The definitive meaning behind the BMW logo and the propeller myth

no_whereman · 03-07-2020, 08:53 AM

Featured on BIMMERPOST.com

https://www.bmw.com/en/automotive-li...-history1.html

535i MSport · 03-11-2020, 08:48 AM

The problem with it being transparent, is that it's a non-colour. Plus if it's not going to be used on cars (good), what's the point?

TheBingoBalls · 03-11-2020, 09:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 535i MSport

The problem with it being transparent, is that it's a non-colour. Plus if it's not going to be used on cars (good), what's the point?

Put it on a letterhead and compare the old with the new side-by-side. On vehicles it might not make sense but on stationary and media, it's a night and day difference. The 3D effect looks terribly outdated. I was glad that MINI made the change and glad that BMW did the same.

Big boi m5 · 03-11-2020, 10:15 AM

I like it better. The 97 logo is in my opinion the worse one. Everything 90s was bad style imo.

BitchinManWheels · 03-11-2020, 10:25 AM

1917 with silver lettering would look great!

VisualEcho · 03-11-2020, 10:27 AM

They're just admitting that they weren't clever enough to think of the propeller idea themselves, which is good of them.

Blindside_137 · 03-11-2020, 10:52 AM

More now of bmw following trends rather than leading

PK2348 · 03-11-2020, 11:59 AM

Alternative name for this thread: "Quick guide on how to white wash years of co-operating with Nazis and manufacturing weapons responsible for deaths of millions of civilians"

AZ1 · 03-11-2020, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SleepingBMW

I like it better. The 97 logo is in my opinion the worse one. Everything 90s was bad style imo.

*holds a cross and hisses in an attempt to banish SleepingBMW

Boss330 · 03-12-2020, 06:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VisualEcho

They're just admitting that they weren't clever enough to think of the propeller idea themselves, which is good of them.

How do you figure that?

The propeller legend stems from a original BMW ad where the badge is the propeller.

So obviously BMW both had the idea and presented it to the public themselves...

VisualEcho · 03-12-2020, 08:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boss330

How do you figure that?

The propeller legend stems from a original BMW ad where the badge is the propeller.

So obviously BMW both had the idea and presented it to the public themselves...

Yes, of course, but it wasn't the original idea (if you read the article).

Do you consider every person that works at BMW as BMW themselves? The idea was probably that of one person's, made into a flyer, and then presented AFTER the original logo. Unless you believe that the company as a whole stopped production, and everyone shouted out all that the same time "hey, the offset blue/white needs to represent a propeller."

GenXer · 03-13-2020, 11:38 AM

The real reason seems less likely than the myth. I would believe the propeller or even the 4 quadrant crash test dummy symbol more than the actual explanation.

Artemis · 03-13-2020, 01:21 PM

2010 video by BMW about the origin of its logo:

Boss330 · 03-14-2020, 06:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VisualEcho

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boss330

How do you figure that?

The propeller legend stems from a original BMW ad where the badge is the propeller.

So obviously BMW both had the idea and presented it to the public themselves...

Yes, of course, but it wasn't the original idea (if you read the article).

Do you consider every person that works at BMW as BMW themselves? The idea was probably that of one person's, made into a flyer, and then presented AFTER the original logo. Unless you believe that the company as a whole stopped production, and everyone shouted out all that the same time "hey, the offset blue/white needs to represent a propeller."

First of all, the BMW logo does NOT represent a propeller. That is still just a myth based on that airplane brochure.

If we approach the story with the misconception that the logo now actually and officially is a propeller then I understand where you come from. Kind of like that the original design people (also probably just a few people, not the entire workforce in the factory &#128521

just put together a logo without any meaning and didnt realize it was a propeller...

However, the original idea behind the blue and white quadrants represent the colours of Bavaria and it still does. BMW logo is still not a propeller, it's still "the original idea" and represents the colours of Bavaria.

Artemis · 03-15-2020, 04:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boss330

However, the original idea behind the blue and white quadrants represent the colours of Bavaria and it still does. BMW logo is still not a propeller, it's still "the original idea" and represents the colours of Bavaria.

Correct. And the BMW color Misano Blue Metallic (C1D) is pretty close to that Bavarian blue color.

Bavarian flag (origin of the BMW logo colors):

Misano Blue Metallic:

haagm58 · 03-16-2020, 10:44 AM

Excellent read, thank you for sharing op.

03-07-2020, 08:53 AM	#1
no_whereman Enlisted Member 39 Rep 46 Posts Drives: G20 Join Date: Apr 2019 Location: FL iTrader: (0)	The definitive meaning behind the BMW logo and the propeller myth Featured on BIMMERPOST.com https://www.bmw.com/en/automotive-li...-history1.html
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03-11-2020, 08:48 AM	#2
535i MSport Captain 1173 Rep 897 Posts Drives: 2017 C63S T Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: East Anglia iTrader: (0)	The problem with it being transparent, is that it's a non-colour. Plus if it's not going to be used on cars (good), what's the point? __________________ 2017 M3 Comp Pack 450PS 2017 C63S T 510PS
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03-11-2020, 10:15 AM	#4
Big boi m5 Lieutenant 321 Rep 489 Posts Drives: 135i Join Date: Aug 2018 Location: Cali iTrader: (0)	I like it better. The 97 logo is in my opinion the worse one. Everything 90s was bad style imo.
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03-11-2020, 10:25 AM	#5
BitchinManWheels Lieutenant 346 Rep 585 Posts Drives: Dinan M4, Z4, X5, Raptor Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Shavertown, PA iTrader: (0)	1917 with silver lettering would look great! __________________ "When you're racing, it's life. Anything that happens before or after is just waiting."
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03-11-2020, 10:27 AM	#6
VisualEcho Banned 6661 Rep 4,143 Posts Drives: '18 M2 6MT Join Date: Sep 2019 Location: Missouri iTrader: (1) Garage List 2018 BMW M2 [10.00]	They're just admitting that they weren't clever enough to think of the propeller idea themselves, which is good of them.
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03-11-2020, 10:52 AM	#7
Blindside_137 Lieutenant General 7065 Rep 10,698 Posts Drives: 2011.75 SSII E90 M3 ZCP Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Raleigh, NC iTrader: (2)	More now of bmw following trends rather than leading
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03-11-2020, 11:59 AM	#8
PK2348 Lieutenant 186 Rep 407 Posts Drives: 2021 330i xdrive Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Brooklyn iTrader: (0)	Alternative name for this thread: "Quick guide on how to white wash years of co-operating with Nazis and manufacturing weapons responsible for deaths of millions of civilians"
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03-13-2020, 11:38 AM	#12
GenXer Major 1401 Rep 1,031 Posts Drives: Like a bat out of hell. Join Date: Apr 2019 Location: here and there iTrader: (0) Garage List 2017 Chevrolet Volt [0.00] 2020 Chevrolet Tahoe [0.00]	The real reason seems less likely than the myth. I would believe the propeller or even the 4 quadrant crash test dummy symbol more than the actual explanation.
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03-13-2020, 01:21 PM	#13
Artemis Moderator 33961 Rep 13,496 Posts Drives: BMW M2C - BMW X1 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Belgium iTrader: (0)	2010 video by BMW about the origin of its logo: __________________ ///M is art ↔ Artemis
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03-16-2020, 10:44 AM	#16
haagm58 Captain 821 Rep 919 Posts Drives: F30 328d Sport Line Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: South Carolina iTrader: (0) Garage List 2014 BMW F30 328d [8.50]	Excellent read, thank you for sharing op.
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