| BMW Car Club |
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| of British Columbia |
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| BMW Models Reference |
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| A perhaps incomplete listing of various BMW Car information |
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Welcome to our somewhat incomplete listing of information about BMW Car Models over the years. This may not be the most definitive page of BMW stuff on the internet, but we do intend on providing a few informative bits to answer BMW related questions you may have. |
| BMW model Naming and Nomenclature [about 'E' codes and bits] |
| Since the late sixties BMW started assigning what is known as an 'E' code to their car models. |
The 'E' designation of a model stands for 'Entwiklung' or "Evolution'. Each new 'E' code represents a new model. |
| Since the early seventies, BMW also started separating their cars by series. |
A series designation represents the cars size and type of use. Good examples are the popular 3 series cars. |
| The model designation on the tail of the car tells you the series and something about the engine. |
The three digit model designation common on most models tells you the model series and the the engine displacement. Thus a '325' is a three series with a 2.5 liter motor. (some exceptions apply due to as best we can tell marketing reasons) |
| In addition to the numbers in a cars model badge, the letters tell about body style or model specific info. |
The letters such as 'i' or 'is' or 'ix' in model badges indicate additional specific info about the model. We have more info on this here. |
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| For a list of Model Codes we have compiled click here |
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| The model and series info as we use if for Concours Judged Vehicles Trophy Categories |
| Heritage Classes |
older small cars such as '02's and E21's |
1st, 2nd and 3rd place |
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older large cars E3, E9, E12, E23, E28 |
1st, 2nd and 3rd place |
| ///M Car Classes |
for the first edition M Cars M1, E30 M3, E28 M5, E24 M6 |
1st, 2nd and 3rd place |
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for 'true' newer M cars from all model ranges* |
1st, 2nd and 3rd place |
| 3 Series gen 2 and 3 |
E30 and E36 3 series cars |
1st, 2nd and 3rd place |
| 3 Series gen 4 and 5 |
E46 and E90 E83 X3 3 series cars |
1st, 2nd and 3rd place |
| 6 and 8 series coupes |
big beautiful coupes E24, E31 |
1st, 2nd and 3rd place |
| 5, 7 and X series |
large sedans E34, E39, E60/61 5 series E32, E38, E65/66 7 Series E53 X5, etc. |
1st, 2nd and 3rd place |
| Cabrio & Roadster Classes |
Cabrios [convertibles] E30, E36, E46 |
1st, 2nd and 3rd place |
| Roadsters Z3, Z4, Z8 |
1st, 2nd and 3rd place |
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* a true M car is defined as one have a Motorsport VIN |
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BMW Models Overview past and present this is not a definitive list, and may need updating |
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| Type |
Model |
Years |
comments |
| Vintage pre modern era cars |
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pre war |
pre war roadsters |
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1956-1959 |
the classic roadster |
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1958-1960 |
mini car |
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1966-1977 |
the 'Neu Klasse' starts |
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1968-1975 |
large sedans 2500, 2800 Bavaria |
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1965-1975 |
