[liquid]

So I am at a friend’s house today, he loves BMW’s. He asked me what the model number means (328). He thought it ment the car has a 2.8 liter engine, I have no idea. So I said lets open the hood and see if we see any numbers. Unlike my accord said 3.0 on the cover the BMW said nothing. Then I thought for a second that the car has a little over 6k miles and maybe I should check the oil. So I am looking for the stick then I asked him if he sees it. We spend a few minutes looking. Then he asked if I have the book. So I go to the trunk and get it. Needless to say you all know how it ends and how I checking it. Now I can wait to check my oil in the pouring rain just because I can lol.

James

[Carnage]

You're on track, you used to be able to tell the engine size from the numbers but no more at least as 3 series cars go.

[liquid]

ohok with the 325 and 330 it would be a 2.5 and a 3.0.

[Carnage]

Originally Posted by liquid

ohok with the 325 and 330 it would be a 2.5 and a 3.0.

Used to be. With the E90 both the 325 and 330 both had the 3.0 liter in them.

[E90Fleet]

Originally Posted by matsarge

Used to be. With the E90 both the 325 and 330 both had the 3.0 liter in them.

Only in north america


Though it seems the Euro Direct injection 325i will also be a 3.0

[nyc3r]

yeah, just note that the oil level won't show up immediately when you start the car, only after you warm up the oil.

[bronco]

I am so mad at BMW for changingthe numbering (series) scheme....it was so easy back in the days to know what engine ones car has, by just looking at the badge...

[subframe]

Originally Posted by bronco

I am so mad at BMW for changingthe numbering (series) scheme....it was so easy back in the days to know what engine ones car has, by just looking at the badge...

I agree. They could have gone with things like, for the US '06 lineup 330 & 330si. And for the US '07 lineup 330 and 330tii. (Putting on flame suit now).

[Jaws]

Originally Posted by subframe

I agree. They could have gone with things like, for the US '06 lineup 330 & 330si. And for the US '07 lineup 330 and 330tii. (Putting on flame suit now).

BMW hasn't been consistent for the last 10 years regarding model designation/engine size. Was the first to break the rule the '97 540 with the 4.4L? With the 3er I think it as the E46 323s with 2.5L engines.

[E90Fleet]

Originally Posted by Jaws

BMW hasn't been consistent for the last 10 years regarding model designation/engine size. Was the first to break the rule the '97 540 with the 4.4L? With the 3er I think it as the E46 323s with 2.5L engines.

Goes back much further than that

E23 745i from the mid 80's had a 3.5L engine from the M1 here, and a 3.2L turbo engine in Europe

E21 316i had a 1.8L

E30 333i had a 3.2L

E36 323i had a 2.5L

E36 316i had a 1.8L

Ect Ect

[E90330iS]

Originally Posted by subframe

I agree. They could have gone with things like, for the US '06 lineup 330 & 330si. And for the US '07 lineup 330 and 330tii. (Putting on flame suit now).

I actually like that idea! But I see two problems with the emblem names.

1. The 2006 325i which is dubbed as "330i" in your theory will actually be slower and cheaper than a E46 330i. Which will make the E46 330i owners really mad.

2. With just change in letters such as si and tii does not differentiate the models enough. Some people buy the numbers instead of the performance, like my brother. He thought 328i was good enough for him but he wanted the 335i (top of the line) title so he went for a 335i. But if it were a 330i and a 330TTi, he probably wouldn't have cared and the 330TTi's sales would drop at least from those buyers. And also, with almost every competitor having their model names like 350Z, G35 soon to be G37, IS350, BMW surely don't want to lose the number war when it offers a more powerful engine than all of the above!

I surely don't like the idea of the 325, 328, 330, and 335 because it is no longer able to convey the liter size and it went against MOST of the tradition BMW emblem naming. But I am pretty sure they did some research and those number designations will gain them the most sales. Remember, BMW is a very smart company!

[Jaws]

Originally Posted by E90Fleet

Goes back much further than that

E23 745i from the mid 80's had a 3.5L engine from the M1 here, and a 3.2L turbo engine in Europe

E21 316i had a 1.8L

E30 333i had a 3.2L

E36 323i had a 2.5L

E36 316i had a 1.8L

Ect Ect

Thanks for the lesson. I don't believe any of the models you listed were available in NA.

[uhaulball]

Now I can wait to check my oil in the pouring rain just because I can lol.

i dont get that part.

[liquid]

uhaulball

wiht my honda i had to go under the hood to chekc it. i can imagen it would be a pain in the rian. now with the bmw i can do it sititng in the drivers seat and stay dry.

james

[KL2DC]

James first of all any self-respecting e90poster would know the displacement of his new car's engine at the basic minimum

This whole badging business is just signalling the rise in influence the marketing department has over the engineering department. If the engineers were in full control we won't have any confusion over the badging

Actually its not just BMW, Mercedes-benz does this widespread as well e.g. C280 3.0l, C240 2.6l, C230k 1.8l and so on and on. Their new '63' models are 6.2 and the S600 is a 5.5l twin turbo.

[Carnage]

Originally Posted by E90Fleet

Only in north america


Though it seems the Euro Direct injection 325i will also be a 3.0

Correct as usual.
Sometimes my area of thought is confined to the area between the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean's.