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Car Forum / BMW Cars / September 2006BMW E numbers.
A couple of weeks ago there was a question about finding the E number for a car. Just out of curiosity, have the E numbers any real significance? They seem to be almost randomly allocated. Mike. There is no particular significance to the numbering sequence. The numbers simply designate the various chassis designs. the 3 Series cars have been with us for a long while, and come on several different platforms, these platforms are defined by the E Nunmber. Obviously, the same holds true for the various iterations of the 5- and 7 Series cars as well. >A couple of weeks ago there was a question about finding the E number for a >car. > Just out of curiosity, have the E numbers any real significance? > They seem to be almost randomly allocated. > Mike. > There is no particular significance to the numbering sequence. The > numbers simply designate the various chassis designs. the 3 Series cars > have been with us for a long while, and come on several different > platforms, these platforms are defined by the E Nunmber. Obviously, the > same holds true for the various iterations of the 5- and 7 Series cars > as well. The only real significance is that the bigger numbers are later designs.  Signature-Fred W >> There is no particular significance to the numbering sequence. The >> numbers simply designate the various chassis designs. the 3 Series cars [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > > The only real significance is that the bigger numbers are later designs. While that seems to be true today, there are huge gaps in the numbering sequence, and a lower number could (in theory) be used at some point in the future. Another truism today is that the numbers are all E, and they are all 2-digit (plus the letter) numbers. They will run out of numerals if they continue on the current trend, this would mean they need a new letter, or expand to 3-digits. > While that seems to be true today, there are huge gaps in the > numbering sequence, and a lower number could (in theory) be used at > some point in the future. Another truism today is that the numbers > are all E, and they are all 2-digit (plus the letter) numbers. They > will run out of numerals if they continue on the current trend, this > would mean they need a new letter, or expand to 3-digits. Wikipedia suggests a new letter - table at bottom of http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E36 Of course, it's Wikipedia, so... Andrew >>While that seems to be true today, there are huge gaps in the >>numbering sequence, and a lower number could (in theory) be used at [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > > Of course, it's Wikipedia, so... But it indicates an F1 is the next 5 series car scheduled for 2008. That's pretty close timeframe. Maybe they know something here? Signature-Fred W >> Wikipedia suggests a new letter - table at bottom of >> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E36 [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > But it indicates an F1 is the next 5 series car scheduled for 2008. That's > pretty close timeframe. Maybe they know something here? And I'm already planning on replacing my Z4 (E85) with a Z10 next year!! (Like Jeff said, "it's Wikipedia, so...") Tom K. >>> There is no particular significance to the numbering sequence. The >>> numbers simply designate the various chassis designs. the 3 Series [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > if they continue on the current trend, this would mean they need a new > letter, or expand to 3-digits. I saw a list once that explained many of the "missing" numbers at the time. They were mostly cars that went through some part of development before they were canned. Signature-Fred W >A couple of weeks ago there was a question about finding the E number for a >car. >Just out of curiosity, have the E numbers any real significance? >They seem to be almost randomly allocated. Given that the people assigning them are German engineers, I doubt they're random; it's just that from outside, we don't see what system they're using. The only real puzzle is the move from small jumps between models to where we are now: E30 - E36 - E46, E22 - E32-E38, E28-E34-E39, those are almost linear and all of a sudden we're in the 90s? Some internal change used up a lot of E numbers. I'm curious if what we're seeing now, with the 3-series having different numbers for each chassis, was always going on internally. Or maybe the E47 is a BMW Polo shirt in lime green. Porsche did the same thing. The 911 went from 964 to 993, then slowed to 996 and 997? The Boxster came out *after* the 993, and it's the 986; could be right though, since I don't remember when the concept for the Boxster appeared. It might have been before the 993 was released. epbrown -- "Everybody wants a normal life and a cool car; most people will settle for the car." Chris Titus 2003 BMW 325i Black/Black, 2003 BMW Z4 Black/Black Regarding Porsche numbers, coincidence or not, here it goes: - the 930 came after the 911, with a 3 liter engine; - the 964 was the fist 4wd Carrera 4 (besides 959 supercar that came before); - the 993 came out in 1992 but as 1993 model year; - the 986 Boxster came out in 1996; the same as the 996... For the rest, I do not know... |
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