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bmw318tiChic
11-11-2004, 08:16 PM
What does ti stand for in 318ti? I'm also curious what the other letters stand for from other BMW models. I know that the first number is the series, and the last two are the engine size, but I don't know what the letters mean.

swits
11-11-2004, 08:24 PM
i = fuel injected
s = sports model
t = touring
x = 4 wheel drive
c = coupe
td = turbo diesel

hotdog19d
11-11-2004, 08:31 PM
touring international?

maurolin
11-11-2004, 10:35 PM
touring is the station wagon. and non of the station wagong have a T.

GDB
11-11-2004, 10:39 PM
trunk impaired

swits
11-11-2004, 11:08 PM
You know, the T is the only one I wasn't possitive of so I assumed it was touring. If compact started with a T I'd say it was that.

Also, C also means convertible on older models. I think it's just e46's that it means coupe. They change with new body styles so it can get a little confusing.

"trunk impaired" hahaha, that's a good one!

96cali
11-11-2004, 11:19 PM
doesn't the s mean sedan? Isn't a 318i the coupe and 318is the sedan?

hotdog19d
11-11-2004, 11:41 PM
no

swits
11-11-2004, 11:52 PM
No, the S means sport model, which just happens to be a 2 door. Sports models, as far as E36's go also have sportier seats, and a tighter suspension. I'm not sure if there were ever any 2 door non-sports model BMW's besides the convertibles.

1996 328ti
11-12-2004, 01:10 AM
ti is touring international.
s can stand for coupe.

RAiMA
11-12-2004, 02:49 AM
trunk impaired

LMAO :lol: :lol: :lol:

Doesn't c stand for convertible?

bimmerboi318
11-12-2004, 03:46 AM
One vote for touring international. I forgot where else I saw it, but I believe that's the official designation. C on the E36's were convertibles, S were the coupes. So with the E46's the C took the place of the S but I think they switched positions with the I between the two generations. Now with CSI and CSL I start to get even more confused so I will stop now before I make it more complicated than it has to be :)

2ndBimmer
11-12-2004, 04:45 AM
Ti = hatchback
iT = wagon

C = coupes on some models (e46) also convertible
S = sport or coupe on some models (e36)

So i guess 635CSi is 6 series 3.5 liter coupe sport injected. :joy:

maurolin
11-12-2004, 04:12 PM
Ti = hatchback
iT = wagon

C = coupes on some models (e46) also convertible
S = sport or coupe on some models (e36)

So i guess 635CSi is 6 series 3.5 liter coupe sport injected. :joy:


WE GOT A WINNER! yup. That's what it is.
also on the E36 te "C" was not part of the emblems... per door jam: 328ic convertible. 328ci E46 coupe.

2ndBimmer
11-13-2004, 01:14 AM
Oh, and another one.

In the 80s BMW had the E engines (325e). E stood for Eta (η) which BMW used to mean 'efficiency.' I believe this was a response to be more fuel conscious but ended up being just short on power. Compare a 325i to a 325e, the torque is about the same but the 'e' only has about 125 ponies while the 'i' sports about 170.

robcarync
11-13-2004, 07:13 AM
touring international is what ive heard the TI meant...no clue on the others....

swits
11-13-2004, 09:00 PM
I also forgot L, which is only on the 7 series and means the car is the longer model

bmw///m3///
11-14-2004, 01:28 AM
is M for motorsport or munich???

sydeshow
11-14-2004, 01:56 AM
i think the M stands for motorsport.

what i do know though is that "M3" stands for "very nice" and "fast".
and what "M5" stands for, i can't say, because i would have to force myself to stop drooling before i tried.

and going back ot what swits said about "i" standing for "injection". that is what is stood for, but it was what the 2nd "i" stood for (like in the 1969 2002tii).

i'm going to do more research on it. but that's what i've gotten from BMW's site. (except for the first half of this post. that was all me.)

sydeshow
11-14-2004, 02:03 AM
when all else fails, google it.

http://www.bmwworld.com/repairs/codes/models.htm

this site has some of the identifying model numbers, vehicle codes, and engine codes.

seems like almost everyone was right, even when you said things to contradict the other.

