Can anyone shed somelight? example 525i and 525ia

if you mean 525i or 525i-A???

-A indicates automatic

dunno f manuals were just 525i on the door tag, or of they were listed as 525i-M

A means automatic. EDIT: I guess it is an official prefix? :dunno

535i - E34, M30 engine. 95% chance it's a slushbox, but you can't be sure (until you see it take out a mailbox rolling downhill from a stopsign, that is)
535iA - E34, M30 engine, GM-built slushbox.
535iM - E34, M30 engine, Getrag 260/6 manual gearbox. Can also be called a 535i/5.

I know that on the three series an "a" ment the car had the sport package. Not true with 5series?

it's on the door plaque Moroza... at least it is on mine.

525iT-A

I know that on the three series an "a" ment the car had the sport package. Not true with 5series?

it's on the door plaque Moroza... at least it is on mine.

525iT-A

Say what? :confused

I've never seen an A of any manner on the back of a BMW.

Thanks, I read some where and cant remember where that the A stood for Autobahn, So i thought maybe different gear ratios to achieve high mph,

Your car is geared for 175, powered for 143, and limited to 128. So...no :)

Never in the back of the car but I've seen them advertised at the BMW dealership as a 325ia or so.. I've seen e36s referenced to with an "a" multiple times.

good one

Say what? :confused

I've never seen an A of any manner on the back of a BMW.

Not back, the tag on the inside of the door. Mine has it too.

Did a little google homework. seems the "a" stands for automatic transmission, although I did see another person who thought it meant sport package.

not the trunk lid... the door plaque... where your build month and year is? Driver's door jamb

see pic

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b106/AttackEagle/bimmer/DSC_0015.jpg

Yep, mine looks very similar, except it says 530iA. And ... you know ... I have an automatic.

Hmmm, well what the hell is going on with my car then? It is a 535ia according to the tag in the door, but it is a 5 speed manual. And when I ran the vin # it says it is a 5 speed. :confused

You guys are on the right track. Although BMW nevers uses the "A" on the exterior or trunk lid of the car....it DOES use "A" to indicate automatic transmission. Similar to the "T"...its never used on the back of the Touring wagons...but the BMW in-house and door jambs do list the "T".

Just like in Attack's pic of his door jamb label...525itA (my Tourings is written the same on it's label but nothing on the rear tailgate)...it stands for an automatic tranny. The label on my e38 has 740iAL on its door jamb...but no "A" on the trunk lid.

And in contrast, if you run across any BMW that has a manual tranny, the "A" will be absent. A manual 525i, 535i, or 540i...will only have that nomenclature on the door jamb label...which indicates that the car has a manual transmission. :)

Hmmm, well what the hell is going on with my car then? It is a 535ia according to the tag in the door, but it is a 5 speed manual. And when I ran the vin # it says it is a 5 speed. :confused

Don't confuse the tire pressure/weight label with the label that contains your car's VIN. I bet if you go back and check..that's what you're doing.

Again, look at the label that Attack Eagle posted...then go back and look at the same label on your car that has your car's VIN on it...NOT the label that has the weight & tire pressure specs. That label (weight & wheel label) should say "535i/A USA" ...the model number has a " / " between the "i" and "A" which indicates that the specs are for the manual and automatic models imported to the USA...not that your car should have an auto tranny.

Hope this clears things up for you...if not...maybe your car has gone thru a chop shop. :dunno

Don't confuse the tire pressure/weight label with the label that contains your car's VIN. I bet if you go back and check..that's what you're doing.
Yep, right on. I was starting to wonder if my car had a tranny swap at one point, but its original. And my car was built the month before I was born :stickoutt