Generation guides

E, F, G, U, I. Decoded.

BMW names each generation with a chassis code. E was the original series, F arrived around 2010, G from 2015, with I for BMW i and U for the newest compact models.

E20

1973 · 1 cars

E9

1973 · 1 cars

E21

1977 · 1 cars

E26

1978 · 1 cars

E28

1985 · 1 cars

E30

1986 · 2 cars

E24

1986 · 1 cars

E34

1988 · 1 cars

E36

1992 · 1 cars

E31

1992 · 1 cars

E38

1994 · 1 cars

7

1997 · 1 cars

8

1998 · 1 cars

E46

2003 · 3 cars

E60

2003 · 2 cars

E63

2005 · 1 cars

E85

2006 · 1 cars

E86

2006 · 1 cars

E92

2007 · 3 cars

E90

2008 · 2 cars

F10

2011 · 2 cars

F25

2011 · 1 cars

E82

2011 · 1 cars

F13

2012 · 1 cars

F06

2013 · 2 cars

F22

2014 · 1 cars

F32

2014 · 1 cars

F15

2014 · 1 cars

I12

2014 · 1 cars

F80

2015 · 1 cars

F82

2015 · 2 cars

G11

2015 · 1 cars

F48

2016 · 1 cars

G30

2017 · 1 cars

G32

2017 · 1 cars

F90

2018 · 2 cars

F87

2018 · 2 cars

F39

2018 · 1 cars

G20

2019 · 1 cars

G07

2019 · 1 cars

F92

2019 · 1 cars

F97

2019 · 1 cars

F98

2019 · 1 cars

F40

2019 · 1 cars

G15

2019 · 1 cars

F91

2019 · 1 cars

I01

2019 · 1 cars

G06

2020 · 1 cars

F95

2020 · 1 cars

F96

2020 · 1 cars

G29

2020 · 1 cars

F93

2020 · 1 cars

F44

2020 · 1 cars

G80

2021 · 2 cars

G82

2021 · 2 cars

G22

2021 · 1 cars

G26

2021 · 4 cars

G08

2021 · 1 cars

G02

2022 · 1 cars

G42

2022 · 1 cars

G81

2022 · 1 cars

I20

2022 · 2 cars

U11

2022 · 2 cars

G70

2022 · 2 cars

G87

2023 · 1 cars

G09

2023 · 1 cars

G60

2023 · 2 cars

G90

2024 · 1 cars

G99

2024 · 1 cars

U10

2024 · 2 cars

E39

· 1 cars
Buying one

A sourced buyer’s checklist.

Before you buy any used BMW

  • Arrange an independent physical pre-purchase inspection; a vehicle-history report is only one part of due diligence. AAMVA · NMVTIS for consumers
  • Use NHTSA’s VIN decoder for US-market vehicle attributes. Missing decoded values mean NHTSA has no data for that variable—not that the feature is absent. NHTSA · vPIC VIN decoder

Importing from the US

  • US title, brand, most recent odometer and some theft history may appear in an NMVTIS report from an approved provider. AAMVA · NMVTIS for consumers
  • A clean NICB VINCheck result does not prove the vehicle has never been damaged; the service covers only certain records from participating insurers. NICB · VINCheck coverage
  • Check open safety recalls for the vehicle by VIN through NHTSA’s recall lookup. NHTSA · Recalls

Importing from Europe

  • For a UK-imported car, GOV.UK can show MOT pass/fail, recorded mileage, next due date and available advisories; this does not cover all European countries. GOV.UK · Check MOT history
  • EU roadworthiness inspection certificates follow minimum requirements in Directive 2014/45/EU; confirm records and rules with the vehicle’s specific country. EUR-Lex · Directive 2014/45/EU
  • EU vehicle-registration procedures and related taxes vary by country; check the relevant national authority for the vehicle’s country. European Commission · Registration abroad

Clearing the car in Georgia

  • Use Georgia Revenue Service’s vehicle-clearance calculator for applicable import clearance costs; confirm requirements for your vehicle. Georgia Revenue Service · Vehicle clearance
  • Confirm local registration steps with the Georgian MIA Service Agency; its portal is not verified here as a VIN-based history lookup. Georgian MIA Service Agency
  • Georgia’s periodic technical inspection checks include identity, brakes, steering, tyres, chassis, visibility, lights and emissions for vehicle categories subject to inspection; it does not replace pre-purchase inspection or history checks. PTI Georgia · Technical inspection