ok so i just noticed my 7 shows 740iAL on the door jam plate.. what is the "A" in the 740iAL. or is this how all of them are.. i just never noticed it.. till today when i was washing her after radiator replacment...

thanks in advance.

A for automatic, in Europe they offered a 740iML, for manual, but these never made it to America.

I've heard that there are few manual trans cars in the US of A.:D

I've heard that there are few manual trans cars in the US of A.:D

Not including yours, fixr ;)

Ah Thank you fellow 7 owners..

I've heard that there are few manual trans cars in the US of A.:D

You don't count. Although I'd love to have your car.

I don't count! That hurts.:(

AwesomeLuke hit the nail on the head in the 2nd post above that the "A" stands for automatic transmission...but on the manual cars, there is no "M" in the nomenclature. :)

The best examples of this is on the 3 & 5 series here in the States since they have manual & automatic versions of many of their models.

If you go to Ebay and look for cars that have pics of the VIN label on the door jamb...you will see that (for example) an automatic 528i will have 528iA on the VIN label...where as a 528i/5 with a manual tranny will only say 528i on the VIN label. :D

Here's a 1999 528i with an AUTO tranny: label reads 528iA

http://server11.texasdirectauto.com/south_pics/WBADM6342XGU01975/DCP_5087.JPG

Here's a 1999 528i with MANUAL tranny: label read 528i

http://i20.ebayimg.com/02/a/000/77/dd/983e_4.JPG

Oh, I didn't know that. I just kinda assumed.

I guess its true what they say: you learn something new everyday.