Question about BMW....

[///M-Spec]

E36: 1992-1999** 3-series (sedan 92-98 / coupe 92-99 / convt. 94-99 / hatch 95-99)
- 1.8L 4-cyl (1992-1995) = 318i (sedan, convt.), 318is (coupe), 318ti (hatch)
- 2.5L 6-cyl (1992-1995) = 325i (sedan, convt.), 325is (coupe)
- 2.5L 6-cyl (1996-1999) = 323i (sedan, convt.), 323is (coupe)
- 1.9L 4-cyl (1996-1999) = 318i (sedan, convt.), 318is (coupe), 318ti (hatch)
- 2.8L 6-cyl (1996-1999) = 328i (sedan, convt.), 328is (coupe)
- 3.0L 6-cyl (1995) = M3 (coupe)
- 3.2L 6-cyl (1996-1999) = M3 (coupe, sedan, convt.)
M3 coupe / M3 sedan

E37: Z3 and M (convt. 96-02 [M 98-02] / coupe 00-02 [M 99-02])
- 1.9L 4-cyl (1996-1998) = 1.9i (convt.)
- 2.5L 6-cyl (1999-2002) = 2.3i (1999-2000) (convt.)***, 2.5i (2001-2002)
- 2.8L 6-cyl (1999-2000) = 2.8i (convt., coupe)
- 3.2L 6-cyl (1998-2002) = M (convt., coupe)
- 3.0L 6-cyl (2001-2002) = 3.0i (convt., coupe)

Correction: The Z3 Roadster and Coupe was NOT the E37.

Z3 Roadster (includes M Roadster) = E36/7
Z3 Coupe (includes M Coupe) = E36/8

The Z3 is based on the E36 platform, but with a modified body plan aft of the firewall. The multilink rear suspension was too bulky to accomodate the vert. top, meet the styling requirements and still leave enough room in the trunk. Instead, the Z3 uses a more compact semi-trailing arm design taken directly off the E30.

The E36 318ti is also called the E36/5 for the same reason. It has the same rear suspension as the Z3.


M

 

[jimihemmy]

I would bet that every car maker uses some kind of designation to distiguish cars if not only for internal purposes. At Mercedes, you can say E-Class, but that would not mean anything to me (I work at a MB dealer). Now if you told me it was a 210, 211, or even a 124, I would at least know what generation E-Class it was.
We do everything by chassis. 210, 211, 124 are all E-Class chassis and it would tell us what kind it was. The same would go for 126,140,220,221 (S-Class), 107,129,230 (SL), etc....

What I don't understand (mainly because I deal with MB not BMW) is why they use Exx. Is that just how they name their chassis like we name ours with numbers?

And I would also guess that with the VIN, you would be able to determine the chassis. Like the example above, the 4-7 spots (Vehicle Description Section - Model Code) designate the car for us specifically. In the example of the E-Class, an EBxx or EAxx, would be a specific car in the 124 chassis, JFxx or JHxx would be a specific 210, UFxx and UHxx would be a specific 211 chassis car.....I don't know if it is like that for all cars. It at least seems to be that way for the German cars here in the US.

 

[///M-Spec]

What I don't understand (mainly because I deal with MB not BMW) is why they use Exx. Is that just how they name their chassis like we name ours with numbers?

E = Entwicklung, German for development.

The actual numbers are just in sequential order of when a new car project is given the green light to proceed. E codes are issued to prototypes and concepts as well as production cars, which accounts for the gaps between production car numbers.

For example, after begining work on the 1991 3-series, BMW clearly had some project called "E37" started before they went to work on the E38, the 1995 7-Series.

As long as we're geeking out about BMW trivia, I noticed a recent development is to issue E-codes for body variations in a particular model line.

In the past, the sedan version of the 3 series was an E36/4. A coupe was an E36/2.

For the new 3-Series, the sedan is the E90. Period. The wagon is the E91. The coupe will be the E92. Not sure about the vert, but I suspect it will be E93.

For the current 7, the long wheelbase car is an E66, not an E65.

I bet you're all sleeping easier at night knowning that

Personally, I dislike the new convention, as it introduces uncertainly when dealing with common parts.


M

 

[jimihemmy]

E = Entwicklung, German for development.

