Bimmer or Beemer ?

Ask this question to any BMW enthusiast, and you will be met with a staunch, and somewhat irritated response. According to the Boston chapter of the BMW Car Club of America, Bimmer refers to cars, whereas Beemer refers to motorcycles. Sounds easy, right ? Not quite.

Every person I have talked to, both in Canada and here in California, has referred to my car, and others like it, as Beemers. It just has a nicer ring to it. Bimmer, as in BIM-mer, just doesn't sound right. Nobody uses it, and it sounds, well, dim. Bimmer. Dimmer. Not something to be proud of.

However, according to Wikipedia, most people, to the chagrin of the Boston folks, still use the term "beemer" to refer to the BMW cars. And here's the kicker: in the German language, the common pronunciation of the term "Bimmer" is "Beemer."

The Germans have to be right. They built the car after all. I must bow to their will, and their custom. The Germans are king. I am their servant.

So, if anyone from Boston asks, I will call my car a "Bimmer" like I'm supposed to. But I will pronounce it like Beemer. It's the right thing to do.

Sorry Boston. The Germans won this one.