Common BMW Series in Zambia – Though there are by far so many models sometimes referred to as series there is only a small handful of BMWs in Zambia seen on the roads.
Bayerische Motoren Werke AG, always and commonly known as BMW in Zambia, is a German multinational manufacturer of performance luxury vehicles and motorcycles headquartered in Munich, Bavaria, Germany. At CarTips today we take you on a drive to list all the known BMW motors or the common ones driving on Zambia roads.
Firstly, in Zambia, BMW motorcycles are almost non-existent.
BMW 3 Series – Common BMW Models in Zambia
However, the BMW 3 Series (not to be confused with i3), BMW 1 series, and the BMW X series are the kings of Zambian roads. These models are seen everywhere you go and are treated with the luxury the German engineering has attached to them.
The BMW 3 Series is a line of compact executive cars manufactured by the German automaker BMW since May 1975. BMW 3 series is the successor to the 02 Series and so far has been produced in seven generations.
By large, the BMW 3 series fourth generation (the E46 which debuted in 1997) is the commonest one in Zambia. This is because the fourth generation is the most affordable from Japanese car dealers.
The fifth generation (E90/E91/E92/E93) of the BMW 3 series has also begun to be seen more on the roads. Production for the fifth generation began in 2004. Slowly but surely even the sixth generation (F30/F31/F34/F35) from 2011 can be seen here and there showing up as the common BMW series in Zambia.
The M version of the BMW 3 series is a rare gem and stands far off from the common BMW models in Zambia owing to its highly expensive price tag.
The BMW M3 is a high-performance version of the BMW 3 Series,
BMW X Series – Common BMW Models in Zambia
BMW X series refers to a number of crossovers, SUVs, and SACs (Self-adjusting Clutch) but of them all, the X5 is the pride of the BMW SUVs in Zambia.
The BMW X5 debuted in 1999 and has been available to the Zambian consumer from Japanese vehicles sold online. As a used car this BMW version is affordable as a reliable SUV suitable for Zambian roads.
The first generation E53 manufactured in 1999 and the second generation E70 from 2006 is by far the most common of the series and can easily be spotted in Zambia.
One of the highest reasons this car is desired is that the BMW X5 is suitable for Zambian roads and terrain. The first generation X5 shares many components with the Range Rover (L322) model (specifically the hill descent control and off-road engine management systems).
Other variants of the X series are:
- BMW X1
- BMW X2
- BMW X3
- BMW X4
- BMW X5
- BMW X6 (SUV with coupé roofline, based on X5 platform)
- BMW X7
- BMW XM (SUV with Coupé roofline, based on X7 platform)
- BMW iX (Electric SUV built on a dedicated platform)
BMW 1 Series E87 – Common BMW Models in Zambia
The first generation of the BMW 1 Series, which is from 2004, consists of the BMW E81 (3-door hatchback), BMW E82 (coupe), BMW E87 (5-door hatchback), and BMW E88 (convertible) compact cars.
Actually, the 1 series is a successor to the BMW 3 series compact. The 3-door BMW with the mini lip boot. Kind of awkward to say the opinion.
The BMW E87 is the most popular one for Zambian drivers though most of them from this series have parked now especially those bought in the past 10 years. But still, it counts as the most common BMW series in Zambia.
The 1 series has most of the motors parked owing to the most common problem encountered and that is;
- Ignition coil problems.
- Turbo problems.
- Brake problems.
- Power steering problems.
- EGR valve problems.
Other BMW 1 series are just the iterations now in their fourth though you can get BMW 1 Series Coupé (E82), BMW 1 Series M Coupé (E82), and BMW 1 Series Cabriolet (E88)
Common BMW series in Zambia dates back as far as the BMW 5 Series (E12) in the 70s that must have competed with the likes of Peugeot 504 and Fiat Uno that littered around.
At the same time, the Mercedes Benz, another German fabulous engineer was at its height but the luxury vehicle was reserved for corporate and top-ranking government officials.
But then through the 80s, the BMW 3 series seem to have dominated the roads through the second generation E30 and the third generation the BMW E36
