[LABMW13]

I have a 2011 550i (US) but according to BMW's database it's technically a 550iA. I know the 'i' is for injection but I can't seem to find any correct answer for what the 'A' stands for.


I work for BMW NA and nobody in the office can figure it out either...

Edit...
We determined it was an error in one of the databases. The 'A' does stand for Automatik.

[N63f10550i]

Sedan lol

[Qsilver7]

This designation used to stand for automatic transmission. But if you have a 6 speed...I have no cue what it means.

What document are you seeing 550iA? Can you post the last 7 digits of your VIN?

[550iFreak]

Could be for American since it is an US spec car. If there is a 550i"E" for euro spec, then that could be it.

Cool to see another 6mt owner, welcome

[wcr3d]

It was always used in the past for Automatic.
As stated above, where are you seeing that?
Also, BMWNA in Columbus Ohio?

[Qsilver7]

To the OP...since we have another forum member that also has a 550i with a manual transmission...again, if you post your VIN or post a pic of the document that has 550iA listed and caused you to start the inquiry...we have an actual person that can compare the data to see if it comes up the same for them.

But if you don't post back with some info etc...this thread will become another dead end.

They only other thing that comes to mind is if you have an AWD or RWD 550i...if it is AWD...could the A stand for that? :dunno:

Post back with some info so that we can attempt to solve this mystery you've started.

[Qsilver7]

Originally Posted by 550iFreak

Cool to see another 6mt owner, welcome

When you decode your VIN or look at any BMW database...do you see 550iA listed like the OP?

[550iFreak]

I'll try again but I dont recall the "A" designation. Mines is RWD, 6MT. I'll look it up and see.

[550iFreak]

Just went to bmw website with my login. I have my car saved in the garage. Mines stated 2011 550i sedan. No "A"

Shows all my options and features but no "A"

Probably a glitch?

[Qsilver7]

Originally Posted by 550iFreak

Just went to bmw website with my login. I have my car saved in the garage. Mines stated 2011 550i sedan. No "A"

Shows all my options and features but no "A"

Probably a glitch?

Thanks for the info...now if only the OP would post back with more info or clarification about this data they saw...and post it or allow access to post it so that we can see what they saw.

If they don't report back with any updates...I guess this will become a mystery thread.

[LABMW13]

Originally Posted by wcr3d

It was always used in the past for Automatic.
As stated above, where are you seeing that?
Also, BMWNA in Columbus Ohio?

Yes, at the FS building in Hilliard.

Originally Posted by 550iFreak

Just went to bmw website with my login. I have my car saved in the garage. Mines stated 2011 550i sedan. No "A"

Shows all my options and features but no "A"

Probably a glitch?

550iFreak, I think you're correct as far as it being a glitch. In the NA database it comes up as a 550iA. However, in the aftersales database it does not identify it with an 'A' while automatic chassis do.

[550bye]

When I went to Pep Boys a couple of years ago for tires on E60 528xi they kept referring to it as a 528i/iA. I asked what that meant and they had no idea, but it still refers to it as that on their webpage but I could not replicate it for my 550i.

Sorry, I realize this isn't much help, haha.

[Qsilver7]

As stated in several posts above...the designation between having a manual or automatic transmission is the usual meaning for the i or iA designation.

BMW even used to print this designation on the VIN labels found on the door jamb. This came up years ago on the e39 forums due to there being an offering of a manual and automatic transmission for all of the models (for the US market). Forum members started posting their VIN labels...and the ones that read 528i/525i/530i/540i all had 5 or 6 speed manual transmissions. The VIN labels that had 528iA/525iA/530iA/540iA all had automatic transmissions.

In the examples pictured below...if you type the last 7 digits of the VIN into a decoder site...you'll see that each example will show that the ones with an "A" after the model nomenclature will have an automatic transmission...and the ones without the "A" will have a manual transmission.

This 525i has a manual 5 speed transmission:



This 540iA has an automatic 5 speed transmission:



This M3 A has an automatic transmission:


This M3 has a manual transmission:



This 750LixA has an automatic transmission:



This X3 3.0siA has an automatic transmission:



This 740iAL has an automatic transmission:



This 525i has a manual transmission:



This 335dA has an automatic transmission:

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by 550bye

When I went to Pep Boys a couple of years ago for tires on E60 528xi they kept referring to it as a 528i/iA. I asked what that meant and they had no idea, but it still refers to it as that on their webpage but I could not replicate it for my 550i.

Sorry, I realize this isn't much help, haha.

528i is manual, /iA adds or options the automatic.

For tires it means they apply to both, 528i (MT) or 528iA (AT).