i am still looking for the answer to the original question..."ti". not that i'm saying steven is wrong. i just like to see proof with my own eyes.

sydeshow
11-14-2004, 02:15 AM
go roadfly.org!

http://bimmer.roadfly.org/bmw/forums/e85/5880276-1.html

"CSL" = "coupe sport" (CS) + "light" (L)

t/T = touring; touring could mean hatchback (318ti), wagon (525iT),
or sport versions of early models (2002tii)

so you were right steven and hotdog19d. "ti" means "touring international".

and you were wrong maurolin. haha. sorry. that's not supposed to sound as mean as it does. it's just friendly sarcasm.

also, if you look on there, whether it's capitalized or not makes a difference too. "C" is convertable (e.g. e46 330iC) and "c" is coupe.

am i such a nerd to be as interested about this stuff as i am? the truth is, i've wondered about these things since i first started getting into bimmers. but i've just guessed at these things until now.

yep...school is really getting to me this semester. i'm out of it.

sydeshow
11-14-2004, 02:20 AM
oh. one last thing while we're talking about model numbers (or at least i'm doing a lot of talking about it).

does anyone know what they'll be calling the new 3-series (starting 2006)? e##...?

e21...e30...e36...e46...???

i want...i want...i want...i want...i want...

Freedy
11-14-2004, 03:26 AM
Titanium, duh...

bmw318tiChic
11-14-2004, 04:20 AM
am i such a nerd to be as interested about this stuff as i am? the truth is, i've wondered about these things since i first started getting into bimmers. but i've just guessed at these things until now.


I'm the same way. Thanks everyone for your input, I've been wondering about this ever since I got my ti.

mhl03
11-14-2004, 06:36 AM
I think, if I'm not mistaken it means "Touring Internationale"

maurolin
11-14-2004, 06:45 PM
so you were right steven and hotdog19d. "ti" means "touring international".

and you were wrong maurolin. haha. sorry. that's not supposed to sound as mean as it does. it's just friendly sarcasm.

also, if you look on there, whether it's capitalized or not makes a difference too. "C" is convertable (e.g. e46 330iC) and "c" is coupe.

am i such a nerd to be as interested about this stuff as i am? the truth is, i've wondered about these things since i first started getting into bimmers. but i've just guessed at these things until now.

well 330Ci... what about 328iC??

J!m
11-14-2004, 08:11 PM
One vote for touring international. I forgot where else I saw it, but I believe that's the official designation. C on the E36's were convertibles, S were the coupes. So with the E46's the C took the place of the S but I think they switched positions with the I between the two generations. Now with CSI and CSL I start to get even more confused so I will stop now before I make it more complicated than it has to be :)

On the older cars mentioned above, CSI is Coupe`, Sport, fuel Injected
And CSL is Coupe, Sport, Lightweight.

E36 C= Cabriolet (Convertable for the American speaking)
Earlier cars used C for Coupe`. It was 'ressurected' for the E46 models, and I think it is here for a while. Now all the coupes, regardless if the roof comes down, have a 'c' in the designation.

As far as I know/remember, S was always for the Sport models, and remains so. EXCEPT for the ti, because they had to screw up the whole system with that car. SO, the only way to designate the sport model is by equipment.

t is for touring, however in the case of an estate (station wagon in American) the t was used in a different place. 'ti' is compact (as we know), whereas 'it' was fuel injected touring. (EG 540it)

I hope everyone is confused now. I sure am...

sydeshow
11-14-2004, 10:15 PM
well 330Ci... what about 328iC??

don't know. sometimes the C could mean coupe. sometimes convertable.

tell you what. if you look at the car and it doesn't have a top or there is a potiental for the top to be down, it's a convertable. otherwise, if it still has a "c", it's a coupe. that's all i can say.

sydeshow
11-14-2004, 10:17 PM
I think, if I'm not mistaken it means "Touring Internationale"
yep. we established that.

but that sounds too french. so i'll just stay with "touring international".

crazy french.

robcarync
11-15-2004, 01:45 AM
boycott france

http://billoreilly.com/images/product/promotional/boycottbumper_large.jpg

GDB
11-15-2004, 01:49 AM
Titanium, duh...

