mmwaly

i stands for injection, this was carried away since the sixties. I had a BMW 320 which was carburator then i got the 320i which was injection (mechanical driven pump at that time).

Iceman

Yes, and Diesels have a 'd'! 535d

EBMCS03

Means Injection.

Why do they call my car an ?E? something when it?s a 325i, 535i, etc..?

When you hear you car being referred to as an E classification, what they are referring to is the body style of a particular car. For instance, BMW has produced a 3 Series model from 1976 to 2003. Naturally, the body style changes over time, so to avoid confusion; they refer to the 1976-83 3 Series as an E21, the 1984-91 cars as E30, 1992-99 cars as E36, 2000-05 cars as E46, and the present models as the E90 and 92 (coupe). Keep in mind that certain early cars do not have an E number. Here?s a break down of the ?E? numbers as well as the early designations

114 1602 ? 2002tii
118 1500, 1600-4, 1800, 1800tii
120 2000C/CS/CA
121 2000, 2000ti, 2000tilux
E3 2500 ? 3.3Li
E6 1600, 1800, 2000 touring
E9 2500CS ? 3.0 CSi
E12 5 Series cars from 1974 to 1981
E21 3 Series cars from 1976 to 1983
E23 7 Series cars from 1977 to 1986
E24 6 Series cars from 1976 to 1989
E26 M1
E28 5 Series cars from 1981 to 1987
E30 3 Series cars from 1984 to 1991
E31 8 Series cars from 1989 to 1997
E32 7 Series cars from 1986 to 1994
E34 5 Series cars from 1988 to 1995
E36 3 Series cars from 1992 to 1999
E36/5 318ti
E36/7 Z3 Roadster
E38 7 Series cars from 1994 to 2001
E39 5 Series cars from 1995 to 2003
E46 3 Series cars from 1999 to 2005
E52 Z8 Roadster
E53 X5 SAV
E60 5 Series cars from 2004 to Present
E61 5 Series touring from 2004 to Present
E63 6 Series cars (coupe) from 2004 to Present
E64 6 Series cars (cabriolet) from 2004 to Present
E65 7 Series cars from 2002 (short wheelbase)
E66 7 Series cars from 2002 (long wheelbase)
E85 Z4 Roadster
E90 3 Series cars from 2006 to Present
E91 3 Series touring from 2006 to Present
E92 3 Series cars Coupe from 2007 to Present
F01 7 Series cars from 200x
F10 5 Series cars from 201x

What do these letters on the back of my car mean?

Traditionally BMW has used a series of letters to denote differences between models. For instance ?is? would mean injected sports. Here?s a breakdown of the letters and what they mean. Keep in mind that various BMW?s used combinations of these letters. However, these letters are the most common.

i Fuel Injected
is Fuel Injected ? Sports. Sports package, with better suspension, sway bars, etc..
ic Fuel Injected ? Cabriolet, Convertible models
e ETA model. Built by BMW as efficiency-minded cars during the 1980?s
es ETA ? Sports, ETA model with sports package.
Ci Fuel Injected ? Coupe. This designation is used on most modern BMW?s
Csi Fuel Injected ? Sports Coupe
iL/Li Fuel Injected - Long Wheel base
iT Fuel Injected ? Touring. BMW?s station wagon
iX Fuel Injected ? All Wheel Drive
Ti Fuel Injected ? Touring Compact
Tii Fuel Injected ? Touring International. Used only on early cars.
M Motorsports. M1, M3, M5, M6 for example, BMW?s best of the best.
L Luxury. Basically a normal car fitted with full leather and all options, i.e. L6, L7
Z Roadster. BMWs Roadsters

What is the difference between a 525i and a 535i? A 325i and a 328is?

With the exception of the early cars, 1600, 1800, 2002 etc., BMW has usually used a three digit numbering system to identify models. The first number refers to the Series, for instance 328is would be a 3 Series, while a 740iL would be a seven series. The last two numbers are typically the engine displacement of a particular model, So, a 328is Would mean a 3 Series, Fuel Injected 2.8 liter engine with the sports package. The 740iL would refer to a 7 Series, Fuel Injected 4.0 liter engine with Long Wheel Base. Keep in mind that the last two numbers do not always mean actual engine displacement.
What are they talking about when they say my 325i has an M20?

Usually BMW uses an M or S designation to identify their engines. In most cases several different engines would be used in a particular series, such as a 2.8, 3.5, and 4.0 all being available in the 5 Series. Here is a breakdown of the various designations and engines. For each engine listed, there is usually a displacement code. For instance, an M20B27 would be an M20 engine with a 2.7L displacement.

These are old engine codes that are no longer used.

