Cheap BMWs That Offer Muscle Car Performance

BMW might not be the manufacturer that comes to mind when discussing muscle cars, but the brand has produced several segment-worthy V8-powered performance cars over the years. Many BMW sedans and coupes are affordable and have the performance to hold their own against a car like the 2006 Dodge Charger R/T.

Much like the Charger and its Hemi V8, BMW has its own line of powerful engines that produce the power necessary to be considered a muscle car. To be included in the muscle car culture, you need a healthy aftermarket to personalize and improve the performance of your car. BMW succeeds here as well, with a very active and diverse aftermarket that will enable you to modify it to your heart’s content.

While the brand’s luxury image does command higher price tags, plenty of these powerful and highly-tunable BMWs are now surprisingly cheap on the used market. In fact, the BMWs on this list all boast muscle-car-worthy power and performance, yet they won’t set you back a penny over $20,000 used.

How we made our model selections:
We compared these fast and powerful BMWs to a modern muscle car that is unquestionable in its purpose – the 2006 Dodge Charger R/T that produced 345 horsepower and 390 lb-ft of torque, which helped redefine the segment for the modern world. The Charger will rocket from 0-60 in 5.6 seconds and reach a top speed of 160 mph. Its average retail price is $5,985 according to Kelley Blue Book.

Therefore, in order to qualify for this list, we’re looking for BMWs that offer more than 340 horsepower or reach 60 mph in less than 5.6 seconds. Additionally, they need to be in ‘good condition’ and average used prices are under $30,000. We ranked these models according to their prices, from least to most expensive. All prices for the BMWs on this list were sourced from KBB.com.

8 2012 BMW 550i Gran Turismo: $9,172

Specs

The 2012 BMW 550i Gran Turismo Comes In With A Powerful V8

The 2012 BMW 550i Gran Turismo has the same power output as its bigger brother, the 650i, but at an even better value. The 550i in this form was manufactured from 2010 to 2017, and it made our list of fast and underrated BMWs that are not M cars. It transfers that power through an eight-speed transmission helping propel it from 0 to 60 in 4.8 seconds. That is faster than the Dodge Charger R/T we are measuring these cars against. It also can get 31MPG on the open road, which is the same as 10 MPG higher than the big Dodge.

7 2010 BMW 760Li: $10,871

Specs

The 2010 BMW 760Li Was The Biggest Baddest Bimmer Around

In 2010, the BMW 760Li was an incredibly powerful and luxurious option. It is almost unfair to compare it to the Charger R/T except it falls within our price guidelines and more than produces the power we are looking for in our search. The upkeep of an exotic engine like the V12 under the hood can be very expensive, but it offers a driving experience usually reserved for cars priced in the six-figure range. It is one of the coolest luxury cars with unexpected performance.

6 2012 BMW 750i: $11,118

Specs

The 2012 BMW 750i Is A True Flagship Sedan

The 2012 BMW 750i has a powerful V8 under the hood with 400 horsepower and a six-speed transmission. It is a true flagship sedan for BMW that outperforms the 2006 Dodge Charger R/T in our comparison. It reaches 60 miles per hour in 4.8 seconds, which is almost a full second faster than the Charger. There are issues with certain years of the 7 Series that make it one of the hardest-hit models with depreciation.

5 2007 BMW 550i: $11,333

Specs

The 2007 BMW 550i Comes In With Fantastic Performance Per Dollar

The 2005 BMW 550i has enough power and torque at 360 and 360 respectively to go toe to toe with the Dodge Charger R/T. It transfers that power to the ground through a six-speed transmission helping propel it from 0 to 60 in 5.4 seconds. At this price point, it had to be included in cheap sleepers that’ll last you a lifetime.

4 2009 BMW 750i: $11,775

Specs

The 2009 BMW 750i Is A 400-HP Super-Luxury Sedan

The 2009 BMW 750i is a big, comfortable luxury sedan at first appearance. It has leather seats, climate control, satellite navigation, and every other creature comfort you would expect from the flagship sedan. However, you would be overlooking the power and capability of the big bimmer. Its 4.4-liter V8 puts down 400 hp and 450 lb-ft of torque which propel it from 0 to 60 in 5.0 seconds flat before reaching a top speed limited to 155 mph. A used BMW 750i is one of the most affordable cars that will do 150+ mph.

3 2010 BMW 650i: $12,856

Specs

The 2010 BMW 650i Is A 360-HP Sports Coupe

The 2010 BMW 650i has a fast-revving V8 under the hood and with 360 horsepower and a six-speed transmission, it delivers plenty of performance. It reaches 60 miles per hour in 5.3 seconds. It offers the style and performance that muscle car buyers are looking for at an attractive price point. It is one of the fastest German performance cars for gearheads on a budget.

2 2008 BMW M3: $15,387

Specs

The 2008 BMW M3 Rockets To 60 MPH In 4.3 Seconds

The 2008 BMW M3 makes 414 horsepower and puts it down with a six-speed transmission. It will hit zero to 60 in 4.3 seconds flat on its way to an electronically limited top speed of 155 miles per hour. The average price, according to Kelley Blue Book, is just over $15,000, making it a performance bargain. This is why the BMW M3 is one of our favorite drivers’ cars.

1 2007 BMW 650i Convertible: $18,733

Specs

The 2007 BMW 650i Is A 360-HP Luxury Convertible

The 2007 BMW 650i convertible is an affordable future classic that deserves garage space. The V8 under the hood can rocket you to 60 in just 5.2 seconds, and you won’t have to panic if a corner appears in front of you. This one with the same great engine can be had in a four-door as well for a bit more practicality. The BMW 650i is a bargain with an average retail price of $18,733 compared to its original $90,000 MSRP.

Sources: Kelley Blue Book, Zeroto60times, Netcarshow.com, BMW, Dodge