BMW Motorrad has produced motorcycles bearing the BMW name since the introduction of the BMW R32 in 1923. Prior to that date it produced engines for other manufacturers' motorcycles.
Beginning with the 1972 E12 5 Series, most BMW automobiles (except for the i Series, X Series and Z Series) have used a model name consisting of three numbers, usually followed by one or two letters.
The last two digits represent the engine displacement in deciliters (liters multiplied by 10).[2]
The letters provide additional information on the model variant.
Using the examples of the 318is, 120d and 760Li model names:
318is means a 3 Series with a 1.8litre engine, with the "i" meaning a fuel-injected petrol engine and the "s" meaning that sport options are fitted.
120d means a 1 Series with a Turbocharged 2.0 Litre engine, with the "d" meaning a diesel engine.
760Li means a 7 Series with a 6.0litre, with the "L" meaning a long-wheelbase model and the "i" meaning a fuel-injected petrol engine.
In Germany the model series are referred to by their German pronunciation: Einser ("One-er") for the 1Series, Dreier ("Three-er") for the 3Series, Fünfer ("Five-er") for the 5Series, Sechser ("Six-er") for the 6Series and Siebener ("Seven-er") for the 7Series. These are not actually slang, but are the normal way that such letters and numbers are pronounced in German.[3]
Exceptions
There are various models where the engine size is not as implied by the last two digits, such as when a turbocharged engine is used. For example:
From 1976 to 1986, various models using a 3.2litre version of the M30 engine were named 533i, 633i, etc.
Similarly, from 1987 to 1992, the models using a 3.4litre version of the M30 engine were named 535i, 635i, etc.
The 1982 to 1987 models using a 2.7litre version of the M20 were called the 325e and 525e (528e in the United States).
The 1980 to 1983 European 745i models used a turbocharged 3.2–3.4litre engine.
From 1994 to 1999, models using the 5.4litre M73 engine were named 750i and 850Ci.
Similarly, from 1996 to 1999, models using a 4.4litre version of the M62 engine were named 540i, 740i and 840Ci. From 2001 to 2007, the situation was reversed, because models using a 4.4litre version of the N62 engine were named 545i, 645i and 745i. Models using a 4.8litre version of the N62 engine were named 550i, 650i and 750i.
From 1996 to 2001, the 318i model used a 1.9litre version of the M44 engine. Then from 2001, the 318i model used 2.0litre engines. Since 2015, the 318i model has used a 1.5litre turbocharged engine.
Since 1995, various models using a 2.5litre six-cylinder engine have been named 323i and 523i. For the E36, E46 and E39, this was due to the previous 325i/525i models being higher in the model range than the new models, therefore a lower number was used to indicate to customers that it was not a highly equipped model.
Similarly, from 2007 to 2013, various models using a detuned 3.0litre six-cylinder engine have been named 125i, 128i, 325i and 528i.
Also, several diesel models using a 3.0litre six-cylinder engine during this time were named 325d, 525d, etc.
The increasing use of turbochargers has resulted in the model name no longer representing the engine displacement.[4] This began in 2006, when the N54 3.0litre turbo petrol engine was introduced in the E90 335i model. More recent examples are a 1.5litre turbo petrol engine being used in the 116i and 318i models, and a 3.0litre turbo diesel engine being used in the 540d and 750d models.
Even for non-turbo engines, the number of cylinders cannot be determined from the model name. For example, the 1987–1991 530i uses a six-cylinder engine, the 1992–1996 530i uses a V8 engine and the 2000–2016 530i uses a six-cylinder engine (to add to the confusion, just prior to the 1992 V8 530i being introduced, the 535i model used a six-cylinder engine).
Until 2009, the model name for X Series and Z Series vehicles was:
The engine size in litres
Followed by an "i" for petrol engines or a "d" for diesel engines
Examples of this naming convention are "X5 3.0d" and "Z3 1.8i".[6] Sometimes an "s" was added after the engine size for higher performance models (for example, "Z4 3.0si" and "X5 4.8is").
Since 2009, a revised model naming system has been used.[7] The model names are as follows:
Then the nominal engine size in litres multiplied by 10 (e.g. "25" for a 2.5litre engine), although many of the anomalies described above also apply here.
Lastly, "i" for petrol engines or "d" for diesel engines.
Examples of this naming convention are "X3 xDrive28d" and "Z4 sDrive30i". Sometimes an "s" was added at the end for higher performance models (for example, "Z4sDrive35is").
BMW M models of X Series and Z Series models typically just have the model name "M" (e.g. X6 M, Z4 M). "M Performance" models have the letter "M" inserted after the series, followed by the rest of the naming convention for the non-M models (e.g. X6 M50d).
An "M' – for Motorsport – identifies the vehicle as a high-performance model of a particular series (e.g. M2, M3, M4, M5, M6, M8, etc.).[9] For example, the M8 is the highest performing vehicle in the 8 Series lineup.
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