My Beemer

[mozy633]

G'day from another West Ozzie

Been a bmw owner for some time, ranging from a 1982 320i JPS (so much fun) through to the 2002 E46 316ti (my current drive), I've also had a couple Bmw bikes (R100RS-Limited Edition and a K100RS). Never thought of joining a forum before, a mate has recently joined in, so I thought I'd join in as well.

Graeme

[JimB]

Welcome, but you should get off on the right foot.....
Beemer is a BMW motorcycle
Bimmer is a BMW car.


Cheers,
Jim

[whataboykie]

Originally Posted by JimB Welcome, but you should get off on the right foot..... Beemer is a BMW motorcycle Bimmer is a BMW car. Cheers, Jim

Not so I'm afraid, it's only in North America where a Bimmer is the car. Everywhere else I have lived and travelled (I'm from UK, lived in South Africa, travelled all over Southern Africa, many parts of Asia and all over Europe) and a Beemer is always the car.

[whataboykie]

Originally Posted by JimB Welcome, but you should get off on the right foot..... Beemer is a BMW motorcycle Bimmer is a BMW car. Cheers, Jim

Not so I'm afraid. It's a North American thing. I am from the UK, I have lived & travelled all over Southern Africa, many Asian and European countries and a Beemer is always a motor car.

[mozy633]

Thanks Neil,
In Australia whether it's a bike or a car they are known as Beemers, either way both types of rides are enjoyable!
Cheers, Graeme.

[JimB]

Originally Posted by whataboykie Not so I'm afraid. It's a North American thing. I am from the UK, I have lived & travelled all over Southern Africa, many Asian and European countries and a Beemer is always a motor car.

So, I'm wrong AGAIN!!!

Oh, man...maybe my wife has been right all these years after all.


Cheers,
Jim

[Jono-vision]

Originally Posted by JimB Welcome, but you should get off on the right foot..... Beemer is a BMW motorcycle Bimmer is a BMW car. Cheers, Jim

LOL! you beat me to it!

[KYue]

Originally Posted by whataboykie Not so I'm afraid. It's a North American thing. I am from the UK, I have lived & travelled all over Southern Africa, many Asian and European countries and a Beemer is always a motor car.

Ignorance is global.

[Lithium]

My car is a Bimmer!!!! That's all. & Welcome to the group....

[Blackice]

Here is what the BMW Car Club of BC says.....


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'.

© 1998-2007 BMW Car Club of British Columbia
The electronic mail addresses listed on this web site are for official BMW Car Club of BC business only, and are not intended for commercial use such as Unsolicited Commercial Email, also known as SPAM or junk email. Inappropriate use of the email addresses on this web site will be considered theft of service.

[whataboykie]

Originally Posted by mozy633 Thanks Neil, In Australia whether it's a bike or a car they are known as Beemers, either way both types of rides are enjoyable! Cheers, Graeme.

I agree.

And here we are, back to what N Americans say means that's what it is has got to mean all over the world, not.

Call them what you will and who's to say what a true enthusiast is. Is that when you belong to a club or is it when you have driven that marque for many years or a number of vehices from that marque?

[KYue]

The term itself originated in the UK, not North America.

Here is an even more extensive article on this issue, from the Boston chapter.

Boston Chapter BMW CCA - Bimmer vs. Beemer

It's a simple concept, and it's not just a North American concept, it's the proper terminology worldwide.


My friends still continue to call my car a Beemer. Drives me nuts, but I haven't the heart to tell them it's not a Beemer. Doesn't help when TV programs and movies are also using the incorrect slang. I just call my car a BMW and skip the slang. If I started calling it a Bimmer, they'd tell me I was pronouncing it wrong. Somehow, I think they would doubt me on this anyway.

[mozy633]

Originally Posted by whataboykie I agree. And here we are, back to what N Americans say means that's what it is has got to mean all over the world, not. Call them what you will and who's to say what a true enthusiast is. Is that when you belong to a club or is it when you have driven that marque for many years or a number of vehices from that marque?

G'day Neil,

Everyone can say what they want, afterall BMW has a different slang depending which country you are in, so to me and the people I know it will always be a Beemer, in the end does it really make any difference?, as it could be argued until the cows come home!
As for an enthusiast, this is somebody who loves their particular marque/marques, whether they belong to a club or not.
I've owned both BMW bikes and cars for the past 26 years, have rebuilt quite a few for myself and others over this period however have never belonged to a club, I would consider myself an enthusiast.

Cheers, Graeme.

[Jono-vision]

Bimmer; rolls off the tongue, it sounds sleek, streamlined, aerodynamic and stylish. Beamer; sounds phaser like, sluggish, slow, back woods and down right trekkie. I prefer, no, I need to call it Bimmer, Bimmer,,, Bimmer! Bimmer!!!! there is no other way. Beeeeem me up scotty... no intelligent life down here! LOL

[mozy633]

Originally Posted by Jono-vision Bimmer; rolls off the tongue, it sounds sleek, streamlined, aerodynamic and stylish. Beamer; sounds phaser like, sluggish, slow, back woods and down right trekkie. I prefer, no, I need to call it Bimmer, Bimmer,,, Bimmer! Bimmer!!!! there is no other way. Beeeeem me up scotty... no intelligent life down here! LOL

G'day Jono,

Like I've already mentioned, different country different slang, care factor zero.

Cheers, Graeme.