VIN, realoem.com and distributor x-reference

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Vbigdog

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Realoem.com thinks my 1972 3.0CS, vin: 2240100 is a 1988 318. While i am definitely a newbie here, and extremely greatful for the members on this forum, i'm quite sure i have an E9 and don't have it wrong.

Q: are there typically letters in the VIN? The tag on the right front fender is quite clear, so the number/charcters on the chassis are definitively "2240100", but may include a letter "oh" versus number "zero"?

Q2: the engine has been worked on/frankensteined. The distributor (with stuck and leaking vacuum advance/retard) is part number 0231 162 002 "I FUD 6"
Does this PN cross reference or sound familiar ? This part number is also not in realoem.

I would like to find a local or rebuilt vac advance (ideally) locally in a bone yard or parts store.
 
BigDog,

Welcome to the fray. I would not worry too much about searching RealOEM by your VIN; just inserting the year and model number should be sufficient. If your car is a 72 I doubt very seriously you'll find any mid-year variations on parts for your car. In the 15 years I've been playing with E9s I've never had a situation where I found this to be the case anyway.

Regards,
-tj in los gatos
 
IIRC our E9 Vins don't have enough numbers like the new VIN system therefore when you enter the number realoem is using the last 7 numbers to search. Then finding a 318.

Gary
 
From the realoem page.


Enter your BMW Serial Number (last 7 digits of your VIN) OR use the search options below. Serial Number:
 
Can go to Maximillian and look in the Archive section, same illustrations as realoem, because it's real oem.
 
it is not uncommon to find that your vin has been reassigned, i.e. my vin says that the car is a 1987 735

so forget about the vin and use the model + year method

btw, your distributor is the same than mine, but it is not the only one that you can use

i have one distributor renewed for sale inthe PARTS subforum, it has been renewed, new seals, washers, regreased and tested

follow this link
http://www.e9coupe.com/forum/showthread.php?t=11614&page=2

regards
 
Last edited:
Not sure but I think what is happening is you are giving the E9 Vin number as the 7 digits as it is. Like 22401xx
I just did this with my VIN on realoem and it told me I had a E30 318i.

It searches with the last 7 digits of a the modern 17 digit number.

Therefore our 7 digit numbers don't help on parts searches like realoem.
You have to use the year and model.
 
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