BMW Chassis Codes Explained

BMW chassis codes—what do they mean? You probably have seen it on our site in application guides or diagram sites such as RealOEM or Bimmercat.

The BMW chassis code, sometimes known as BMW manufacturer code or BMW model code, can tell you a lot about your particular BMW, which is especially important when specific replacement parts are only designed for a specific chassis or body type. There are occasional model years that may cross over with each other. For example, in 1999, there was an E36 3 series and E46 3 series on the market simultaneously. Knowing your particular chassis code is important on these types of splits when choosing replacement parts.

Historically, BMW chassis codes always started with an “E,” which stands for Entwicklung, a German word for development. For some time, these were known as "BMW E Codes." Over time, BMW phased out “E codes” for codes that start with “F,” and now they have moved to "G". 

If you don’t know your chassis code, you can easily determine it with the last seven digits of the VIN on RealOEM. This will give you basic information, including chassis code, engine, production date, and production code. For further vehicle information, we recommend using bimmercat, which will give you further information, including installed factory equipment and helpful parts diagrams. This is a particularly useful resource when it comes to selecting parts that fit vehicles with specific option codes.

Below are BMW chassis code charts that cover all of the models sold in the United States from 1965 straight through to today. 

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