VIN plate gone??

[GM525]

Hello all.
Quick and stupid question.
Cant find my vin plate on my e34......think i smell a rat... :(

[shogun]

Do you have the check control panel in the dash?
By pressing the button on the right side of the dash while turning the key on will cause the instruments to cycle, and then a bunch of messages will appear on the display. One of them will be the VIN associated with the chip keeping the memory; if it does not match the VIN shown on the plate of the car, the chip has been changed.

That's the easiest way.

[Paul in NZ]

look along the lower edge of the windscreen the vin number is there too.

[Whit]

shogun you said:

"By pressing the button on the right side of the dash while turning the key [to get VIN] on will cause the instruments to cycle..."

Which button for VIN??

[shogun]

http://shrubbery.student.utwente.nl/johan/299960/fg_nr.jpg

F.G. Nr. means Fahrgestellnummer = chassis or VIN number.
That only works if you have the high version dash with the cc like this one, it is no. 8
http://luuk.xs4all.nl/bmwboeken/bmwe34manual/pg19.jpg

That is the code plug number,
http://shrubbery.student.utwente.nl/johan/299960/code_nr.jpg

[Whit]

OK, where else is the VIN located on the car. I need to verify my VIN!

[Whit]

The reason is this: I have reasons to believe that my car is NOT a 1994 750il, but an older model. Maybe even a 1988!!! What are some of the options and equiptment that would exist only on a 1994 and not a 1988? Some things that I could quickly recognize? The car is great, but geez! This could be fraud!

[shogun]

Check for the metal plate in the engine room. It is (depends on country) usually near the wipers , or at the outside rim of the engine room. You have to open the hood to see it.

The easiest is the engine:
the engine before facelift has the oil filler cap at the fire wall, the facelift engine has the oil filler cap at the front next to the water pump. Facelift of engine was around mid 1991 as far as I remember (but would have to recheck). Then there is the facelift inside also. For example the console has a wood front for the ashtray. mine from 88 not.
Just give me the last 7 digits/letters of your VIN number on the plate in the engine room and I can tell you month and year of production immy.
Do not give me the number shown on the dashboard from the chip!
Because often people change the chip to cheat with total miles etc.
Last year I helped someone in Germany to sue a guy who installed a new chip before selling the car. Actually it had 100.000 KM more than advertised.
The new owner could present with my help to the court the fact that the chip had a different chassis/VIN that the plate on the chassis.

Or you can try here also on the VIN decoder.
Don't be shocked, hehe.
My car's first registration was 12/1989, but later I found that it was produced already in 11/88.
http://www.bmw-z1.com/VIN/VINdecode-e.cgi

[Paul in NZ]

i already told you!.If you look carefully along the lower edge of the windscreen there is an number engraved on a "plate" there that is part of the body.I dont think you have to have the hood open but it may help.It is on page 67 of my manual.Mine is a euro model but i would think that the vin is in the same places for all cars

[Whit]

i already told you!.If you look carefully along the lower edge of the windscreen there is an number engraved on a "plate" there that is part of the body.I dont think you have to have the hood open but it may help.It is on page 67 of my manual.Mine is a euro model but i would think that the vin is in the same places for all cars

Paul, the plate near the windscreen is hard to read and may have been modified. I am looking for ALTERNATIVE places to find the VIN.

[shogun]

There are certain regulations there for this. I just copy for you info this one:

each panel of the e32 has a VIN sticker on it if
the panel hasn't been replaced. (USA e32) Look at each door along the bottom, each quarter panel (raise hood & trunk and look in grooves), the hood, the trunk, and the engine. If the car was in an accident and the panel was replaced...the sticker should read DOT-R...if it hasn't been in an accident it will have the cars VIN on it.

Example, here is the VIN sticker location on the M30 engine
http://images.cardomain.com/member_images/1/web/433000-433999/433594_151_full.jpg

[Paul in NZ]

ok thanks .....sorry i couldnt help

[Whit]

Shogun,
The car is in the shop for a check-up, otherwise I could read the numbers on the windsheild and engine compartment right now. I will check back with the numbers tomorrow.
Thanks, everyone!

[Whit]

By the way, this car was imported from Japan to the Philippines. I don't know if that changes the placement of any VINs to look for...

