BMW: greatest cars 2000-2016

It was, almost unbelievably, better than a Z3.

2003 - E60 530d

Fifth-gen 5 Series, with adventurous styling by Chris Bangle, then the design boss. Fast, smooth and frugal.

2003 - E46 M3 CSL

High price and clunky SMG transmission aside, one of M’s finest driving machines. And with a carbonfibre intake manifold, possibly the best-sounding BMW of all time.

2004 - E53 X5 4.8iS

At the time, BMW swore it would never put an M badge on an BMW X5, and this was the closest it got. Fast but thirsty.

2004 - E65 760iL

A BMW powered by an engine that had been developed for the Rolls-Royce Phantom.

2004 - 320i ETCC

It won the European Touring Car Championship and catapulted driver Andy Priaulx into the realms of the tin-top superstars.

2005 - E60 M5

It may have had a dodgy gearbox, but it also had a world-class engine and fabulous balance. A superlative driving machine in perhaps the 5 Series’ best shape.

2005 - E63 M6 Coupé

The first to call itself the BMW M6. More hardcore than it looked.

2005 - E90 320d

What every sales rep wanted to drive.

2006 - Z4 M Coupé

Bonkers to look at and bonkers to drive. We loved it.

2006 - E90 320Si

A rare homologation special and a modern junior E30 M3. Just 500 came to the UK.

2006 - E91 335d Touring

At the time, the best small estate car in the world. It offered realworld performance to scare a junior supercar, yet 40mpg without the need for a light foot.

2006 - E70 X5 3.0d

BMW’s first seven-seater.

2007 - 635d

Best of the 6 Series, for this generation at least.

2007 - E61 M5 Touring

It is probable that no other car has combined such a big boot at one end with such an extraordinary engine at theother. Its 5.0-litre V10 was the ultimate statement of BMW’s pre-turbo world and one of the greatest motors ever to find its way into not just a BMW but any road car.

2007 - E82 135i Coupé

At the time, the closest to a 1 Series M car you could get.

2007 - E90 M3 saloon

The one with the 4.0-litre V8 engine. And the addiction to sideways motoring. The last normally aspirated M3, it was hideously thirsty but brimful of character, performance and oversteer.

2008 - E87 123d

A big or, leastways, powerful diesel in a little car. Nothing not to like other than the shape.

2008 - F1.08

The Canadian Grand Prix winner and the only BMW to win in F1 to date, so a massively significant car as a result.

2009 - Z4 30i

Best of the non-M Z4s.

2009 - F01 730Ld

A fine luxury car. Its only crime was not being a Mercedes-Benz S-Class.

2010 - E70 X5 M

First M-badged SUV. Not to be confused with the MX-5. Which is a Mazda roadster.

2010 - E91 M3 GTS

M3 with more power and less weight. Just 150 built, each with a six-figure price, largely to prove BMW could do a Porsche 911 GT3 RS if it wanted to.

2010 - F11 520d Touring

Easy, effective living space. Understated, but excellent.

2011 - 1 Series M Coupé

As ugly as sin but a joy to drive.

2011 - F10 M5

Our least favourite BMW M5, but an M5 nonetheless.

2011 - F25 X3 xDrive35d

A powerful SUV for pragmatists.

2011 - F30 320d

The legend continues, better than ever.

2012 - F20 M135i

BMW’s most hilarious hot hatch.

2012 - M3 DTM

It won three out of four DTM constructors’ titles between 2012 and 2015. Which says it all.

2013 - E70 X5 M50d

A triple-turbo 371bhp motor and it was fuelled by diesel. The most versatile X5 yet built.

2013 - F13 640d

Elegant, able and enjoyable.

2013 - F13 M6 Gran Coupé

Grace and space housed in one powerful whole.

2013 - F14 X5 xDrive40d

Among seven-seat SUVs, bested only by the Range Rover Sport.

2014 - F22 M235i

Cheaper than an M4; better to drive.

2014 - F80 M3

More practical and, as with previous generations, inexplicably nicer to drive than its two-door sister.

2015 - F48 X1 20d

BMW aims for a crossover. Scores.

2016 - G12 730d

Finally, a truly credible big BMW.

2016 - F87 M2