New 3-series leaked out..

[The359]

Going by what they originally planned, all odd numbered series would be sedans/wagons, and even numbers as roadsters/coupes. Hence M3 being a smaller sport sedan to compliment the M5, and the M4 being the new sport coupe. There'd also be an M2 based on the 2-series coupes.

However I too heard that they may switch M3 and M4 around, but we'll see...

 

[Duke]

Someone please point me to a chart of the BMW naming logic, because I only have a vague idea how it works, thanks to all the holes in it.

Oh, and how they decide the E-numbers, other than jsut picking them out of a hat, that would be nice too.

 

[Sage]

What was wrong with the previous naming scheme? It worked much like Audi's, and Audi's is the easiest to follow by far... this jumping around between odds and evens is confusing.

 

[PSZeTa]

Hmmz..

1-series - A-Class - A2
3-series - C-Class - A4
5-series - E-Class - A6
6-series - SLR - ?
7-series - S-Class - A8



Oh, and it's BMW - Merc - Audi.

BTW, that M3 looks like a monster.. Looks real aggressive, no need for eyelids.

 

[1X83Z]

What was wrong with the previous naming scheme? It worked much like Audi's, and Audi's is the easiest to follow by far... this jumping around between odds and evens is confusing.

The problem is that you can't tell engine sizes with Audi - just car sizes. Sometimes you can't tell bodystyle either. If I say "A4" you know it's the smallest model. Could be a V6, could be a 1.8T, could have AWD, could be a convertible, could be a manual. If I say "540iA" you know it's the midsize V8 automatic sedan.

 

[1X83Z]

Someone please point me to a chart of the BMW naming logic, because I only have a vague idea how it works, thanks to all the holes in it.

Oh, and how they decide the E-numbers, other than jsut picking them out of a hat, that would be nice too.

Okay, but I can only help you on recent US models. Here are the basics:

The first letter is the series. Obviously. 3 is the smallest, 5 is midsize, 7 is largest. Once again, obviously.

The second and third numerical character stands for the engine size:

318:
- 1.8L 4-cylinder (1992-1996)
- 1.9L 4-cylinder (1996-1997)
323:
- OHC 2.5L 6-cylinder (1998)
- DOHC 2.5L 6-cylinder (1999-2000)
325:
- DOHC 2.5L 6-cylinder (1992-1995)
- DOHC 2.5L 6-cylinder (2001-present)
328:
- 2.8L 6-cylinder (1996-2000)
330:
- 3.0L 6-cylinder (2001-present)

The letters following the three numbers on the 3-series models are the hardest to explain, so that's next:

E36 model (1992-1998)
318i = sedan, 1992-1998
318is = coupe, 1992-1997 or convertible, 1994-1997
318ti = 3-door hatchback, 1995-1998
323is = coupe, 1998, or convertible, 1998
325i = sedan, 1992-1995
328i = sedan, 1996-1999

E46 model (1999-present)
323i = sedan, 1999-2000, or wagon, 2000
323Ci = coupe, 2000, or convertible, 2000
328i = sedan, 1999-2000, or wagon, 2000
328Ci = coupe, 2000, or convertible, 2000
325i = sedan, 2001-present, or wagon, 2001-present
325xi = sedan, 2001-present, or wagon, 2001-present (all-wheel drive)
330i = sedan, 2001-present, or wagon, 2001-present
330xi = sedan, 2001-present (all-wheel drive)
330Ci = coupe, 20001-present, or convertible, 2001-present

The basic rule for 3-series models is:
i = sedan
is = E36 coupe or convertible
Ci = E46 coupe or convertible
xi = all-wheel drive
ti = Unique to the E36 3-door hatch, sold from 1995 to 1998. There's still a 3-series 3-door hatch worldwide, but due to several glaring problems with the original in the US market, it's not sold here.
Unofficially, models with a capital "T" at the end are wagons ("T" for "Touring" - as in, 330iT or even 325xiT) but BMW doesn't badge vehicles this way and it's more often used to describe 5-series models. Still, you see it sometimes for threes.

On to the 5-series!

