BMW Model and Engine Code Designations

[greenday-rulz21 6]

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 !!

[greenday-rulz21 6]

E36 - 3 Series cars from 1992 to 2001

When did they stop making the e36, thought it was late 98/early 99

Sedan finished 4/98, Coupe 4/99, Compact finished production in 2001

[Silver Fox 43]

E30 continued to feb 94 as a touring,

E36 started dec 89,

M40 sohc, not dohc.

[Tomo 0]

Surely L denotes long wheelbase and not luxury? as you only see it on the stretched 7's AFAIK.

Great info thread, sticky = good idea

Edited June 25, 2008 by Tomo

[Silver Fox 43]

Good on ya, great idea. Sticky?

E21 and E24 both first released in 1975.

Edited June 25, 2008 by Silver Fox

[greenday-rulz21 6]

Surely L denotes long wheelbase and not luxury? as you only see it on the stretched 7's AFAIK.

The current 7 Series is available on two different platforms: the standard-wheelbase E65 (2990 mm, 118 in) and the extended-wheelbase E66 (3130 mm, 123 in).

Appreciate input from you guys, I've updated on recent models but not so hot in the older category.

Any problems will be amended.

Cheers

Edited June 25, 2008 by Nick021

[Tomo 0]

okay... so the e code is different... but do you get an L badge without stretched wheelbase?

also e39 produced to 07/2003 not 2001

[bmw.maniac 1]

One letter is missing off that list.

d - Diesel

Oh, and iL - Stretched wheelbase

Edited June 25, 2008 by Eddy

[Braeden320 0]

okay... so the e code is different... but do you get an L badge without stretched wheelbase?

also e39 produced to 07/2003 not 2001

from wiki -

740iL is essentially a long-wheelbase 740i (hence the "L" in the model name). The considerably rarer 5.4 L V12-powered 750iL was only available as a long-body. The 750iL was BMW's flagship sedan.

Nick the 'L' is not only on the e65/66 its on e38 etc as well.

I also think if it has an 'L' it has a longer wheelbase.

[bmw.maniac 1]

Nick the 'L' is not only on the e65/66 its on e38 etc as well.

I'm pretty sure it's Li on the e65/66, and iL on the e32/38

[bmw.maniac 1]

Thought of another one.

td - Turbo (?) Diesel - off the old 324td

[Braeden320 0]

Cool...so we establised L means longer wheelbase and/or luxury depending on the model?

[greenday-rulz21 6]

Further search through Wikipedia confirms your thoughts; the L does mean long wheelbase.

EDIT: on e65/e66

Edited June 25, 2008 by Nick021

[bmw.maniac 1]

Cool...so we establised L means longer wheelbase and/or luxury depending on the model?

I thought the only way the L meant luxury was if it was on the L7. And i've never heard of an L6.

[Greg111 13]

In the motor category it has for the S50 duel vanos, i thought the S50 was single and the S52 was dual????

[greenday-rulz21 6]

In the motor category it has for the S50 duel vanos, i thought the S50 was single and the S52 was dual????

Yep, you're right

[bmw.maniac 1]

Some more:

iA - Automatic

SE - Special Equipment

[Creaver 55]

Any idea about the N series motors?

[greenday-rulz21 6]

Any idea about the N series motors?

Wow that took a while! But now added.

[westy 614]

In the motor category it has for the S50 duel vanos, i thought the S50 was single and the S52 was dual????

The s50b32 on the M3 Evo is dual vanos.

S52b32 is US only engine. (Big M52)

Not sure on the s50b30.

[jochen 4]

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 !!

Edited June 25, 2008 by jochen

[bravo 35]

Why is "i" injected when German for injected is einspritz?

Also stickied and added E86, E61, E91, E92, & E93.

Edited June 25, 2008 by bravo

[Silver Fox 43]

Maybe they thought E30e was a bit gay, so went for the second letter?

[greenday-rulz21 6]

Why is "i" injected when German for injected is einspritz?

Also stickied and added E86, E61, E91, E92, & E93.

Cheers mate

[cruizer 0]

whats VANOS?