M41 4 Cylinder 1.6L DIDTA carburetor
M42 4 Cylinder 1.8L DIDTA carburetor
M49 6 Cylinder 3.4L 24-valve Motorsport twin-cam
M60 6 Cylinder 2.0L and 2.3L carburetor or fuel injection
M68 6 Cylinder 2.5L and 2.8L carburetor
M69 6 Cylinder 3.2L fuel injection
M86 6 Cylinder 2.8L fuel injection (L-Jetronic)
M90 6 Cylinder 3.5L
M92 4 Cylinder 1.8L fuel injection (K-Jetronic)
M99 4 Cylinder 1.8L 2B4 carburetor
M102 6 Cylinder 3.2L turbocharged

These are the current engine codes used.

M10 4 Cylinder 1.8L or 2.0L single overhead cam, timing chain.
M20 6 Cylinder 2.0, 2.3, 2.5 or 2.7L single overhead cam, timing belt.
M21 6 Cylinder 2.4L Diesel single overhead cam, timing belt.
M30 6 Cylinder 2.8, 3.0, 3.2, or 3.4L single overhead cam, timing chain.
M40 4 Cylinder, DOHC
M41 4 Cylinder Diesel
M42 4 Cylinder 1.8L DOHC
M44 4 Cylinder 1.9L DOHC
M50 6 Cylinder 2.0, 2.3, or 2.5L DOHC
M50TU 6 Cylinder 2.0, 2.3, or 2.5L DOHC, VANOS variable intake
M51 6 Cylinder Diesel
M52 6 Cylinder 2.0, 2.3, 2.5, or 2.8L DOHC, VANOS variable intake
M52TU 6 Cylinder 2.5 and 3.0L DOHC, VANOS variable intake and exhaust
M54 6 Cylinder 2.5 and 3.0L DOHC, VANOS variable intake and exhaust
M56 6 Cylinder 2.5L DOHC, Dual VANOS, SULEV (low emissions)
M60 8 Cylinder 3.0 or 4.0L
M62 8 Cylinder 3.5 or 4.4L
M62TU 8 Cylinder 4.8L
M70 12 Cylinder 5.0L
M73 12 Cylinder 5.4L
M88 6 Cylinder 3.5L, 24 valve Motorsport engine (only in the BMW M1)
M88/3 same as above, but for all other vehicles
S14 4 Cylinder 2.3L DOHC Motorsport engine (only in the E30 M3)
S38 6 Cylinder 3.6 or 3.8L DOHC Motorsport engine
S50 6 Cylinder 3.0 or 3.2L DOHC, Dual VANOS Motorsport engine (Non-US M3)
S50US 6 Cylinder 3.0 or 3.2L DOHC, Single VANOS Motorsport engine (US M3)
S52 6 Cylinder 3.2L DOHC, Dual VANOS Motorsport engine
S54 6 Cylinder 3.2L DOHC, Dual VANOS Motorsport engine
S62 8 Cylinder 5.0L quad cam, quad VANOS Motorsport engine
S70 12 Cylinder 5.6L Motorsport engine
S85 10 Cylinder 5.0L Motorsport engine

VIIV

I always wondered why it isn't an "e" for einspritze?

EBMCS03

Cuz they used e for "efficiency" hahaha Remeber the 528e

VIIV

Yes, the eta...but I thought the injector/i came before the eta/e?

Blah

I thought L also stands for long wheel base, such as 740iL versus 740i.

DanM3

My recollection is that there were actual model designated as a L6 and LZ. However you are correct that the "L" in the 740iL does designate a long wheelbase.

oyster

Although EBMCS03 has already given a very comprehensive report on the letters and numbers used, maybe some more background information. For German car manufacturers, the tradition of using combinations of letters and numbers to designate their models instead of using real or made-up names goes back to pre-war times. Post-war, certain letters were associated with meanings, designating more powerful or better-equipped versions, f.e. "S" for Super or Sport or "L" for Luxury. In the 70s, this lead to quite complicated letter combinations (f.e. Mercedes SLC), and as in other areas, Germans became fond of anglicisms. So, "I" today definitely stands for Injection, wheras the MB E-class derives its name from the German word "Einspritzer" leading in the 70s to MB designations like 220 E for the medium-class cars. In fact the first BMW having an "I" was not fuel-injected, it was the 18oo TI from 1964, the letters standing for "Touring International". This model developed in 1969 into the fuel-injected 2000 tii, from this car on the "i" stood for fuel injection.

oyster

Oh, maybe another thing: the "E" in E60 originally stood for "Entwicklung" (means development or design), so they started with E3 and so on in the 60s. Now the new 3 series convertible being the E93, they begin to run out of options to continue this, as the ancient (but reliable) logistics software BMW uses seems to allow only three-digit designations for this field. So they will change to F combinations.