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      11-23-2009, 09:46 AM   #1
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CAR explains BMW E and F names

Somewhat curious to know.

All the BMW E and F codenames explained

By Tim Pollard
http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/News/Se...mes-explained/

23 November 2009 14:45

With the launch of the new 2010 BMW 5-series due this evening at 7.00pm UK time, what better excuse for a spot of anorak indulgence? We've researched all the different BMW E and F codenames and explained them all in our handy list below. Perfect in case your specialist subject on Mastermind includes BMW codenames and you need to sort your E30 from your E90s.

Historically, each BMW has carried an E project number – standing for Entwicklung, or development. The numbers have then risen progressively up to triple digits, at which point F numbers have taken over.

So browse the BMW codename list below and scratch up on your knowledge. And ponder what could have been; there are numeric gaps which we can only imagine were stillborn projects or new cars that never saw the light of day.

BMW E codenames

BMW E3 2500/2800 saloons, 1968-1977
BMW E9 2000-2800 coupés, 1968-1974
BMW E12 1st-gen 5-series, 1975-1981
BMW E21 1st-gen 3-series, 1976-1983
BMW E23 1st-gen 7-series, 1978-1987
BMW E24 1st-gen 6-series, 1977-1989
BMW E25 Turbo concept car, 1972
BMW E26 M1 supercar, 1978-1981
BMW E28 2nd-gen 5-series, 1982-1988
BMW E30 2nd-gen 3-series, 1984-1992
BMW E31 8-series, 1989-1999
BMW E32 2nd-gen 7-series, 1986-1994
BMW E32/2 2nd-gen 7-series LWB, 1987-1994
BMW E34 3rd-gen 5-series, 1989-1995
BMW E36 3rd-gen 3-series, 1992-1999
BMW E36/5 3-series Compact, 1994-2000
BMW E36/7 Z3, M Roadster, M Coupé, 1995-2002
BMW E38 3rd-gen 7-series, 1994-2001
BMW E38/2 3rd-gen 7-series LWB, 1994-2001
BMW E38/3 3rd-gen 7-series armoured, 1998-2001
BMW E39 4th-gen 5-series, 1996-2004
BMW E46 4th-gen 3-series, 1999-2005
BMW E46/5 2nd-gen 3-series Compact, 2001-2004
BMW E52 Z8, 2000-2003
BMW E53 1st-gen X5, 2000-2006
BMW E60 5th-gen 5-series, 2004-2010
BMW E61 5th-gen 5-series Touring, 2004-2010
BMW E63 2nd-gen 6-series, 2003-
BMW E65 4th-gen 7-series, 2001-2008
BMW E66 4th-gen 7-series LWB, 2002-2008
BMW E67 4th-gen 7-series armoured, 2001-2008
BMW E68 4th-gen 7-series hydrogen
BMW E70 2nd-gen X5, 2007-
BMW E82 1st-gen 1-series, 2004-
BMW E83 1st-gen X3, 2003-
BMW E85 1st-gen Z4, 2003-2009
BMW E90 5th-gen 3-series saloon, 2005-
BMW E92 5th-gen 3-series coupé, 2005-

BMW F codenames

F01 5th-gen 7-series, 2008-
F02 5th-gen 7-series LWB, 2008-
F03 5th-gen 7-series armoured, 2008-
F10 6th-gen 5-series saloon, 2010-
F11 6th-gen 5-series Touring, 2010-
F12 3rd-gen 6-series coupé, 2011-
F13 3rd-gen 6-series convertible, 2011-
F25 2nd-gen X3, 2011-
F30 6th-gen 3-series, 2011-

With thanks to Tony Lewin's excellent book The Complete Book of BMW for research purposes
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      11-23-2009, 10:43 AM   #2
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thanks for that!
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some italian, german, and japanese ones; and on order more of the same
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      11-23-2009, 11:28 AM   #3
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      11-23-2009, 12:00 PM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BK View Post
well then consider it as one more reason to post the button next times this gets asked.
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      11-23-2009, 12:03 PM   #5
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I don't like the "F" letter. First thing it makes you think of is "Ford."
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      11-23-2009, 12:14 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jrjinsa View Post
I don't like the "F" letter. First thing it makes you think of is "Ford."
Or fighterplanes, like the F-18.


This one's got dual exhaust.
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      11-23-2009, 01:22 PM   #7
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It's just natural progression. Eventually, they should be at G. Then BMW may build the G35. (snicker)
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      11-23-2009, 01:37 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by HJV View Post
Or fighterplanes, like the F-18.


This one's got dual exhaust.
Dual turbos, er, turbines, too.
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      11-23-2009, 04:30 PM   #9
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Letter F makes me think of Lexus, IS-F.
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      11-23-2009, 05:00 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 320what View Post
Somewhat curious to know.

All the BMW E and F codenames explained

By Tim Pollard
http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/News/Se...mes-explained/

23 November 2009 14:45

With the launch of the new 2010 BMW 5-series due this evening at 7.00pm UK time, what better excuse for a spot of anorak indulgence? We've researched all the different BMW E and F codenames and explained them all in our handy list below. Perfect in case your specialist subject on Mastermind includes BMW codenames and you need to sort your E30 from your E90s.

Historically, each BMW has carried an E project number – standing for Entwicklung, or development. The numbers have then risen progressively up to triple digits, at which point F numbers have taken over.

So browse the BMW codename list below and scratch up on your knowledge. And ponder what could have been; there are numeric gaps which we can only imagine were stillborn projects or new cars that never saw the light of day.

