the only thing i need to figure out now are the differences between like, the 318i, 325i , 320i , etc.... and the different letters and what they mean too... those are confusing me a bit . thanks

The first number is the body series and the next two are supposed to be the engine size. I say supposed because a 325e is actually a 2.7L (maybe even a 2.8), not a 2.5L. BUT a 325i is a 2.5L. For the most part the numbers are close and they may have been rounded up or down for marketing (sounded better?). The 3 series is the smallest model, 5 series is the next biggest, and the 7 is the biggest or "flagship". Soon there will be a 6 series, basically a two door 5, then a 1 series late this year or sometime next year.The new X3 is built on the 3 series paltform and the X5 is built on the 5 series. The Z4 is also built on the 3 series platform just like the older Z3 was built on the earlier 3 (E36) series platform, but it had the same rear control arms found on the '84-'93 3 (E30)series, The "e" in a 325e was for the Greek letter eta which means (if I remember right) is for efficiency, that was a torquey low revving motor made for us Americans. The "i" is for injected, which all of the cars were after '76. A "csi" which was found on the older 6 series ('77-'89) was for Coupe Sport Injected. "M" is for Motorsport, or "Mucho" fast! Just for the record there never was a M 325 or M 535 and so on, those are posers putting on a M badge, all the M's were M3, M5, M6 and M1. We just had a 6 cylinder X5 in that put on 4.6is (340hp V8) badges and 4.6 wheels, nice. We also heard he did the same thing to a 530i with M5 badges and wheels.

i love days like this when i can say 'unn-uhh you're wrooonnng!'

yo ls, there WAS an M535i. it was a european high compression motorsport singlecam e28 with suspension. not as fast as the real M5, but it was better than a 535is. Additionally, there was an earlier M535i, which was an '80/'81 e12 chassis model with unheard of (prior to then) motorsport 3.5 liter sohc engine w/ l-jet injection.

;-) both were euro models. many have come to the us as grey market cars though.

jason

oh one other thing, any time you hear 'euro model' or 'alpina engine' or any other stuff like that without associated documentation or proof, it's bullshit. there are cars on ebay all the time saying '635csi ALPINA MODEL!!!' all because some goon threw an alpina badge on the back.

jason

Ok, you got me on a technicality, I was only talking about USA cars. And so true about the Alpina thing, just because you have a set of Alpina wheels doesn't make it a real Alpina.
Hey, what happened to Abbott, the thread starter, it seems that we took over his topic!

bandit.