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May 28, 2023

All the BMW E and F codenames explained

Published: 12 January 2018 ► BMW codenames explained ► From E to F through G ► Join the BMW geek club! Several years ago, we published a list of BMW codenames for the anoraks out there. And with our

Published: 12 January 2018

► BMW codenames explained► From E to F through G► Join the BMW geek club!

Several years ago, we published a list of BMW codenames for the anoraks out there. And with our recent scoop of the new G14 8-series family and the exposé of the new 2020 BMW M3, what better excuse to update Munich’s future model plans? We’ve researched all the different BMW E and F codenames we know about and explained them all in our handy list below. Perfect in case your specialist subject on Mastermind includes BMW codenames and you need to sort your E30 from your E90s.

Historically, each BMW has carried an E project number – standing for Entwicklung, or development. The numbers have then risen progressively up to triple digits, at which point F numbers took over – and now BMW is using G monikers for its future product.

So browse the BMW codename list below and scratch up on your knowledge. And ponder what could have been; there are numeric gaps which we can only imagine were stillborn projects or new cars that never saw the light of day…

BMW G01 X3, 2017-BMW G02 2nd-gen X4, 2018-BMW G11 6th-gen 7-series 2015-BMW G12 6th-gen 7-series LWB 2015-BMW G14 New 8-series Cabriolet 2019-BMW G15 New 8-series Coupe 2018-BMW G20 New 3-series saloon 2018-BMW G21 New 3-series Touring 2019- BMW G22 New 4-series Coupe 2020-BMW G23 New 4-series Convertible 2020-BMW G30 7th-gen 5-series 2017-BMW G31 7th-gen 5-series Touring 2017-

BMW G38 7th-gen 5-series LWB for China 2017-BMW G80 6th-gen M3 2020-BMW G82 New M4 Coupe 2021-BMW G83 New M4 Convertible 2021-

BMW F01 (above) 5th-gen 7-series, 2008-BMW F02 5th-gen 7-series LWB, 2008-BMW F03 5th-gen 7-series armoured, 2008-BMW F06 1st-gen 6-series Gran CoupeBMW F10 6th-gen 5-series saloon, 2010-BMW F11 6th-gen 5-series Touring, 2010-BMW F12 3rd-gen 6-series convertible, 2011-BMW F13 3rd-gen 6-series coupe, 2011-BMW F15 3rd-gen X5 replacement, 2014-BMW F16 2nd-gen X6 replacement, 2014-BMW F20 2nd-gen 1-series five-door, 2011-BMW F21 2nd-gen 1-series three-door, 2011BMW F22 2nd-gen 1-series coupe (badged 2-series), 2013-BMW F23 2nd-gen 1-series cabriolet (badged 2-series), 2014-BMW F25 2nd-gen X3, 2011-BMW F26 1st-gen X4, 2014-BMW F30 6th-gen 3-series saloon, 2011-BMW F31 6th-gen 3-series Touring, 2012-BMW F32 3-series coupe replacement (badged 4-series), 2013-BMW F33 3-series convertible replacement (badged 4-series), 2014-BMW F34 3-series Gran Turismo, 2013-BMW F35 4-series four-door coupe, 2015-BMW F36 4-series Gran CoupeBMW F44 1-series Gran Turismo, 2014-BMW F45 2-series Active Tourer, 2014-BMW F46 2-series Gran Tourer, 2015-BMW F47 X2, 2018-BMW F48 2nd-gen X1, 2015-BMW F52 1-series SedanBMW F82 M4 GTS BMW F87 M2 Coupe BMW F90 M5 saloon 2017-

BMW E3 (above) 2500/2800 saloons, 1968-1977BMW E9 2000-2800 coupés, 1968-1974BMW E12 1st-gen 5-series, 1975-1981BMW E21 1st-gen 3-series, 1976-1983BMW E23 1st-gen 7-series, 1978-1987BMW E24 1st-gen 6-series, 1977-1989BMW E25 Turbo concept car, 1972BMW E26 M1 supercar, 1978-1981BMW E28 2nd-gen 5-series, 1982-1988BMW E30 2nd-gen 3-series, 1984-1992BMW E31 8-series, 1989-1999BMW E32 2nd-gen 7-series, 1986-1994BMW E32/2 2nd-gen 7-series LWB, 1987-1994BMW E34 3rd-gen 5-series, 1989-1995BMW E36 3rd-gen 3-series, 1992-1999BMW E36/5 3-series Compact, 1994-2000BMW E36/7 Z3, M Roadster, M Coupé, 1995-2002BMW E38 3rd-gen 7-series, 1994-2001BMW E38/2 3rd-gen 7-series LWB, 1994-2001BMW E38/3 3rd-gen 7-series armoured, 1998-2001BMW E39 4th-gen 5-series, 1996-2004BMW E46 4th-gen 3-series, 1999-2005BMW E46/5 2nd-gen 3-series Compact, 2001-2004BMW E52 Z8, 2000-2003BMW E53 1st-gen X5, 2000-2006BMW E60 5th-gen 5-series, 2004-2010BMW E61 5th-gen 5-series Touring, 2004-2010BMW E63 2nd-gen 6-series Coupe, 2003-2011BMW E64 2nd-gen 6-series Cabriolet, 2003-2011BMW E65 4th-gen 7-series, 2001-2008BMW E66 4th-gen 7-series LWB, 2002-2008BMW E67 4th-gen 7-series armoured, 2001-2008BMW E68 4th-gen 7-series hydrogenBMW E70 2nd-gen X5, 2007-2013BMW E71 1st-gen X6 2008-2014BMW E81 1st-gen 1-series 3dr, 2004-2011 BMW E82 1st-gen 1-series 5dr, 2004-2011BMW E83 1st-gen X3, 2003-BMW E84 1st-gen X1, 2009-2016BMW E85 1st-gen Z4, 2003-2009BMW E87 1st-gen 1-series Coupe, 2004-2011BMW E88 1st-gen 1-series Convertible, 2004-2011BMW E89 2nd-gen Z4, 2009-2016BMW E90 5th-gen 3-series saloon, 2005-2011BMW E91 5th-gen 3-series Touring, 2005-2011BMW E92 (below) 5th-gen 3-series coupé, 2005-2011BMW E93 5th-gen 3-series convertible, 2005-2011

With thanks to Tony Lewin’s excellent book The Complete Book of BMW for research purposes.

Read all the BMW reviews by CAR magazine here

By Georg Kacher

European editor, secrets uncoverer, futurist, first man behind any wheel