schwarz88 0 Report post Posted August 1, 2005 usernames aside, i'm 99% sure my 88 is prefacelift, but i want to know how I can be certain. looking round the engine bay etc i can't find a plate which says built in... and the VIN code doesn't make sense against the online VIN checker at least when i tried it. Ideas? It would just make life a whole lot easier when buying parts if i could be 100% sure of the model year. (oh yeah it's an 325i e30). cheers Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Andrew Report post Posted August 1, 2005 its pretty easy to tell if your motorsport is pre-face lift. 1 - BUMPERS - are either chrome or painted metal. 2- LIGHTS - at the rear are different. At the front also 3 - Various things under the bonnet 4 - Rear wheel arches 4- rear valance - front valance Finally - get the last 7 digits of your chassis number and put it up here http://www.bmw-z1.com/VIN/VINdecode-e.cgi HERE Is my pre-face lift car - Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Andrew Report post Posted August 1, 2005 here is a facelift - notice the different arches and bumpers Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Andrew Report post Posted August 1, 2005 and tail lights Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Andrew Report post Posted August 1, 2005 and the VIN code doesn't make sense against the online PM me your number plate number and i'll be able to decode the VIN if you can't find the number. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WarNox 1 Report post Posted August 4, 2005 I dont knw if its the same for and e30 as for an e36, but for an e36 the VIN number plate is ment 2 b located on the right or the left when u open ur driver door, if you are kneeling down! and that would be your proper bmw vin number, with the year and month of production, but my car doesnt have this proper bmw vin number, it has a NZ LTSA vin number or smtin on the right fender in the engine bay!! does ur vin number change when the car gets imported into new zealand? i emailed ltsa nd they said they cant say anything unless they see the vehicle! the way i know its not a proper bmw one is that it doesnt work on any of those online bmw vin decoder things! wht u guys think!? thnx Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Palazzo 427 Report post Posted August 4, 2005 A car dealer I know picked the model year from a serial number in the built in tool kit in the bootlid, can't have been hard to decipher, took him about 3 seconds. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
aliluya 0 Report post Posted August 4, 2005 Ther VIN number in the E36 are in the bonnet area ... Open the bonnet and look closely to just below the windscreen .. close to the windscreen wipers ... It's semi hidden, but look carefully it's there .... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jazzbass 1 Report post Posted August 8, 2005 Yes, ur correct - I used to be able to see mine at the bottom right (driver's side) of the windscreen even with the bonnet closed. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Carl 3 Report post Posted August 8, 2005 If you've got the BMW ETK then you can enter the VIN into it and it'll give the date of manufacture. You can't trust the "year car first registered" as cars can sit for a while before they're sold, particularly the SA cars. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
