E, F and M symbols: BMW uses internal technical code for its cars. Traditionally a letter `E´ signifies a chassis code (from German: Entwicklungscode – Development Code), while the very recent chassis use already letter `F´ followed by a number.
Letter `M´ signifies an engine code (from German: Motor), again followed by a number.
These codes are in use by repair shops. In fact BMW has thousands of these codes signifying different projects, however, only a small number of them goes into public use and become symbols of the specific BMW car or engine.
Please note that the same car chassis would have different engines and identical engines have been built into a different car. So for example, you can have in a chassis E34 (BMW Five Series 1989-1996) several different engines as M20, M30, M40, M43, M50, M60. At the same time M50 engine used in E34 has been also used for several other chassis as E30 or E36.
Sport engines by BMW have code letters `S´ for Sport. New BMW engines are also marked with letters `N´ and “W” (engines for Mini).
Table of Contents
BMW E and F chassis codes:
Code | Cars | Years Produced | Engines Used
E3 | 2500, 2800, 3.0, 3.3 Li | 1968-1977 | M30
Called `New Six´, sedan – while sports coupe was E9; , touring version of E3 was produced by Langley Motors in Thames Ditton, UK; fast and reliable, predecessor of the 7 Series, 2500 and 2800 were sold in the US as Bavaria.
E6 | 1502, 1600, 1602, 1800, 1802, 2000, | 2002ti/tii
Sedan, cabrio, touring, predecessor of the 3 series
E9 | 2500 – 3.0 CS, CSL, CSi Coupe | 1965-1975
Coupe, a predecessor of the 6 Series, so called ‘New Six CS’
E12 | 5 Series – First generation | 1972-1981
First generation 5 Series
E20 | 2002ti
A version of E6
E21 | 3 Series | 1975–1983
First generation 3 Series
E23 | 7 Series | 1977-1987
First generation 7 series, sedan, a touring version custom build, on board computer, ABS
E24 | 6 Series – First generation | 1975-1989
First generation 6 Series: 630, 633, 635, 628, also M635 CSi, M6 and L6
E25 | Turbo Concept also called X1 | 1972
Only the prototype with gull wings doors, 2 cars made, designed by Paul Bracq, later (1978) this idea has been taken over by E26
E26 | M1 | 1978-1981
Only 470 were built
E28 | 5 Series – Second generation | 1982-1988
Second generation 5 Series, sedan, touring custom build, first M5 as well as M535, eta version (economical), touring and truck custom built.
E30 | 3 Series, sedan, 2 doors, Cabrio, touring, and a small roadster Z-1 | 1984–1991
Second generation 3 series, touring, Cabrio, M3, 4WD ix, eta version (economical) and also a small sports car using the same platform: Z-1 (Z=Zukunft, in German means future)
E31 | 8 Series | 1990-1998
E32 | 7 Series | 1987-1994
Second 7 Series generation, sedan, touring version exists only as custom built by Lorenz & Rankl Fahrzeugbau Wolfratshausen.
E34 | 5 series – Third generation, Sedan, Touring | 1987 – June 1996 | M20, M30, M40, M43, M50, M60
Third generation 5 Series, sedan and touring, also as a 4WD (525ix), M5 as sedan and touring.
E36 | 3 Series | 1992-1998
E36/5 | 3 Series Compact | 1994–1998
E36/7 | Z3 | 1997-2002
E38 | 7 Series | 1995-2002
Third generation 7 series
E39 | 5 Series – Fourth generation, Sedan, Touring | 1997-2004
Fourth generation 5 Series, also M5.
E46 | 3 Series, Sedan, Coupe, Cabrio, Touring | 1999–2005
E52 | Z8 | 2000-2004
E53 | X5 | 2000-
E60 | 5 Series – Sixth Generation | Sedan | 2003- | S85, N53
Fifth generation 5 series, also M5.
E61 | 5 Series – Touring |
Touring version of E60.
E63 | 6 Series – 2nd generation: coupe | 2005 – | S85, N52, N62,
Second generation 6 series, also M6; updated fall 2007.
