A BMW chassis code is the internal name for one body of one model generation: F80 is the M3 sedan built from the 2015 model year, F82 is the M4 coupe of the same era, and G80 is the M3 sedan that replaced the F80. The letter is the generation and the digits are the model and body, so the code says far more about fitment than the badge does. Most of our parts are listed by chassis code, so finding yours comes first.
What a BMW chassis code is: E, F and G generations
BMW gives every body of every generation its own code, and parts catalogues use those codes far more than model names. The letter is the generation: E codes are the older cars, such as the E90 3 Series sedan; F codes arrived from around 2010, such as the F30; G codes are the current generation, such as the G20 3 Series and G30 5 Series.
The digits pick the model line and the body. In the F generation of 3 and 4 Series:
- F30 is the 3 Series sedan and F31 the 3 Series Touring.
- F32 is the 4 Series coupe, F33 the convertible and F36 the four-door Gran Coupe.
- F80 is the M3 sedan, F82 the M4 coupe and F83 the M4 Convertible.
The G generation repeats it: G20 3 Series sedan, G22 4 Series coupe, G23 convertible, and G80, G82 and G83 for the M3, M4 and M4 Convertible. The M2 sits apart as F87 and then G87.
So "F80 vs F82" is not a question of trim or year. Both are the same generation of M car with the same S55 engine; the F80 has four doors and the F82 has two.
How to find your BMW chassis code
- Model, body and year. A 2016 M3 sedan is an F80. This works away from the changeover years and fails near them, which is where most wrong orders come from.
- Registration or title. These give the model and year, not the chassis code, but confirm the body style.
- A VIN decoder. The VIN is on the base of the windscreen and the driver's door jamb. A BMW VIN decoder returns the chassis code, engine and build date, and many need only the last seven characters. This is the one that settles it.
North American model years for the main M cars and the 3 Series. Treat boundary years as unknown until the VIN confirms them.
| Car | Chassis code | Model years (North America) | Replaced by |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 Series sedan | F30 | 2012 to 2018 | G20, from the 2019 model year |
| M3 sedan | F80 | 2015 to 2018 | G80, from the 2021 model year |
| M4 coupe | F82 | 2015 to 2020 | G82, from the 2021 model year |
| M2 | F87 | 2016 to 2021 | G87, from the 2023 model year |
| M3 sedan | G80 | 2021 on | Current |
What F3X, F8X and G8X mean, and how our chassis pages use them
An X in place of the last digit means the family. F3X is the F30 generation of 3 and 4 Series (F30, F31, F32, F33, F36). F8X is the M3 and M4 of that era: F80, F82 and F83. G8X is the current G80, G82 and G83. E9X is the E90 generation, including the E90, E92 and E93 M3.
Some owners fold the F87 M2 into F8X because the Competition and CS share the S55. We keep the F87 and G87 separate, because the M2's body panels are its own, and the F97 and F98 are X3 M and X4 M, not M5 relatives.
Our chassis pages are family-aware in both directions. The F80 page shows parts listed as F80 and parts listed as F8X, so a lip listed for the family appears where an M3 owner looks. The F8X page also shows parts listed only for the F80 or F82, and the F3X and G8X pages work the same way.
BMW chassis codes we sell parts for
| Code | What it is | Start here |
|---|---|---|
| F30, F31 | 3 Series sedan, Touring | F30 parts, F31 parts |
| F32, F33, F36 | 4 Series coupe, convertible, Gran Coupe | F32 parts; for the F33 and F36, ask us |
| F80, F82, F83 | M3 sedan, M4 coupe, M4 Convertible | F80, F82, F83 |
| F87 | M2 (N55 base car, S55 Competition and CS) | F87 parts |
| G20 | 3 Series sedan | G20 parts |
| G22, G23 | 4 Series coupe, convertible | G22 parts, G23 parts |
| G42 | 2 Series coupe | G42 parts |
| G80, G82, G83 | M3 sedan, M4 coupe, M4 Convertible | G80, G82, G83 |
| G87 | M2 | G87 parts |
| G30, F90 | 5 Series sedan, M5 | G30 parts |
| G01, G05 | X3, X5 | Shop by engine: the six-cylinder 40i versions use the B58 |
| F97, F98 | X3 M, X4 M | F97 parts |
| E9X | E90, E92 and E93 M3 | E9X parts |
| 8Y | Audi A3 and S3 | 8Y parts |
| W205 | Mercedes C-Class | W205 parts |
| M177 | Mercedes-AMG V8 engine (C63, GLC63, CLS63) | M177 parts |
| MK7 | Volkswagen Golf, seventh generation | MK7 parts |
Some pairs cross over: the V style spoiler fits both the G23 and G83 convertibles, and the F90 style body kit for the G30 also works on an F90 M5.