Always a chemist in the group isn't there :)

woody underwood
11-15-2004, 02:14 AM
It's touring international (Why international...who knows?) and goe's back to the 2002ti which was a hatchback like our cars and never officially imported into the States but there are a couple around. Now why is the 2002tii, which is not a hatchback...a tii, other than the fact it is injected?

hotdog19d
11-15-2004, 05:14 AM
I Win !!!!!!!!!!!!!

Guy Massey
11-15-2004, 11:36 AM
I disagree.

I think ti stands for:

'T'win cam, 'I'njection

E stands for 'E'comony,

and M stands for 'M'otorsport

sydeshow
11-15-2004, 03:15 PM
boycott france
amen. amen.

long live germany!

oh yeah...and the states!

...and england...

...but not canada. definitely not canada.

haha.

sydeshow
11-15-2004, 03:17 PM
I Win !!!!!!!!!!!!!
congrats hotdog19d! here's your cookie! :biggrin:

sydeshow
11-15-2004, 03:19 PM
I disagree.

I think ti stands for:

'T'win cam, 'I'njection

E stands for 'E'comony,

and M stands for 'M'otorsport
i agree with 2 out of your 3. but not the ti one.

what kinda sources do you have for your hypothesis? maybe you could convince me to join you on your 'dark side' over there.

Guy Massey
11-15-2004, 07:06 PM
It makes more sense that Touring International.

No one would ever consider the 318ti a touring car whether national or international. A fantastic city or local runaround, no question, but not a long distance tourer. Of course it will do it. It will do all that is asked of it, but not at ease.

If you wanted a touring car you would surely buy the bigger, more solid, 5 or 7 series with a big lazy 6 cylinder. My 525i ('i' as in injection rather than 'i' as in international or 'e' as in economy) is a grand touring car, cruising all day long at 80 mph at 3000 rpm.

If we were talking about any other car and it was a 'ti' we would all say it is 'turbo injection' like that Land-Rover TDI: Turbo Diesel Injection. So, if we can accept that the 'i' stands for injection as 525i or TDI then 'touring injection' makes no sense at all but 'twin', as in twin cam, 'injection' does.

Come, come and join the dark side.

GDB
11-15-2004, 07:12 PM
if the t stands for Twin Cam, then why don't all the other bimmers with DOHC have the t in the name?

hotdog19d
11-15-2004, 07:19 PM
congrats hotdog19d! here's your cookie! :biggrin:

THANK YOU! I love cookies! :)

Guy Massey
11-15-2004, 07:24 PM
I can't answer that.

I am not exactly sure of this, and I feel I am getting out of my depth, but I think the M44 was developed from another engine which was only single cam. So when the M44 was put in the 318 the 't' was added to show a difference between engines.

As I say, I am unsure of the history so please, please excuse me if this is not the case.

I am not an authority on it; just stating it as I understand it. But, don't you agree that 'twin injection' makes more sense than 'touring international'?

sydeshow
11-15-2004, 09:20 PM
I am not an authority on it; just stating it as I understand it. But, don't you agree that 'twin injection' makes more sense than 'touring international'?
you have to remember also. it's a german car. what makes perfect sense to you in english may not be what the good ol' germans intended.

and nope. i will not join your dark side. haha.

Guy Massey
11-16-2004, 11:10 AM
I was going to suggest that but didn't want to upset the Germans.

Of course, if you are considering the German language TI could stand for almost anything but we must remember that, although most TLA stand for something, it is not axiomatic that they must stand for something or even make sense.

Much has been written that TI stands for Touring International but I question this as I think it is just a myth that has been rehashed so many times that it has almost become folklore and therefore believed.

I am not stating as fact that TI stands for Twin Injection, but I am certainly questioning that it stands for Touring International. I don't accept that.

ddiorio1313
11-16-2004, 01:14 PM
I think the "T" stands for Compact! It is the last letter of the word...Hmmm just a guess. So the "I" stands for fuel injected...I thought it stood for inline....

sydeshow
11-17-2004, 03:20 PM
here we go. straight from the source.

---
Dear Mr Thevis,

Thank you for your e-mail.

