Why Doesnt BMW Sell 4 Cyl Cars in the USA & Do They Make/sell Them in Europe?

The Mini Cooper is masterminded by BMW, just like the Rolls Royce everything and partial engineering of the Land Rover and Range Rover (these were sold away from Ford, and the person that owns Jaguar now owns them, and its a good vehicle to pick up, they may go extinct.) Also Mclaren F1, they are no longer produced... but its BMW. The Mini Cooper having a 4 is like BMW's vicarious 4. And it is a good car. Very good. Just very pricey. Probably worth it too...

BMW used to produce not only the 318, but the 318ti hatch. They made these up until 1999 or 2000 or 2001, if I recall (not exact.) These were the 4-cyl. BMWs.

Also the first M3 was 4-cyl. and it is a lot like a Hinda, onlymore powerful and better, but it likes its ROMs. News: Ferrari engines are like that oo, even the V8s....

And more recently, I believe in 2006, BMW retired the 2.5L Inline 6. They now only make the 3.0L V6. Fending off Infiniti G35 is reaosn for this. That car is FWD and ok, but BMW still has the BMW feel.

I hope this sums up the BMW 4-cyl. Situations. Only the M3 (2nd most expensive BMW ever made behind their V12) was a prize contender. The other ones kinda were weak...

Mercedes also used to make 4-cyls., and i dont know if they made one past the C230 Kompressor, which i like.

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Is the Mazda 3 engine the same as in the BMW 3 series?

No is simply an understatement. The 3 in Mazda and the 3 in BMW is as close as it gets. I have driven both and reviewed them thoroughly. One of my best friends owns a BMW 335i and I own a Mazda3. Almost this time last year we did a speed run from Ohio to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. My Mazda is souped up with performance parts that make it more of a drivers car than the standard sporty 3. He had no respect for my Mazda on the road until we got on the road. We had such fun, like little kids pressing each other to pass and stay in the lead. A BMW in the rearview mirror has an intimidating image as it races up and moves left to pass. What he did not realize is that a Mazda's performance on a 2.5 hour trip is like a counter puncher to every move the BMW tried to make on the open road. Once on the pipe at 80 and up their is little difference between the two vehicles. Where the BMW begins to separate itself and live up to it's heritage and pedigree is 120mph and up. This is where the BMW separates itself from my Mazda3, but sustained speeds of over 100 mph are for the German roads, not American freeways.

I tip my hat to BMW, and they quietly give the nod to Mazda, because their are some of us enthusiast that know on both sides that these are drivers cars and the Mazda3 with performance parts enough to give it more of an edge, it is a worthy competitor on the freeway and does not get outclassed against a BMW 335i.

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Lucky you!! There are so many questions you could ask yourself that would lead you right to your dream BMW. You already answered one, 2 seats or 4. How about 2 wheel or 4? Do you go off road or live in or near a rural area? How do you want the car to impress? Lots of cargo space or not?Speed, Performance, or comfort? Are you male or female? (It matters trust me)You plan on taking long drives in it, (to and from college for instance) or is it mostly a short hauler for the city? Where you plan on using the car matters when you start thinking ahbout parking. If you got an M3 it'd get you where ever you're going pretty fast, but would you want to drive cross country a whole lot. I would say the best bet would be to go with the all rounder. Since the 2007 model BMW have been allowed to call the X5 a SUV. Prior to 2007, the car failed to pass the requirements for a "Utility" vehicle. After 2007, the car has now been proudly allowed into the SUV class, with higher ground clearance, stronger engine, better all-around off road capability, and it looks good. You can take it and most of your stuff cross country and still be comfortable, you can park it in the city cause it wont eat up the parking lot like a suburban and, if you get the itch to drive in snow, mud, dirt, on the beach, to an unknown picnic site, or the local football game, hey! It's got a working 4-wheel drive system. That being said, i used all those questions and a few more to arrive at my dream car, the 2008 Range Rover SC. Check it out and show it to your dad. Grin.

Good Luck.

