Quote:
Originally Posted by Wolfus Aurelius
Mason,
I'm as new to all this as you are and have been driving as long. I suspect it's because BMW -- if it's anything like Mercedes -- puts different engines in the same body and badges them differently. For example, among MBs there have been a slew of very different cars called "300SEL" since 1970 or so. To distinguish them, enthusiasts specify the chassis number, W108, W126, etc. Apparently BMW assigns the code based on body type (sedan is F30, wagon is F31, etc.) Either one could be a 328i, so the enthusiasts tell them apart with the code.
You can look up the meanings and the pictures of each BMW platform, E46 or E90 or F30, with a DuckDuckGo or Ixquick search. (Don't use G**gle. They know too much about us now. . . .)
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i'd also say it helps most enthusiasts -- at least me -- quickly ID which era of BMW is being discussed. i dont have the body style changes of every year memorized -- so i might not know which 5-series if someone references a 2003 vs 2004; but if someone says E39 vs E60 then i instantly know which one they're discussing.