BMW Naming Convention
10-05-2005, 11:10 AM
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My Ride: 2005 BMW 545i, Silver Grey, Sport Package, R. Shades, Cold Pkg, Sat. Rad., Prem. Sound.
OK. This is challenging for me and might not be for others. BMW has X3, 3 series (323i, 325i, 330i), 5 series (525i. 530i, 545i, 535d, 550i), 6, X5, 7 series, etc.
What is it based on? Not necessary engine size because X3 and X5 don't correspond. Not on the number of doors because instead of a 6 series, it could be a 5 series coupe! OK, but might be based on "class," but where did BMW come up with 3, 5, 7, from? It's not because of primary numbers because 6 series is not primary and X3 and X5 means . . . nothing?
What do you know or what's your theory?
What is it based on? Not necessary engine size because X3 and X5 don't correspond. Not on the number of doors because instead of a 6 series, it could be a 5 series coupe! OK, but might be based on "class," but where did BMW come up with 3, 5, 7, from? It's not because of primary numbers because 6 series is not primary and X3 and X5 means . . . nothing?
What do you know or what's your theory?
10-05-2005, 12:25 PM
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My Ride: '04 BMW E60 530 black/black
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Originally Posted by Flowerfred' date='Oct 5 2005, 01:21 PM
X stands for four wheels drive, keep your eyes open for the all new 2 and 4 series..? 
[snapback]179953[/snapback]
Next up:9 series (the ultimate luxury sedan)
10-05-2005, 12:38 PM
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My Ride: Collected Sept 2009 - BMW E90 M3, Silverstone II, Novillo Black leather, 19" M Double-Spoke alloys, High Beam Assist, Electronic Damper Control, Voice Control, PDC, USB, DAB, High Gloss Shadowline, Sliding armrest, Trim Finishing in aluminium grey.
The 5 series got it's name because way back when it was the 5th series of cars that BMW produced. I reckon that afterwards, as they developed more models, it seemed like a good idea to indicate a model size or class by the first digit leaving the last two numbers to specify the engine size or power.
I'm led to believe that originally, odd numbers (1,3,5.) indicated saloons and even numbers coupes.
Some months ago, there was lots of talk that the replacement for the 3-series coupe (the Ci's) were to be called the 4-series. However, more recently, this idea seems to have cooled down. So I'm not sure what they are up to.
Then when they started to move into other types such as 4WD, thats when their naming convention seemed go astray. Models such as the X3 and X5 look like they are the SUV type AWD's wheras the 530xi for example is saloon based awd.
I'm really guessing here.
I'm led to believe that originally, odd numbers (1,3,5.) indicated saloons and even numbers coupes.
Some months ago, there was lots of talk that the replacement for the 3-series coupe (the Ci's) were to be called the 4-series. However, more recently, this idea seems to have cooled down. So I'm not sure what they are up to.
Then when they started to move into other types such as 4WD, thats when their naming convention seemed go astray. Models such as the X3 and X5 look like they are the SUV type AWD's wheras the 530xi for example is saloon based awd.
I'm really guessing here.
10-06-2005, 12:42 AM
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Interesting, never thought of it that way.
Messing names up is something the French love to do, Renault used to have all their card numbered like 4,5,6,9,12,14,16,19 etc. nowadays there's only Clio, Modus, Megane, Laguna etc. no more history in the names.
Citro?n went from numbers to names and back to numbers like 2CV, Saxo and now C2
Opel/Vauxhall threw away the old names as well in order to get rid of their dull image the Kadett became an Astra. What's worse, you name it....
Volkswagen stayed loyal to their names, they even reinvented the Beetle and the Vento. And we still see Golfs out there.
Anyways, that's some examples here in Europe. Don't know what it's like in America.
Messing names up is something the French love to do, Renault used to have all their card numbered like 4,5,6,9,12,14,16,19 etc. nowadays there's only Clio, Modus, Megane, Laguna etc. no more history in the names.
Citro?n went from numbers to names and back to numbers like 2CV, Saxo and now C2
Opel/Vauxhall threw away the old names as well in order to get rid of their dull image the Kadett became an Astra. What's worse, you name it....
Volkswagen stayed loyal to their names, they even reinvented the Beetle and the Vento. And we still see Golfs out there.
Anyways, that's some examples here in Europe. Don't know what it's like in America.
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