Why do they call my car an “E†something when it’s a 325i, 535i, etc..?
When you hear you car being referred to as an E classification, what they are referring to is the body style of a particular car. For instance, BMW has produced a 3 Series model from 1976 to present. Naturally, the body style changes over time, so to avoid confusion; they refer to the 1976-83 3 Series as an E21, the 1984-91 cars as E30, 1992-99 cars as E36, 1998-05 cars as the E46, and 2005 to the present cars are the E90. Keep in mind that certain early cars do not have an E number. Here’s a break down of the “E†numbers as well as the early designations
114 - 1602 – 2002tii
118 - 1500, 1600-4, 1800, 1800tii
120 - 2000C/CS/CA
121 - 2000, 2000ti, 2000tilux
E3 - 2500 – 3.3Li
E6 - 1600, 1800, 2000 touring
E9 - 2500CS – 3.0 CSi
E12 - 5 Series cars from 1974 to 1981
E21 - 3 Series cars from 1975 to 1983
E23 - 7 Series cars from 1977 to 1986
E24 - 6 Series cars from 1975 to 1989
E26 - M1
E28 - 5 Series cars from 1981 to 1987
E30 - 3 Series cars from 1984 to 1991 (1994 for touring)
E31 - 8 Series cars from 1989 to 1997
E32 - 7 Series cars from 1986 to 1994
E34 - 5 Series cars from 1988 to 1996
E36 - 3 Series cars from 1989 to 2001
E36/5 - 318ti
E36/7 - Z3 Roadster from 1994 to 2002
E38 - 7 Series cars from 1994 to 2001
E39 - 5 Series cars from 1995 to 2003
E46 - 3 Series cars from 1998 to 2006
E52 - Z8 Roadster from 1999 to 2003
E53 - X5 Series cars from 1999 to 2007
E60 - Current 5 Series cars from 2003 to present
E61 - Current 5 Series Touring
E63 - 6 Series cars from 2003 to present
E64 - 6 Series Convertible cars from 2004 to present
E65 - 7 Series cars from 2002 (short wheelbase)
E66 - 7 Series cars from 2002 (long wheelbase)
E70 - X5 Series cars from 2007 to present
E71 - X6 Series cars from 2008 to present
E83 - X3 Series cars from 2003 to present
E87 - 1 Series cars from 2004 to present
E85 - Z4 Roadster cars from 2002 to present
E86 - Z4 Coupe cars from 2006 to present
E90 - Current 3 Series sedan cars from 2005 to present
E91 - Current 3 Series Touring
E92 - Current 3 Series Coupe from 2006 to present
E93 - Current 3 Series Cabriolet
The "E" stands for "Entwicklung" or Development / Design. So the E36 is the "Design-36"
What do these letters on the back of my car mean?
Traditionally BMW has used a series of letters to denote differences between models. For instance “is†would mean injected sports. Here’s a breakdown of the letters and what they mean. Keep in mind that various BMW’s used combinations of these letters. However, these letters are the most common.
i - Fuel Injected
is - Fuel Injected – Sports. Sports package, with better suspension, sway bars, etc..
ic - Fuel Injected – Cabriolet, Convertible models
e - ETA model. Built by BMW as efficiency-minded cars during the 1980’s
es - ETA – Sports, ETA model with sports package.
Ci - Fuel Injected – Coupe. This designation is used on most modern BMW’s
Csi - Fuel Injected – Sports Coupe.
CSL - Coupe Sport Lightweight
iT - Fuel Injected – Touring. BMW’s station wagon.
iX - Fuel Injected – All Wheel Drive.
Ti - Fuel Injected – Touring Compact.
Tii - Fuel Injected – Touring International. Used only on early cars.
M - Motorsports. M3, M5 for example, BMW’s hot rod.
L - Luxury. Basically a normal car fitted with full leather and all options, i.e. L6, L7
Li - Fuel Injected - Long Wheelbase. This designation is used on the E66 (iL on E32/E38)
d - Diesel
t - Turbocharged - When used alone refers to either petrol or diesel engines
td - Turbo Diesel
tds - Intercooled Turbodiesel
iA - Fuel Injected - Automatic. Rarely seen, as BMW does not often advertise automatic transmissions.
SE - Special Equipment
What is the difference between a 525i and a 535i? A 325i and a 328is?
With the exception of the early cars, 1600, 1800, 2002 etc., BMW has usually used a three digit numbering system to identify models. The first number refers to the Series, for instance 328is would be a 3 Series, while a 740iL would be a seven series. The last two numbers are typically the engine displacement of a particular model, So, a 328is Would mean a 3 Series, Fuel Injected 2.8 liter engine with the sports package. The 740iL would refer to a 7 Series, Fuel Injected 4.0 liter engine with the long wheelbase. Keep in mind that the last two numbers do not always mean actual engine displacement.
