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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 KcZZzAqkdG7LxnK072+L3y69tWz2A0NUdR0shBNQciop0uuUsRfIvAjC7QKHJfAo
 dGpyRQV2EmtjxWfketHzcQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001127602-08-005126.txt : 20080723
<SEC-HEADER>0001127602-08-005126.hdr.sgml : 20080723
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20080723184717
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001127602-08-005126
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20080722
FILED AS OF DATE:		20080723
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20080723

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			LAVIGNE LOUIS J JR
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001214127

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-16393
		FILM NUMBER:		08966685

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		714-246-5265

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O ALLERGAN, INC.
		STREET 2:		2525 DUPONT DRIVE
		CITY:			IRVINE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92612

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BMC SOFTWARE INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000835729
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-PREPACKAGED SOFTWARE [7372]
		IRS NUMBER:				742126120
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0331

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2101 CITYWEST BLVD
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77042-2827
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7139188800

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2101 CITYWEST BLVD
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77042-2827
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>form4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-07-22</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000835729</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BMC SOFTWARE INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>BMC</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001214127</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>LAVIGNE LOUIS J JR</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>2101 CITYWEST BLVD.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HOUSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>77042</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Nonemployee Director Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>36.84</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-07-22</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>30000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-07-22</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>30000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>30000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Stock option grant under BMC Software, Inc. 1994 Employee Incentive Plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Such option shall vest fully after one year provided that the subsequent annual meeting of stockholders is held prior to the one year anniversary of the 2008 Annual Meeting such options shall vest on the date of such meeting.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Christopher C. Chaffin, Attorney-in-Fact for Louis J. Lavigne, Jr.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-07-23</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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