E64 | 6 Series Convertible
Convertible from E63, also M6 as convertible.
E65 | 7 Series | 2003 –
E66 | 7 Series Long Wheel Base | 2003 –
Long wheelbase version of E63, sedan.
E68 | 7 series Hydrogen | 2005-2007
Never on sale, given to drive to some celebrities and EU ministers, a hydrogen pomp station created near Brussels in 2008.
E70 | X5 Second generation | 2007-
New X5 (from the model 2007), longer and if requested with more seat capacity, M version planned.
E71 | X6 | 2008 –
On sale, impressive and controversial, M version planned.
E72 | X6 | ?
A Hybrid version of X6, prototype shown in the medias and in Paris during the Moniale 2008
E81 | 1 series, 3 doors hatchback | 2007-
On sale, also in the US
E82 | 1 series 2 doors – Coupe | 2007-
On sale, M1 sport version considered, prototype of tii version has been presented.
E82/2 | Z2 | Planned 2011
Only prototypes were seen.
E83 | X-3 | 2003 –
E84 | X1 | Planned end of 2009
A small crossover car to be produced in Leipzig, Germany on a new 1-series platform, wider and bigger, the prototype has been shown in Paris for first few days of the Mondiale de L’Automobile in Oct. 2008, single cars in test revied by the press,
E85 | Z-4 – first generation | 2002 – 2009
E 86 | Z-4 Coupe | 2002 – 2008
A coupe version of the Z-4 cabrio E85
E87 | 1 Series 5 doors hatchback | 2004 –
Initially coded as E81.
E88 | 1 Series – cabrio | 2008 –
128, 135
E 89 | Z-4 – second generation | 2009 –
E90 | 3 Series sedan | 2006 –
E91 | 3 Series touring | 2006 –
E92 | 3 Series coupé | 2006 –
CSL version remained a prototype.
E93 | 3 Series cabrio | 2007 –
Also M3 convertible.
E99 | V5 | 2010 – ?
MPV called Progressive Activity Sedan: PAS, the whole idea seems uncertain.
F01 | 7 series | 2008 –
The line has soften, the main idea remains unchanged.
F02 | 7 series, long wheel base | 2009 –
7 series High Security long wheel version of the F01 sedan.
F03 | 7 series High Security | 2009 –
High security version of BMW 750 Li and BMW 760 Li – F01.
F04 | 7 series Hybrid
A concept only, hybrid version of the F01 sedan.
F0? | 8 series Light Base | planned 2009
Often presented as F04 but recently like forgotten, based on the presented in April 2007 prototype BMW CS, this project was cancelled in Nov. 2008.
F07 | 5 series Gran Turismo | 2009 –
5 door liftback van – derivative from F10 seventh generation 5 series
F10 | 5 series – seventh generation | 2009 – | M5 planned 2010
F11 | 5 series seventh generation – Touring | planned 2012
F12 | 6 Series 3rd generation | planned 2011
In testing.
