BMW body and engine codes are often referred to in ec articles, letters, replies, and even advertisements. They are a kind of shorthand for BMW enthusiasts. For the newbies among our readers, we've made this handy chart. It is not comprehensive - there are many older and obscure ("slash" codes) body and engine codes we chose not to run or to consolidate into main codes for space reasons. Some model years and models shown encompass world production, not just U.S. versions.
| E3 | 1968-1977 | 2500/2800/Bavaria/3.0Si sedans |
| E6 | 1971-1974 | 2002 touring |
| E9 | 1968-1975 | 2800CS/3.0CS/3.0Csi/3.0CSL |
| E10 | 1968-1976 | 2002/2002ti/2002tii |
| E12 | 1972-1981 | 520i/525i/528i/530i/M535i |
| E20 | 1974 | 2002 Turbo |
| E21 | 1975-1983 | 315/316/318/318i/320-6/320i/323i |
| E23 | 1977-1986 | 728i, 730i, 733i, 735i, 745i |
| E24 | 1977-1989 | 628CS, 630CS, 630Csi, 635Csi, M635Csi, L6, M6 |
| E26/1 | 1979-1980 | M1 |
| E28 | 1981-1987 | 525i, 528e, 535i, 535iS, M5 |
| E30 | 1982-1992 | 318, 318i, 318iS, 320, 320i, 323i, 325e, 325, 325i, 325iS, 325iX, M3 including cabriolet and touring |
| E31 | 1990-1999 | 840Ci, 850i, 850Ci, 850Csi |
| E32 | 1986-1994 | 735i, 740i, 740iL, 750iL |
| E34 | 1988-1995 | 525i, 530i, 535i, M5 including touring |
| E36 | 1991-1998 | 316i, 318i, 318ti, 325i, 325iS, 328i, 328iS, M3, Z3, Z3 coupe, M roadster, M coupe |
| E38 | 1994-2001 | 740i, 740iL, 750iL |
| E39 | 1995-2003 | 528i, 530i, 540i, M5 including touring |
| E46 | 1999- | 325i, 325Ci, 328i, 328Ci, 330i, 330Ci, M3 including touring |
| E52 | 2001- | Z8 |
| E53 | 2000- | X5 |
| E60 | 2004- | 530i, 545i, |
| E65 | 2002-on | 7 Series |