BMW has long been celebrated for building machines that engage the driver. But just as impressive as what’s under the hood is what’s inside the cabin. Across decades and model lines, BMW interiors have blended craftsmanship, innovation, and a sense of occasion that few automakers can match. From minimalist, driver-focused layouts to sumptuous luxury lounges, the brand has mastered the art of creating spaces that feel both purposeful and emotional. There are five that stand above.
BMW Z8
BMW’s Z8 is an immensely special car. It features an M5-derived powertrain, and BMW produced less than 6,000 examples for the entire planet. BMW didn’t just shape a beautiful exterior; the car’s interior is a mash-up of classic BMW design and unique details that you won’t see anywhere else in the brand’s lineup. Gauges mounted in the center of the dashboard and exquisite but straightforward switchgear make the car look every bit of its $130,000 or so MSRP — a lot of money back in the early 2000s. And for that matter, still today! The ALPINA version of the Z8 — the BMW ALPINA Roadster V8 — gets even more unique. ALPINA badging, blue-backed gauges, and a numbered plaque make it a really special place to spend time. But the regular Z8’s steering wheel aesthetic and manual transmission, overall, make it truly a cockpit to behold.
G70 BMW 7 Series
Arguably the BMW most distant from the BMW Z8, the newest BMW 7 Series has to be mentioned. While it doesn’t have the special touches and motorsport infused details the Z8 does, it goes big in other areas. Literally and metaphorically, that is. It introduced the 31-inch Theater Screen, a display we haven’t seen anywhere else in the lineup. The current 7 Series also represents a progression in materials and customization, introducing two-tone color schemes like Caramel/Atlas Grey and Taupe Grey/Night Blue that inch the car even further towards Rolls-Royce territory. Is the newest 7 Series our favorite BMW interior when we’re in the driver’s seat? Perhaps not. But you won’t find a better one if you’re riding in the back.
E36/8 M Coupe
The M Coupe — much like the Z8 — is special for many reasons, not least of which is extremely limited production numbers. But the special feeling carries into the interior. Inside, you’ll find a layout similar, but very different, from the regular E36 and E30 3 Series the car is based on. A trio of analog gauges unique to the M Coupe sit above Z3-unique buttons in the center console. Z3 specific seats, an eminently practical hatchback trunk (complete with a cargo cover), and a glass roof (unique for the time) make the clown shoe’s cockpit just as noteworthy as the car’s almost otherworldly design.
E46 M3 CSL
The first CSL since the original took an already amazing car and made it even more fun to drive. Along the way, BMW tore up and decked out the car’s interior with tons of special parts. A carbon fiber center console, race bucket seats, carbon fiber door cards, a handful of Alcantara detail pieces, and even a radio delete panel (made of carbon fiber, of course) made the already “just right” E46 interior feel like even more of an occasion. Arguably, it set the bar for things to come — like the M3 GTS and M4 GTS. And, perhaps even the last car on our list.
F90 M5 CS
Like most of the other cars on this list, the F90 M5 CS is immensely special. The CS version made waves when BMW stuffed race bucket seats in the front of the already super sedan, but BMW also switched out the rear seats for a racier, two-seat configuration that eliminated the middle spot. The unique red accents nearly felt out of place in the sedan — until you put your foot down. The M5 CS further benefits from iDrive 7, which means no “dashboard as a screen” design plaguing newer models. Special trim and CS badging and little Nürburgring motifs stitched into the headrests are just some of the other special touches. The cabin is a masterclass in how a couple big touches and even fewer little things can really add up.