The abbreviation <ti> stands for <Tourismo Internationale>, and is a
tribute to older BMW models from the sixties (e.g BMW 2002ti).

Kind Regards,
BMW Customer Service Team
---

haha. did anyone even say "tourismo"? but yeah. that's what it is.

Guy Massey
11-17-2004, 03:46 PM
Well, what can I say? I am sorry. You were right and I was wrong.

However, TI on a 2002 does make a certain amount of sense as in the '60s a 2002 could, just, have been considered a touring car. You must remember that, although the US had fully auto transmissions, air-con, power steering, and power everything else, Europe didn't and the 2002 was the car that really set BMW on the road to the success it has achieved today.

Again I am sorry.

But finally, we all know what the BMW emblem is (the circle quartered with blue and white), but where does the emblem come from and what does it represent?

sydeshow
11-17-2004, 03:55 PM
Well, what can I say? I am sorry. You were right and I was wrong.

But finally, we all know what the BMW emblem is (the circle quartered with blue and white), but where does the emblem come from and what does it represent?
i wasn't trying to rub the info into your face. i was just sharing the info that i got.

and when i asked if anyone had said "tourismo"...looking back on it i can see how that could be taken the wrong way. but i was just laughing because no one said quote tourismo unquote. so yeah. not trying to say "i'm right, you're wrong." not at all. sorry if i made it sound like that. i'll be more careful from now on.

but yeah. that would be an interesting question to ask. you should either start a new thread about it or email bmw from their web site.

from what i've learned in the past, isn't it supposed to be a set of wings against the sky? (like the blue are the wings and the white is the sky...or vice versa).

ddiorio1313
11-17-2004, 04:55 PM
It is a propeller....

Guy Massey
11-17-2004, 05:41 PM
Absolutely no problem Sydeshow. It's good to know, once and for all, what it (or should it be ti) stands for and glad you did share it with us. Rachel (BMW318tiChic) can sleep soundly tonight.

Well done ddiorio1313. Spot on. A propeller. From the days before and during WW2 when BMW made aeroplanes rather than cars. Too easy I know. I'll have to think of something better.

Perhaps we ought to close this thread now?

2ndBimmer
11-17-2004, 07:25 PM
Well done ddiorio1313. Spot on. A propeller. From the days before and during WW2 when BMW made aeroplanes rather than cars.


Exactly right. BMW made aircraft engines first [1917], then motorcycles [1923], and finally cars [1928] .

Infact, the first operational jet in the world used BMW engines.

robcarync
11-18-2004, 01:25 AM
it's a propellar!!!!

i know i know...im a little late...but i was excited i actually knew the answer...

bmw318tiChic
11-18-2004, 01:32 AM
Rachel (BMW318tiChic) can sleep soundly tonight.

Yes! Finally! After two years of wondering... Thanks everybody :)

Rhys
11-18-2004, 11:03 PM
so we have found out what ti stands for,
what about tii (heh heh heh)

I know ti's are injected and tii's are carb fed..

sydeshow
11-18-2004, 11:27 PM
so we have found out what ti stands for,
what about tii (heh heh heh)

I know ti's are injected and tii's are carb fed..
go here (http://www.bmw.com/generic/com/en/fascination/discover/history/bmwhistory/index.html). once there, click on "search by year," and put in 1969 and search. then (as it may be obvious), check out "the secret of the 'i'."

"The second 'i' stands for injection - more petrol and so even more power."

bmw///m3///
11-18-2004, 11:29 PM
like the 2002tii, thier were bosch fuel injected.

Rhys
11-20-2004, 03:28 AM
..well there you go, got them mixed up (lol)

I have a mag somewhere with all the abbreviations written down, including the ti etc.
trouble is I can't find it..

FuMa
01-11-2005, 07:33 PM
it stands for touring international
why ? because the first compacts were the 2000 touring and 2002 touring, they looked like our compacts but were called touring.

Pics and info => http://bmw2002.chez.tiscali.fr/html/modeles/2002touring.html

so the 2000ti(i) or 2002ti(i) weren't the first compacts

at least that's what they're writing over here in Europe in their magazines.

