Bimmer, Beemer or Beamer? What is in a name...

[Big Daddy]

A search in Google for the keyword "BMW" yields results that use the terms - Bimmer, Beemer and Beamer. With so many terms being used it is quite easy to get confused. Which is the right one to use?

The truth is that all the terms refer to BMW vehicles. However, Bimmer is the proper term for BMW cars (vehicles with 4 wheels) while Beemer and Beamer are terms that are used for BMW vehicles that have less than 4 wheels (e.g. motorcycles).

Why all this different terms? BMW started big in motorcycles and was very active in motor sports back then. One of their biggest competitors at the racing track was BSA - which was also a big name in motorcycles then. Since BSA motorcycles were known as Beesers, BMW fans decided to call BMW motorcycles Beemers. As time went by, different people (who couldn't spell very well and didn't take the initiative o find out) started to use the term Beamer.

BMW went on to design and manufacture cars which subsequently outshone their two-wheeled cousins. The BMW car enthusiasts wanted a new term to differentiate cars from motorcycles and coined the term Bimmer.

Taken from BimmerCenter

One might say what about the Isetta? The Boston Chapter of the BMW CCA clears this up with this interesting article: Boston Chapter BMW CCA

 

[///M SPEED]

Great thread Dan! Also, great articles and links.....

 

[epj3]

Make this a sticky so nobody asks.

 

[///M SPEED]

Make this a sticky so nobody asks.

Good idea....

Done...

 

[PhatBimmer]

I already knew but its great that it was clarified

 

[Prince Andile]

I always said it was Bimmer...

 

[Rocking-M]

I'm a hard headed southerner. I'll stick with beamer. I paid for it and I'll call it what i like

 

[Big Daddy]

Ok, you can call your car a motorcycle if you want. Can you drive it on two wheels? Hehe...

 

[Homeless]

Originally i'm from England and they're called Beemers over there regardless of whether its a motorcycle or a car.

 

[edje]

Originally i'm from England and they're called Beemers over there regardless of whether its a motorcycle or a car.

sure thing in holland i ear ed bimmer was german sounds german and beemer souds more english never da less be proud at your ride

 

[Steve_530i]

Just got my first BMW, I will always refer to them as beemers, even if it's socially unacceptable in the "bimmer" crowd. Prolly the same way the Brits call soccer "football." They invented the term "soccer," then switched it to football and blame us for still calling it soccer. Daft gits they are

 

[Big Daddy]

Bimmer is the proper term for BMW cars

But you guys can call them Fords if you want...hehe

 

[535iracer]

I just call mine a BMW thank you for some reason, I really don't like the term Bimmer... That word just makes me think of yuppies lol, everything that bmws were made fun of for in the 80s and 90s

 

[MrElussive]

10 times out of 10, I hear people call the car a "beamer"....I even hear that term used in movies. I definitely don't really correct anyone though because "beamer" does sound better, but I go by bimmer.

 

[Big Daddy]

Must be an east coast thing because I never hear westerners call BMW's Beamers. Funny the magazine got it correct, Bimmer Magazine! Evey issue of the Roundel is correct in the slang they use as are all the BMW CCA Chapter Newsletters I read! I guess it may be the difference between ain't and is not?

 

[CosmosBlack]

Stop arguing! It's already been clarified, BIMMER!!! Which part don't you understand!???
BIMMER!!!



Sorry.... just messing with ya Bimmerheads...

Oh, and by the way, it's a Por-sche NOT a Porsch

 

[deutsch100]

Stop arguing! It's already been clarified, BIMMER!!! Which part don't you understand!???
BIMMER!!!



Sorry.... just messing with ya Bimmerheads...

Oh, and by the way, it's a Por-sche NOT a Porsch

Thank You. Porsche is someone's name, you can't pronounce it anyway you like. It's like nails on a chalkboard, when someone says "Porsch". You don't say Chev-ro-leT, so don't drop the "e" on Porsche.

Thanks Cosmos!!

 

[johnnybmw1]

I just call mine an m3... my friends always get a good laugh out of it!!
but overall its a BIMMER!!! check urbandictionary.com!! type it bimmer or beamer or bmw

 

[Big Daddy]

Urban Dictionary is wrong, "Beamer" is a motorcycle not a car! I would put more stock in what Bimmer Center and BMW CCA say than the "urban dictionary". More from the BMW Car Club of BC:

"Bimmer vs Beemer
Enthusiasts vs others
Definitions:
Bimmer - proper accepted slang for BMW cars. Most people don't know this.
Beamer/Beemer - proper accepted slang for BMW motorcycles. You will hear this term used incorrectly by many people.
Bummer - When you get a speeding ticket.
Bitter - Another German car. Very rare; hand built.

So just why is a BMW car called a 'bimmer' not a 'beemer' or 'beamer'?

The answer in part lies in knowing some BMW history and what came first.

All real BMW enthusiasts know that BMW got a big start on two wheels, what many call the real BMWs.

In those days, BMW motorcycles were quite active in racing, and one of their competitors at the track was often the BSA bikes.

Well as things would have it, a track slang developed, and the BMWs were usually referred to as 'beemers' and the BSAs were referred to as 'beesers'.

So, of course for any true enthusiast, there is no way that a BMW car could be called a 'beemer', so they were called 'bimmers'.

Unfortunately, in the US and Canada, and perhaps other countries, there was a time (kind of still is) where for various reasons, a BMW owner was considered an upwardly mobile person, and of course due to the fun in driving their BMWs most all of them had big grins on their faces.

Hence it is little surprise that the non enthusiast types out there incorrectly labeled BMW cars and their owners as 'beamers' or 'beemers'. "

 

[bmw hater]

Whoa Big Daddy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!