Stupid Question: what does the A on the badge mean?

[phildg2000]

I see sigs that say 535iA or 325iA; just want to know what A stands for.

Thanks,
Philip

[liquidtiger720]

Most of us (well, at least I do) use it to signify that the car is a Automatic.

[mattyb]

agreed

[TheGeak]

well then, do you guys think that C should stand for 'coupe' or 'Convertible' ?

[liquidtiger720]

Actually, 330CI = coupe.

[Gayle]

on auto trader the c gets you convertibles


and no question is stupid. For everyone that is judged as stupid by the asker, there are other people relieved it was asked, because they wanted to know too.

[TheGeak]

But what about the old E30's that were like a 325iC?

[RobPatt]

...think the late models go w/ 'CIC for coupe, injected, convertible... the "i" is kind of a given now a days but....

[liquidtiger720]

and of course X (like 330ix) is 4 wheel drive


and I think E is carburator?

[TheGeak]

thats what I was always taught...

if its a C BEFORE the i, its a coupe, but if its after its a convertible.

A = automatic
T= Turbo
D= Diesel
M = Manual (if its AFTER the number, ///Motorsport if its before)
i = fuel injected
X= all wheel drive

what else do we have out there?

[632 Regal]

A=Hondamatic

[beamerman5]

i thought the T stood for hatchback.

[liquidtiger720]

T = touring

[tim s]

and of course X (like 330ix) is 4 wheel drive


and I think E is carburator?



tim s.

[pundit]

thats what I was always taught...

if its a C BEFORE the i, its a coupe, but if its after its a convertible.

A = automatic
T= Turbo
D= Diesel
M = Manual (if its AFTER the number, ///Motorsport if its before)
i = fuel injected
X= all wheel drive

what else do we have out there?
iS = Injected Sport (usually a two door coupe if it's a 3 Series or in the case of an E34 iS means it's equipped with the 'M-Tech' sports package)

ie 535iS = M-Tech front and rear bumpers, side skirts, rear spoiler, M-Tech 2 sports steering wheel, 17" alloys, sport seats, M-Tech suspension with lowered springs, slightly stiffer shocks & thicker stabiliser bars.... I almost bought a nice red one last year but it had already sold! :(
BTW - I'm not sure if the E34 535iS was sold in the U.S.
I know they were in Australia and maybe Europe.
Basically a poor man's M5. Even came with an 'M' badge on the grille! :)

[TheGeak]

i'm sorry T = Touring ; t = turbo? ie a 520td?

[SharkmanBMW]

I don't know what the "e" stands for exactly, but I was told it is for "economy" in a way, because it is a lower compression engine.

That's what I was told! Someone will correct me if I'm wrong.

I had a 325e, and it was much slower that a 325i.

[liquidtiger720]

tim s.


yea. I wasnt too sure...

[Kalevera]

E stands for ETA/Super ETA, a tuned-for-efficiency version of the M20 used on some early and mid 80's 3 and 5 cars.

I = fuel injected.

best, whit

EDIT: but, the ETA cars aren't actually that more efficient; our loaner, an E30 325e/4 automatic, gets something like 24.5mpg according to the OBC. Maybe for the times that was good fuel economy out of a bimmer.

[Paul in NZ]

iS = Injected Sport
dead right pundit sorta like this one.....

[PaulJ]

I've read the questions and replies about the "A=automatic" with curiousity for several years. My door plate lists my 1991 535i, build date 09/90, as 535i/A USA. The car has a 5 speed and was purchased new with this transmission. Maybe there's another explaination. Does anyone have a 5 speed with a door plate legend of 535i/M USA?

Paul

[brodee]

E stands for ETA/Super ETA, a tuned-for-efficiency version of the M20 used on some early and mid 80's 3 and 5 cars.

e = ETA, pronounced as "etta", it's the Greek letter standing for efficiency. I have an '89 325is and had an '87 325e also. The 325e with the 5spd will get around 32-35mpg if tuned properly. The 325i/is gets about 25-28. FYI the "e" cars had the m20b27, which is a 2.7l m20 that has less HP but more torque. It also has a 5500rpm redline instead of the 6500 on the "i" cars with the m20b25.

With the 3 series all of them prior to the e46 with a "C" in the name i.e. 325iC stood for Cabriolet (convertible). With the e46 the put the c first, 325ci to signify coupe, and then added another c, 325cic for convertible coupe. The last C was never put on the actual trunk logo on any 3 series that I'm aware of, just as the T is not put on the trunk of a 525iT touring. Am I correct in that the cars with a T actually s part of the logo stood for Turbo?

[DanH]

"535i/A" is short for "535i or 535iA". They used the same plate on all 535 models. Check your VIN number on realoem.com and it should be listed as a 5spd.


I've read the questions and replies about the "A=automatic" with curiousity for several years. My door plate lists my 1991 535i, build date 09/90, as 535i/A USA. The car has a 5 speed and was purchased new with this transmission. Maybe there's another explaination. Does anyone have a 5 speed with a door plate legend of 535i/M USA?

Paul

[Qsilver7]

I've read the questions and replies about the "A=automatic" with curiousity for several years. My door plate lists my 1991 535i, build date 09/90, as 535i/A USA. The car has a 5 speed and was purchased new with this transmission. Maybe there's another explaination. Does anyone have a 5 speed with a door plate legend of 535i/M USA?

Paul
this has been discussed before...and the label with the 535i/A USA is the generic wheel/tire/weight specification label that is on all 535i (manual) and 535iA (automatic) models shipped to the USA. And like Dan posted before me...535i/A USA means that both the manual & automatic USA models share the info posted on that label. The OTHER label on your door jamb (you know, the one that actually has your car's VIN on it and actually says "VEHICLE TYPE")...is more specific and it should say 535i, in the upper left of the label .. this indicates that your car has a manual tranny by the absence of the capital "A" after the 535i. ;)

This should also debunk the theory that the "A" stands for AMERICA.

Example of a 525iA (automatic) and its label on the driver's door jamb:
http://carad.ebayimg.com/i4/04/a/04/63/6d/e1_4.JPG

Example of a 525i (manual tranny) and it's label on the driver's door jamb:
http://carad.ebayimg.com/i11/02/a/04/5c/ac/21_4.JPG

Example of the generic wheel/tire/weight label for all 525i/A USA e34s (on the right):
http://carad.ebayimg.com/i16/02/a/04/63/8d/a6_4.JPG

[Jose]

The A in 535iA stands for ALLMIGHTY, nothing more.

[brodee]

The A in 535iA stands for ALLMIGHTY, nothing more.

ya... ALLMIGHTY GOD, please don't let my slushbox die :D

[Mitch90535im]

But what about the old E30's that were like a 325iC?

Cabrio

[Tiger]

A = Auto-destruct

[uscharalph]

I thought a was for Alleluiah?

[TheDuke]

Isn't TD- Turbo Diesel 524td (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&category=6008&item=4562114425&sspagename=WDVW)