Rhys
01-12-2005, 04:13 AM
just a 2p (or in your case a 2 cents) worth, the badge is in the style of the art decco period, Wonder what it would have looked like if it was designed in the 30's ala C R Macintosh style.
(At least Bangle wasn't around then, thank god..lol)

Boxbrownie
03-08-2005, 07:02 PM
like the 2002tii, thier were bosch fuel injected.

Kugelfischer actually I believe......well at least mine was!

Best regards David

Dell3oy
07-16-2007, 09:05 PM
i have a 318 ti compact mabye different bit here goes the t=turbo +the i=injection if you have one you will know it makes sense+the (3) 18 is not to do with engine size as i have a 1.9 (145mph been there used a big towel to wipe the sweat off my passenger) dont try this at home

sydeshow
07-16-2007, 09:31 PM
i have a 318 ti compact mabye different bit here goes the t=turbo +the i=injection if you have one you will know it makes sense+the (3) 18 is not to do with engine size as i have a 1.9 (145mph been there used a big towel to wipe the sweat off my passenger) dont try this at home

why am i still subscribed to this thread? :confused:

oh well. but i'm hoping your post is mostly sarcasm Dell3oy. while the M44 motor is 1.9L (1996+), the 318's pre-OBDII (OBDI, 1992-1995) have the M42 motor (1.8L).

as for the meaning of Ti, please see my post including the email from BMW on this thread.

but if your post was in fact sarcasm, please disregard. :biggrin:

Boxbrownie
07-16-2007, 09:58 PM
like the 2002tii, thier were bosch fuel injected.

Nope....it was Kugelfischer injection....I know, mine used to flood quite easily :rolleyes:

Best regards David

sfj642
07-16-2007, 10:08 PM
OK then - so if you are so clever - why has my late 316i (no "t") Compact got a 1.9 engine ? (and for that matter so has the later 318ti).

It is all very well having numbers but mighty confusing when BMW lose the plot themselves; how are we mere mortals supposed to keep up ? :confused:

I always thought "ti" was for "tuned injection" and that the plain "i" was for the detuned version ? :rolleyes:

This is UK numbering of course; they wouldn't dare do it in the 'States would they ? :smile::smile::smile:

1996 328ti
07-16-2007, 11:25 PM
It is all very well having numbers but mighty confusing when BMW lose the plot themselves; how are we mere mortals supposed to keep up ? :confused:And a 323 is really a 2.5L. The 135 is a 3.0L. There is no logic.

sfj642
07-17-2007, 12:13 AM
And a 323 is really a 2.5L. The 135 is a 3.0L. There is no logic.
Yes of course - I think it is more important how they drive than what numbers are attached !

Mine has the "no badge" option - well it is only a 316 (with a 1.9 motor !)

Den
07-17-2007, 01:35 AM
And a 323 is really a 2.5L. The 135 is a 3.0L. There is no logic.
They used to adhere more closely to the nomenclature logic. They've been known to round it up a bit.
The M30 in the 533/633/733, was 3.2L, followed by 3.4L in the 535/635/735.

I think rounding down to '323' was just marketing BS to push sales of the 328.


The turbo logic is that it makes the hp of a larger motor.
The E23 '745' was a 3.4L M30 with a turbo, called the M102.

elfhearse
07-17-2007, 03:31 AM
Another rare one FWIW >


http://members.roadfly.com/anvis6/00touring.jpg

SporTi
07-17-2007, 09:42 AM
I am truly saddened by the ignorance of BMW history on this site. A BMW is not a car like a Honda or a Ford. It is a dedication to "form follows function" or "engineering first". It is a great automotive history that put to shame many, many brands for the last 40 years. Only recently have they caught up. Sadly, the modern vehicle is in the luxury wars. That is why I got out of my 2002 540i and into a Ti (or 2). Now for the history lesson from someone who has owned more than 20 BMWs in just about every series and body style from a 1968 1600 to the aforementioned 2002 540 (with a 4.4 liter engine).

All the numbers and letters once had a meaning.

"i" means injected. It is a little silly today when everything is, but mattered in the early 70's when most cars were carburated.

