CAR explains BMW E and F names

Scorpion · 11-30-2009, 08:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pmeloche

Internally, BMW has teams of designers to design new platforms. For instance, for the E46 3 Series they would have two teams who would each come up with their own design and each team would be assigned a design code (let's say E45 and E46). Then, whichever design team wins then their code becomes official and the code of the losing design is relegated to oblivion.

It's very much like the procurement of military systems. When the Air Force sent a RFP for a small fighter to complement the F-15 Eagle General Dynamics and Northrop came up with their entry which were given the codes XF-16 and XF-17 respectively. Eventually, GD won and its design became the F-16 and the F-17 never was.

As an aside, when the U.S. Navy wanted a single replacement for the F-14 and A-6 McDonnell-Douglas bought the Northrop XF-17 design, and came up with the F/A-18.

That's pretty crazy, wish they would release the designs that were rejected just so we could get a look at them lol.

derekL · 11-30-2009, 05:28 PM

of course they left out the 1 series....

CPI · 12-01-2009, 03:03 PM

Cool! thanks for sharing!

ragingclue · 12-01-2009, 03:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pmeloche

As an aside, when the U.S. Navy wanted a single replacement for the F-14 and A-6 McDonnell-Douglas bought the Northrop XF-17 design, and came up with the F/A-18.

...which then became known as the Lawn Dart.

rogermood · 12-03-2009, 06:14 AM

Hi 320what,
Thanks for the posting, It is really helpful to me.
My heartiest thanks for sharing.

elfhearse · 12-04-2009, 03:18 PM

e36/8 was the Z3 Coupe

(UH60 was aka "Lawn Dart" back in the late 70's-early 80's)

southlight · 12-04-2009, 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scott@bmwhn

they also forgot the the 550i GT
F05 i think

F07

Also missing is the 2nd generation of the 1, the F20.

Best regards,
south

pmeloche · 12-04-2009, 09:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scorpion

That's pretty crazy, wish they would release the designs that were rejected just so we could get a look at them lol.

It would be interesting indeed. For the competition for the close-air support aircraft in the '70s Northrop proposed its A-9 and Fairchild proposed the A-10. Fairchild won and the A-9 disappeared into oblivion. Strangely enough, the Soviet Union came up with the very successful Su-25 Frogfoot that is almost an exact copy of the A-9! How could that be?

me90kreuz · 12-05-2009, 04:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Castel

Letter F makes me think of Lexus, IS-F.

how about think of F430?

pmeloche · 12-06-2009, 12:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ragingclue

...which then became known as the Lawn Dart.

I did not know that.

11-30-2009, 05:28 PM	#24
derekL Captain 60 Rep 694 Posts Drives: BMDUBS Join Date: May 2009 Location: CA iTrader: (1) Garage List 2019 BMW X3 [0.00] 2009 128i [6.96]	of course they left out the 1 series.... __________________ \|Shadowline Grills\|Hotchkis Front Sway Bar\|DIY CF Black Fabric Trim\|Carbon Fiber Trunk Spoiler\|Black O.Z Ultraleggeras\|BMW Performance Exhaust\|M-Sport Bumpers w/ Fogs\|Shadowline Diffuser\|CSR Eyelids\|BMW Performance Shifter/Boot and Handbrake\|AFE stage 2 intake\|Koni FSD + Eibach Pro-kit\|///M mirrors\|Blackline LCI\|
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12-01-2009, 03:03 PM	#25
CPI 403_e39 140 Rep 1,809 Posts Drives: 2003 ///M5 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Calgary, AB iTrader: (7) Garage List 2008 E92 335 [0.00]	Cool! thanks for sharing! __________________ \|\|KWVI Coilovers\|\|Matte Black Grille\|\|28% Tint\|\|Iforged Daytona\|\|19X8 19X10\|\|H&S Exhaust\|\|Exotics Tuning Lip\|\|Slimmbones Rear Diffuser II\|\|AngelIBright V3 Angel Eyes\|\| Fog light covers\|\|UUC RK6 Shift Knob\|\|
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12-03-2009, 06:14 AM	#27
rogermood Registered 0 Rep 2 Posts Drives: ford Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: US iTrader: (0)	Hi 320what, Thanks for the posting, It is really helpful to me. My heartiest thanks for sharing. __________________ dsi r4
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12-04-2009, 03:18 PM	#28
elfhearse CW5 10 Rep 164 Posts Drives: 14 x28iS/10 e91M/00 Z3MC Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: SE PA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2014 BMW x28i [0.00] 2010 328iT [0.00]	e36/8 was the Z3 Coupe (UH60 was aka "Lawn Dart" back in the late 70's-early 80's) __________________ CURRENT: 10 328iT ZMP-6spd, 00 Z3 MCoupe, 76 2002 stg.2 5 speed PAST: 96 318ti Cali, 03 325Ci, 00 Z3 M Roadster, 99 Z3 2.8 Coupe, 14 X128i M-Sport14 Z4 28i Sport 6-spd
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