How does BMW choose chassis codes?

[Mach550]

What process does BMW follow when assigning a new chassis code to a car? I'm not a long-term BMW owner and I'm seeing that the regular 5 and the M5 shared E60/F10 and then split to G30/F90 for the current generation and G60/G90 for next. How do they decide on E60>F10>F90>G90?

[E91WAG3N]

Carefully in a dark conference room.

[AmuroRay]

Cocaine

[Holset]

Wondering about this too.

[Jelly_Belly]

Bold of you to assume its all planned.

When looking at the 3 series, the E90 and E92 are codes or both used for the 3 series but differentiate the 2 door from 4 door variant. So im assuming the Letter is attached to a specific chassis type and the number can specify the unique characteristics of this chassis variant.

Now as for why certain M models use a completely different chassis code, it could be because the M division builds these chassis from the ground up to suit their use.


Please note I have no sources for this because i am purely speculating. For all we know they could use a raffle system and pull out the new chassis code like its lottery night.

[Mach550]

Ok, so its just whatever they decide on, thought there was a meaning behind E, F, G, or whatever for some reason.

[freakystyly]

Not German enough to understand. It's much more logical than Mk1, Mk2, Mk3 because you literally have your whole lineup in 3 number/letters.

I used to think they shared the same architecture (E, F, G, etc.) but the FWD cars don't seem to use a different code.

[E91WAG3N]

E is short for Entwicklung. Then they moved to F and G when they ran out of numbers.

[akaaceman]

Originally Posted by AmuroRay

Cocaine

Usually