letters "i" and "x" meaning?

[sonicbimmer19]

EDIT:
Ugh, thanks for responses but read the post, guys.
I know "x" in "xDrive" means all-wheel drive and "i" after model numbers means injected fuel.

My question was the "x" in X1, X3, X5, X6.
the "i" in i3 and i8.

NOT 328i or xDrive.
-----------------------------------------


Hey guys,

In case you guys don't know, the "Z" in Z1, Z3, Z4, Z8 means "future" in German language.

That got me thinking, are there German meanings for "i" and "x"?
For the upcoming i3 and i8 electric cars, what does "i" mean?
And what does "x" mean in SAV's? My guess is "x" means "crossover SUV/SAV/SAC"

Happy driving

[chachacha28]

i means it is fuel injected, x means it is all wheel drive. bmw changed the order of ix/xi cars a few years ago, not sure when. But i had an e30 that was a 325ix, but the newer cars are xi. not sure why they changed the order.

[the1andonly]

I thought "i" ment inline for the engine configuration...

328i x is all wheel drive inline 6...

[Simsims]

Originally Posted by the1andonly

I thought "i" ment inline for the engine configuration...

328i x is all wheel drive inline 6...

no, it means that it uses gas.

eg. 335d uses diesel

[tuco44]

That is right, the "i" means injected. Back in 1976, I had my first "i" car, it was a 530i which, at that time, meant 3 litres, injected. Prior to that, "i" was not used, eg 2002, Bavaria which were carbuerated engines.

Yikes I'm old, been driving since 1971 (with some gaps in between).

[KingOfJericho]

Originally Posted by the1andonly

I thought "i" ment inline for the engine configuration...

328i x is all wheel drive inline 6...

Negatory... that would mean the 760i was an inline 12cyl.

i = fuel injection
e = efficiency
d = diesel
x = AWD
c = used to mean coupe - has since been dropped
s = sport
L = long wheelbase

[tuco44]

Originally Posted by KingOfJericho

Negatory... that would mean the 760i was an inline 12cyl.

i = fuel infection
e = efficiency
d = diesel
x = AWD
c = used to mean coupe - has since been dropped
s = sport
L = long wheelbase

Is it catching? Sorry, couldn't resist.

[KingOfJericho]

yikes, that's a bad one. fixed!

[sonicbimmer19]

Ugh, thanks for responses but read the post, guys.
I know "x" in "xDrive" means all-wheel drive and "i" after model numbers means injected fuel.

My question was the "x" in X1, X3, X5, X6.
the "i" in i3 and i8.

NOT 328i or xDrive.

[KellyK]

On my moms e30 325e I read that e standed for a German word which means fuel injected.

[KingOfJericho]

Originally Posted by xoxkellly

On my moms e30 325e I read that e standed for a German word which means fuel injected.

It's actually for the letter "Eta," the seventh letter of the Greek alphabet. Eta is commonly used in engineering to denote efficiency.

[KingOfJericho]

Originally Posted by sonicbimmer19

Ugh, thanks for responses but read the post, guys.
I know "x" in "xDrive" means all-wheel drive and "i" after model numbers means injected fuel.

My question was the "x" in X1, X3, X5, X6.
the "i" in i3 and i8.

NOT 328i or xDrive.

X is for "crossover"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_X_Series

I don't know that "i" actually stands for anything but I think it has to do with high tech devices like the iPod, iPad, etc.

[tuco44]

Originally Posted by KingOfJericho

It's actually for the letter "Eta," the seventh letter of the Greek alphabet. Eta is commonly used in engineering to denote efficiency.

"Eta" is correct, the BMW Eta engine was designed for shifting up earlier than was the case with regular engines. I had a 1982 528e which had (IIRC) all of 2.7 litres and hp rating much lower than the regular BMW engines of the time. I kept it less than a year and went to a 533i which you could drive more normally ie wring out the revs. I don't think the "eta" experiment was a good one for BMW.

[sonicbimmer19]

Originally Posted by KingOfJericho

X is for "crossover"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_X_Series

I don't know that "i" actually stands for anything but I think it has to do with high tech devices like the iPod, iPad, etc.

Thanks! Wiki is not 100% reliable but good enough for me.
I highly doubt the "i" in i3 and i8 has to do with Apple products but good thinking.

Come on, German people on this forum, think of a German word that starts with the "i" that means like electricity or something

[dorkdog]

Originally Posted by sonicbimmer19

Thanks! Wiki is not 100% reliable but good enough for me.
I highly doubt the "i" in i3 and i8 has to do with Apple products but good thinking.

Come on, German people on this forum, think of a German word that starts with the "i" that means like electricity or something

Well, the symbol for electrical current is i, which in this case stands for intensity.