525:
- OHC 2.5L 6-cylinder (1989-1990)
- DOHC 2.5L 6-cylinder (1991-1995, 2001-present)
528:
- 2.8L 6-cylinder (1998-2000)
530:
- 3.0L V8 (1994-1995)
- 3.0L 6-cylinder (2001-present)
535:
- 3.4L 6-cylinder (1989-1994)
540:
- 4.0L V8 (1994-1995)
- 4.4L V8 (1997-2003)
545:
- 4.4L V8 (2004-present)

Letters:

E34 model (1989-1995)
525i = sedan, 1989-1995, or wagon, 1992-1995
535i = sedan, 1989-1994
530i = sedan, 1994-1996, or wagon, 1994-1996
540i = sedan, 1994-1996

E39 model (1997-2003)
528i = sedan, 1997-2000, or wagon, 1999-2000
540i = sedan, 1997-2003, or wagon, 1999-2003
530i = sedan, 2001-2003
525i = sedan, 2001-2003, or wagon, 2001-2003

E60 model (2004-present)
525i = sedan, 2004-present
530i = sedan, 2004-present
545i = sedan, 2004-present

The basic rule for the 5-series models is:
i = sedan
That's it, officially. Unofficially, there are two more designations used originally by enthusiasts and more recently by pretty much everyone:
iT = wagon ("Touring", i.e. 525iT)
iA = automatic transmission (i.e. 540iA - though I've only seen it used to describe 530 and 545 models)

Next, the 7-series: Not much here.
740:
- 4.0L V8 (1995)
- 4.4L V8 (1996-2001)
745:
- 4.4L V8 (2002-present)
750:
- 5.4L V12 (1995-2001)
760:
- 6.0L V12 (2002-present)

E38 model (post-facelift; 1995-2001)
740i = sedan, 1995, and sedan, 1997-2001
740iL = sedan, 1995-2001
750i = sedan, 1995
750iL = sedan, 1996-2001

E65 model (2002-present)
745i = sedan, 2002-present
745Li = sedan, 2002-present
760Li = sedan, 2002-present

The basic rule for the 7-series models is:
i = sedan
iL = E38 long-wheelbase sedan
Li = E65 long-wheelbase sedan
The most official unofficial term was "740iA" which almost always referred to the 1999-2001 E38 7-series with the Sport Package (iA = automatic transmission). James Bond drove it in the second one Brosnan did - "The World is Not Enough"? One of them. I've owned two 740iA Sports.

Finally, the 8-series:
840:
- 4.0L V8 (1994-1995)
- 4.4L V8 (1996-1997)
850:
- 5.0L V12 (1991-1994)
- 5.4L V12 (1995-1997)
- 5.6L V12 (1994-1995)

E31 model (1991-1997)
850i = coupe, 1991-1992
850Ci = coupe, 1993-1997
840Ci = coupe, 1994-1997
850CSi = coupe, 1994-1996

The basic rule for the 8-series models is:
i = used only on the 1991-1992 850 coupe
Ci = the basic designation
CSi = if there was an M8, this was it

A few other rules. "i" always seems to mean the most basic, most popular, most-produced model, except with the new 6-series and 8-series (except in 1991 and 1992) where they're all at least Ci, no matter whether they're a coupe or convertible:

3##i = sedan
5##i = sedan
7##i = sedan
Z3 #.#i = coupe/convertible
Z4 #.#i = convertible
X3 #.#i = SUV
X5 #.#i = SUV

"x" anywhere in a BMW model's name means all-wheel drive. "is" was recently revived for a sporty version of the X5 because the M division didn't want to technically do an SUV, even though the X5 4.6is and current 4.8is is as close as we're going to get to an MX5 without going to a Mazda dealer.

One more interesting note: BMW model numbers are NEVER closer together than five on the US market. This is the only rational and logical explanation I can come up with as to why the 323 wasn't re-named the 325 when it was re-designed in 1999.

That covers most of it since the early 90s. 👍

EDIT 1: The 318 models get kind of complicated. The 318 coupe and convertible were cancelled in 1997 and became the 323, using a de-tuned version of the 325's engine. The 318 sedan did remain to finish out the run, as did the 318ti, the girly hatchback, though it was created in 1995, not 1992 like the 318 coupe and sedan.
EDIT 2: There was no 1996 model year for the 5-series. Technically, some 1995 models that BMW dealers didn't sell were sold as 1996s, but the E39 came pretty quickly in early 1996 as a 1997 model so a true 1996 model was never needed.
EDIT 3: Added 8-series.

