I have an E34 that I bought from a dealer who imported it from Japan....so their are no DOB badges anywhere. How will I be able to find out which year mine is in order to order the correct struts and shocks?

I am sure everyone knows about the 1990/1990.5 thing....

Thanks in advance. Chris.

Go to your local bimmer dealer and see the guy in the parts/service area. Have him run your V.I.N. # and he should be able to print you off a build sheet. That's what I did for our Japanese Bimmer. I was confused on the year to 'cause the auction site listed it as a '90 but it had the M50 engine. Turns out Euro E34's always did ?? (They didn't come with M20's) Hope this helps.

Todd

PS Where in Canada are you ??

I called them and the VIN brings nothing up at all....he laughed at me as I scouled.

Mine is the M30.

I live in Saskatoon. :)

The parts guy you interacted with must be fresh from the chevy dealership.


Post the last 7 digits of your VIN and someone will tell you what's what...

LMAO! I even called the tech shop and they didn't know either.

BE34583

LMAO! I even called the tech shop and they didn't know either.

BE34583

Sure it isn't BF34583? That's a 3/90 production auto 535, Japan market Delphin on Anthracite cloth.

Hmm...What are the first 7 digits of the VIN? The DME should have a VIN tag on it -- engine bay electrics box, passenger side, closest to the firewall if it's a 535. I assume it's the same on M30 530 cars, but I've never seen one. You can also find the VIN on the back of the instrument cluster, printed on the coding chip. Both of these components could have been changed, but I'm trying to confirm that BE34583 is an actual BMW serial, and not a tuner's chassis (because, everybody's right -- that number is not in the AG database). You may also find the VIN stamped on a front strut tower -- I don't recall when or where that was phased into production. If it is a tuner's chassis, best thing to do is figure out who built the car and contact them.

Regardless of the VIN issue, as to the problem of front strut sizing: all you have to do is remove a front strut cap and measure the top nut. Also, if you're replacing front strut bearings, sizing is irrelevant -- just get the strut bearing and hardware to match the insert.

LMAO! I even called the tech shop and they didn't know either.

BE34583

Check it out here:
http://www.bmw-z1.com/VIN/VINdecode-e.cgi

I came up with the following:

It is an F....sorry about that.

WBAHD21030BF34583

Chassis BF34583
Model 535iA
Engine M30
Transmission Auto (E-S-M)
Steering Left
Cat - Yes

Thanks for the replies, guys. So, it is more than likely a pre-mid 1990, then. That's what I needed to know.