What does BMW stand for?

austin316

Diamond Member
Dec 1, 2001
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I did a search on google, but nothing came up. I though it stood for British Motor Works, but then again, isn't BMW a german company? Thanks in advance, and please save the flaming. I don't have nearly enough money to start looking at nicer cars.
 

Karsten

Platinum Member
Oct 9, 1999
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Bayrische Motoren Werke

(And yes... the others where perfect translations) ;)
 

austin316

Diamond Member
Dec 1, 2001
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thanks for the replies. I think my google trouble was because I asked it in the form of a question. "what does BMW stand for."
 

Orsorum

Lifer
Dec 26, 2001
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Originally posted by: austin316
thanks for the replies. I think my google trouble was because I asked it in the form of a question. "what does BMW stand for."

I thought Google was fairly good at answering questions, not just keywords. Or was that Ask Jeeves?
 

Kyteland

Diamond Member
Dec 30, 2002
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the B can be either British or Bavarian. British BMW makes motor cycles, Bavarian BMW makes cars.
 

GTaudiophile

Lifer
Oct 24, 2000
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Originally posted by: Karsten
Bayrische Motoren Werke

(And yes... the others where perfect translations) ;)

I have to disagree, Karsten.

Isn't "Werke" more akin to "factory" ? I always thought the literal translation was more or less Bavarian Motor Factory or Bavarian Motor Production.
 

AvesPKS

Diamond Member
Apr 21, 2000
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Originally posted by: EXman
Do you all know why they have a blue and white symbol?

I do...but only from watching "Finding Forrester", so I'll keep it to myself until someone who's not a poser chimes in.
 

waylman

Diamond Member
Apr 4, 2003
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Originally posted by: Salvador
Bayrische Motoren Werke

BMW=Boring Mercedes Wannabe
You have that the other way around son. The Mercedes is the boring car. Just ask anyone from Germany. Most young people won't be caught dead in a Mercedes in Germany.

What the hell do I care what young Germans think? Mercedes wipes the floor with BMW.
 

boyRacer

Lifer
Oct 1, 2001
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Originally posted by: EXman
Do you all know why they have a blue and white symbol?

I believe it was supposed to look like a white propeller blade, against a blue sky. It goes back to BMW when they made military aircraft engines during WWI
 

lasergecko

Senior member
Jul 17, 2001
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(B) = Blue sky
(M) = <- Don't know
(W) = White Propeller

This probably doesn't work but it explains the logo.

 

boyRacer

Lifer
Oct 1, 2001
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Originally posted by: waylman
Originally posted by: Salvador
Bayrische Motoren Werke

BMW=Boring Mercedes Wannabe
You have that the other way around son. The Mercedes is the boring car. Just ask anyone from Germany. Most young people won't be caught dead in a Mercedes in Germany.

What the hell do I care what young Germans think? Mercedes wipes the floor with BMW.

BMW sales were up some 18% and MB sales were up somewhere around only 2% in the month of March 2003. Must be the Mini.
 

dcdomain

Diamond Member
Jan 30, 2000
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Originally posted by: Karsten
Bayrische Motoren Werke

According to the BMWBoard forums, it's BMW - Bayerischen Motoren Werke =T.
And yeah, I think as part of the post war penalties, BMW was not allowed to produce planes anymore, hence the switch to cars.