F13 | 6 Series 3rd generation cabrio | planned 2012
F14 | 6 series LC | planned 2012
A Light Concept version of the 6 series
F20 | 1 series – Second generation
Planned 2011
F25 | X3 second generation | planned 2011
Should replace the present X3 produced for BMW by Magna in Graz Austria by a genuine BMW car produced in the Spartanburg, SC factory in the US; will be bigger
F30 | 3 series, Seventh generation | planned 2012
? | The new X5
In testing
? | 2 series, ? |
Only prototypes were seen, the whole idea of the 2 series is very uncertain
? | new M1 |
A beautiful prototype has been shown as an ‘Homage to M1″; according to the Car Magazine UK this will be a production car – here are the computer drawings, according to latest news (end of July 2008) it will not be produced
? | X2 | Planned 2011
A baby X6, similar styling but a small car base on a new 1 -series platform
? | Z2 | Planned 2012
A small roadster oficially announced in April of 2009, planned are two engines 150 and 300 hp (!), dual clutch transmission
BMW Engines – codes M. S, N, W:
Code | Cyl. | Capacity in liters | Years | Used in cars | More info
M06 | Straight 6, 2.5, 2.8 | since 1968
2500, 2800 sedans
On the Ward’s 10 Best Engines of the 20th Century List, cloned in UK and used in British sports cars Bristol, Frazer-Nash, Lotus, Cooper, AC
M10/M12 | Straight 4, 1.5,1.6, 1.8, 1.8 (IInd version),2.0 | 1961-1987
3,5 million produced, designed by Alex Falkenhausen, turbocharged version by Paul Rosche, M10 block used in M3 and Formula 1 (WChamp. 1983)
M20 | Straight 6, 2.0, 2.3, 2.5, 2.7 | 1976-1992
E28, E30 also Z1, E34
Different volumes had dofferent additional symbols B20, B23, B25, B2; the last one has been so called Eta engine – designed for efficiency >see below
M20 B27 Eta | Straight 6, 2,7 | 1982-1987
E30 -325e,325es. E28-525e (US: 528e)
Low rev motor tuned to fuel efficiency; last cars from Sept 87 had been redesigned – different motor head etc (so called Super-Eta)
M21 | Straight 6, 2.4 diesel
M30 | Straight 6, 2.5, 2.8, 3.0, 3.3, 3.5 | 1976-1994
E3, E9, E32, E34, often called `big six´
M40 | straight 4 | 1.6,1.8
M41 | straight 4 | 1.8
M42 | straight 4 | 1.8
M44 | straight 4 1.9 | 1996 –
E 36
M47 | straight 4 | 1.9 diesel | 1998-2006
E39, E46, E60, E83, E87, E90, Rover 75
M50 | straight 6 | 2.3, 2.5, 2.8
E30, E34, last years of Z1
M51 | straight 6 | 2.5, diesel
E34, E36, E38, E39, Opel Omega
M52 | straight 6 | 2.0, 2.5, 2.8
Vanos (TU version: double Vanos) restrictive intake manifold because of German insurance regulations
M54 | straight 6 | 2.2, 2.5, 3.0
254 bhp
M57 | straight 6 | 2.5, 2.9, 3.0, diesel | since 1998
E65, E90, E91
M60 | V8 | 3.0,4.0 | 1992-1996
E34 530i, E32 730i, 740i, 840i | engine block from Nikasil (Silicone Injected Nickel)
M62 | V8 | 3.5,4.4, 4.6, 4.9 | 1996-2003
E31 ,E38, E39, E53 | Land Rover
M67 | V8 | 3.9, 4.4, turbo diesel | 1998 -2006
E38-7 Series, E65-7 Series, E-66 – 7series L | A BMW engine with most torque: 700Nm @ 1750rpm – M67 4423cc M67 D44 (8c/4v)
M70 | V12 | 5.0 | 1986-1999
E31, E32 | 220 kW (295 hp) @ 5300 rpm; max torque: 450 N·m @ 4000 rpm; max rpm: 6000–6400 rpm
M73 | V12 | 5.3, 5.4, 5.5 | 1993
E38 7-Series, E31 8-Series, E38 7-Series (M73TU) | Engine of the Year 1993
M88 | straight 6 | 3.5 | 1974
635 CSi, M635 CSi | early non-catalyst version of S38
M102 | straight 6 | 3.2 | 1979 – 1983
E23 745 | turbocharged piston engine, Bosch L-Jetronic fuel injection system. 252 bhp
