Everything you wanted to know about BMW

v12 · 19th September 2004, 12:40

BMW has a long history of making cars, going back well before WWII.
Since this FAQ has been built from the contributions to the mailing
list, there is little information about the early cars.

*Modern BMWs started with the 1500, a boxy practical sedan with a 1.5
liter 4 cylinder. *The engine was soon enlarged and the body slightly
redesigned to make the 2002. *This was a small 4 seater with good
handling and a powerful motor. *It is the car which really started
BMW on the path it is today.

*Today BMW has three main lines of cars, 3, 5 and 7. *The 3 series is a
compact sedan with generous front seats and usable rear seats that are
a bit short on leg/head room. *The 5 is a mid-size car which seats 5 in
reasonable comfort. *The 7 is a large luxury car which has occasionally
been named one of the best cars in the world. *In between have been
the 6 series, a luxury coupe built on the 5 series platform, and the 8
series, the follow-on to the 6 but built on a unique platform.

Naming Conventions :

BMW's are named according to their model range, engine size, and other
characteristics (i.e. - 325iX). *The first digit refers to the model range
(3 = 3-series), the following two digits refer to engine displacement
(25 = 2.5 liters), and the letters refer to a distinguishing feature,
body style, or characteristic of the car or engine.
(i = fuel injection, X = four-wheel drive)

A * = automatic
* C * = convertible
* CS *= coupe sport
* i * = injection; international
* e * = ETA (high mpg, high torque, low RPM) engine
* L * = long-wheelbase; luxury
* M * = Motorsport
* s * = sport; also used to denote coupe body in NA markets
* t * = touring; touring could equate to hatchback, wagon, or
* * * * sport versions of early models
* td *= turbodiesel
* tds = intercooled turbodiesel
* X * = four-wheel drive
* Z * = models developed by BMW Technik; new roadster designation

Exceptions to the standard model designations involve models originating
from BMW Motorsport, the racing arm of BMW. *Models produced by this
division have an 'M' prefix followed by the original model range on which
the car is based (M3, M5, M6).

For more info check this site out : Unofficial BMW

aadix · 19th September 2004, 13:04

how do we know the year v12

for example in mercs by w126 (chassis no) i would know it's an 81 to 91 model, etc

v12 · 19th September 2004, 13:22

BMW 3 Series
E30: 1984-1991
E36: 1992-1998
E36/5: 1995-1999
E46: 1999-2004
E90: 2005-present

BMW 5 Series
E12: 1978-1981
E28: 1982-1988
E34: 1989-1995
E39: 1997-2003
E60: 2004-2009
F10: 2010-present

BMW 7 Series
E23: 1978-1987
E32: 1988-1994
E38: 1995-2001
E65: 2002-2008
F02: 2009-present

nandishpal · 20th July 2010, 19:46

starting an old thread,i have come across an e34 520i,i have no idea on how the car is or is it even desirable??can somebody shed some light on the topic.

ajmat · 20th July 2010, 20:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by nandishpal

starting an old thread,i have come across an e34 520i,i have no idea on how the car is or is it even desirable??can somebody shed some light on the topic.

Nice car but not that quick. If it is a red one, it got flooded. If silver was owned by a friend and well maintained. Black - one was well used on the old airport road area

FlyingSpur · 20th July 2010, 21:30

Post no.3 should probably updated with the E90 / F02 / F10.

Mpower · 20th July 2010, 22:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by nandishpal

starting an old thread,i have come across an e34 520i,i have no idea on how the car is or is it even desirable??can somebody shed some light on the topic.

I think Accordmasters has/had the same model. Although its a 2.0 I believe its a 6 cyl.

nandishpal · 22nd July 2010, 13:10

ajmat this is a grey color car.it has changed 3 hands,first owned by an NRI.it has all the record of maintenance.i am going to have a look at it soon.will post pictures with the owners permission.i wanted to know what should i look for in the car.what are the pro 7 cons?is it a desirable car?

Quote:

Originally Posted by ajmat

Nice car but not that quick. If it is a red one, it got flooded. If silver was owned by a friend and well maintained. Black - one was well used on the old airport road area

ajmat · 22nd July 2010, 13:27

If one of the owners is called ananth, I know the car

He did a few things and sold it on. The present owner should be an elderly person who does not need the car anymore. If so I understand he has done a lot of work on it.

Make sure the dials work as the printed circuit blows. Check the radiator (BMW weak point). If single cam six cyl - cam belt needs to be changed

kevinephraim · 2nd April 2011, 19:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by v12

BMW 5 Series
E12: 1978-1981

restarting a thread that has been quiet for a long time but here is some info i found on wikipedia

BMW 5 Series (E12) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

the first 5's were built in 1972.

kevinephraim · 4th April 2011, 10:01

Is there a thread which documents classic BMWs? Have been searching around the forum but the only one I found was the one with the classic 635i owned and now sold by a Tbhpian.

Have been looking around specifically for details on a 1974 525 (not "i", not "d"), the carbureted version with the M30 engine and have found nothing.

silverblue · 15th April 2011, 18:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by v12

BMW 3 Series
E30: 1984-1991
E36: 1992-1998
E36/5: 1995-1999
E46: 1999-2004
E90: 2005-present

BMW 5 Series
E12: 1978-1981
E28: 1982-1988
E34: 1989-1995
E39: 1997-2003
E60: 2004-2009
F10: 2010-present

BMW 7 Series
E23: 1978-1987
E32: 1988-1994
E38: 1995-2001
E65: 2002-2008
F02: 2009-present

The E46 was still in production till 2006.

kevinephraim · 5th April 2012, 17:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by v12

BMW 3 Series
E30: 1984-1991

The 3 series started in 1975, Model code E21

More info here

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_3_Series

volkman10 · 7th June 2012, 09:46

BMW working on seven speed manual transmission!

