BMW 3, 4 Series To Get New Designations With New Engines

by Cameron Aubernon

Published: July 11th, 2014

bmw 3 4 series to get new designations with new engines

A handful of BMW 3 and 4 series models will receive new designations to go with their new engines when they arrive in U.S. showrooms beginning in 2016.

An ongoing forum post on Bimmerpost reports the following for the F3x models:

4-cylinder B58 will have the 330i/430i designation, instead of 328i/428i
6-cylinder B58 will use the 340i/440i designation, instead of 335i/435i
F30 PHEV will be dubbed the 330e, instead of 328e

The list continues to update, and has info only on U.S.-bound models.

#3Series #4Series #BMW #ModelDesignations #MY2016 #UnitedStatesMarket

Cameron Aubernon

Seattle-based writer, blogger, and photographer for many a publication. Born in Louisville. Raised in Kansas. Where I lay my head is home.

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7 of 78 comments

Mr. K on Jul 11, 2014

I have a 2001 E46. Perhaps the last of the honestly named bimmers. In the end, when a decently equipped 4 series 'grand coupe' with x drive and the big six is almost sixty and a 335 x drive is well north of 50 the market may well correct. I have high hopes for Caddy doing more development on the CTS, but will not be surprised if it never fulfills it's promise. OTOH Ford and Lexus - a nice Fusion with a Lincoln badge for 46 - some R&D and it should be nice. An IS 350 with F sport and Toyota fuel injection with both port and direct fuel injection eliminating the carbon build up that BMW direct injection can not avoid for 50. And the Lexus wouldn't break either.

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GiddyHitch on Jul 11, 2014

Dropping the 328/428 designation for 330/430? Someone in marketing obviously doesn't understand how superstitious the Chinese are about the last number on things (car models, phone numbers, apartment floors, etc). 8 = wealth, 4 = death, so at least they didn't go to 334/434 and Porsche definitely can't revive the 944.

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- See 2 previous
- Cpthaddock on Jul 11, 2014
  
  They probably expect to educate the chinese in the error of their thinking, just as they continue to educate their US customers about the error of desiring functional cup holders.
  
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- Onyxtape on Jul 11, 2014
  
  Given how much of their income comes from China these days, I was taken aback at the intro of their 4-series. This is like the Chevy "Nova" thing, but potentially x1000.
  
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- Chris FOM on Jul 11, 2014
  
  I know, right? You'd think they'd have learned from Ausi after the A4 completely tanked in China and didn't sell for...oh, wait. The A4 is a huge success in China. Well never mind then. Oh, and the whole Nova-Spanish thing? False as well. http://www.snopes.com/business/misxlate/nova.asp
  
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Wmba on Jul 11, 2014

Well, it's good to see BMW cleared all that up. Now they have to work on the 2 series, carefully integrating the model numbers so that there's no confusion between RWD and the new FWD models, which are actually 3 cylinder MINIs in BMW disguise. I can hardly wait.

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Mike978 on Jul 11, 2014

This does make sense. The 328 was more powerful than the previous 325, and now the new 4 cylinder will be more powerful than the 328 so 330 is logical. The numbers give you an indication of relative power : 325

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