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on this one you have to be careful about the turbos on the Audi normally the A6 is as reliable if not more reliable than the % series (the newer the car the more true that is pre 2000 BMW definitly had the advantage for reliability) unless you are going to tune the car i would go with a NA engine not a turbo the turbos are nice but expensive to replace and the need to be replaced every 70K. i think the 525 feels sluggish i would look for an Audi 3.0 A6. the Audi is more comfortable than the BMW but that is really a subjective, could be different for everyone. the BMW has slightly better handling characteristics and slightly better feed back form the road but the Audi is no Lexus here its pretty good as well. if you live in the north the Quattro is AWSOME in the snow the rear drive BMW is definitly capable of being driven in the snow for a confident and somewhat skilled driver but don't let just anyone take it out in the snow. I would go with the Audi (i live in the snow belt in upstate NY) but i would probably go with a non turbo engine either a 3.

0 or 2.

8 or if you can afford it the $.

2 is a great engine. The BMW is a very nice car and if i were living in the south the decision would not be tat easy but i would also look at the bigger engine the 525 does feel underpowered (and i drive an older 2.8 A6 which is also underpowered but not as noticeable as in the 525 because of its extra torque)

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BMW's early success was in building airplane engines that were inovative and relaible with things such as a "high altitude carborator". "In 1918 this engine powered a biplane to 5,000 meters altitude in just 29 minutes. It was an impressive performance for those days, one that led to strong demand for BMW engines.". In fact the 1920 logo is supposed to look like a plane prop. Much of this led to them being pioneers in the motorcyle industry as well producing very fast and high quality products.

In 1928 they started building cars with the same penchent for quality and innovation. "BMW comes up with the amazing 328 roadster in 1936. This car is a legend in the racing history, one of the best and one of the most beautiful cars that BMW has ever created. As recognition, the 328 roadster was nominated for the Car of the Century. The car makes its competition debut at the famed Nrburgring racetrack in June 1936, and proved unbeatable in international sportscar races in the two-liter class. The beautiful lines, like the integrated headlamps set a trend which was to survive well into the fifties. In 1940 it wins the famous Mille Miglia race. The engine was a 2 liter, in-line 6 cylinder with 80bhp."

During the war, they made money filling a demand for jet engines. The Allah plant that were producing so much wasunharmed by allied bombing leaving significant capacity after the war.

In the proceeding years, they had continual success in innovation including aluminum block V8s, the BMW 507 halo car, swing-arm suspensions, and motorcycles.

In 1961, the FAMOUS 1500 came out, which lead to the 2000ti and the now bread and butter famed 3-series. The 3-series has been the leader in the middle-class segment since it's birth and is only now being seriously rivaled by other car makers such as Lexus and Audi. Car and Driver named it the best of class for something like 15 years Straight. The M1 was their attempt at the supercar which wasn't overly succesful, but it led to the M-line which makes some of the best sports sedans in the world. Also, the Z-series, which followed the Miata's success, was an international hit, along with their late entrance into the SUV market with their X5 and later X3 designs.

Currently they are being hit HARD by the global recession as they are seen as a premium brand and hence excessive, though they are cash strapped, they will most likely be strong again soon.

-my two cents.

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The BMW 1-Series Coupe was first introduced to the BMW line-up in 2008, and it is the least expensive model among the range. Offering the same rear-wheel-drive power train and competent suspension as the 3-Series but in a smaller, and somewhat lighter body. The BMW 1-Series is powered by the same 3.

0-liter inline six-cylinder engines of the 3-Series, with the naturally aspirated 128i engine producing 230 horsepower while its more powerful trim in the 1-series lineup is the twin-turbocharged 135i which produces 300 horsepower. Inside, the quality interior is equivalent to the 3-Series, and for the driver and front passenger space is also about the same. However, it is nine inches shorter, space that was cut from the back seat and trunk, which will pretty much limit the car to two person use. The BMW 1 series only comes in a Coupe form which allows it to extend its options to its customers as a Convertible as well. The current 5th generation BMW 3 Series is offered in a variety of body styles those being a Sedan, Wagon, Coupe and Convertible aswell as a variety of engine choices. The 328i is available in all body styles and features a naturally aspirated 3.

0-liter engine producing 230 Horsepower in both the sedans, coupes & convertibles. The 335i is available in all but the wagon bodystyle and features a turbocharged 3.0-liter engine that's rated at 300 Horsepower. The BMW 3 series sedan, coupes and convertibles compete head to head with the Infiniti G37, Audi A4 & A5, Mercedes C-class & Lexus IS. Hope this helps