[shogun]

my one was also officially sold here by BMW Japan. I live in Tokyo.
Look here:

http://luuk.xs4all.nl/bmwboeken/bmwe327351988manual/small50/page059.jpg

And of you do not have an owners manual

download here (http://luuk.xs4all.nl/bmwboeken/bmwe327351988manual/)

And if you want to buy cheap parts used from Japan

look at Yahoo auctions Japan (need to read Japanese) (http://search.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/search?sb=desc&desc=BMW+E32&auccat=0&acc=jp&f=0x12&alocale=0jp&mode=2)

If you cannot read Japanese, ask one of the many Japanese living in the Phils.

By the way, we run a charity for a small village in the Philippines, built a school, well, feed 60 children, employ 3 teachers, goat raising program etc.

her you can see our latest car, a local made jeepney, page also Japanese, but you can see the pics (http://www.volunteer95.com)

http://www.volunteer95.com/sub5/express.jpg

You can see me on one of the newspaper clips from the fleamarket in Tokyo, raising money for that project. And my 750iL serves as sales table.

[shogun]

as you 750iL was imported from Japan, maybe you have the same AUDIO inside.
I am looking for a owners manual for this Sony radio. I live very close to Sony headoffice and have asked them, no more stock, then I asked BMW Japan: no more stock. They promised me to make a copy when someone comes with the same car and has a manual inside.

If you would have this japanese manual, I would appreciate very much if you could send me a copy of that. This is a pic of the control panel, 1 sits in the front, 1 in the rear under the armrest cover. The unit is in the trunk.
http://www.arcor.de/palb/alben/49/622249/1024_3035653566343063.jpg
http://www.arcor.de/palb/alben/49/622249/1024_3130366638623963.jpg
http://www.arcor.de/palb/alben/49/622249/1024_3133613232373737.jpg
SONY CDX 5B817
CD AUTO CHANGER SYSTEM
FM-TV 76-90 Mhz, 1-3 Channel
AM 522-1628
DC: 12 V negative ground
serial no. 11165


I want to keep that old one in my car. If you have any part of these and do not need it, can you send it to me?
Anyway, the FM in the Phil's is different from Japan.
Thanks

[Whit]

What a nice thing you have going on in the Philippines and I saw your car, too! I do not have the owner's manual or the manuals to the Sony equipment. The stereo system is not working right now, but it is just a fuse. I would like to keep the original equipment unless you want to trade for something that will work with BMW wiring and has front and rear controls. I would consider it anyway. ;)

[shogun]

Anyway, I still do hope that someone here on the board has it, as many used BMW from Japan are exported to NZ and Australia.

Yoy cannot use the Japanese radio anyway, as in Japan FM is from 76 - 88, while in most other countries in the world it starts from 88.

If you need a used audio for a 750iL with front and rear control panel, maybe you ask VinesAuto in the US. They are dealing with used BMW parts.

Here they just have something to offer on Ebay (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=7949486667&category=38638&sspagename=WDVW)

Or in the U.K.
http://www.bavarianautoparts.co.uk/main.htm
The homepage is not yet full in operation.
Rob Nicol is specialized on used E32 parts and I already bought from him. Nice chap and can be trusted, prices very reasonable.
Bookmark this link, there are all Ebay items from Bavarian Autoparts
http://search.ebay.co.uk/_W0QQgotopageZ1QQsassZbavarianautopartsQQsorecords perpageZ50QQsosortpropertyZ1

[Whit]

Thanks, shogun!

[Whit]

by the way, was the Sony equipment offered on the 94 model?

[shogun]

here is a slide show with 56 pics of a 750iL Highline from Japan. As you can see, the engine is a facelift engine (oil filler cap in front near water pump) = after 1991 produced. The audio looks different

click here (http://jp.y42.photos.yahoo.co.jp/bc/ynv25942/slideshow?&.dir=/%a3%c2%a3%cd%a3%d7%a1%a1%a3%b7%a3%b5%a3%b0%a3%c9%a 3%cc%a1%a1%a5%cf%a5%a4%a5%e9%a5%a4%a5%f3&.src=ph&.view=t)

[Whit]

thanks. i'll find out tomorrow what's up.