classic coupes |
| 3 Series sedans, coupes, cabrios and touring wagons |
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1973-1983 |
1st generation 3 series |
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1983-1991/2 |
2nd generation 3 series |
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1991-1998 |
3rd generation 3 series |
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E46 |
1999-2003 |
4th generation 3 series |
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E90 |
2004-> |
5th generation 3 series |
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X3 E83 |
2004+> |
3 series sized SUV |
| 5 Series large sedans and touring wagons |
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E12 |
1972-1981 |
1st generation 5 series |
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E28 |
1982-1988 |
2nd generation 5 series |
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E34 |
1988-1996 |
3rd generation 6 series |
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E39 |
1997-2000 |
4th generation 5 series |
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E60/61 |
2000-> |
5th generation 5 series |
| 6 Series touring coupes |
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E24 |
1977-1989 |
classic coupes |
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E63/E64 |
2003-> |
2nd gnereation 6 coupe and cab |
| 7 Series large luxury sedans |
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E23 |
1978-1987 |
1st generation 7 series |
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E32 |
1988-1994 |
2nd generation 7 series |
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E38 |
1995-2001 |
3rd generation 7 series |
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E65/66 |
2002- |
4th generation 7 series |
| 8 Series touring coupes |
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E31 |
1989-1999 |
elegant touring coupe |
| ///M Cars performance enhanced from the factory |
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///M3 |
1988-present |
3 series based M cars |
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///M5 |
1988-present |
5 series based M cars |
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///M6 |
1987-1988 |
E24 6 series based M cars |
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///M6 |
2004-> |
E63 based 6 series M Cars |
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///M Roadster |
1997-2001 |
Z3 [E36]series based M cars |
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///M Roadster |
2004-> |
Z4 [E85] based M cars |
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///M Coupe |
1998-2001 |
Z3 [E36] series based M cars |
| Z Roadsters |
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Z1 roadster |
1988-1991 |
based on E30 chassis |
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Z3 roadster |
1996-2001 |
based on E36 chassis |
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Z4 roadster |
2002-> |
E85 based roadster |
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Z8 roadster |
2000-present |
E52 in a class of its own |
| X - SAV 4 wheel drive sports activity vehicle |
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X5 SUV |
2000-present |
E53 BMWs version of the SUV |
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| Engine Codes and information |
This information is still a work in progress. |
Currently we list a slection of engine codes and some basic info we have been able to gather about them.
The table lists the engine code, the displacment in liters, the combined motor code, and then some info on valves and engine managment . If you know more codes, or have additional info on what we have listed, please let us know. |