 

[illegal]

Do you know that Bangle is from Ohio? Here this whole time I thought the chief of design was some mysterious bearded Dutchman or Belgian who spoke with an accent that I couldn't understand without a translation, but no - he's a bearded American guy from Ohio. The mystique is gone.

Belgians may not always speak English very good, but they do design better looking cars (Lotus Elise/Bentley Continental GT/Lamborghini Murcielago and Gallardo).

 

[Omnis]

man.....the new design makes the cars look like lumps instead of being sleek like they were before.

its just a lump with wheels and sharp lines.

 

[Omnis]

but the 6 series looks a little mean.

 

[Leo_Straight6]

this new 3 Series is desperately ugly....

I love BMW.....its pretty much my religion but I must say, that is HORRID.

I love the new 5, new 6, new 7, new 1 and Z4 but THAT 3 series is shockingly ugly I am sad to say....

Maybe it will grow on me like all the other BMWs did..........but the thing was.....that when those models came out, I thought "looks new....bit bold...not sure"...........but with this....."I HATE IT!!!"

Ah well........hate may turn into love

And yes, those engines will DEFINTELY make it into the new 5 Series

 

[Duke]

Okay, but I can only help you on recent US models. Here are the basics:

The first letter is the series. Obviously. 3 is the smallest, 5 is midsize, 7 is largest. Once again, obviously.

The second and third numerical character stands for the engine size:

[lots of great information snipped]

That covers most of it since the early 90s. 👍

So, in other words, it's fundamentally an OK system but they fubared it by ignoring their own conventions, particularly with the engine sizes. And the chassis designations make no sense to anyone outside the company, just as I suspected. You'd think that the first 3-series would be the E31, followed by the E32 and E33, etc... and the 5 series would start E51, yadda yadda. But it doesn't work that way; they just pick the next number at random and assign it to the next new model to come out.

 

[Arwin]

Could be that internally they work on the numbers inbetween that never make it onto the market?

I like the new 3 ... More so than the new 5, which I like but a bit too round for my taste. The 3 is a little more agressive, which I think suits the car.

 

[///M-Spec]

So, in other words, it's fundamentally an OK system but they fubared it by ignoring their own conventions, particularly with the engine sizes. And the chassis designations make no sense to anyone outside the company, just as I suspected. You'd think that the first 3-series would be the E31, followed by the E32 and E33, etc... and the 5 series would start E51, yadda yadda. But it doesn't work that way; they just pick the next number at random and assign it to the next new model to come out.

Yep. The E-chassis codes are arbitrary numbers picked in semi-sequential order of when design starts on a new car. BMW also tends to skip numbers a lot. My guess is that the missing E-codes were projects that never saw the light of day. My guess is they were proposals or design studies that were beaten out by the design was approved for production.

For your entertainment.... E codes since the 80s.

The 'boxy era'
1984 E30 3 series
1988 E32 7 series
1989 E34 5 series

The 'classic era'
1991 E36 3 series
1995 E38 7 series
1995 E36/5 318ti 3 door hatch
1996 E36/7 Z3 Roadster
1997 E39 5 series
1998 E36/9 Z3 Coupe

The 'Bangle era'
1999 E46 3 series
2000 E52 Z8 Roadster
2000 E53 X5 SAV
2002 E65 7 series
2003 E85 Z4 Roadster
2004 E83 X3 SAV
2004 E60 5 series
2004 E63 6 series

The 'Post-Bangle era'
2005 E?? 1 series
2005 E90 3 series


M

 

[Carlover325]

why must bmw make all their cars look the same? Aside from the size, the front is almost identical on this and on the 5 series. The 6 series also looks similar from the front

Yeah, why? Now every BMW is going to look the same, even the X3, the new SUV. I like the 2003 BMW M5, the 2001 BMW 7 series, and the 1998 BMW M3, at least they still looked good then.

 

[AP1]

Looks like a '98 Civic Sedan...

 

[Joecool593]

One word(err smiley): 👎 ....lol looks like a civic from Mars maybe