BMW is a German carmaker founded in 1916. The cars themselves are another matter: across 12 VIN prefixes on record they came off lines in 2 countries — Germany 65.2%, the United States 34.8%. 105 models are tracked here (1981–2026). Reliable? yes, on balance — 4.1 out of 5 across 105 rated models, though the spread between model years is far wider than the badge suggests (every model ranked →).
Who makes BMW
BMW (Bayerische Motoren Werke AG) is a German luxury automaker and motorcycle manufacturer headquartered in Munich, Bavaria. Founded in 1916 as an aircraft-engine maker, BMW shifted to motorcycles in 1923 and to automobiles with the Dixi 3/15 in 1928. The company's blue-and-white roundel, often described as a stylized rotating propeller, is a stylized version of the Bavarian state colors. BMW manufactures vehicles at 31 facilities in 15 countries and competes head-to-head with Mercedes-Benz and Audi in the German premium segment. The 3 Series has defined the sport-luxury sedan since 1975, the M division produces high-performance variants of nearly every model line, and BMW i is the dedicated electric sub-brand whose i3 and i8 set the template for the current iX and i4 EVs. BMW trades on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under BMW. The company also owns Mini and Rolls-Royce Motor Cars and operates BMW Motorrad as its motorcycle division. Recall data for every BMW VIN is reported to NHTSA, and EPA fuel-economy ratings, IIHS Top Safety Pick designations and J.D. Power studies serve as independent benchmarks. ForCar.org decodes any BMW VIN against NHTSA's dataset to reveal trim, factory options, open recalls and original MSRP.
BMW traces its founding to 1916, when Rapp Motorenwerke and Otto-Werke were reorganized into Bayerische Motoren Werke to build aircraft engines for World War I. The Treaty of Versailles forced BMW to abandon aircraft work, and the company built its first motorcycle, the R32, in 1923. Automotive production began in 1928 with the licensed Austin Seven sold as the BMW Dixi. The post-war 1962 Neue Klasse 1500 sedan re-established BMW as a sport-sedan specialist.
| BMW | |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1916 |
| Founded by | Karl Rapp, Franz Josef Popp, Camillo Castiglioni |
| Headquarters | Munich, Germany |
| Slogan | «The Ultimate Driving Machine» |
| Models tracked here | 104 (1981–2026) |
| Assembled in | 2 countries |
Technology it is known for: xDrive intelligent all-wheel drive, TwinPower Turbo engines, iDrive infotainment, M Performance powertrain tuning, Adaptive M Suspension.
This page covers BMW (Bayerische Motoren Werke AG), the German automaker — not the BMW Welt museum or BMW M GmbH performance subsidiary.
Where BMW cars are actually built
A badge says where a company is registered, not where its cars were bolted together. The first three characters of any VIN — the world manufacturer identifier — say the second thing, and that is what we counted: 13,021 vehicles on record, 12 distinct manufacturer codes.
| Assembled in | Share | VIN starts with | Years seen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Germany | WBA, WBX, WBS, WB1 | 1982–2026 | |
| the United States | 5UX, 4US, 5YM | 1995–2026 |
Read your own: the first character is the region, the first three together identify the plant's manufacturer. A BMW beginning WBA was assembled in Germany.
All BMW models 105
Every BMW model we track, grouped by body type. Click any model for its VIN decoder, recalls, MPG, safety and ForCar Reliability Score — broken down by year.
BMW SUVs & crossovers 7
BMW Cars & sedans 94
BMW More models 4
BMW by the numbers
What the federal records say about the marque. Each line links to the full breakdown by model and year.
| Topic | BMW | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Recalls | 2,166 campaigns | Most recalled: Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module |
| Owner complaints | 10,873+ filed | Most reported: X5 |
| Fuel economy | 124 mpg best | Leader: i3 |
| Crash safety | ★★★★★ top rated | 8 models tested by NHTSA |
| Insurance | $2,509/yr typical | Cheapest: Z4 |
Compare model years like a dealer does.
- Full research report on any model year
- Market chart: how this model holds value
- Exact values with mileage adjustment
- Price-drop alerts on the trims you're watching
- No ads, no tracking — and much more
BMW hybrids & electric models
BMW's electrified lineup — 25 hybrids and 5 electric / plug-in. Click any model for its full powertrain, MPG and range by year.
BMW hybrids 25
BMW electric & plug-in 5
Electrified variants from EPA fueleconomy.gov powertrain data. A model may offer gas, hybrid and electric versions across years.
Get a BMW window sticker by VIN
Recreate any BMW's original Monroney label — MSRP, factory options, EPA MPG and safety — free from the VIN.
BMW window stickers →How to read a BMW VIN
Every BMW built since 1981 carries a unique 17-character VIN (Vehicle Identification Number). It encodes where and when the vehicle was made, its engine and body — here's what each part means:
- WMI (1–3) — country & manufacturer. Tells you it's a BMW and the country it was built in (real BMW codes below).
- VDS (4–8) — model, body style, engine, trim & restraints. The 8th digit is the engine code.
- Check digit (9) — a math check that proves the VIN is genuine.
- Model year (10) — the year it was built (e.g. R = 2024, S = 2025).
- Plant (11) — which factory assembled it.
- Serial (12–17) — the unique sequential production number.
- Germany3MF · 3MW · 5UM · WAP · WB1 · WB3
- USA4US · 5UX · 5YM
The remaining digits — engine (8th), model-year letter (10th) and plant — follow the universal SAE standard. To decode a VIN number position by position, including the year-code table and where to find the number, use our free tool.
Who owns BMW, and what you get
BMW is independent, German-owned. BMW competes in the global premium and luxury segment with sport-tuned sedans, SUVs and coupes priced above mainstream brands and against Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Genesis and Lexus. The Ultimate Driving Machine slogan, in active US use since 1975, signals BMW's emphasis on rear-biased dynamics, balanced chassis tuning and inline-six engines. The M division targets enthusiasts willing to pay a 30-50% premium for track-capable variants.
| BMW | |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | Germany |
| Ownership | Independent |
| Basic warranty | 4 years / 50,000 miles |
| Powertrain warranty | 4 years / 50,000 miles |
| Assembly countries | Germany, United States |
⚠ Worth knowing before you rely on it: across our complaint records the typical car reaches the halfway point of its faults at five years, while basic cover here runs 4 years / 50,000 miles. See when BMW models actually start to break →
BMW — frequently asked
Is BMW german?
BMW is a German company, headquartered in Munich and founded in 1916. The cars are a separate question: 65.2% of the BMW vehicles in our records were assembled in Germany.
Where are BMW cars made?
Across 12 manufacturer codes on record, assembly splits as: Germany (65.2%), the United States (34.8%). The first three characters of a VIN identify the manufacturer and plant country — that is where these shares come from.
Who owns BMW?
BMW is independent.
How many BMW models are there?
We track 105 BMW models spanning 1981–2026. The full list is above, ordered by how often each is searched.
What is the BMW warranty?
New vehicles come with 4 years / 50,000 miles basic cover and 4 years / 50,000 miles on the powertrain. Terms vary by model year and market — confirm with a dealer.
Is BMW reliable?
It depends far more on the model and year than on the badge. Every BMW model is ranked by complaint rate here, along with the age at which each starts to fail.