"T" or "t" means Touring which in Urp = station wagon. Yes our little hatchbacks are not station wagons but have the rear hatch as did the 2002 Tourings (which by the way were denoted as "Touring" see picture in previous post, not "ti")

"ti" means "twin induction". In the late 60's/early 70's BMW upped the performance with dual carbs, each serving two cylinders. It was possible to get a "Touring ti" (perhaps they all were) however, you could get "ti" on coupes and even 4 door 2000 sedans (never formally imported)

"tii" is simply the combination of the two designations so "twin inducted, injected" 2002tii were made from about 69 or so through 74. And yes it was Kugelfischer (sp) mechanical injection. The injection pump came off a tractor! (By the way, if you ever buy one of these wonderful wonderful cars, make sure that pump is in good shape. Rebuilding or replacing it can cost a fortune)

Now onto the rest of the numbers/letters.

Early on, BMW numbering was backward to today. At that time, a 2002 was "20" for a 2 liter engine and "02" for 2 doors, thus the 1602 and 1802. There were also some word names such as the Bavaria which was renamed in 74 or 75 to the 3.0 Si. The counterpart to this was the glorious 3.0 CS coupe (of which there were also 2800 CS models) Again the numbers denoting the engine size.

The 2002 was replaced by the 3 series in 77
An all new 5 series was introduced to the US in 75
The Bavaria/3.0 S was replaced by the 7 series in 77
The CS was replaced by the 6 series (not sure what year)

From then on, the 1st number denoted the series and the last two told the engine size (or approximate engine size) until marketing got involved.

The 320i was sold from 77 thru 83 (what a piece of *&^%). However BMW got rid of the bad motor/injection setup in 81 and it actually was a 1.8 liter from then on. They did not have the balls to call it that until they brought out the new body style in 84 at which time it became the 318. Also offered was the 325. It was offered in "i" form and "e" form and some that had neither designation. The "i" had the traditional high revving engine (6400 redline I believe), while the "e" (eta is correct, supposedly meaning economy) had only about a 4600 rpm redline. Here is the first time marketing reared its head. The "eta" is actually a 2.7 liter engine. However, since it was the downmarket model, BMW didn't want it to sound like it was better, so rather than being the 327 that it should have been, it became the 325e. From there on the 3 series did stay somewhat true to form. There was a true 323 sold in Europe in the early 80s that some people gray-marketed over here. However, as stated earlier the 323 of the late 90s/early 00s was a 2.5 liter engine. Why? Because the 325 had just become a 328 and they wanted more marketing distance between it and the lower end model. I also think that there was a time when you could buy a 330 and a 528 and they both had the same engine. Nice, huh?

From there all hell breaks loose and the designations become inconsistent year to year.

At times "S" meant Sport. Other times, it just designated a coupe.
The iX of late 80's 325 became Xi when BMW brought 4-wheel drive back.
I own a 92 325iC (C on the title, not on the trunk). It is a convertible. Later they did use C on the trunk for Coupe because Lord knows we can't count doors.

Other series seemed a little more true to their designations. When BMW redid the engine for the 5-series in 79, they changed the designation from 530 to 528. However, the 530 had a bad reputation for cracking heads due to lousy emissions design, so that could have played a role. As it progressed, it became a 533, a 535, a 530 and a 540, all correct designations until 2002 when they popped the engine to 4.4 liters. Nowadays, they don't seem to want to change a designation until the body changes, or they introduce an alternative engine option. I believe the 545 is running the same 4.4, but am not sure. Maybe 545 just sounds better than 544?

Side note: I find it odd that in the 90s I could buy a 3.0 liter V8 and now I can buy a 3.0 liter straight six. Why the change? From all I've heard, once the block problems were straightened out, the V8 was a good engine.

Anything said about the 5 series engines is fairly accurate for the 6-series and 7-series as well.

So amidst all this, I can live with a 1.9 liter engine in my 318Ti.:rolleyes:

One more (obscure) note: while "L" was/is used to designate a 7-series long-wheelbase model (4 inches longer, all in the backseat); there were some rare "L" models of the 7 series (and maybe 6ers as well) in the 80s. Back then it stood for "Luxury", though some thought it meant Leather because every conceivable surface was covered in it.

