Logic behind the "E" Models? - United Bimmer Community

**Alpine328i** · 09-15-2006, 08:24 AM

Why the "E" numbering system and what do the numbers mean?

Like, why the E21, then 30, then 36, then 46, 90, 92, etc.... There's no pattern and it has nothing to do with the year or anything....

Just curious....

**Red_Rocket** · 09-15-2006, 08:25 AM

I am also curious about this

**celsdogg** · 09-15-2006, 09:22 AM

the E means development in german. lemme babelfish it to get the right word . . . Entwicklung

**Alpine328i** · 09-15-2006, 09:50 AM

And the numbers? Anyone?

**3050rpm** · 09-15-2006, 10:40 AM

Take a look at www.unofficialbmw.com/ftp/bmw/FAQ.1 .

**Alpine328i** · 09-15-2006, 12:46 PM

Well, that partially explains it. So I know what the E and the 3 are for, but what about the second character? (e.g the 6 in E36)

**Numark318i** · 09-15-2006, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 3050rpm

Take a look at www.unofficialbmw.com/ftp/bmw/FAQ.1 .

sweet site.

even though i new most of that its still fun to read.

**celsdogg** · 09-15-2006, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alpine328i

Well, that partially explains it. So I know what the E and the 3 are for, but what about the second character? (e.g the 6 in E36)

they are just numbers. like the japanese just used to name their weapons type 99 or something. the US named weapons M1, M2, M14, M16, etc. manufacturers mostly use an arbitrary number when they create stuff, they are not going to spend time making up names when they make tons of different things.

its pretty arbitrary. same way with engines. i know honda names their stuff like B16 or something. its just a number available when they start development.

heh, you can tell the document was made in the mid 90's

drz · 09-15-2006, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alpine328i

Well, that partially explains it. So I know what the E and the 3 are for, but what about the second character? (e.g the 6 in E36)

You are not reading in the right place. Look for the section titled "1.1.2: Body/Chassis Codes"

A short answer to your question:

'E' stands for development (after the German spelling). The numbers are just incremental serializations of the different designs. Any design that is released for a production vehicle becomes know to the public as the chassis designation for that model.

Like the lubricant, WD-40. That is Dupont's designation for its "Water Displacement" product, 40th iteration of the formula.

Before BMW released the first 2500 sedan (E3 chassis), they probably went through E1 and E2 designs that never received clearance to be taken to production. I imagine they also space them out every so often, just in case they want to go back in there and squeeze something in between existing numbers.

The chassis designations have no real meaning. They simply enumerate the different designs. They will have less of a meaning in the near future, since BMW will now use the Fxx format for its designs, as in F12, F23, etc. The 'F' does not stand for anything. It simply happens to be the letter that follows 'E' in the alphabet.

**celsdogg** · 09-15-2006, 08:44 PM

F? when are they doing this? i am too used to E!

DEATH2000 · 09-16-2006, 12:32 AM

Yea same. thats gonne suck. "hey man, nice F23"

**Dudesky** · 09-16-2006, 06:23 AM

^^^I like it, makes it sound like a fighter jet

DEATH2000 · 09-16-2006, 01:09 PM

Then BMW should start making fighter jet engines

**3050rpm** · 09-16-2006, 03:10 PM

Actually, they already have (or did). The first engines for the Me-262 were made by BMW, but problems with high operating temperatures were beyond the metallurgy at the time, causing compressor blade failures, and they were later replaced by somewhat more operational Junkers Jumos, although even with these the most the Luftwaffe could get was 20 hours of flight time before the engines had to undergo a near complete tear down.

**celsdogg** · 09-16-2006, 11:13 PM

^^^ those were just ICE's, different from "jet engines"

from my favorite museum, The National Air and Space Museum