Although known for their prestige and higher prices, a BMW is not outside the price
range for many buyers if they're looking on the used market.
Shopping for BMWs is easy in many senses because of the brand's standard nomenclature.
BMW currently features a
1 Series,
3 Series,
5 Series,
6 Series and
7 Series. While these are not the only
vehicles that drivers will encounter, they provide the standard for which other
vehicles are based.
For example, an "X" in front of a number denotes a crossover SUV. So the
X3 is a crossover that is based off of the
3 Series, while an
X5is based off the
5 Series.
BMW offers a variety of different body styles within each series. With the exception
of the 7
Series, available only as a sedan, the other basic series
all have at least one option, whether it's as a hatchback, coupe or convertible.
Vehicles with an "M" designation are the top-of-the-line, performance
enhanced BMW vehicles. These cars come at a premium compared to the base models,
but drivers get some of the best the company has to offer.
BMW streamlined its naming conventions in the 2000s, meaning that most of the used
cars that drivers encounter while shopping for a BMW will follow these conventions.