BMW Car Names Explained

The way BMW structure their car names is very similar to how Mercedes-Benz does it. You can see why by reading this article and comparing it to what I wrote on Merc’s naming system. Click here.

For BMW, expect to see three numbers. A random example is the ‘118’. The ‘1’ is placed at the beginning to tell you it’s part of the ‘1 Series’.

This is where we start to see resemblances to Mercedes’ system. The ’18’ used to be used to show that it was a 1.8 litre engine. But now, with changes in technology and the introduction of turbochargers, the engine sizes have changed.

Unfortunately I’ve picked an odd example. Most frequently the number is bigger than the engine size. But in the instance, the engine size (2.0 litre) is bigger than its number (’18’). Sorry.

So the 118 today is a 2.0 litre 1 Series. Although having a 2.0 litre engine, it produces the same amount of power as a standard 1.8 litre engine.

At the end, like Mercedes’ new system, is a small letter. BMW has used this for years and years. So our example, the ‘118’, will have either an ‘i’ or a ‘d’ after it, signifying petrol or diesel power respectively. A ‘118d’ therefore, would be a diesel. The capital letter ‘L’ stands for LWB (long wheelbase) and is only presents on LWB ‘7 Series’.

Easy.

Now we move on to the different models. Ones starting with Z, X and M. ‘Z’ is the 2-door roadster series, the most popular have been the ‘Z3’ and the ‘Z4’ with only the latter still in production. ‘X’ is the SUV (or SAV – Sports Activity Vehicle) range, we have the ‘X1’, ‘X3’, ‘X4’, ‘X5’ and ‘X6’. And finally, ‘M’ is BMW’s sports division. So the ‘M3’, ‘M4’, ‘M5’, ‘M6’, ‘X5M’ and ‘X6M’ are the top-of-the-range powerful versions of their standard siblings.

We’ve covered the numbers, Z, X and M. Now the hybrids. On the back of one of these, you’re going to see ‘ActiveHybrid 3’, ‘ActiveHybrid 5’ or ‘ActiveHybrid 7’. So no numbers to signify the engine size, and no little letter to state its fuel type (the clue’s in the name, really).

Last but not least, the ‘i3’ and the ‘i8’. You just get the model name on the back, just like the hybrids.

Ok, so we’ve covered how to tell the model, fuel type and engine size. But what if you’ve got a car that isn’t a hybrid or a BMW i car, but doesn’t say its engine details. Namely, the X and Z cars. In this case, you’re probably going to see ‘sDrive’ for 2WD models and ‘xDrive’ for 4WD/AWD models followed by the familiar power output engine equivalent number and fuel type. So the ‘X1’ with a 2.0 litre low output diesel engine with 2WD would have ‘sDrive18d’ written elsewhere on the car (side panels rather than back). More often than not, there’ll be a little logo on the back if it’s an ‘xDrive’.

So that’s that covered. Now for BMW’s slightly confusing range.

The ‘1 Series’ is offered solely as a hatchback in 3-door and 5-door guises.

The ‘2 Series’ offers a coupé and convertible version of that. One exception that goes against the grain is the ‘2 Series Active Tourer’, a small 5-seat MPV soon to be offered as a 7-seater. We’ll ignore that.

In the ‘3 Series’ lineup there’s the saloon, the ‘Touring’ estate, and the ‘Gran Turismo’. More to come about this later.

The ‘4 Series’ is a coupé or convertible version of this, but with an additional offer of the ‘Gran Coupé’ (more to come).

The ‘5 Series’ is the 3’s bigger brother. So, you guessed, offered in a bigger saloon or ‘Touring’ estate variant, or a Gran Turismo.

The ‘6 Series’ then, is the coupé or convertible version of its little sibling, the 5. Again, offered in a ‘Gran Coupé’ version.

Then we’ve got the ‘7 Series’ – the 5’s big brother. This is the premium luxury car often used for chauffeuring wealthy people around.

Moving on to the ‘X’. Take a deep breath.

The ‘X1’ is just an odd-looking rugged estate, but it’s related to the ‘1 Series’ nonetheless. The ‘X3’ is the small SUV/SAV and the ‘X5’ is its bigger brother. They both have coupé versions of them, but in an SUV form. The ‘X4’ and ‘X6’ respectively.

Are you keeping up?

It gets easier now, I promise.

The ‘Z4’, well, that’s just a roadster. Simple.

We’ve discussed the ‘M’ cars, you can guess which are saloons, coupés and convertibles.

The ‘ActiveHybrid’ range resemble the saloons on which they’re based.

And the ‘i3’ and ‘i8’, well, they’re just unique!

Coming back to the ‘Gran Turismo’ and ‘Gran Coupé’ now, before a recap. The GT is the saloon on stilts, looking ever so slightly like an SUV and with raised rise height for good road visibility. So the ‘3 Series Gran Turismo’ sits between the ‘3 Series Saloon’ and the ‘X3’. The GC is the coupé which has 4 doors, but retains its sleek shape.

5 Series Gran Turismo

6 Series Gran Coupé

Recap

We’ve learned then, that even numbers are the coupé and convertible versions of the odd number which sits below them, ‘X’ are SUV/SAVs, ‘Z’ is the roadster, ‘M’ are performance cars and the ‘i3’ and ‘i8’ are unique.

I took the long way to explain this to you, but hopefully it was thorough enough so that you have a great understanding of the BMW range.