86 \"325is\" VIN numbers

#1

Got a candidate car claims to be an 86 325is, 6400 RPM redline. Thought they started in the US in 87 with the 2.5 168 hp. Anybody know a source for VIN so I can figure it out?

Thanks

Christian

#2

Not sure how ‘good’ realoem.com is but you can try it. If you want you can send me the VIN, or last seven digits of it, and I’ll ask a friend to check it in ETK.

Igor

#3

Thanks Igor. It’s moot for now, the car is sold. But I’ll keep that URL and pm you if the question comes up again. Whats ETK?

I see that Appendix A of the rules shows 86 as non 168hp. Could it have been a "Euro Spec" or were there no grey market cars?

#4

ETK is Electronic Parts Catalog in german
It is a lot like the realoem.com interface.
cheers,
bruce

cmcintyre wrote:

[quote]Thanks Igor. It’s moot for now, the car is sold. But I’ll keep that URL and pm you if the question comes up again. Whats ETK?

I see that Appendix A of the rules shows 86 as non 168hp. Could it have been a "Euro Spec" or were there no grey market cars?[/quote]

#5

cmcintyre wrote:

[quote]Got a candidate car claims to be an 86 325is, 6400 RPM redline. Thought they started in the US in 87 with the 2.5 168 hp. Anybody know a source for VIN so I can figure it out?

Thanks

Christian[/quote]
AFAIK, 325is was 87…I had one.
Anyway the iS will have leather seats, power sunroof, 12 button OBC, 3.73 LSD
trunk spoiler, front airdam, rear spoiler, leather 3 spoke steering wheel. Different springs too I think
The S or sport package is just an option level and everything except the LSD is irrelevant to a Spec E30 so don’t pay a premium for an S car unless you think you can make the premium back selling the goodies.

#6

Throw the vin in google and it will link through to a carfax site that will tell you what it is.

#7

what’s a typical redline?

#8

e cars redline at 4500
i cars 6800 or so

#9

AFAIK, U.S.-spec 325iS cars did not start production until 9/86 (11/86 according to RealOEM‡ ) and were considered 1987 Model Year vehicles. (In Europe, BMW model years tended to follow the calendar year.) ‘i’ cars built prior to 9/86 were for european sale and, if in the U.S., were the result of graymarket import.

As for the cluster, here’s the panel out of my 1987 325iS (3/87 production):

As mentioned by Sean, the most worthwhile part of the ‘S’ cars, from a SpecE30 perspective, is the standard 3.73 LSD (~$350-400 when found on eBay or online classifieds), however, the premium audio package speakers (characterized by tweeter pods on the side mirror interior trim plates), Recaro-style ‘Sport’ seats and 3-spoke MTechnik steering wheel can make some decent money on eBay/Craigslist ($800+, depending) and the 13-button OBC comes in handy when monitoring fuel levels (press [1000] and [1], simultaneously).

StrictlyETA.net has some period articles on the 325iS (including a very flattering comparison with the E30 M3, by Road & Track) here.

VIN Decoders: Bimmerfest VIN DIY, Automated form.

‡ Note: Typical BMW model year production changes start in September, as the traditional vacation month of August is used to make changes to tooling and production lines.