[Qsilver7]

The reason is this: I have reasons to believe that my car is NOT a 1994 750il, but an older model. Maybe even a 1988!!! What are some of the options and equiptment that would exist only on a 1994 and not a 1988? Some things that I could quickly recognize? The car is great, but geez! This could be fraud!
It's very easy to tell the 93/94 e32 from the earlier models because the interior center dash is designed differently and has more wood trim. The center dash of the 1993 e32 got a make-over and has wood trim on the center ashtray area beneath the IHKA heat/ac control unit and this treatment continued over to the 1994 model year. Also, you should see VIN stickers on all of the body panels. If you look at the bottom of each door you should see a VIN sticker, raise the hood & trunk lid and you will see a VIN sticker on them both as well as the front/rear quarter panels, and there should also be a VIN sticker mounted on the engine, too. If the car has been in a wreck and any of these panels have been replace...the sticker will say DOT-R instead of having a VIN.

The 1993/1994 center dash of an e32 looks like this pic of a 1994 740i:
http://roterbaron.nmnet.net/740il/HiRes/14.jpg

The dash of the 1988-1992 e32 looks like this pic of my old 91 735iL:
http://tinyurl.com/5t8o3

Here's a pic of the VIN of my old 1991 735iL...if you stand and look through the lower front windshield on the driver's side...you can see the VIN on the lower part of the dash closest to where the dash meets the windshield:
http://www.bimmerboard.com/members/feaqs/VIN%20location%20in%20e32%20window.jpg

And lastly...when you find your VIN...look at the 10th digit...if it is an R ...then indeed it is officially a designated 1994 model. (see VIN description pic below):
http://tinyurl.com/5uscq

I hope you appreciate this post and hope it helps calm your fears. 8-)

[Whit]

Thanks, Qsilver7. I know it sounds crazy, a fake 94? However, I am living in the Philippines and the car was imported from Japan. The title says 1994, but someone may have monkeyed with the VIN or at least the title. I am very happy with it and everything works. The car is in great shape and looks almost new--I have not had any issues...yet. I have it in the shop for a tune up and fluid changes and can't go look at it at the moment. I will find out later today. The owner of the shop said it is one of the nicest 750ils that he has seen, so I suppose I should be grateful. Well, I will be pissed if I got ripped off. I cannot believe these cars are virtually the same over a span of over 6 years!!! It was too easy to do, I suppose. There are almost no differences?

[Paul in NZ]

sony were used often by bmw,my car has sony equipment,radio cassette in the car 10 stack sony player in the boot,all labelled bmw,and i hope your fears are unfounded

[Whit]

thanks. All of my equipment says, "Sony" on it. I am wondering what year it started to say, "BMW." that would seem to be an easy way to tell how old the car is.

[Paul in NZ]

thanks. All of my equipment says, "Sony" on it. I am wondering what year it started to say, "BMW." that would seem to be an easy way to tell how old the car is.

well mine is a dec 1989 build,actually the changer in the boot is labelled a sony and even the bmw sound system manual says fit a sony cdx a 20,mine is a cdx a30

[shogun]

Whit, if you cannot find any VIN number on the car and even not from the chip (but there must be some number in the chip, even if it is wrnong one from another car), then make some pics from the engine room and the interior and Qsilver or I and others who know the E32 very well can tell you exactly what year the car is. There is no way or let's say too costly to modify a 88 to a '94 model. Also a 1988 has a different chip inside the dashboard. The mother board (back plate) of the dashboard has a different
colour. From that one you can already see which period the car was built.
From the speedmeter you can see a difference. The front lip of the spoiler is different, and many other things.

Here some info on the motherboard and different colours and the chips (http://shrubbery.student.utwente.nl/johan/299960/299960.html)

Q, my good old friend: In the US there are much more VIN numbers on the car than in other countries. Does not apply to this car which was built for Japan, actually it has it only near the wiper (and one has to open the hood to see it) and from the chip.

Ohh, just a moment, now another idea just came into my mind::
Remove the rear seat, there is in one corner a small paper clipped underneath and that tells you extactly all data what you are looking for. It even tells you all the options delivered and even on which production line it has been produced. Not many know that place and for sure not a stupid guy trying to make a 1988 looking like a 1994. :p
But it is a bit difficult to remove the seat, as you have electric rear seats. Actually a pain in the a...
http://shrubbery.student.utwente.nl/sean750/option_list/removeOptionlist.jpg
http://shrubbery.student.utwente.nl/sean750/option_list/Showoptionlist.jpg