[G-AZ-M4]

I’ve driven Audi for years and this is my 1st BMW (other than a domestic 5 series I drove in Italy decades ago). In the Audi world, I’d say, “It’s an A7.” After driving them for 12 years, I don’t know even one code for them, other than is badged on the car.

Most times when someone here refers to their ride by its E or F model code, I have to go look it up. Why refer to my M4 as an F82? As I put in the title, it’s a N00B question for sure....What am I missing?

[RickFLM4]

Audi does the same thing. B8, B8.5, C7, etc. Were you on Audizine?

[uniqueMR]

All those ‘E’, ‘F’ and ‘G’ codenames are used to identify certain BMW models.

[SD ///M4]

Just to take one model, the M3, there have been 5 generations, each with its own particular and unique characteristics. The chassis codes have been the E30, E36, E46, E90/E92/93, and the F80/F82/F83. Starting with the E9x chassis, the "0" indicates a sedan, the "2" indicates a coupe, and the "3" indicates a cabriolet (or convertible). Starting with the F8x platform, sedans are M3s (F80) and coupes (F82) and cabriolets (F83) are M4s. An F87 is an M2 Coupe.

Telling someone that you have an M3 doesn't really tell them which specific one that you have. Telling them that you have an E92 M3 tells them that you have the last generation M3 Coupe with the naturally aspirated V8. Telling them that you have an F80 tells them that you have the current generation M3 sedan with the twin-turbo I6.

This type of nomenclature carries across all BMW Series, including the 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 Series.

It's really just shorthand to specify which model you have.

[2000cs]

BMW has had an M3 for about 30 years; they can be differentiated by year or series - the series is chassis-specific and runs several years. So F80 is 2015-present, for example.

Plus, you are one of the cognoscenti if you use the codes; kind of a verbal secret handshake or nerd greeting.

[GrussGott]

Originally Posted by G-AZ-M4

Most times when someone here refers to their ride by its E or F model code, I have to go look it up. Why refer to my M4 as an F82? As I put in the title, it’s a N00B question for sure....What am I missing?

It has nothing to do with cars, it's a business thing, which is what you're missing.

Corporate projects are always given an internal designation to track P&L, i.e., easily and clearly identify the scope, staff, spend and income. They do that because who the fuck knows what marketing or legal is going to do? Names change from the M3 to the M4 to the M235iXW360B2.

But all of the internal management systems never change: F80, F82, F83

And what's easy for them is also easy for us; if BMW decides to change the name for marketing, we'll all still be talking about the same thing with the same designation.

[mkoesel]

Originally Posted by G-AZ-M4

In the Audi world, I’d say, “It’s an A7.” After driving them for 12 years, I don’t know even one code for them, other than is badged on the car.

Nevertheless, as mentioned by another poster above, Audi vehicles do have chassis/product codes just as BMW and Mercedes do. In fact, all manufacturers have them, but not all are widely known or used by owners and enthusiasts. With German vehicles, their use seems to be more popular than some other brands or makes, though that could just be my lack of familiarity.

What am I missing?

Knowing which generation you have allows you to find information and discussion about the vehicle much easier. The manufacturers codes provide that and are short and sweet, so it’s easier than using terms like “1st generation”, or even “1st gen”. Plus, the codes often have meaning relative to one another. So an F32 is an F30 in Coupe form, even though it’s really the first generation 4 Series as compared to the 5th generation 3 Series. The familial link actually holds some potential information so using the inter-relatable codes has value.

[khanyam4]

For me personally it's a lot easier to visualize how the car look like when being told the chassis code as oppose to the year and if you want to be specific say pre lci or lci.

[jkoral]

Not to mention MY overlap between body styles. For example, a 1999 3-series could be either the brand new E46 generation if it's a sedan or the last of the E36 if it's a coupe.

[G-AZ-M4]

Thanks for all of your replies and responses. It’s true, when I think of cars, I rarely think of the business side. Only the stuff I’ve been thinking since I was old enough to enjoy being thrown back in the seat by torque or hearing a great exhaust note or being amazed at the prizes under the hood.

It all makes perfect sense (that sounds better in your head if you’re a Roger Waters fan).

Thanks for the mind-shift. Happy Easter...or Passover...of Sunday...or whatever today is for you!

[G-AZ-M4]

Originally Posted by RickFLM4

Audi does the same thing. B8, B8.5, C7, etc. Were you on Audizine?

Nope. I drove Vettes for a few cars and was on the Z06 forums, but I went A6, A6, A7 without feeling the need to chat to others that sat in similar seats. That makes me think that maybe I’m enjoying this M4 a bit too much

[Cyanfall]

The tradition derived from extensive car modding community around bimmer (which audi has less of it).
For example, "rear sway bar for e90" is easier to infer than "rear sway bar for 3 series 2004-2013".
And when someone asked "does this sway bar fit my 3 series 2005?". You might be hard to know did xe infer to e46 or e90,

[BEM-S4]

Originally Posted by RickFLM4

Audi does the same thing. B8, B8.5, C7, etc. Were you on Audizine?

Yeah I always say I had a "B5 S4" never just "S4" and I find most Audi guys do the same. If you say just S4 to me it's pretty meaningless and I need more specifics as we're on what now 20+ years of S4s being sold here under the same name?

[10"]

Just call your car "EFG123" it will irate people at least thru 2025 or beyond!

[The HACK]

Originally Posted by G-AZ-M4

I drove Vettes for a few cars and was on the Z06 forums...

Which Z06? C2? C5? C6? C7

(See what I did there?)

[SunnyD]

So you drove an A7...how is anyone supposed to know what generation you're talking about without referencing the chassis code?