BMW E codenames

BMW E3 2500/2800 saloons, 1968-1977
BMW E9 2000-2800 coupés, 1968-1974
BMW E12 1st-gen 5-series, 1975-1981
BMW E21 1st-gen 3-series, 1976-1983
BMW E23 1st-gen 7-series, 1978-1987
BMW E24 1st-gen 6-series, 1977-1989
BMW E25 Turbo concept car, 1972
BMW E26 M1 supercar, 1978-1981
BMW E28 2nd-gen 5-series, 1982-1988
BMW E30 2nd-gen 3-series, 1984-1992
BMW E31 8-series, 1989-1999
BMW E32 2nd-gen 7-series, 1986-1994
BMW E32/2 2nd-gen 7-series LWB, 1987-1994
BMW E34 3rd-gen 5-series, 1989-1995
BMW E36 3rd-gen 3-series, 1992-1999
BMW E36/5 3-series Compact, 1994-2000
BMW E36/7 Z3, M Roadster, M Coupé, 1995-2002
BMW E38 3rd-gen 7-series, 1994-2001
BMW E38/2 3rd-gen 7-series LWB, 1994-2001
BMW E38/3 3rd-gen 7-series armoured, 1998-2001
BMW E39 4th-gen 5-series, 1996-2004
BMW E46 4th-gen 3-series, 1999-2005
BMW E46/5 2nd-gen 3-series Compact, 2001-2004
BMW E52 Z8, 2000-2003
BMW E53 1st-gen X5, 2000-2006
BMW E60 5th-gen 5-series, 2004-2010
BMW E61 5th-gen 5-series Touring, 2004-2010
BMW E63 2nd-gen 6-series, 2003-
BMW E65 4th-gen 7-series, 2001-2008
BMW E66 4th-gen 7-series LWB, 2002-2008
BMW E67 4th-gen 7-series armoured, 2001-2008
BMW E68 4th-gen 7-series hydrogen
BMW E70 2nd-gen X5, 2007-
BMW E82 1st-gen 1-series, 2004-
BMW E83 1st-gen X3, 2003-
BMW E85 1st-gen Z4, 2003-2009
BMW E90 5th-gen 3-series saloon, 2005-
BMW E92 5th-gen 3-series coupé, 2005-

BMW F codenames

F01 5th-gen 7-series, 2008-
F02 5th-gen 7-series LWB, 2008-
F03 5th-gen 7-series armoured, 2008-
F10 6th-gen 5-series saloon, 2010-
F11 6th-gen 5-series Touring, 2010-
F12 3rd-gen 6-series coupé, 2011-
F13 3rd-gen 6-series convertible, 2011-
F25 2nd-gen X3, 2011-
F30 6th-gen 3-series, 2011-

With thanks to Tony Lewin's excellent book The Complete Book of BMW for research purposes
So any 2010 5 series is an F10 even if it has the E60 body?
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      11-23-2009, 05:06 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Crisp View Post
So any 2010 5 series is an F10 even if it has the E60 body?
I believe the E90 came out in Europe as the 2005 model, a year earlier than in the USA. I assume the same thing happens with the 5er?
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      11-23-2009, 06:19 PM   #12
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nice!
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      11-23-2009, 06:31 PM   #13
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Hey cool!

But they forgot E93 & E91!
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      11-23-2009, 06:36 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Crisp View Post
So any 2010 5 series is an F10 even if it has the E60 body?
no. its the body style. 2010 is the production year. a 2010 5er is an e60


so what does the F stand for? nothing?
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      11-23-2009, 06:40 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Crisp View Post
So any 2010 5 series is an F10 even if it has the E60 body?
No, the new body style 5 will be an F10, the E60 is the current one.
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      11-23-2009, 11:00 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MontegoGoGoGo View Post
Hey cool!

But they forgot E93 & E91!
They also forgot the E64 (6 Series convertible), the E86 (1st gen Z4 Coupé), and the E89 (2nd gen Z4). Sloppy research.

Here are some more that they missed:

E10 2002
E20 2002ti
E81 1 Series 3-door Hatchback
E87 1 Series 5-door Hatchback
E88 1 Series Convertible
E71 X6
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      11-26-2009, 11:53 AM   #17
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I don't know why the F designation would make you think of a Ford or IS-F? These are internal model designations and have nothing to do with competing models or similar.

Its not like were saying the F30 (internal name) is competing with the IS-F (marketing name).
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      11-28-2009, 05:07 PM   #18
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they also forgot the the 550i GT
F05 i think
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      11-28-2009, 05:18 PM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by scott@bmwhn View Post
they also forgot the the 550i GT
F05 i think
FWIW, Wikipedia gives F07 for the 550i GT.
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      11-28-2009, 07:16 PM   #20
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Pretty interesting, I thought they just skipped all those numbers for no reason lol. You learn something new everyday.
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      11-29-2009, 04:46 PM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Scorpion View Post
Pretty interesting, I thought they just skipped all those numbers for no reason lol. You learn something new everyday.
Internally, BMW has teams of designers to design new platforms. For instance, for the E46 3 Series they would have two teams who would each come up with their own design and each team would be assigned a design code (let's say E45 and E46). Then, whichever design team wins then their code becomes official and the code of the losing design is relegated to oblivion.

It's very much like the procurement of military systems. When the Air Force sent a RFP for a small fighter to complement the F-15 Eagle General Dynamics and Northrop came up with their entry which were given the codes XF-16 and XF-17 respectively. Eventually, GD won and its design became the F-16 and the F-17 never was.

As an aside, when the U.S. Navy wanted a single replacement for the F-14 and A-6 McDonnell-Douglas bought the Northrop XF-17 design, and came up with the F/A-18.
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      11-29-2009, 09:29 PM   #22
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Thank for sharing,I like it
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