Quote:

BMW has invited itself to a party that Porsche started. Someone trolling through patent filings found drawings submitted by BMW for two slightly different takes on a seven-speed manual transmission. The first take is a more conventional setup that provides an honest clutch pedal. The second variant uses a shift-by-wire system to swap gears through an electromechanical actuator. To prevent drivers from accidentally engaging an engine-damaging gear in such a closely spaced pattern, both rely on an electromagnetic fluid inside a shifting module that can change viscosity to prevent the 'lever' from making a shift.

According to the filing, the system can work with up to eight(!) gears. It isn't clear if, even in the system with the clutch, the gear lever is actually attached to any of those gears.

Patent application shows BMW working on seven-speed manual

19th September 2004, 12:40	#1
v12 Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Mumbai Posts: 6,739 Thanked: 7,213 Times View My Garage	Everything you wanted to know about BMW BMW has a long history of making cars, going back well before WWII. Since this FAQ has been built from the contributions to the mailing list, there is little information about the early cars. Modern BMWs started with the 1500, a boxy practical sedan with a 1.5 liter 4 cylinder. The engine was soon enlarged and the body slightly redesigned to make the 2002. This was a small 4 seater with good handling and a powerful motor. It is the car which really started BMW on the path it is today. Today BMW has three main lines of cars, 3, 5 and 7. The 3 series is a compact sedan with generous front seats and usable rear seats that are a bit short on leg/head room. The 5 is a mid-size car which seats 5 in reasonable comfort. The 7 is a large luxury car which has occasionally been named one of the best cars in the world. In between have been the 6 series, a luxury coupe built on the 5 series platform, and the 8 series, the follow-on to the 6 but built on a unique platform. Naming Conventions :* BMW's are named according to their model range, engine size, and other characteristics (i.e. - 325iX). The first digit refers to the model range (3 = 3-series), the following two digits refer to engine displacement (25 = 2.5 liters), and the letters refer to a distinguishing feature, body style, or characteristic of the car or engine. (i = fuel injection, X = four-wheel drive) A = automatic * C * = convertible * CS = coupe sport i * = injection; international * e * = ETA (high mpg, high torque, low RPM) engine * L * = long-wheelbase; luxury * M * = Motorsport * s * = sport; also used to denote coupe body in NA markets * t * = touring; touring could equate to hatchback, wagon, or * * * * sport versions of early models * td = turbodiesel tds = intercooled turbodiesel * X * = four-wheel drive * Z * = models developed by BMW Technik; new roadster designation Exceptions to the standard model designations involve models originating from BMW Motorsport, the racing arm of BMW. Models produced by this division have an 'M' prefix followed by the original model range on which the car is based (M3, M5, M6). For more info check this site out : Unofficial BMW*
	(1) Thanks

19th September 2004, 13:04	#2
aadix Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: hyderabad Posts: 1,597 Thanked: 14 Times	how do we know the year v12 for example in mercs by w126 (chassis no) i would know it's an 81 to 91 model, etc
	() Thanks

19th September 2004, 13:22	#3
v12 Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Mumbai Posts: 6,739 Thanked: 7,213 Times View My Garage	BMW 3 Series E30: 1984-1991 E36: 1992-1998 E36/5: 1995-1999 E46: 1999-2004 E90: 2005-present BMW 5 Series E12: 1978-1981 E28: 1982-1988 E34: 1989-1995 E39: 1997-2003 E60: 2004-2009 F10: 2010-present BMW 7 Series E23: 1978-1987 E32: 1988-1994 E38: 1995-2001 E65: 2002-2008 F02: 2009-present Last edited by FlyingSpur : 25th November 2010 at 18:10. Reason: Updated.
	() Thanks

20th July 2010, 19:46	#4
nandishpal BHPian Join Date: May 2006 Location: bangalore Posts: 492 Thanked: 80 Times	starting an old thread,i have come across an e34 520i,i have no idea on how the car is or is it even desirable??can somebody shed some light on the topic.
	() Thanks

20th July 2010, 21:30	#6
FlyingSpur Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Bay Area, CA Posts: 3,934 Thanked: 1,422 Times View My Garage	Post no.3 should probably updated with the E90 / F02 / F10.
	() Thanks

22nd July 2010, 13:27	#9
ajmat Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Bangalore Posts: 14,860 Thanked: 27,946 Times View My Garage	If one of the owners is called ananth, I know the car He did a few things and sold it on. The present owner should be an elderly person who does not need the car anymore. If so I understand he has done a lot of work on it. Make sure the dials work as the printed circuit blows. Check the radiator (BMW weak point). If single cam six cyl - cam belt needs to be changed
	() Thanks

4th April 2011, 10:01	#11
kevinephraim BHPian Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Pune, Bahrain Posts: 450 Thanked: 85 Times View My Garage	Re: Everything you wanted to know about BMW Is there a thread which documents classic BMWs? Have been searching around the forum but the only one I found was the one with the classic 635i owned and now sold by a Tbhpian. Have been looking around specifically for details on a 1974 525 (not "i", not "d"), the carbureted version with the M30 engine and have found nothing.
	() Thanks