M car vs non-M: what does and doesn't interchange
The M3 is built on the 3 Series and the M4 on the 4 Series, so owners expect parts to swap. Lights often do; bumpers and anything bolted to them do not.
Bumpers and lips do not swap. The F80 M3 has its own front bumper. Our F30 lips say "fits the M Sport front bumper only", so the M Sport style front lip for the F30 and F31 and the lips on the F8X Aero & Carbon page fit different bumpers, even where the style names match.
Taillights swap between sedans. The F80 M3 uses the F30's taillights, so every F30/F80 set fits both, from the F30/F80 LCI taillights to the GTS styles, and the G20/G80 clear taillights fit both current sedans. The coupes pair the same way, F32 with F82 and G22 with G82; the taillight styles post covers each set.
Headlights follow the 4 Series. The F80 M3 uses the 4 Series headlights, not the F30's, so the F80/F82/F32 2-way switchable headlights fit all three. Our G80 pre-LCI headlights likewise list the G22 4 Series.
Mirrors differ. The M3 and M4 mirror is a sharper, swept-back shape, which the M style mirror caps for the F30, F31 and F32 copy.
| Part | F30 and F80 | G20 and G80 | F32 and F82 | G22 and G82 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Front bumper and lips | Different | Different | Different | Different |
| Taillights | Shared | Shared | Shared | Shared |
| Headlights | Different | Different | Shared | Shared on our listings |
| Mirror caps | Different | Different | Different | Different |
Sedan, coupe and convertible: F80 vs F82, G80 vs G82
On the F8X, lips, side skirts and diffusers are listed once for the F80 and F82. Spoilers are not, because the trunk lids differ: the F8X MP style spoiler asks you to choose M3 Sedan (F80) or M4 Coupe (F82). The carbon aero styles post covers that range.
On the G8X, rear diffusers, canards, grilles and fender vents are shared by the G80, G82 and G83. Side skirts are not: the G80/G82/G83 MP style side skirts come in M3 Sedan (G80) or M4 Coupe / Convertible (G82 / G83) because the sill lengths differ, and the MHC and V-ST skirts split the same way.
The M2 shares engines with the M3 and M4 and little else. The G87 uses the S58, but the G8X Z-pipe midpipe still has separate M2 (G87) and M3 / M4 (G80 / G82) versions. The G87 does share its spoilers and hood with the G42 2 Series.
Pre-LCI vs LCI and engine codes: the other two checks
LCI. The Life Cycle Impulse is BMW's mid-cycle facelift, and the code does not change: a 2014 F30 and a 2017 F30 are both F30, with different headlights. Lighting parts are split by facelift, as with the F30 RGB DRL kit's 2012-2015 and 2016-2018 options. The pre-LCI vs LCI post has the tables and photo checks.
Engine codes. B58, S55 and S58 are engines, not chassis. The S55 is in the F80, F82, F83 and the F87 M2 Competition and CS; the S58 in the G80, G82, G83, G87, F97 and F98; the B58 in cars such as the 340i, M340i and X5 40i. Intake, charge and exhaust parts are listed by engine: the S55, B58 and S58 downpipes have an option per engine, and the B58 charge pipe is split into Gen 1 and Gen 2, which the charge pipes post explains. Browse the B58, S55 and S58 pages directly.
If your car sits near a model change, a facelift or an engine update, message us through the contact page with the year, model, and bumper or engine before you order, and we will do a free fitment check.
FAQ
What is the difference between the F80 and F82?
The F80 is the four-door M3 sedan and the F82 the two-door M4 coupe, same generation, same S55 engine. Lips, side skirts and diffusers are shared; spoilers and taillights are not.
What does F8X mean on a BMW part?
The F80 M3, F82 M4 and F83 M4 Convertible, with the X standing in for the last digit. Check the product page for exceptions, such as a spoiler that asks you to choose sedan or coupe.
Do G20 and G80 parts interchange?
Taillights do: G20/G80 sets fit both sedans. Aero parts do not, because the G80 has its own bumpers and skirts, and our G80 headlights are listed with the G22 4 Series, not the G20.
How do I find my BMW chassis code?
Run the VIN through a BMW VIN decoder; it returns the chassis code, engine and build date. Model, body and year get you close, but near a model change the VIN settles it.
Is the chassis code the same as the engine code?
No. The chassis code names the body and generation, such as F80 or G20. The engine code names the engine, such as S55 or B58, and one engine can appear in several chassis. Intake and exhaust parts are listed by engine.
