1052 used BMW cars for sale

BMW was set up in 1916, when German businessmen Gustav Otto and Karl Rapp’s companies merged to become Bayerische Flugzeug-Werke AG (BFW). In 1917, the business changed its name to BMW and, under new owner Camillo Castiglioni, had moved all its operations under the BMW brand by 1922.

BMW stands for Bayerische Motoren Werke GmbH. In English, it means the Bavarian Engine Works Company, reflecting the company’s start in Bavaria as bespoke engine manufacturing business.

The car brand is owned by BMW Group, which also owns MINI, Rolls-Royce and motorcycle brand BMW Motorrad.

BMW has more than 30 production facilities, in countries including the UK, Germany, Mexico, the US, China and South Africa. Its largest facility in Europe is in Dingolfing, Germany, which spans a massive 2.8 million square metres.

BMW acquired the MINI brand in 1996. It relaunched the car line in 2001 under the BMW Group.

The price of a BMW depends on its age, mileage, model and trim. At the lower end of the price scale, a BMW 1 Series, for example, could cost as little as £6,500 for a 2012 model or as much as £40,000 for a 2022 car. If you’re in the market for a more executive model, a BMW X5 ranges from £30,000 to £100,000+ for the newest models.

The cost of servicing a BMW can vary depending on what type of work might be required. Please contact your nearest Arnold Clark BMW branch to find out the best servicing options available.

Each BMW series will appeal to different drivers. The practical and luxurious 3 Series is the brand’s best-selling model to date, but the hot hatch 1 Series and spacious saloon 5 series are popular options too. If you’re looking for a fun runaround, the 2 Series Coupé fits the bill, while the executive 4 Series is both roomy and powerful.

Both BMW and Mercedes-Benz cars offer an array of advanced features that make them two of the most popular luxury car brands in the world. If you’re looking for a sportier driving experience, a sharp, athletic design and great fuel economy, BMW cars will suit you. Mercedes-Benz models, on the other hand, tend to have roomier, more executive cabins that make the ride feel luxurious, with performance-focused engines also available.

BMW xDrive is the manufacturer’s intelligent all-wheel drive system. It is more responsive to differing road conditions than standard four wheel-drive contributing to a safer and more enjoyable driving experience.

xDrive systems are fitted with intelligent dynamic stability control sensors. They’re sensitive to even subtle grip loss and switch power to the wheels with the strongest traction using an electronically controlled multi-disk clutch. xDrive is quicker than a traditional traction control system and can send close to 100% of the car’s power to the front or back axle almost instantly.

An sDrive BMW is a two-wheel drive car, which is typically rear-wheel drive. It doesn’t offer as much traction as models with xDrive but can offer enhanced fuel effciency and sold at a lower price point.

Standing for ‘Dynamic Traction Control’, DTC keeps BMWs stable on slippery roads. It will detect traction loss and step in to prevent skidding or wheel slip.

A drivetrain is something you’ll find in every vehicle. It’s a set of crucial components that take energy from the engine to get a car moving. Typically, the transmission, differential, wheel axles and the driveshaft make up the drivetrain.

In the simplest terms, ConnectedDrive is BMW’s digital ecosystem. It’s how you can control everything from smartphone connectivity to weather and traffic alerts, as well as set up a driver profile with your driving preferences.

Alpina is a manufacturer that builds performance-focused models, which was acquired in 2022 by BMW Group. Its models use BMW as their base and add bespoke elements, such as hand-built engines and aerodynamic design, to create luxury performance cars.

BMW’s Step Auto, or Steptronic automatic gearboxes, give you more flexibility in how you drive. They have a fully automatic mode for relaxed cruising and sport drive mode that lets you rev more between gears. There’s also manual shift mode, which lets you manually shift gears for close control of the car’s performance.

BMW calls its mid-generation facelifts a Life Cycle Impulse, or LCI. Usually, these updates add subtle interior and exterior changes.

MHT stands for mild hybrid technology. It means your BMW uses regenerative braking and a supplementary electric motor to boost fuel efficiency.

BMW M means Motorsport, referring to engines initially designed for BMW’s racing programme. BMW models with M on them signify that this model is a high-performance model.

BMW Enhanced Bluetooth means you can connect two devices to Bluetooth in the car at once – meaning you could accept calls for both a personal and work phone while on the go.

EWS refer to BMW’s electronic immobiliser, which is an important anti-theft system for BMW and MINI cars.

With BMW Comfort Access, you can automatically unlock the doors if your key is within five feet of the car. It also lets you lock the doors by tapping a spot on the driver’s handle.

The BMW Pro Pack, also known as the BMW M Sport Pro Pack, adds sporty details to your model. This includes larger wheels, a sportier body kit, sport seats, an M sports steering wheel and an adaptive suspension.

BMW M Sport is a high-level trim level offered on some BMW models. This trim features some of BMW’s most powerful engines and sporty interior detailing.

BMW EfficientDyanmics is the manufacturers strategy to enhance fuel efficiency, reduce emissions and increase the range offered by their vehicles on the roads. They implement this through the integration of efficient technologies and materials across their lineup. Efficient technologies offered as part of EfficientDynamics include active air flap control, Eco Pro drive mode, direct fuel injection technology and mild hybrid technology.

SensaTec is a durable, faux leather material that’s found in some BMW interiors.

The Shadow Edition, or the M Sport Shadow Edition to give it its full name, was a limited-edition trim option for the Mk2 1 Series and Mk6 3 Series. Released between 2017 and 2019, these cars have high-end, sporty features like the signature black kidney grille, M Sport braking and Harman Kardon speakers.

You’ll know your BMW has park assist, known as Parking Assistant, if there is a P button on its dashboard or centre console. Once you press this, the system’s cameras will activate and show you a 360-degree view of your surroundings on the car’s screen.

If you’re not sure what engine your BMW has, look for the six-digit code in your manual, registration certificate or on the engine base itself. The first letter shows you the ‘engine family’. The first number tells you how many cylinders your engine has, while the second tells you if it’s the original design or a later-revised version.

The fourth digit, a letter, tells you what fuel the engine runs on and how the fuel pump has been fitted to the engine. The fifth and sixth digits tell you the capacity of the engine – so a 1.8-litre engine, for example, will be written as 18. You might also see TU at the end, which stands for technical update.