What are they talking about when they say my 325i has an M20?
Usually BMW uses an M, N or S designation to identify their engines. In most cases several different engines would be used in a particular series, such as a 2.8, 3.5, and 4.0 all being available in the 5 Series. Here is a breakdown of the various designations and engines. For each engine listed, there is usually a displacement code. For instance, an M20B27 would be an M20 engine with a 2.7L displacement.
These are old engine codes that are no longer used.
M41 - 4 Cylinder 1.6L DIDTA carburetor
M42 - 4 Cylinder 1.8L DIDTA carburetor
M49 - 6 Cylinder 3.4L 24-valve Motorsport twin-cam
M60 - 6 Cylinder 2.0L and 2.3L carburetor or fuel injection
M68 - 6 Cylinder 2.5L and 2.8L carburetor
M69 - 6 Cylinder 3.2L fuel injection
M86 - 6 Cylinder 2.8L fuel injection (L-Jetronic)
M90 - 6 Cylinder 3.5L
M92 - 4 Cylinder 1.8L fuel injection (K-Jetronic)
M99 - 4 Cylinder 1.8L 2B4 carburetor
M102 - 6 Cylinder 3.2L turbocharged
These are the current engine codes used.
M10 - 4 Cylinder 1.8L or 2.0L single overhead cam, timing chain.
M20 - 6 Cylinder 2.0, 2.3, 2.5 or 2.7L single overhead cam, timing belt.
M21 - 6 Cylinder 2.4L Diesel single overhead cam, timing belt.
M30 - 6 Cylinder 2.8, 3.0, 3.2, or 3.4L single overhead cam, timing chain.
M40 - 4 Cylinder, SOHC
M41 - 4 Cylinder Diesel
M42 - 4 Cylinder 1.8L DOHC
M44 - 4 Cylinder 1.9L DOHC
M50 - 6 Cylinder 2.0, 2.3, or 2.5L DOHC
M50TU - 6 Cylinder 2.0, 2.3, or 2.5L DOHC, VANOS variable intake
M51 - 6 Cylinder Diesel
M52 - 6 Cylinder 2.0, 2.3, 2.5, or 2.8L DOHC, VANOS variable intake
M52TU - 6 Cylinder 2.5 and 3.0L DOHC, VANOS variable intake and exhaust
M54 - 6 Cylinder 2.5 and 3.0L DOHC, VANOS variable intake and exhaust
M56 - 6 Cylinder 2.5L DOHC, Dual VANOS, SULEV (low emissions)
M60 - 8 Cylinder 3.0 or 4.0L
M62 - 8 Cylinder 3.5, 4.4 or 4.6L
M70 - 12 Cylinder 5.0L
M73 - 12 Cylinder 5.4L
M88 - 6 Cylinder 3.5L, 24 valve Motorsport engine (only in the BMW M1)
M88/3 - same as above, but for all other vehicles
N42 - 4 Cylinder 1.8 or 2.0
N45 - 4 Cylinder 1.6 or 2.0
N46 - 4 Cylinder 1.8 or 2.0
N52 - 6 Cylinder 2.5 or 3.0
N54 - 6 Cylinder 3.0 Twin-Turbocharged (Five International Engine of the Year awards)
N53 - 6 Cylinder 2.5-3.0
N62 - 8 Cylinder 3.6, 4.0, 4.4 or 4.8 DOHC
N63 - 8 Cylinder 4.4, Twin-Turbocharged
N73 - 12 Cylinder 6.0L DOHC Valvetronic
S14 - 4 Cylinder 2.3L DOHC Motorsport engine (only in the E30 M3)
S38 - 6 Cylinder 3.6 or 3.8L DOHC Motorsport engine
S50 - 6 Cylinder 3.0 or 3.2L DOHC, Single VANOS Motorsport engine (Non-US M3)
S50US - 6 Cylinder 3.0 or 3.2L DOHC, Single VANOS Motorsport engine (US M3)
S52 - 6 Cylinder 3.2L DOHC, Dual VANOS Motorsport engine
S54 - 6 Cylinder 3.2L DOHC, Dual VANOS Motorsport engine
S62 - 8 Cylinder 5.0L quad cam, quad VANOS Motorsport engine
S65 - 8 Cylinder 4.0L naturally-aspirated DOHC
S70 - 12 Cylinder 5.6L Motorsport engine
S85 - 10 Cylinder 5.0L DOHC 40 Valve
Of course, we all know that the "E" stands for "Entwicklung" or Development / Design
So the E36 is the "Design-36"
L means Lang or Long
Remember: the abbreviations on BMWs are German, not English !!
M on a motor means "Motor" :-)
And S on a motor is the "Sport" version of the "M" motor (an S62 is a sportier M62)
The German word for Sport is ..... Sport !!