BMW is a famous automaker, and its influence in the automotive industry globally is undeniable. The German manufacturer has even made its presence felt in pop culture. There are numerous songs named after it, and one of them – B.M.W. by Global Dan – opens with a chant of the word ‘Beemer’ (pronounced like ‘Beamer’). You’ve likely heard this BMW nickname before, or seen it written as one of those, or even as ‘Bimmer.’
Like the story of the BMW logo, the history of the brand’s nicknames is interesting. Some enthusiasts will tell you that all three terms mean the same thing and refer to any BMW vehicle, from a standard sedan to an M4 CSL, but that’s not necessarily true. In fact, confusion over the correct BMW slang has been around for long enough that the automaker addressed it directly in a YouTube video:
So what is the answer, actually — is it Bimmer or Beemer? And if it isn’t Beemer, what is a Beemer? Is any BMW a Bimmer, and is it correct to say BMW Beamer? Did Bimmer even come from BMW?
The information in this article is based on what the automaker has put out about this topic, and is correct at the time of writing. Note that countries outside of the USA may have their own BMW nicknames that we don’t cover here. Let us know what BMW pet name you use, in the comment.
The Origin Of The Beemer Nickname
Use of the term ‘Beamer’ seems like it started simply enough: When speaking in English, the syllables of the letters B, M, and W could phonetically be truncated as Beamer. However, this is not where the BMW nickname really originated. Like so many other automotive stories, the legend of the BMW slang term was born in motorsport.
According to the automaker itself, Beamer comes from 20th-century Great Britain. At the time, a company called BSA (Birmingham Small Arms) competed on two-wheelers, with the nickname “Beezer” commonly associated with its motorcycles. Over the years, riders and fans came up with the nickname ‘Beamer’ to refer to BMW motorcycles, and this term quickly gained worldwide popularity, particularly in English-speaking countries. So when did Beamer become Beemer? According to the automaker, fans of the BMW motorcycles simply adopted the double ‘e’ spelling to align more closely with ‘Beezer.’
Expert
insight
I’ve heard BMWs referred to as Bring My Wallet, but I never put much stock in it. Until I owned one and discovered a seemingly endless string of small problems that cost far too much to fix. It’s not so bad if you have a good parts hookup, but every time I drove my car, I expected another $100 inconvenience to rear its head. It was almost enough to cancel out the enjoyment of driving it.
So, Beamer and Beemer are actually one and the same, and refer mainly to BMWs of the two-wheeled kind.
Bimmer vs Beamer vs Beemer
Bimmer is the other term often used to refer to a Munich-made automobile, and one you’ll more commonly see here in the USA. It rose to prominence in the 1970s, when BMWs were growing in popularity. American buyers initially referred to the German cars as Beamers, just like the motorbikes, with one notable exception – the Boston Chapter BMW club. The club’s newsletter has been titled Bimmer since the seventies, and although the original magazine no longer exists, the unofficial successor to it is called BimmerLife.
Incidentally, an identically titled magazine for BMW enthusiasts began hitting newsstands in the same era, and the term was ultimately embraced by the community.
The slang name for a BMW eventually found its way to Germany, where the pet name became widely adopted, too.
TLDR: Is it Bimmer, Beamer, or Beemer?
Bimmer: The preferred nickname for BMW cars and SUVs.
Beamer: Originally used to differentiate between motorcycles made by BMW and those made by British manufacturer BSA – refers only to motorbikes.
Beemer: Modernized version of Beamer that refers only to BMW motorcycles.
Taking the above into account, using the BMW nicknames correctly is what matters. Since one has two wheels and one pertains to four, you can only ever ride a Beemer, while driving a Bimmer is the only way to do it.
Bimmer or Beemer? Does It Matter?
While some will argue this is simply semantics – and other nicknames for these cars exist across the globe – to purists it matters. A Bimmer is a car, and a Beemer is a bike – meaning, calling something a Bimmer motorcycle is wildly inaccurate. So, the next time you see someone refer to their “black Beamer” or point out “old Beamers,” know they’re referring to motorcycles. Bimmers are the ones you want to talk about if you’re an enthusiastic gearhead who loves the Bavarian brand for its luxurious, sporty, and tech-forward cars.
Expert
insight
All I know is that the first time I called it a Beemer, I got roundly lectured by the graybeard 7 Series owner I was talking to that such a nickname was unacceptable. That nickname is reserved exclusively for BMW motorcycles, following an English convention that called its home-grown BSA motorcycles “Beezers.” That indoctrination learned me real good, and now, whenever anyone refers to my car as a Beamer, I bristle. I’m also starting to go a little gray around the temples, so I’m well on my way toward die-hard Bimmer pedantry.
What Other Nicknames Are There For BMW Cars From Across The Globe?
BMWs are beloved the world over, so it stands to reason that other countries would have their own slang terms for these cars. Here are a few we’ve collected over the years:
- South Africa, Korea, Middle East, Mexico: “BM” (pronounced bee-em)
- Romania: Bim
- Finland/Estonia: Bemari/Bemmi
- Russia: Boomer/Bumer
- China: Bao-ma (meaning ‘precious horse’)
- Czech Republic: Bavorák
Sources: BMW, Kelley Blue Book.
FAQ
Q: Why is BMW called Bimmer?
Bimmer is the slang nickname given to BMW cars in the United States and some other countries across the globe.
Q: What does Bimmer mean in slang?
Derived from the letters in the BMW name, Bimmer is just an informal nickname for any vehicle produced by the German automaker, BMW.
Q: Is Beamer the same as BMW?
Beamer is the slang term used for any BMW motorcycle, so while it does refer to BMW as the automaker, it is reserved for motorbikes only, and not cars.