M106 | straight 6 | 3.5 (3.43) | 1983 – 1986
E23 745 | a newer version of M102; Bosch Motronic DME II,
S14 | straight 4 | 1982
race engine
S14 | straight 4 | 2.3, custom made 2.5 | 1986 -1991
E30 M3 | derived from S38 engine , also versions: S14 EVO, 14 Sport EVO, based upon M10
S31 | straight 6
derived from M88 (M88/3)
S32 | straight 6
E26 M1 | derived from M88
S38 (B35, B36) | straight 6 | 3.5 (3453 cm3) 3.6 (3535 cm3) | 1987-1991
E24 M6, E28 M5, E34 M5 | catalyst evolution of M88 engine; version B36: 6 DOHC 24V; 3.6 (315bhp), 3.8 (340bhp);
S38 (B38) | straight 6 | 3.8 (3795 cm3) | 1992-1996
E34 M5 | a version of S38, second M5 motor for the E34: 340 hp
S44 | straight 4 | 2.0
a racing version of M44
S50 | straight 6 | 3.2 | 1992 – 2000
E36 M3 | 321 hp; BMW M Power inscription on the cam cover
S52 | straight 6 | 3.2 |1994-2001
E36 M3 |240hp, North American version of S50, derived from M52
S54 | straight 6 | 3.2 | 2001-2008
E46 M3, E 85 Z4M Roadster | derived from S50; only the M sign on the cam cover, ; 3.2L; won the International Engine of the Year Award 2001, Best New Engine Award 2001 Best Engine Award
S62 | V8 | 5.0
E39 M5
S65 | V8 | 4.0 | 2007 –
E92 (M3) | follower of S54
S70 | V12 | 5.6 | 1993 -1997
E31 (850) 24 valve V12 constructed for BMW 850, a version of M70
S70/2 | V12 | 6.1 | 1991-1998
McLaren F1 |Formula 1 engine
S85 | V10| 5 | 2005-
M5, M6 |inspired by Formula 1 engine; 507 hp, double Vanos, 10 individually controlled throttles; heavily encrypted DME software to prevent alterations
N12 (R50) | straight 4 | 1.6 | 2005 –
Mini R56, Peugeot 207 | so called Prince engine, produced together with PSA
N14 (R52, R53) | straight 4 | 1.6 Turbo
Mini Cooper S, Peugeot 207 RC
N40 straight 4 1.6, 2.0 2002-
E46 3 series
N42 | straight 4 | 1.8,2.0 | 2001 – 2003
E46 3 series | double Vanos, Valvetronic
N45 | straight 4 | 1.6, 2.0 | 2004 –
E87 116i, E90 316si | without Valvetronic
N46 | straight 4 | 1.8, 2.0 Valvetronic | 2004 –
E46, E85, E87, E90
N52 | straight 6 | 2.5,3.0 Valvetronic | 2004 –
E60, E63,E64,E70, E83, E85, E87, E90 | also coded as R6 ?
N53 | straight 6 | 2.5, 3.0 | 2007 –
523: E61,E62; 325: E90, E91, E92, E93 |improved version of N52, 14th generation of the straight 6 engine, without Valvetronic
N54 | straight 6 | 3.0+BiTurbo | 2006 –
E60, E87, E90 | a wonderful turbo engine used in 1355i,335i,535i
N55 | straight 6 | So called Two Stream Turbo gasoline engine (dual scroll turbo) | 2010-
135i, 335i, new M1 (135is) | a version of N54 with two stream turbo and Valvetronic, precision injection
N62 | V8 | 3.6, 4.0,4.4,4.8 Valvetronic
E53, E60, E63, E63, E65, Wiesman GT
N63 | V8 | 4.0 | 2008 –
E71 (X6) | an aluminum, twin turbo v8
N64 | V8 | 4.4 Bi-Turbo | 2008 –
E71 (X6)
N73 | V12 | 6.0 Valvetronic | 2003 –
E65, E66 | first Valvetronic engine ever, more economical than V10 S85, replaced engine M73
W10 | straight 4 | 1,.4, 1.6 | 2001 – 2004
Mini R 50, R53 | W10 Tritec – result of the collabo Rover (then with BMW) with Chrysler; Straight 4 SOHC 16V; Engine of the Year 2003 | 1.6 (90-115bhp) non turbo
W11 | straight 4 |1.6 Turbo | 2003- 2004
Mini Cooper S, JCW, GP | W11 Tritec – Straight 4 SOHC 16V with Turbo – Eaton Supercharger
W17 | straight 4 | 1.4 Diesel | 2002 – 2004
Mini R 50, R53 | direct injection turbo diesel produced by Toyota for Mini One D
Prince | 2004 –
Mini | BMW PSA Peugeot Citroen 1.4 Litre; 1,6 L; 1,6 Turbo, so called Prince, from 2007 in Mini,