bmw numbers

[kjekki]

does anybody know how bmw uses the model numbers e36, e39+++?

[TT]

What do you mean with "how"?

You mean: E36 is the previous 2-Series, E39 the previous M5 and so on or just why E39 and not another number?

[Vansquish]

I think TT was trying to say that the E36 is the previous generation of 3 series, as the 2-series hasn't yet hit the market. As for the manner of designation, E34, E36, E39 etc... this is just a means of serializing the product numbers so that they fall into a logical sequence.

[TT]

HAHAH well thanks ;) indeed at least for the E36, since I drive one, I should try not to do such mistakes :D

[abbor]

What he meant was: How do they get their numbers? Why is your car called E36, why is the newest called E46.. Is there anything logical about this? Why is these numbers chosen? What is the connection?

[TT]

Yes I guessed so, and in this case, I really don't know if there is really an answer...

E21 > E30 > E36 > E46 nothing logical :D

As for the 5-Seires, E12 > E28 >E34 > E39 > E60... same here :D

[Vansquish]

Well...even though the numbers don't flow in a smooth progression, they do always grow as TT has pointed out. The numbers are merely a model designation, just like at Porsche with the 934, 964, 993, 996, and now the 997. They merely show progression along some specific model line. Most, if not all, auto makers have their cars under some similar designation, I know that Ford also uses numeric designations for their cars, the new Taurus was the DN101 if memory serves and there was a CDT139 and the ST170 Ranger pickup (confusing in that case because there is a Focus that carries that designation).

In other words, the numeric designations are merely identifying numbers for a particular vehicle.

[TT]

And they can't go on forever sadly.. for BMW for instance for the 3-Series, before the E21 there was the BMW 2002.. then they "upgraded" to the "E" designation... and for sure one day they will drop it, or just add something to it.. as Peugeot is trying to do, passing from 3 to 4 digits in the future... same goes for Porsche.. at least for the 911... 993, 996, now 997.. they could still launch a 998 and 999. but a 1000 would definitely sound wrong, so they will have to find something.. st-anger, any idea? :D

[bmagni]

Yes I guessed so, and in this case, I really don't know if there is really an answer...

E21 > E30 > E36 > E46 nothing logical :D

As for the 5-Seires, E12 > E28 >E34 > E39 > E60... same here :D

but its a codename for each, after the E30 3 series lets say they had test cars, and the final version of the car was the 36, maybe it could have been the E34 or any, but the final version was the E36... got it ??

[abbor]

Yes I guessed so, and in this case, I really don't know if there is really an answer...

E21 > E30 > E36 > E46 nothing logical :D

As for the 5-Seires, E12 > E28 >E34 > E39 > E60... same here :D

but its a codename for each, after the E30 3 series lets say they had test cars, and the final version of the car was the 36, maybe it could have been the E34 or any, but the final version was the E36... got it ??

Yeah, I was thinking about that, but I didn't know how to put it...
I guess that's right, but I thought they changed things about the cars oftener than f.ex. 6 times between the E30 and E36.. Is only 6 complete cars produced?

[TT]

Yes I guessed so, and in this case, I really don't know if there is really an answer...

E21 > E30 > E36 > E46 nothing logical :D

As for the 5-Seires, E12 > E28 >E34 > E39 > E60... same here :D

but its a codename for each, after the E30 3 series lets say they had test cars, and the final version of the car was the 36, maybe it could have been the E34 or any, but the final version was the E36... got it ??

Uhm.. not really sure... because in that case the prototype versions are then forgot? I mean, if the E34 was a development version of the 3-series, why is there a 5-Series codenamed like that? I see what you mean, but I don't think it is the way it works.

[Vansquish]

I'm with TT on this one. The code numbers are most likely not sequential because there were some stillborn vehicles between the E30 and E34 for instance. In other words, BMW tried doing some projects and ended up not getting things to the level that they wanted for production, cancelled the project and moved on to the next one. Things like that happen all the time in the Auto industry, I've been witness to a few within Ford.

Keeping that in mind, I still believe most strongly that the numeric designations of the vehicles are just code names for the vehicles, not necessarily anything more elaborate than that.

[bmagni]

Yes I guessed so, and in this case, I really don't know if there is really an answer...

E21 > E30 > E36 > E46 nothing logical :D

As for the 5-Seires, E12 > E28 >E34 > E39 > E60... same here :D

but its a codename for each, after the E30 3 series lets say they had test cars, and the final version of the car was the 36, maybe it could have been the E34 or any, but the final version was the E36... got it ??

Uhm.. not really sure... because in that case the prototype versions are then forgot? I mean, if the E34 was a development version of the 3-series, why is there a 5-Series codenamed like that? I see what you mean, but I don't think it is the way it works.

cause they its not the same car but the same codename... as simple as that, like 5 series E# and 3 series E#.

[Vansquish]

I guess the easiest way to look at the codenames is from a chronological perspective. Look at the order in which the models came out, the E21 before the E30, the E30 before the E34, the E34 before the E36 etc...etc... The numerical designations that are missing were probably stillborn vehicles that never made it past the engineering phase.

[ae86_16v]

BMW models all start with E. E30 and E36 has no relations what so ever (with the exception that they are 3 series models).

Each "E" project is merely a designation name in chronological order. So there were 5 other projects that BMW worked on in between the E30 and E36. And only the E34 made it to the floor. All prototypes or concepts that didn't not make it still had a "E" designation.

For example, the E60, 5-Series, and the E65, 7-Series, even though the 7 was introduced first, it had a latter designation because the project was started after the 5-Series.

Also before, BMW used to give out one number and "/" another number for a project that was built off on a platform. Like the Z3 Roadster and Coupe, E36/7 and E36/8, which were based off the E36.

But now, it seems like they are giving out new designations for ever new designs such as the new 7-Series and 7-Series Long Edition, E65 and E66, respectively.

[TT]

So there were 5 other projects that BMW worked on in between the E30 and E36. And only the E34 made it to the floor. All prototypes or concepts that didn't not make it still had a "E" designation.


Isn't the 8-Series codenamed E31? :D

[ae86_16v]

So there were 5 other projects that BMW worked on in between the E30 and E36. And only the E34 made it to the floor. All prototypes or concepts that didn't not make it still had a "E" designation.


Isn't the 8-Series codenamed E31? :D

Your right, forgot about that one. Thanks.

[Skyliner]

and the older 7-series was E32.....

on this link you can see all the numbers

http://www.bmw-club.dk/Piten/Modeloversigt/variant.asp?Serie=E30

don't be scared about it's a danish link, you can easily understand it.