BMW is the most remarkable phenomenon to hit the auto industry in a generation. Celebrated for its luxury sports cars, motorcycles, and aero engines in the pre-war era, it squandered its glamorous heritage in the 1950s; on its knees and near bankruptcy, it was rejected as a lost cause when offered by desperate banks to Mercedes-Benz. But thanks to a wealthy German aristocrat, a brilliant engineer, and a young and inspirational manager, Von Kuenheim's Mercedes would soon regret not having scooped up the once-glorious firm. Pioneering the concept of the compact, high-quality sports saloon, the visionary new team systematically built BMW into the spectacular success we know today. Through the most expressive medium of all - the cars themselves - The Complete Book of BMW tells the story of one of the most remarkable turnarounds of the century, from the iconic 2002tii of the 1960s through the mighty M3 of the 1990s to today's born-again MINI and the crowning glory of the Rolls-Royce Phantom.