BMW 540i 90's Commercial "Canals of New York"

[supchacha]

Wow I remember this commercial when I was in the 3rd grade. I love it. BMW SHOULD DO A REMAKE! (SAME CONCEPT, SAME SCORE, DIFFERENT CAR)

[girlyphotowiz]

the score is beautiful!

[5cylcoupe]

shoulda got the sport package

[vids49]

So does anyone know if the music in this ad is from an artist and from a "standalone" song or is this just a small piece for the ad specifically, I too like many had been looking for this ad for a few years now hoping to come across it. The music is what stuck with me mostly and its part of the many sounds/sights that remind me of growing up in the 90's. I'd really like to know about the music if anyone knows.

[jasonheng85]

this ad doesnt make any sense

[GUCCIJIM]

Wow! Thanks for posting this awesome BMW Commercial. I was lucky enough to capture it on VHS Tape back in 96. I remember playing it over and over and over again just for the incredible music score and imagery! Brilliant ad!

[emonpla]

Muchas gracias tiradorfranco2 ... espero que tu castellano no se limite al nombre. Tendrias la otra version con la misma mujer y su hijo detras... recuerdo que el coche esquiva un obstaculo en el ultimo momento. Gracias de nuevo, espectacular.

[tiradorfranco2]

@emonpla no recuerdo ese otro, aunque me suena la descripcion.

[BMW770XLI]

Looks like a lot of people have been looking for this ad. I kinda been looking for it for years...especially since i worked for a BMW dealer. What drove me nuts is never forgetting the music of this ad. Wish i could find out if it was BMW's own music or an artist. Please post if you know!!!

[Mefactor]

i love this commrcial. i want the music for when im driving in my 5 srs.

[82roboc]

Thanks for posting this commerical. I feel in love with it when it first came out. The music is so beautiful. I wish it could go on for awhile longer.

[Suckerman12]

To the guys who worked on this commercial, thanks. I was a young Airmen in the Air Force and I just got stationed at Andrews AFB. I was living in my first house with my wife and two young kids, I had my first office at work, and I was in my first year of College. To me, this commerical was reminds me of those days of a promising future. So, thanks to those who were a part of it.

[tab71]

Thanks so much for posting this commercial, I've been going nuts for years trying to find information on it.

[derbydriver30]

This video has been stuck in my mind for years! I used to have this recorded on VHS from the commercial but no longer can find it. Anyways this music to this song is so addicting. I have been trying to search it and no luck. The person that made this song must keep it private. Im glad im not the only one addicted to it. I need a copy of this video so i can have it on my computer so i can play over and over. Now i want to find a car like this. Wonder did it come with CD player?

[whattheheck1000]

im sure it had a cd player.

[Tiranax]

You are correct cwr - this was played throughout the 1996 Atlanta Games. Great commerical!!!

Onemoremusic company owns the rights to ad. They even have it in the archive on their site.

[cwr32565]

I am glad I found this video. I thought I was the only one obsessed with it. When this commercial came out I became obsessed with BMW and have been ever since or so my wife says.. lol. I remember when it originally aired which I believe was during the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta. Does anybody that attended the Olympics that year remember the 3 series that they turned into cop cars.. was awesome. I own an 03 E39 530i. best all around car out there

[spacecricket]

I've always loved this commercial. I remember being strangely moved by it when it first aired, and I'm glad I found it again!

[vroyen]

I would buy the music from Joe and Co. if I could. I will buy the car though very soon.

[Rudolf2k]

I love it!!!

The music, the scenery, the music, the car, oh, and the music. :)

[FillmoreRangerCPD]

This is one of my favorite commercials of all time! I was a 22 yr old punk at the time and couldn't care less about BMW, but the music and imagery stuck with me over the years. I'm going on my 3rd BMW and will never look back.

[Blackychan229]

Does anyone remember the BMW commercial with the large metal balls rolling around the street? I think it was for the 5 series as well...If you know where I can see it again let me know!

[zve34]

Ha! Great to see this ad posted. I too had saved the quicktime ad from BMW's website. I have it on an old proprietary magneto-optical disk that I no longer have hardware to read.

I tried to get in touch with Joe & Co. back in 1997 to inquire about the music but had no luck.

[Maxpasadena]

I love this commercial -- I bought a 540 the year I saw this commercial and now I'm on my 5th BMW (X5 4.8). Most BMW commercials are boring, but this one with the imagery and the music stuck in my head. I remember recording the commercial on a VCR and playing it over and over. ALso during the early 90's BMW ran a newspaper ad listing the things you should do in life (and of course one was owning a BMW). I kept that on my refrigerator for years and did many of the things on the list.

