[Mech_Man]

I've Googled and searched and not found a good description of the model number suffixes:

I've seen the lists defining the eXX codes, but not for the letters after the model number.

Would somebody point me to a good explanation?
TIA

[PaulBailey@ltbmw]

i = E90-Sedan
ci = E92-Coupe
cic = E93-Convert
x = AWD

[Mech_Man]

Originally Posted by xPaulBaiLeyx

i = E90-Sedan
ci = E92-Coupe
cic = E93-Convert
x = AWD

Thanks. I've not seen the "cic" version.

But how about what the "A" means after a "335i" ?

[PaulBailey@ltbmw]

AWD maybe. . . I really don't know.
It's supposed to be xi
Never seen that before

[iamvietness]

Originally Posted by Mech_Man

Thanks. I've not seen the "cic" version.

But how about what the "A" means after a "335i" ?

automatic?

[tintivilus]

There's no such thing as a 335ci or 335cic -- BMW stopped using the "c" for the E9x's.

You can find lists floating around, but the letters have varied a little bit through the years. The big ones are:

i = fuel injected
d = diesel
c = coupe or cabriolet, depending on vehicle
S = sport
L = "long" or "Limousine" depending on who you ask (eg 745iL)
A = automatic (transmission)
e = eta (high efficiency)
x = 4wd/awd (depending on year)
T = touring (wagon)

By the way, I'm pretty sure BMW never called anything a "CiC". The E46 coupe and cab were both ...Ci. People sometimes take liberties with the letters for the sake of brevity: ie saying 330CiC instead of 330 Cabriolet, or 525iA instead of 525i, automatic

[Mech_Man]

Originally Posted by tintivilus

There's no such thing as a 335ci or 335cic -- BMW stopped using the "c" for the E9x's.

You can find lists floating around, but the letters have varied a little bit through the years. The big ones are:

i = fuel injected
d = diesel
c = coupe or cabriolet, depending on vehicle
S = sport
L = "long" or "Limousine" depending on who you ask (eg 745iL)
A = automatic (transmission)
e = eta (high efficiency)
x = 4wd/awd (depending on year)
T = touring (wagon)

Thanks, that's a big help. I'd not seen the 335i"A" on too many IDs, and just got my car last week. It's door ID plate said 335iA, which roused my curiosity. (And it does have Automatic)

[jmonier]

Originally Posted by Mech_Man

Thanks, that's a big help. I'd not seen the 335i"A" on too many IDs, and just got my car last week. It's door ID plate said 335iA, which roused my curiosity. (And it does have Automatic)

Interesting. I'd never paid that much attention but my 335 Coupe also says 335iA (no "c") and it is also an Automatic.

Anybody with a Manual care to check your door plate?

[Pappy]

2008 328i coupe. MT. built 5/08

Door plate says '328i'

[TiAg335i]

I always thought the "i" in "335i" indicated RWD.

[Jurisprudent]

I think RWD is assumed absent an "x". Thus 328i = fuel injected (gas not diesel), manual transmission, rwd.

330iA here - A is certainly their internal indicator for "automatic"

[E90Brian]

Originally Posted by Jurisprudent

330iA here - A is certainly their internal indicator for "automatic"

"A" may mean automatic transmission now, but be careful in extending this into the past. My 1995 E34 530iA was a 5-speed manual.

[tintivilus]

Originally Posted by E90Brian

"A" may mean automatic transmission now, but be careful in extending this into the past. My 1995 E34 530iA was a 5-speed manual.

Are you sure it wasn't converted? I've never heard of "A" meaning anything other than "Automatic". The E34 530 was kind of an oddball in general, though.

If we're playing old-BMW bingo, my 1990 (E34) 525iA was an automatic

[E90Brian]

Originally Posted by tintivilus

Are you sure it wasn't converted? I've never heard of "A" meaning anything other than "Automatic". The E34 530 was kind of an oddball in general, though.

If we're playing old-BMW bingo, my 1990 (E34) 525iA was an automatic

The car was definitely not converted. I bought it new, and everything from the build sheet to the sticker indicated that it was a manual. Plus there was that annoying third pedal down there... . Leads me to think that, back then at least, the "A" meant something other than "automatic."

And you're right, the E34 530i was sort of odd. It had the 540i's V8 engine but bored differently and it wasn't all that quick unless you kept the revs up (third gear was a blast). But I enjoyed my time with it and, with a manual, it certainly was unique in the US. When I found my E28 M5 though it was time to sell it.

[Kiemyster]

we should make this a sticky... so much people ask the same question

[tintivilus]

Originally Posted by E90Brian

TLeads me to think that, back then at least, the "A" meant something other than "automatic."

Hm. I'll accept that it's not always for automatic, but not that it didn't used to be automatic -- I hear the "A" being automatic more often in 80's cars than on later models.

I googled around and haven't found anything like a definitive list. People seem to just take guesses and write them down. ("i for performance"? wtf?)

[solefald]

my model is listed on all dealer/insurance/dmv paperwork as "328Ci SULEV"

SULEV must be a California emission thing or something.
Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicle

[red.66mustang]

Originally Posted by tintivilus

There's no such thing as a 335ci or 335cic -- BMW stopped using the "c" for the E9x's.

Why did BMW do this? They dropped the "c" on the 6 series too, when they changed the engine to the 4.8 liter (645ci to 650i).

Its not a big deal, but it makes it a little easier when describing your car to call it a "335ci"

[GregL]

This article here: http://www.canadiandriver.com/articl...3_5-series.htm mentions, "In 1999, the 5-series wagon, which had disappeared after 1995, returned to the line-up. Dubbed "Touring" models, E39 wagons were available with either the 2.8 litre (and later, the 2.5 litre) and 4.4 litre engines, and were badged 525iT and 540iAT, the "A" in the latter's name denoting the 5-speed automatic transmission that was the only option for getting the power to the road."

Touring version or not, it does seem that the "A" corresponds to an automatic transmission so I have no idea what happened with your 5-speed Brian.

[tintivilus]

Originally Posted by solefald

my model is listed on all dealer/insurance/dmv paperwork as "328Ci SULEV"

You know, my dealership paperwork listed "335Ci" too, even though nothing from BMW does. I guessed it was just force of habit for the salesman.

[GregL]

Originally Posted by tintivilus

You know, my dealership paperwork listed "335Ci" too, even though nothing from BMW does. I guessed it was just force of habit for the salesman.

I think it prevents confusion, I heard of a few cars that were accidently ordered in the wrong body style for some unlucky customers when the E92 first came out and officially dropped the "c" designation from it's trunklid.

[E90Brian]

Originally Posted by tintivilus

Hm. I'll accept that it's not always for automatic, but not that it didn't used to be automatic -- I hear the "A" being automatic more often in 80's cars than on later models.

I googled around and haven't found anything like a definitive list. People seem to just take guesses and write them down. ("i for performance"? wtf?)

I didn't mean to imply that the "A" didn't designate automatic in the past. Sorry if I did.

Funny, I've read and heard about this letter designation topic many times, but I've never heard anyone even mention the "A" designation. It would be good to ask someone from BMW these questions.

+1 on i = performance, wtf?