[Gladius Nova]

Not trying to rustle any feathers or start any unnecessary drama/flaming, this is just pure curiosity. This is mostly for Americans. But what is the justification/reasoning behind referring any of the BMW models to G/F/E (insert number)etc. rather than M/3-Series/4-Series (insert number)etc.? I'm no expert, but it seems one reference is more "European" and the other is more "Western" or most die-hards or true aficionados just default to the European branding. Like I said, just curious.

[r0wr]

G/F/E specifies the generation. If you said you bought an M3, how would one know which generation you purchased?

[Needsdecaf]

Originally Posted by r0wr

G/F/E specifies the generation. If you said you bought an M3, how would one know which generation you purchased?

Right. Its like saying "I own a 911". Even if you said "I own a '91 911" someone who is into cars would know better if you said "I have a 964"

I believe this practice started with 911, and now has spread to BMW’s. Used to be cars didn’t last so if you said, I had an M3, it was probably the current gen or maybe the last gen. Now that cars last and are kept, you need to be more specific.

I mean people talk about E46 M3’s like you’ve been able to get them recently….but they have been gone for basically TWENTY years.

[Pool Shark]

Thanks for the rationale r0wr and Needsdecaf .

I'm new to the BMW brand and am trying to educate myself on all of the lingo. . I'm used to simply referring to the year, make, model (and trim).

[r0wr]

Originally Posted by Pool Shark

Thanks for the rationale r0wr and Needsdecaf .

I'm new to the BMW brand and am trying to educate myself on all of the lingo. . I'm used to simply referring to the year, make, model (and trim).

All good! My specifying the generation, you’ll be able to figure out the years range, generally speaking.

[Needsdecaf]

Originally Posted by Pool Shark

Thanks for the rationale r0wr and Needsdecaf .

I'm new to the BMW brand and am trying to educate myself on all of the lingo. . I'm used to simply referring to the year, make, model (and trim).

No worries! It signifies your super car nerd status. Took me forever to crack the 911 code.

[Gladius Nova]

Originally Posted by r0wr

G/F/E specifies the generation. If you said you bought an M3, how would one know which generation you purchased?

I would think 75% of the average American car consumer would at least know that an M3 is a BMW and then you would say the year if asked rather than G/F/E (insert number).

[Needsdecaf]

Originally Posted by Gladius Nova

I would think 75% of the average American car consumer would at least know that an M3 is a BMW and then you would say the year if asked rather than G/F/E (insert number).

Look, you asked for an explanation, now you're arguing it. Are you from one of those states that calls every soda a Coke?

This way of speaking is clearly not for the 75% of the average American. This is for car people.

[BryanCO]

Originally Posted by Needsdecaf

Right. Its like saying "I own a 911". Even if you said "I own a '91 911" someone who is into cars would know better if you said "I have a 964"

I believe this practice started with 911, and now has spread to BMW’s. Used to be cars didn’t last so if you said, I had an M3, it was probably the current gen or maybe the last gen. Now that cars last and are kept, you need to be more specific.

I mean people talk about E46 M3’s like you’ve been able to get them recently….but they have been gone for basically TWENTY years.

Humm. I was saying (because I joined the BMW CCA, reading the car mags, etc.) e21 and e30 when I was in HS in the early 80’s. BMW has a long history of this but so does the 911 and Corvette. Maybe the Skyline also?

Originally Posted by Needsdecaf

Look, you asked for an explanation, now you're arguing it. Are you from one of those states that calls every soda a Coke?

This way of speaking is clearly not for the 75% of the average American. This is for car people.

[Needsdecaf]

Originally Posted by BryanCO

Humm. I was saying (because I joined the BMW CCA, reading the car mags, etc.) e21 and e30 when I was in HS in the early 80’s. BMW has a long history of this but so does the 911 and Corvette. Maybe the Skyline also?

Yeah. I don't think it caught on as widely except in the last decade or so. But it definitely was around, as you say, in the mags.

[BryanCO]

Originally Posted by Needsdecaf

Yeah. I don't think it caught on as widely except in the last decade or so. But it definitely was around, as you say, in the mags.

So how about Bimmer or Beamer….

[r0wr]

Originally Posted by Gladius Nova

I would think 75% of the average American car consumer would at least know that an M3 is a BMW and then you would say the year if asked rather than G/F/E (insert number).

You’re on a message board about BMW. The average American doesn’t visit this website.

You asked why people do it here? You got my opinion on the answer.

[Higgs Boson]

Originally Posted by BryanCO

So how about Bimmer or Beamer….

bimmer is a car, beamer is a motorcycle, streamer is a youtuber, creamer goes in girl's coffee, i could do this all day

[golf4kal]

Originally Posted by Higgs Boson

bimmer is a car, beamer is a motorcycle, streamer is a youtuber, creamer goes in girl's coffee, i could do this all day

Steamer is a…food or act? Not sorry, I’m 10 at heart

[Forzanerazzurri]

Nobody does that outside of the enthusiast community and it's done because it's easy to know exactly what generation and model you're talking out in a single code (same reason they even exist for BMW). I'm not really sure what else you're asking for here.

[RACE M3]

Pro tip… when googling g80 parts for your m3. Google g82.

Hyundai screwed us.

[akkando]

Corvette has c6, c7, c8 generation etc. I don't know offhand when the c6 gen Corvette started or ended exactly, but if someone tells me they have a c6 gen Corvette I know which one it is.

So obviously this isn't just a BMW thing.

To your average person asking about your car though you wouldn't give them the model code, you would say "It's an older Corvette, it's a 2009." However this forum isn't read by average people off the street.

[mirob]

Originally Posted by Needsdecaf

Look, you asked for an explanation, now you're arguing it.

This way of speaking is clearly not for the 75% of the average American. This is for car people.

Originally Posted by r0wr

You’re on a message board about BMW. The average American doesn’t visit this website.

You asked why people do it here? You got my opinion on the answer.

I don't know what's more ironic - that he asked a question and is arguing the answer or that his avatar says G20...

[BryanCO]

Originally Posted by mirob

I don't know what's more ironic - that he asked a question and is arguing the answer or that his avatar says G20...

[geko29]

Originally Posted by RACE M3

Pro tip… when googling g80 parts for your m3. Google g82.

Hyundai screwed us.

"BMW G80" or "G80 M3" works fine in searches. Yes most parts will be the same between coupe and sedan, but not all.

[mirob]

Originally Posted by BryanCO

Touché sir.

[GhostOne_322]

Originally Posted by Gladius Nova

I would think 75% of the average American car consumer would at least know that an M3 is a BMW and then you would say the year if asked rather than G/F/E (insert number).

You talk to average American car consumers? LOL!