Does my car exist?

[Poppernaunt]

First off, I'm new to the forums and not too knowledgeable with cars. I joined here because I just recently bought my first BMW and I want to learn how to take care of it myself. Unfortunately that's where the problem starts. I'm living on a military base in Japan and recently bought a 1998 BMW 525i. The problem is I'm having a horrible time finding parts. I've checked a lot of the parts sites listed on the forum but the issue is that no websites seem to think there is such a thing as a '98 525i. It's definitely a Japan/Europe model car, I figured it would at least show up on the EU sites, but I can't find anything. I've also tried the sites where you put your vin in, and they all come back something different. Most recent from bmwfans.info was a 1997 523i. I have used part numbers off my car to reverse look up the model on some sites. But I'm not sure if some parts are fine for a wide variety of models and some parts might be model specific.

So my question is, what's the best way to go about finding parts for my ghost model car?

Thanks in advance!

[cal45fan]

Realoem.com states that the first production month for your car is 11/1999. What does your productions ticker say on the driver's door jamb?

In any regard, start with realoem.com

[jdjg]

Post here your last 7 numbers of you VIN

[Poppernaunt]

Thanks for the quick response guys. The door panel tag doesn't have that info on it. All it has is the Model (525i), tire size chart and weight/passenger limit chart. Is there anywhere else I should look? The last 7 of the VIN are BV07752. Realoem has me as a 97 523i also. But the car is stamped 525i and all the paperwork I've found has it as a 1998 (title, maintenance record, sales record).

[mcung13]

Maybe it is stamped wrong in the paperwork, as 523i engine is 2.5 liter m52 and 525i engine is 2.5 liter m54.

[jdjg]

Thanks for the quick response guys. The door panel tag doesn't have that info on it. All it has is the Model (525i), tire size chart and weight/passenger limit chart. Is there anywhere else I should look? The last 7 of the VIN are BV07752. Realoem has me as a 97 523i also. But the car is stamped 525i and all the paperwork I've found has it as a 1998 (title, maintenance record, sales record).

You have a single vanos m52b25, basically its a 2.5 motor......

[xisco44]

you have a 523i end of story
you share a lot of part with the 528i as jdjg said you have an m52b25 , this is a single vanos engine with 170hp.

[rf900rkw]

You have a 1997 523i, as many have said. It was built Jan 14 1997. But in many jurisdictions, the registration year is when it was sold, not when it was made.

Go HERE (http://www.rubmw.ru/vincode/eng/), enter the last seven of the VIN, answer the math quiz, and see if the resultant information matches the car you have. Note option 320A. :)

[Chigga]

It may be a 523 but BMW of Japan is known to change model according to its own market, so it may be sold as 525i in Japan which technically speaking is correct as its a 2.5L engine.

[rf900rkw]

It may be a 523 but BMW of Japan is known to change model according to its own market, so it may be sold as 525i in Japan which technically speaking is correct as its a 2.5L engine.


That aligns well with the option code 320A -- Model Badge Delete

It likely was ordered naked so BMW-Japan could do their own badgework.

[Chigga]

That aligns well with the option code 320A -- Model Badge Delete

It likely was ordered naked so BMW-Japan could do their own badgework.

They are bit wonky like that, if you buy a 520, which later model came with the 2.2L M54, the car would actually say 520 2.2 to differentiate from the older 520's with M52.

[Aussie528iT]

BMW do all sorts of funny business with engine sizes and badging depending on the country and the perceived customers. The current F10/11 and E90 series are good examples.

RonR

[Poppernaunt]

Thanks for explaining this to me. I thought I was going nuts there for a second. So from now on I'll order parts marked for the '97 528. This explains a lot because the other parts (cosmetic mostly) that I've been looking at usually popped up under the 528i. Now comes the fun part of ordering and re-routing to FPO address. Thanks again everyone!