just curious

what does IS or CI or I stand for?

I assume I for Inline V6 and S for Sport
I assume C for Coupe and I for inline V6

If you notice all CIs are coupes!

I stands for injected. S does stand for sport, and C for Coupe.

i could go on, but instead, check out BMW World for more information:
http://bmwworld.com/repairs/codes/models.htm

;)

I = injection
S = Sport
C = Coupe

In the E30 and E36 line, the "IS" was the suffix given to all Coupes.

In the E46 line they stopped calling them "IS" and began calling them Ci.

I stands for injected. S does stand for sport, and C for Coupe.

i could go on, but instead, check out BMW World for more information:
http://bmwworld.com/repairs/codes/models.htm

;)
i have a two door 325i not is, its an 89.

"is" did not go to all coupes of the e30 and e36 lines. the "s" was added to bimmers where the sport package was added on these two older lines. they no longer add that to the e46 lines when the sport package is added.

i believe that only the coupes were able to get sport packages, thus that is why you only find the "is" mark on coupes.

on the e46 they use "CI" on all coupes in the e46 lines, regardless of if it has the sport package or not. it is also used on convertibles, since they are also coupes. sometimes they are even called "CIC" altho that is not an official mark.

also, bmw does not design and manufacture v6's, they only have v8, v10, and v12.

again visit the page i sent before for more bimmer identifications! also, the site has plenty of other information on a wide range of new and older bimmers. . .

and also of course, with their selection of V engines i listed earlier, they also manufacture their trademark inline 6, as well as an inline 4.