Because of BMW’s focus on sportiness even with large executive models, the coupes have always been one of the most liked body styles offered by any brand including BMW. They most closely represent the sporty nature of BMW and are often regarded as some of the best-looking cars on the market. Here are the top 5 BMW coupe models which have aged extremely well.
BMW 6-Series E24 (1976 – 1989)
One of the best BMW coupe models — and a BMW classic — the E24 6-Series is the perfect car. The design is arguably the element that most contributes to the popularity of this model. The person who came up with this car is the same person who designed the E21 3-Series and E23 7-Series — Paul Bracq.
When introduced, the E24 6-series was positioned as the top-of-the-range BMW grand tourer. Although it was produced for 13 years, being one of the BMW models with the longest production run, only 86,000 units were produced. As luxurious as it was, the E24 was actually quite sporty as well. The base model was fitted with a 3.0-liter I6 with 176 horsepower and was marked the 630CSi.
Three are 3 other versions above this base configuration. The most powerful one was labeled the M635CSi. As its name suggests, it was co-developed with the BMW M Sport division. The S38 3.5L I6 engine that came with the car produced 260 horsepower and 243 lb.-ft of torque, which is decent today let alone back then.
Design-wise, this Bimmer has a very long bonnet, which would almost suggest a V8 or even a V12 underneath it. In front, it still has that small BMW kidney grille typical for older models, accompanied by two pairs of round headlights and standalone turn signals. The entire front has a negative angle reminiscent of a shark’s nose, hence its nickname “Shark”. From the side, the 6-Series has a sleek sloping silhouette and large windows.
Compared to the front part of the car, the back is relatively simple with almost generic taillights and a subtle ducktail. Based on the trim model, the 6-Series could feature lots of chrome trim around the bumpers, front grille, windows, and other exterior parts. This was well before it became trendy and common.
As a flagship BMW, it featured refined technology, a luxurious cabin, powerful engines, and great driver engagement thanks to the typical rear-wheel drive setup of BMWs. The design is simply timeless and the Shark nose front looks intimidating in a rearview mirror even today.
BMW 8-Series E31 (1990 – 1999)
For some, if not most, the E31 will surely be the best-looking model on this list. Introduced in the early ‘90s, it was the perfect car to introduce BMW to a new decade. The E31 was a display of everything that BMW had to offer at the time. V8 and V12 engines, a subtle and robust, yet aggressive design, sublime luxury and comfort, and modern technology.
Today, the 8-Series E31 is a modern classic. It is somewhat reminiscent of the E24 6-Series but with a modern look. We can thank Klaus Kapitza for the awesome aesthetics of this particular Bimmer. Based on a large chassis, the E31 is just shy of five meters long. One of the main design elements is the lack of any form of a B-pillar.
This makes it one of the most impressive-looking BMW coupe models of all time. In addition, the side profile is very muscular. At the front, the BMW 8-Series features a tiny kidney grille (especially by today’s BMW standards), and a very thin signalization cluster. Overall, this model sits very low on the ground, and it is especially recognizable from the front. Another high-tech design elements are the pop-up headlights implemented into the bonnet.
One interesting fact is that the 8-Series E31 was the first ever production car to be designed using CAD (Computer Aided Design). Today, every car is designed using this system. Not only did it allow for more precise measurements, and thus reduced panel gaps, but it also led to a quicker development phase. The E31 was technologically extremely advanced and was the first car to feature rear-wheel steering as an option. This was back in the ‘90s when only Mitsubishi and a few other manufacturers offered something similar.
The hottest of the 8-Series was the Alpina models. All E31s are rare and collectible but the Alpina B12 is a true gem. They improved the already serious performance even further and fitted it with tuned 5.0L and 5.7L 12-cylinder engines. Alpina has also focused on making the design more special. On the outside, these models are fitted with larger wheels with thin spokes and special stitching on the inside, besides others. Even today, the E31 is one of the most impressive cars offered by BMW and Alpina alike.
BMW 3-Series E46 Coupe (1997 – 2006)
The BMW 3-Series E46 was the fourth generation of a compact executive car by the German manufacturer and produced in a variety of body styles, ranging from a sedan to coupe, convertible, and station wagon, to a hatchback called Compact. While the Compact has not stood well over the years in terms of design, the coupe variant is a truly timeless piece of BMW design.
Its development started in 1993 and the design team was led by Chris Bangle — the same man responsible for the controversial designs of the 7-Series E65 and E63 6-Series. By many, these cars are considered less than perfect, to put it lightly. On the other hand, the E46 is a universally liked model, and it is surprising to see such diversity from one designer.
