Can You Tell Which BMW Series It Is by Looking at the Front?
2 Answers
Can you tell which BMW series it is by looking at the front? Here is some relevant information about BMW: 1. Positioning: BMW (Bavarian Motor Works), the full Chinese name being Bavarian Engine Manufacturing Co., Ltd., is a German luxury automobile brand. BMW's vehicle series include i, X, Z, and pure numeric models, with series such as 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8. 2. Logo Meaning: BMW started its business by producing aircraft engines, leading many to believe that the logo represents a rotating propeller. However, this is not the case. In fact, the meaning of the blue and white symmetrical graphic is quite simple—the blue and white pattern is the state emblem of Bavaria, where the company is headquartered, serving as a reminder of BMW's pure Bavarian heritage.
As a long-time BMW owner, I used to find it easy to distinguish between series just by looking at the front. For example, the E36 3 Series from the 1990s had small, square grilles, while the E38 7 Series featured grand and luxurious grilles—they were instantly recognizable. However, with newer models like the G20 3 Series and G30 5 Series, the front-end designs are almost identical, both sporting large double-kidney grilles and slim, elongated headlights. Even I often mix them up. Relying solely on the front view isn’t very accurate these days, as BMW has been pursuing a unified family style, with minimal variation in grille size and headlight shape. It’s better to identify them by combining details like the side body lines or taillights—for instance, the 5 Series is more elongated, while the 3 Series is more compact. My personal advice is to pay closer attention to the official release details of new models to avoid confusion. After all, it’s a bit embarrassing to mistake one series for another on the street.