Think about this: In 1968, how many American cars could you buy with an Overhead cam engine, disc brakes and fully independent suspension. I'm not 100%, but I believe none. However you had all those things in a little 2002 (or even 1602). That is what your Ti represents: a history of great engineering, not just a car. Learn your heritage. It makes the ride that much sweeter. :biggrin:

ptarditi
07-17-2007, 11:35 AM
Touring
Injected
International

There is more confusion over BMW's use of the letter L which can mean Long as in 750iL or light as in 3.0CSL an absolutely awesome racer of the '70's.

ptarditi
07-17-2007, 11:47 AM
Tii in the 2002 is different then the ti of the late '60's, but since you mention the twin inducted cars how could you leave out the tisa? Also the luxury version which we called the luxus package did include leather, foglights and sometimes a wheel tire package. That L was never put on the model as it was on the 7.

1996 328ti
07-17-2007, 12:01 PM
"ti" means "twin induction". In the late 60's/early 70's BMW upped the performance with dual carbs, each serving two cylinders. It was possible to get a "Touring ti" (perhaps they all were) however, you could get "ti" on coupes and even 4 door 2000 sedans (never formally imported)In the case of the 318ti, it's Touring International. I have asked this question numerous times of BMW AG engineers.

SporTi
07-17-2007, 05:43 PM
Tii in the 2002 is different then the ti of the late '60's, but since you mention the twin inducted cars how could you leave out the tisa? Also the luxury version which we called the luxus package did include leather, foglights and sometimes a wheel tire package. That L was never put on the model as it was on the 7.

ptarditi...So nice to hear from another voice of history. I had a friend with a tisa, but I figured I was boring people already. That model is truly obscure. I will acknowlege that a 2002tii was more than just a ti with injection slapped on, but I stand by my interpretation of the letters. I stand corrected on the luxury or luxus package.

By the way, note that "T" (as in touring) is capitalized on all models where it was used, while "t" as in 2002 tii is lower case on all models where it was used.

SporTi
07-18-2007, 01:36 AM
Should have looked at the back of my car before I made that capitalized/non-capitalized statement. I was wrong on the ti's of course. (You'll only hear me say it once folks!) I think that the 3 wagons and 5 wagons are capitalized though.

sfj642
07-18-2007, 09:29 AM
Should have looked at the back of my car before I made that capitalized/non-capitalized statement. I was wrong on the ti's of course. (You'll only hear me say it once folks!) I think that the 3 wagons and 5 wagons are capitalized though.
. . . . unless you have the "no badge" option "fitted" !

cooljess76
07-18-2007, 09:58 AM
My favorite acronym is "track inspired". However, in my case, it might soon be "trade in" as I'm sick and tired of chasing CEL's:mad: Code just came back for "EVAP system small leak". I cleared it about 400 miles ago:confused: Did a search here and found didley squat, bf.c pointed out a couple of culprits. We'll see what happens tomorrow.

1996 328ti
07-18-2007, 11:25 AM
My favorite acronym is "track inspired". However, in my case, it might soon be "trade in" as I'm sick and tired of chasing CEL's:mad: Code just came back for "EVAP system small leak". I cleared it about 400 miles ago:confused: Did a search here and found didley squat, bf.c pointed out a couple of culprits. We'll see what happens tomorrow.Could it be as simple as a bad gas cap?

TheClassicCarFactory
10-23-2013, 09:48 AM
Officially it was " Touring International " on the E36 Compact; all other models with "i" designation generally meant "Einspritzung" (Fuel Injection)

dsamuel565
12-15-2013, 09:55 PM
I own a 318 ti and have looked into this myself. Usually the ti would stand for touring injection. Considering that pretty much all of these are injection, i have read that it is now called Touring International.

1996 328ti
12-15-2013, 10:00 PM
I own a 318 ti and have looked into this myself. Usually the ti would stand for touring injection. Considering that pretty much all of these are injection, i have read that it is now called Touring International.Following the logic of the 2002.

2002ti (touring international)
2002tii (touring international/fuel injection)

jca
12-16-2013, 02:38 AM
ti stands for touring international...I read it somewhere.

M-technik-3
12-17-2013, 01:31 AM
ti stands for touring international...I read it somewhere.

I'll go with this one as well. Wagons of the same age were 525iT and 530iT.