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:
 
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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