Chris Bangle has done some serious work on the E46. If you hear “BMW”, the first thing that will come to your mind will likely be the E46. This is an achievement many designers can only dream about. The post-facelift models are particularly charming, and it goes without saying that the M3 is the hottest of them all. The more muscular fenders and aggressive bumpers really made the E46 shine.
The design is distinctive thanks to elements such as the swooping roofline and characteristically shaped front and rear headlights. Compared to its predecessor, the dimensions have been increased, but the weight was kept more or less in the same range, as many panels were made of aluminum. In 2001, the E46 received a facelift which made the typical BMW kidney grille more angled and wider. They’ve also added modernized headlights with a fully clear optic.
The car was just as impressive on the inside. With heaps of comfort features and soft leather in the higher trim models, the 3-Series looked almost just as good as its larger sibling, the 5-Series. Interiors from the BMW Individual program especially stood out in terms of quality and refinement.
BMW 3-Series E92 (2006 – 2013)
The E92 3-Series BMW is not only special because it was the last 3-Series to feature naturally aspirated engines, but also because of its timeless design. Many consider this car a great choice because of its low costs relative to the technology it offers, and the superb driving characteristics. However, the design is also an important point.
The design of the E92 coupe is fully derived from the E90 sedan. The coupe variant is about three inches longer, and it sits lower to the ground, which makes the coupe even sportier than the already-great sedan. The mastermind behind the design of all 3-Series models from this generation is Joji Nagashima, who is also responsible for the design of the E39 5-Series exterior.
Even today, the now almost two decades old E90 family appears competent and relevant. Some coupes have issues with their side profile — with more mass and a pair of doors, it is quite tricky to make the car look sleek. However, on the E92, this was handled perfectly. Especially so on the top-of-the-line performance models by the BMW M Sport division.
Talking about the M Sport, the E92 M3 packed some serious power. It was the only 3-Series generation to pack a V8 under the bonnet. The engine, code-named S65B40, generated 414 horsepower and 300 lb.-ft of torque. The engine loves high revs and achieves the maximum horsepower at 8,300 RPM. With the automatic DCT transmission and rear-wheel drive, the M3 E92 is still one of the fastest accelerating BMW coupe models. It takes only 4.5 seconds to get it from a standstill to 60 miles per hour.
Since its introduction, it was clear that even after years, the E92 could be a great sports car providing a pure driving experience. It is exciting to see that the E92 generation has held up very well even in terms of design. It could almost be sold as a new car today and some would for sure prefer it to the newest 4-Series coupe, which is quite controversial in its design.
BMW 6-Series F13 (2011 – 2017)
As the newest car on this list of BMW coupe models with a timeless design, the last generation 6-Series did not have as much time to age and prove its qualities, yet it is almost sure that even decades later, it will be a relevant model for a list similar to this one.
Compared to the second generation, the design was much improved on both the exterior and interior. The F13 6-Series could almost be a freshly released model, and it would perfectly blend in with the rest of modern BMWs. Some would even argue that the flowing lines and smaller front grille of the 6-Series are better than what the model that replaced it had to offer.
The 6-Series at the time was one of the highest-positioned BMW models, as it was essentially a sleeker 7-Series. The interior was highly customizable to the point where you could have it almost entirely wrapped in soft leather, including the dashboard and center console. The BMW Premium Selection program ensured that every customer got the 6-Series’ interior exactly to their liking. The F13 looks especially good with M Performance parts, which include carbon fiber mirrors, black accents, and larger rims. Equipment-wise, there is almost nothing that you could not have on this luxurious and sporty BMW coupe.
As far as drivetrains go, the 6-Series featured a variety of gasoline engines for the North American market. The base model was the 640i, which was equipped with a 3-0L inline-6 turbocharged engine generating 315 hp and 332 lb.-ft of torque. With a 0-62 mph time of 5.3 seconds, the 640i had more than plenty of power. Yet, there were two more options above it. The 650i came with a 4.4L twin-turbo V8, which generated 444 horsepower and 479 lb.-ft of torque during the later years of production.
The top-of-the-line model was the M6, a special performance model with a similar engine to the 650i but with even more power — 553 hp and 502 lb.-ft of torque to be exact. This ensured a 0-62 mph time of 4 seconds.
New or Old, BMW Coupes Never Disappoint
The history of BMW (Bayerische Motoren Werke) dates all the way back to 1916. Since then, the brand has been producing models which are simply amazing to look at. It is surprising how timeless BMW design can be, as the oldest BMW coupe models on this list date back to more than 45 years ago, and still, they use some design elements which are known even from today’s cars and are just exciting overall. Hopefully, BMW continues this trend even in the upcoming decades.
