The complete Geek’s guide to the BMW range

When I first became interested in cars, sometime around the mid-90s, the BMW range was easy to understand. Three models, two transmissions and four engines. It allowed you to pick-and-mix these basic ingredients with a long list of extras to suit your needs. You could have a 7 Series with a tiny engine and loads of extras, a 3 Series with a huge engine and no extras. The recipe was simple and it worked.

Nowadays, thanks to the new naming convention (which I’ll explain in a moment), the BMW range has all but the most hardcore bimmer fans confused. As a service to you, the public, I will try now demystify the BMW range so that next time your East Rand friend comes to visit and tells you he’s ordered an M235i, you can nod knowingly.

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