The actual numbers are just in sequential order of when a new car project is given the green light to proceed. E codes are issued to prototypes and concepts as well as production cars, which accounts for the gaps between production car numbers.

For example, after begining work on the 1991 3-series, BMW clearly had some project called "E37" started before they went to work on the E38, the 1995 7-Series.

ok...understood. thanks for the info

Personally, I dislike the new convention, as it introduces uncertainly when dealing with common parts.


M

wow...welcome to the world of MB parts... considering we use chassis numbers(210.xxx, 211.xxx, etc) for most things, it becomes a hassle because and E320 is not the same as an E420, E430, E55, E500, E320cdi, etc. As you can see a chassis gives us a model, but a specific chassis number (210.xxx and sometimes the whole VIN because of options) gives us more info.

Here in the US there are 7-10 (sometimes more) different cars in a specific chassis range, so just those first 3 don't always help. And that doesn't count the countless Euro models (or Japanese)....

I guess eventually you will be having Exxx .....

 

[Wolfe]

Actually, Jimihemmy, Mercedes-Benz uses codes that are a letter followed by those numbers, but unlike BMW, the letter isn't always the same. This chart (which can be found at the bottom of any M-B Wikipedia entry) shows the various codes:


Anyway, sorry to ruin all of the work you put into that list, M5Power, but this website has lots of pictures and info for the various generations of BMW's...even down to the names of the paint colors, which years they were available, and what their numbers were...!!

The only problem is the format of the models' histories, which ends up looking like one big mess, especially on the *-series index pages...here's the one for the 3-series:

The first 3 series was introduced in 1975. This model received the code name
E21 and was available with a four cylinder engine as 316, 318, 320 and 320i.
In 1977 the six cylinder 320 and 323i replaced the 320 and 320i four cylinder.
In 1979 the 3 series received a small face lift and in 1981 the 315 came available.
At the end of 1982 the new E30 3 series was introduced. It was available as four
cylinder 316 / 318i or as six cylinder 320i / 323i. In 1985 the 325i replaced the 323i
and the 324d diesel came available. Also available now were the four wheel drive
325ix and the 320i / 325i Convertible. At the end of 1987 the 3 series received a
small face lift and BMW introduced the 324td turbodiesel and the 3 series Touring.
In November 1990 the new E36 3 series came available. It had a M40 four cylinder
in the 316i / 318i or the new M50 6 cylinder in the 320i / 325i. In 1991 BMW added
the 325td turbodiesel and in 1992 the Coupe came available. A new Convertible was
introduced in 1993 and all four cylinder models received the new M43 engine. Also
new were the 316i Coupe and the 325tds turbodiesel Sedan. At the end of 1993
BMW introduced the 316i / 318ti Compact and in 1994 the new four cylinder 318tds
turbodiesel came available. The 328i replaced the 325i and the Convertible was now
also available as four cylinder 318i and six cylinder 320i. In 1995 the E36 Touring
replaced the E30 Touring and in 1996 a four cylinder 318is Sedan came available.
The 316i Touring and a 323ti Compact were added a year later. In 1998 BMW
introduced the new E46 3 series. It was available as four cylinder 318i / 320d and
as six cylinder 320i / 323i / 328i. The 320d was a four cylinder diesel wich replaced
the old E36 six cylinder diesels. In 1999 the Coupe and Touring came available and
BMW introduced the 316i Sedan and the six cylinder 330d diesel. The new E46
convertible and a new 330i and 330ix four wheel drive came available in 2000 and
in 2001 BMW launched their new compact, along with a facelift for the Sedan and
Touring. The 323i was replaced with the 325i and the 318i received a whole new
valvetronic engine. There was now also a 318d available and the 320d received
a stronger (150 HP) engine. In 2003 the coupe and convertible received a facelift,
the 330xd came available and for the first time, BMW introduced diesel engines
on their coupe 3 series, the 330Cd and the 320Cd. A diesel convertible would
follow the next year. That was 2004, when also the first pictures a whole new
3 series came available. The E90 3 series will be available from 2005 ...

 

[1X83Z]

Anyway, sorry to ruin all of the work you put into that list, M5Power, but this website has lots of pictures and info for the various generations of BMW's...

little work went into that list.