective chassis codes depicted as follows:

• BMW E21 – (1975–1983) 3 Series
• BMW E30 – (1983–1991) 3 Series
• BMW E36 – (1991–2000) 3 Series
• BMW E46 – (1998–2005) 3 Series
• BMW E90 – (2005/ 2006) 3 Series saloon
• BMW E91 – (2005/EUR, 2006/US) 3 Series Touring
• BMW E92 – (2007–current) 3 Series Coupe
• BMW E93 – (2007–current) 3 Series Convertible

 In racing the BMW Team UK won the ETCC in 2004, and continued the winning form in WTCC in 2005 in an E46 3-series race car, while the E90 3 series repeated this feat in the years 2006 and 2007. The E36 320D won the 24 Hour Nurburgring in 1998. The 3-Series' rear wheel drive layout and design have both been attributed to its victory in each and every class of motor racing.

The M Models are race-ready production vehicles. Since its debut, the M3 is heralded in enthusiast circles, in large part due to its unique geometry and award winning engines. The latest V8 powered platform became available in 2008 for the South African market with the release of the all new E92, and later the cabriolet E93, and E90. The M6 is the M division's version of the 6 Series, and shares its engine and gearbox drivetrain with the M5.

BMW now has a reputable history of success in Formula One Racing. BMW powered cars have won 20 races and in 2006 BMW took over the Sauber Racing team to become Formula One Racing car constructors. BMW was an engine supplier to Williams, Benetton, Brabham and Arrows teams.

BMW won Le Mans 24 Hour endurance race in 1999 with the BMW V12 LMR car designed by Team Williams Grand Prix Engineering. BMW won the 24 Hours Nurburgring 18 times and the 1000km Nurburgring twice in1976 and 1981. BMW won the Daytona 24 Hour Race 2 times in1976 and 2011.

With its increased commitment to production car racing, BMW has returned to back to its roots showcasing that the race track is the perfect place to demonstrate the impressive sporting characteristics of BMW vehicles, against our core competitors in a high powered environment of racing circles in a worldwide class of its own.

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The E21 was the first generation of BMW 3 series produced from the year 1975 to 1983

The BMW E21 was manufactured as a two door salon car series that went into production in 1975 and ended its year of motor vehicle production in 1983. Originally it was a replacement for the BMW 2002ti which was manufactured from 1962 – 1975. The first E21 to be produced was fitted with the 1500cc naturally aspirated engine. Initially a family of four door sedans and two-door coupes, the new production line was extended to manufacture two door sports sedans only.

The interior and the cockpit design of the E21 marked the introduction of a totally new design concept for BMW, with the center console angled towards the driver, giving the vehicle the feel of a racing car. This feature has become part of BMW’s interior design for many years through its phenomenal range of cars. On the release of the E21 there were three models available to the public for purchase, namely the 316 (1.6 litre), the 318 (1.8 litre) and the 320 (2.0 litre) versions of the BMW M10 four cylinder petrol engine. The 315 powered by a 75 PS (55 kW; 74 hp) 1.6 litre M10 engine made its appearance in 1981.

The 320 models came with new featured dual round headlights instead of the single headlights that were gifted to the 316 and 318 which all featured only a single round headlight on each side of the front grille. At 1977 Frankfurt Motor Show BMW unveiled its new BMW E21 series of cars, featuring the new in-line 6-cylinder M20 engines which replaced the four in-line cylinder 320 model featuring a 2.0 litre, 12valve version of the M20 engine.

The 323i model was later introduced which featured a 2.3 litre engine with an output of 105 kW and 141 Hp. The braking system was also upgraded, with the 323i featuring disc brakes all round, making this a very popular, need-to-have-car of the times.

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This was the second generation of BMW 3 series produced from 1982 – 1992. The E30 was sold from 1982 through to the end of 1991 as a  saloon car and through 1993 as a convertible form. The four-cylinder 318 was dropped from production in 1985, but was brought back with a new, 1.8L DOHC motor (M42B18) for 1991 which used a similar block configuration with an adapted cylinder head. The then availability of the all new six cylinder engine and four door body styles were the cars that earned the sales in true BMW style.

The six cylinder engine in the 325e produced 121 Hp and translated made 90 kW with 233 N·m  of torque at sea level. The E30 was the most powerful compact BMW offered in the United States since the unveiling of the 2002ti which even today is a much sought after collectors piece.

BMW’s lineup was joined in 1985 by the 325i and the high powered output 325is engine which came with a 2.7 litre engine. The 325i consisted of a 84mm bore with a 75mm stroke making it a 2.5 litre and the 325is had a 77mm stroked crank with the same bore size which remained at 84mm and it was this increase in stroke which gave this engine the torque together with all round reduced vehicle mass, gave it’s drivers the benefits required of the new era of car.

Though the engine displacement was reduced to 2.5L on the 325i, output was up to 168 Hp at 125 kW but torque dropped to 222 N·m as the company focused on improving on performance rather than supplying an economical car. RPM was increased from 5000 rpm to 6500 revs.

Other prominent features included a Limited Slip Differential (LSD) with a 25% lock up together with M Sport suspension and Bilstein shocks and suspension struts. The cars were equipped with M-Sport steering wheel, BMW sports seats, full leather interior, sunroof and BMW 15 inch BBS or  Alpina Mag Rims depending on the country you were in.

At the end of 1987, the touring version of the BMW E30 was introduced making this one of the most important and popular vehicles during its seven years of production time up until the end of 1994. It was made available with a 1.6, 1.8, 2.0 or 2.5 litre engine and also 2.4 litre turbo diesel was introduced into the market place.

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This was the third generation of BMW 3 series produced from 1992 until the end of 1998. It was the successor to the BMW E30 and was eventually superseded by the BMW E46 starting in the year 1999 for saloon cars and 2000 for coupes, cabriolets and convertibles. The E36 experienced enormous success in the market and provided a solid footing for the success of the E46 which the BMW enjoyed in subsequent years.

The BMW E36 2.5L M50B25 used in the 325 models was replaced in 1996 with the 2.8 L M52B28, creating the 328i range of cars. Another 2.5L engine coded by the alpha numerical digits M52B25 which was reintroduced into the 1998 range of cars that were sold rather as 323i models rather than 325i although they were all fitted with 2.5L engines.

The E36 was sold from 1990 until the end of the year 2000 in various body styles. It took on the the "Z-axle" multilink suspension configuration for the rear suspension arms which had been proven in the BMW Z1 cars. The all new VANOS, variable cam and valve timing was introduced to the DOHC L6 engines in back in the beginning of the year 1993.

The four door E36 was initially only destined to be for sale in Europe, and was introduced to worldwide markets one year later. The Cabriolet version of the E36 followed in 1992 and then saw the introduction of the 3-door hatchback or commonly called the "Compact" which was released in 1994.

The BMW Compact was almost identical to the E36 saloon. BMW made an entry level version of the E36 called the BMW Compact car, often referred to as the E36/5, which is a three door hatchback model. In 1996 the 1800cc engine was replaced with 1900cc M44B19 coded engine, that made 142 bhp or 106 kW and 180 N·m of torque. Everything else was uniquely its own like its rear semi-trailing arm suspension, based on the old E30, instead of the Z-Axle Multilink employed in all the other BMW E36 cars sold with the Z3 and M Coupe which share similar rear suspension setups.

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