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| Motor Code |
Hubraum |
Motor VDS Code |
Engine Overview |
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| M10 |
1.8 |
M10/B18 |
M10 - 1.8L SOHC-8v/L4 - L-Jetronic |
| M102 |
3.2 |
M102/B32 |
M102 - 3.2L SOHC-12v/L6 Turbo - |
| M102 |
3.5 |
M102/B35 |
M102 - 3.5L SOHC-12v/L6 Turbo - |
| M12/6 |
2.0 |
M12/6/B20 |
M12/6 - 2.0L DOHC-16v/L4 - |
| M12/7 |
2.0 |
M12/7/B20 |
M12/7 - 2.0L DOHC-16v/L4 - |
| M12/9 |
2.0 |
M12/9/B20 |
M12/9 - 2.0L DOHC-16v/L4 Turbo - |
| M13 |
1.5 |
M13/B15 |
M13 - 1.5L DOHC-16v/L4 Turbo - |
| M20 |
2.5 |
M20/B25 |
M20 - 2.5L SOHC-12v/L6 + eta - M1.1 |
| M20 |
2.7 |
M20/B27 |
M20 - 2.7L SOHC-12v/L6 + eta - M1.1 |
| M21 |
2.4 |
M21/B24 |
M21 - 2.4L SOHC-12v/L6 Diesel - |
| M30 |
3.0 |
M30/B30 |
M30 - 3.0L SOHC-12v/L6 - |
| M30 |
3.2 |
M30/B32 |
M30 - 3.3L SOHC-12v/L6 - Basic |
| M30 |
3.4 |
M30/B34 |
M30 - 3.4L SOHC-12v/L6 - Adaptive |
| M30 |
3.5 |
M30/B35 |
M30 - 3.5L SOHC-12v/L6 - M1.1 |
| M40 |
1.6 |
M40/B16 |
M40 - 1.6L SOHC-8v/L4 - |
| M40 |
1.8 |
M40/B18 |
M40 - 1.8L SOHC-8v/L4 - |
| M42 |
1.8 |
M42/B18 |
M42 - 1.8L DOHC-16v/L4 - M1.7 |
| M42 |
1.9 |
M42/B19 |
M42 - 1.9L DOHC-16v/L4+ Al block/VANOS - |
| M43 |
1.8 |
M43/B18 |
M43 - 1.8L SOHC-8v/L4 - |
| M44 |
1.9 |
M44/B19 |
M42 - 1.9L DOHC-16v/L4+ Al block/VANOS - |
| M50 |
2.0 |
M50/B20 |
M50 - 2.0L DOHC-24v/L6 - |
| M50 |
2.5 |
M50/B25 |
M50 - 2.5L DOHC-24v/L6 - M3.1 |
| M50TU |
2.0 |
M50TU/B20 |
M50TU - 2.0L DOHC-24v/L6 w/VANOS - |
| M50TU |
2.5 |
M50TU/B25 |
M50TU - 2.5L DOHC-24v/L6 w/VANOS - M3.3.1 |
| M52 |
2.0 |
M52/B20 |
M52 - 2.0L DOHC-24v/L6 w/VANOS - |
| M52 |
2.3 |
M52/B23 |
M52 - 2.3L DOHC-24v/L6 w/VANOS - |
| M52 |
2.8 |
M52/B28 |
M52 - 2.8L DOHC-24v/L6 w/VANOS - |
| M60 (old) |
2.0 |
M60- /B20 |
M60 (old) - 2.0L SOHC-12v/L6 - |
| M60 (old) |
2.3 |
M60- /B23 |
M60 (old) - 2.3L SOHC-12v/L6 - |
| M60 |
3.0 |
M60/B30 |
M60 - 3.0L DOHC-25v/L6 - M3.3 |
| M60 |
4.0 |
M60/B40 |
M60 - 4.0L DOHC-32v/V8 - M3.3 |
| M70 |
5.0 |
M70/B50 |
M70 - 5.0L SOHC-24v/V12 - M1.7 |
| M70 |
5.4 |
M70/B54 |
M70 - 5.4L SOHC-24v/V12 - |
| M70 |
5.6 |
M70/B56 |
M70 - 5.6L SOHC-24v/V12 - |
| M73 |
5.4 |
M73/V54 |
M73 - 5.4L SOHC-24v/V12 |
| M80 |
??? |
M80//B ??? |
M80 - ???L ???/V6 - |
| M88/1 |
3.5 |
M88/1/B35 |
M88/1 - 3.5L DOHC-24v/L6 - |
| M88/2 |
3.5 |
M88/2/B35 |
M88/2 - 3.5L DOHC-24v/L6 - |
| M88/3 |
3.5 |
M88/3/B35 |
M88/3 - 3.5L DOHC-24v/L6 - |
| M88 |
3.5 |
M88/B35 |
M88 - 3.5L DOHC-24v/L6 - |
| S14 |
2.3 |
S14/B23 |
S14 - 2.3L DOHC-16v/L4 - Motorsport |
| S14 |
2.5 |
S14/B25 |
S14 - 2.5L DOHC-16v/L4 - |
| S38 |
3.5 |
S38/B35 |
S38 - 3.5L DOHC-24v/L6 - Motorsport |
| S38 |
3.6 |
S38/B36 |
S38 - 3.6L DOHC-24v/L6 - M1.2 |
| S38 |
3.8 |
S38/B38 |
S38 - 3.8L DOHC-24v/L6 - |
| S50 |
3.0 |
S50/B30 |
S50 - 3.0L DOHC-24v/L6 - |
| S50 |
3.2 |
S50/B32 |
S50 - 3.3L DOHC-24v/L6 - |
| S50US |
3.0 |
S50US/B30 |
S50US - 3.0L DOHC-24v/L6 - M3.3.1 |
| S52 |
3.2 |
S52/B32 |
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| M62 |
4.4 |
S62/B44 |
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| S70/2 |
6.1 |
S70/2/B61 |
S70/2 - 6.1L DOHC-48v/V12 - |
| S70 |
5.6 |
S70/B56 |
S70/2 - 5.6L DOHC-48v/V12 - |
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© 1998-2012 BMW Car Club of British Columbia |
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The electronic mail addresses listed on this web site are for official BMW Car Club of BC business only, and are not intended for commercial use such as Unsolicited Commercial Email, also known as SPAM or junk email. Inappropriate use of the email addresses on this web site will be considered theft of service. |
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