What is the Origin/Meaning of BMW's E36/E39/E49 etc. etc. 'mk' scheme?

Chris1712 · 25 Apr 2006 at 23:42

Morning all, I'm sure everyone knows of the BMW 'mk' type scheme, but i really wanna know, why is it called that, does the E mean anything, and why does it seem to go up in numbers randomnly.........

A list of em all with pics would be cool too

kthx!

Jez · 25 Apr 2006 at 23:44

I dont know about the meaning of it, but they are all listed at www.bmwinfo.com

Pictures and everything

NickXX · 25 Apr 2006 at 23:47

Each BMW body style is assigned a two digit number preceeded by "E". The "E" stands for "Entwicklung", the German word for development.

NickXX · 25 Apr 2006 at 23:49

E46 Sport (facelift):

NickXX · 25 Apr 2006 at 23:51

...and e46 Sport from the back.

NickXX · 25 Apr 2006 at 23:53

Jez said:
I dont know about the meaning of it, but they are all listed at www.bmwinfo.com

Pictures and everything

Great site - thanks for that

[TW]Fox · 25 Apr 2006 at 23:55

E39 Sport, prefacelift..

E39 Sport, post-facelift..

Trickle · 26 Apr 2006 at 07:58

If those E39 pictures were a spot the difference game in a paper I would be turning the page to see the answer as I can only see 1 difference, the angel eyes on the later car.

Oh, and the lack of the little M badge but I'm presuming its not an M car. Edit: Wheels aswell.

Mad old tory · 26 Apr 2006 at 08:01

Mirrors look slightly different, the grille's different and the bumper looks slightly different too.

paradigm · 26 Apr 2006 at 08:51

The kidney grille is different, the chrome extends out further into the bonnet.

Beepcake · 26 Apr 2006 at 09:46

The 2nd one is either an M5 or a fake one, the only facelift differences that you can see on those pics are the new front lights and the front PDC sensors. The mirrors and the grill are 'M' things.

As well as those the facelift gave different rear lights, changes to the climate control, widescreen (rather than 4:3) display, and extra airbags in some regions.

[TW]Fox · 26 Apr 2006 at 11:13

Beepcake said:
The 2nd one is either an M5 or a fake one, the only facelift differences that you can see on those pics are the new front lights and the front PDC sensors.

The second one is a 530i Sport. Quite why he has gone to the expense of an M5 front bumper when the only difference is the missing crossbar in the grille is beyond me but then some people have more money than sense

Sanchez · 26 Apr 2006 at 13:16

Jez said:
I dont know about the meaning of it, but they are all listed at www.bmwinfo.com

Pictures and everything

The BMW Turbo prototype car is cool :cool:

Trickle · 26 Apr 2006 at 13:26

Mad old tory said:
Mirrors look slightly different, the grille's different and the bumper looks slightly different too.

Ah yes, now you mention it I can see the mirrors and grille, but I swear the bumper is identical - though Fox is saying its replaced?

But seriously those changes are so tiny, I'm suprised Fox is agonising over buying facelift vs buying old and changing bits. Really, I doubt anyone bar a BMW buff can see the difference.

Barry Smalley · 26 Apr 2006 at 13:39

Love it.

PeterNem · 26 Apr 2006 at 14:30

Having to specify whether or not a car is a facelift version or not isn't very efficient, how un-German!!

You'd think they'd have the E39 and the E40 (if it isnt already taken) as the facelift version or something!

Beepcake · 26 Apr 2006 at 17:37

[TW]Fox said:
The second one is a 530i Sport. Quite why he has gone to the expense of an M5 front bumper when the only difference is the missing crossbar in the grille is beyond me but then some people have more money than sense

And the M mirrors

[TW]Fox · 26 Apr 2006 at 18:35

Trickle said:
Ah yes, now you mention it I can see the mirrors and grille, but I swear the bumper is identical - though Fox is saying its replaced?

The front bumper on the Sport models did not change with the facelift - the pre-facelift car has the correct bumper. The bottom car, I've just noticed, has an M5 bumper on it - virtually identical but you'll see the lower grille on the bumper has no bar across it whereas it does on the Sport version.

But seriously those changes are so tiny, I'm suprised Fox is agonising over buying facelift vs buying old and changing bits. Really, I doubt anyone bar a BMW buff can see the difference.

The facelift did not bring cosmetic changes only - with the 6 cylinder models, it bought revised engines and more power - the 192bhp 528i Sport became the 231bhp 530i Sport.

Trickle · 26 Apr 2006 at 20:31

Ah, so more than just a facelift. Clears things up.