[crb4059]

The ad is incredibly important in its intrinsic message that BMW owners are people that make their own destiny, determine their own victories and failures. Not simply acquiesce to life as being subject to the capricious whims of the currents (like a river stream or canal in this case) like most people do. I remember that message well when I was in high school and loved this commercial and its meaning.

[crb4059]

I remember the weather channel of all places where this commercial aired in heavy rotation in 1995.

[cadillacseville00]

This video shows how committed BMW is to the commercials they make. In the meantime, go look at the commercial for the Cadillac Seville STS. It's extremely cheesy and low class. I've got a 2000 and while I love it, it's no BMW.

[Necroman666]

beaultyfull

[LLCoolPass]

why do ads get awards...

either the car sells better or it doesnt!

haha

i love this car

[rviradia]

Damn I love this commercial / music, I remember I this from senior year in high school, who knew ~5 years later I would pick up a 2001 540i 6-speed, which I still have today!

[hardcore462]

WOW! Thank you for posting this video! I've looked for the "yacht" commercial off and on for the last 8 years. I love the visuals but the beautiful enigmatic music burned it into my memory. I wish there was a soundtrack by the composer related to this.

[MacCoach]

Wow! I've also been looking & looking for this ad all over the 'net for years. I am the Marine Coordinator that wrangled the yachts used for all the Miami shoots. A buddy of mine did all the South Florida Land Shot locations. The Producer promised us copies, but that never materialized.  Oh Well... Isn't the internet AMAZING??? Thank You YouTube & thank you so much 'tiradorfranco2'!!!

[tiradorfranco2]

Thanks, there really should be a better copy of this ad available, it´s a shame the producer didn´t keep his word. How long did it take to shoot the yachts? Was there any motion capture involved? There was a companion clip to this video that was a short making-of video. I remember a few shots of the yachts on location but unfortunately I dont have it anymore.

[tiradorfranco2]

Thanks for commenting. If you could share any info or anecdotes, it would be very much appreciated!

[Blackychan229]

I have been searching for this commercial for years... I can't believe it is on youtube. Unbelievable, I cannot believe I am seeing it again. Whoever posted it thanks. This is still the best bmw commercial

[cvid309]

Thank you Tiradorfranco2!! I recorded this when it first appeared on tv, then accidentally erased it. Called Fallon-McElligott, but they were not used to people being FANS of their commercials. Just thought I'd check YouTube for it, and... thanks again!! Ah, the video, the music... Just love it. Jerryr in Galesburg, IL

[pitbullpup]

This is probably my favorite TV commercial. I hope this videoclip stays.

Does anyone know how to import this to iTunes/iPod?

[Bimmersnob]

This is the best BMW commercial that I can remember ever seeing. I remember when these cars came out and this commercial aired during the Olympics, I was only 12. This is still the car I really want sitting next to my 3-series in the garage. Good information about the commercial, thanks for posting!

[whattheheck1000]

Wow, only 12!

[aera6413]

Just looking randomly and found something I've been looking for since I was a kid. Been in love with the E39 5-series forever!

[lostintracy]

awesome i've been looking for this for years!

thank you!!!

[estefez]

I don't suppose there's a higher quality version of this out there? It's something i'd really like to own.

[estefez]

YES YES YES!! i've been looking for this commercial since it came out!!

there were also some amazing Summer Olympics ads that year. anyone have any?

[tiradorfranco2]

Now that you mention it, I do remember a couple of ads for International Paper that ran during the Olympics that year that were pretty good.

[MacCoach]

Hi -- where did you find this to post it? I helped create it, & am trying to end up with a copy!

Thx!

MacCoach

[tiradorfranco2]

At the time this ad aired, I was new to the internet and one of my hobbies was trying to track down ads I really enjoyed. Back then video was usually not available so I was happy to find a quicktime video of the ad on BMW´s webpage. There was also a making-of video that I only vaguely remember that I´ve lost track of. I think the quicktimes were only available while it aired since I looked for it later and it was no longer there. Great ads should really be more readily available and free!

[whattheheck1000]

Hell yeah, tiradorfranco2!

[atom2009]

Been trying to hear and find this song for the longest time. Does anyone know the name?

[tiradorfranco2]

I had the same question 10 years ago and everything I've ever found says it was created specifically for this ad. It'd be nice if it were available somewhere, though.

[kenshin02ws6]

This is one of the most amazing car commercials ever made. ALWAYS remembered this one. Thank you for posting.