E32 750iL 1989 - Considering

[geelmielie]

Asking for advice / input on this 1989 e32. I have been looking at this vehicle, some engine work done. Items that I noticed:

• Oil dip stick not in the location that I would expected – from what I remember in front of engine?
• The cooling fan removed, and replaced with electric fans – any thoughts on this modification?
• Radiator not standard anymore?
• 2 exposed small filters fuel? Filers at each side – not familiar with this / or covers missing;
• Distributor covers missing;
• A cover / or engine guard / plate at bottom front seems to be missing?
• Did notice small amount of smoke at idle, at first start up – any views, took a short moment to start up, but I suspect battery flat?
• ABS light on while driving
• Back window does not appear to be original - option with fine line across the window - radio reception, or special option?

Engine and gearbox seem smooth, brakes seem Ok, took ‘n short drive, power appears to be on par with what I know about these vehicles.
The instrument cluster is basically half dead, only rev counter and temp sensor working – so difficult to see km reading, but looks like 168k km.

I know this will probable just cost a fortune to maintain, but always interested in these vehicles. Any view or input appreciated.

20190928_093049.jpg20190928_093054.jpg20190928_093131.jpg20190928_093139.jpg20190928_093234.jpg

[geelmielie]

A Few more pics
20190928_094145.jpg20190928_093317.jpg

[shogun]

the yellow dipstick is for the trans, the red one is for engine oil http://bmwe32.masscom.net/sean750/V1...dFuelLines.jpg
vacuum hoses for fuel pressure regulators wrong connected, correct http://e32b12.blogspot.com/search/la...valve%20lifter
old distributor covers break, good brand distributor caps like Bremi come with new ones
the filters might be a modification of the fuel tank breather lines which normally has 2 valves with electric connectors http://bmwfans.info/parts-catalog/E3...urb_air_valve/
radiator shroud missing, maybe because of the change to 2 electric fans instead of visco fan
the return line for coolant from water pump is blocked http://bmwe32.masscom.net/sean750/ra.../beginning.jpg http://bmwe32.masscom.net/sean750/ra...enViscoFan.jpg
back window glass is looking originally like this with demister wires and antenna wires http://www.bimmerboard.com/members/s...al/antenna.jpg
at the area under the engine the belly cover is missing
the car is South Africa version and built 06/1989

[tsmcg161]

My 10 year experience with my 12/88 750il is bitter sweet. When the car is on point, its one of the finest rides Ive ever owned. But when its not on point, I use a lot of vulgar adverbs and adjectives. This vehicle has consumed a lot of my money and a lot of my time. Im in the middle of correcting an oil leak and getting it ready for a 2nd respray. Good luck!

[geelmielie]

e32 1988.jpg

I recently come across this vehicle - apparently 46 000km - 1988 - too good to be true? - trying to gauge the imperfections on the car, if due to age, or if the millage is not correct. The VIN number is not what I am used to - the number however correspond to the number on the windows - must for an early 1st production model I assume - any idea on how to search based on this vin, or engine number?


1988 e32.jpg

[shogun]

That was assembled in South Africa, maybe knock down kit, therefore the strange VIN. Difficult to get details from the normal online VIN sources.

[kce1900]

Could it be that the "chassis serial no" stamped on the tag matches the last few digits of the VIN? If that's the case, the complete VIN of the white car could be "ZBA GC88 000 0759008" (added spaces for clarity). The other car would be "ZBA GC88 050 DC92020"

The white vehicle was assembled on 1988-09-16, and the other one on 1989-07-14. Unfortunately, that's the only information the usual VIN decoders have for cars built in Rosslyn. They don't even know the colour or upholstery.

[Sansouci]

Shogun,
What is your opinion on replacing the visco fan with these Spal electro fans?

[geelmielie]

Thanks for the info - I will see what info I can get and post some pics if I decide to proceed with this car.

Other Roslyn cars that I've seen of this area, but mostly 1990+, the vin numbers on engine plates are 8 digits - this vin is a bit strange.

Other item I notice - headliner and pillar material, also not what I am use to in these cars - seems a bit thicker grey material - almost velvet like - dark grey.

Must admit, I want this car.

[kce1900]

There are several numbers on the cars. The engine has an 8-digit number stamped into the block. The car has a 17-character VIN defined in ISO standards 3779 and 3780 (see Wikipedia). In addition, BMW used an 8-digit chassis number stamped into the body (see here). On top of that there national legislation regarding type codes that you would find in registration documents.

I am not aware of any way to correlate engine or chassis numbers to VINs. And this makes the tags that you showed us so interesting because they tell you the number of the engine that was originally in the car.

Can you also find the complete VIN starting with ZBA GC88 on the car? All 750iL made in Rosslyn for the South African market should have this prefix.