The BMW M3 is the car we most associate with the moniker of the Ultimate Driving Machine, but there are many BMW cars that provide amazing driving qualities.
For years, BMW has built the most athletic and fun-to-drive cars in the entire auto market. Even though the BMW M3 received the coveted title doesn’t mean other cars from this brand aren’t just as much fun to drive. Rather than only one ultimate car, we give you ten BMWs that can tickle your driving spirit, offering some amazing driving fun when you hit the road.
The 1M Coupe Has All the Right Stuff
What makes a car fun to drive? When you’re looking at BMW, you’ll want a car that has plenty of power while being light and agile on the track. The 1M brings a strong 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6 that delivers 335 horsepower to the rear wheels. This was the first M car to use a turbo, and it makes things more fun with a manual transmission. If you’re looking for some tire-shredding fun, th3 1M is the car you’ll want to drive.
The M5 CS is a Modern Supercar Killer
Don’t bring a pretender to the challenge when the M5 CS is involved. All other challengers will leave with their feeling hurt when this BMW hits the track. The BMW M5 CS has 635 horsepower and is considered to be the most powerful M car ever built. When you want the Ultimate Driving Machine in a midsize sedan, the M5 CS is the perfect BMW to drive. It might be a little on the pricey side, but isn’t it worth the cost to see those other performance machines run away with their proverbial tails between their legs?
Don’t Get Confused, the M1 was the First M-Division-Only Car
The BMW M1 was built, designed, and developed by the M-Division. There wasn’t a traditional variant offered, unlike the other M-cars on our list. This incredible performer is highly collectible today, but in its day, it was absolutely ferocious. The M1 brought lots of power, a sleek and stylish sports car shape, and the driving performance to leave others in the dust. The only drawback was the price, which resulted in only 453 versions of this car being sold.
The BMW M3 E30 was the Original Car to Wear the Honor
The first car to be called the Ultimate Driving Machine was the BMW M3 E30. There were 5,000 versions of this car planned to handle the DTM touring car requirements. This M3 brought aerodynamic upgrades and engine improvements compared to the standard 3 Series models. Many of these E30 models have been going up in value over the past decade. This is easily one of the best driver’s cars to ever hit the market.
The M3 E46 CSL is a Modern Classic
When you want some serious driving fun, this BMW M3 E46 CSL was the lightest and purest form of this particular M3. This car brought a ton of racing technology, and left out the creature comforts that weigh it down. If you want a car that’s truly a joy to drive, this car it’s the bill and gives you everything you want for your time out on the track. This was also one of the earliest road-going BMWs to use carbon fiber, which made it even lighter.
The M2 CS is a Compact and Quick BMW Sports Car
Everything about the style and performance of the BMW M2 CS shouts Ultimate Driving Machine. Too often, this little car is overlooked for the M3 or M4, but it has the power and athleticism to be one of the top ten cars from this brand. The CS is the final model for the previous 2 Series, and it might be one of the last pure M cars as much of the auto market moves toward electrification and hybridization.
The X5 M E70 Proves an SUV Can be an Amazing Vehicle to Drive
When we think of the Ultimate Driving Machine, we often only think of the BMW cars that wore the M-Division garb. The BMW X5 M E70 is an SUV that delivers the desired performance to rival the Porsche Cayenne. This SUV brings 555 horsepower and 500 lb-ft of torque to bring plenty of amazing power for your drive. BMW continued to refine this SUV to make it better during the time it was in production.
The BMW Z8 Brought Retro-Styled Roadster Fun
This car wasn’t supposed to enter production, but when the prototypes were spotted during testing, the interest soared, and BMW had to create a limited production run of the BMW Z8. This car looks like an Ultimate Driving Machine, and it delivered 400 horsepower from a 4.9-liter V8 that pushed power through a six-speed manual transmission. During the seven years in production, this car sold more than 2,000 models, even though the price tag was $128,000.
Was the Larger 8 Series E31 a Great Car to Drive?
Remember, the even numbers for BMW mean only two doors, which allows this 8 Series E31 to be a big BMW coupe with a heart ready to show off. This car is a true grand tourer with a 2 + 2 seating configuration and a powerful V12 engine that produces 296 horsepower. This was a lot of power at the time. Today, you can still get one of these incredible cars for an affordable price.
The BMW 3.0 CSL Was an Amazing Car to Drive
One of the cars to earn the title of Ultimate Driving Machine is the BMW 3.0 CSL. This car was built to meet the requirement to make BMW’s E9 coupe eligible for the European Touring Car Championship. This car became more than a box checked and is a light and fun car to drive. The competition version became a successful touring car, and one that offers legendary appeal and drive. This is an excellent car for some fun if you can find one.
The BMW M3 is the first car you think of when you hear the phrase, Ultimate Driving Machine, but these ten BMW cars show this brand offers ultimate driving in many ways.
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