VIN confusion

My car is an 88 325i but when i checked my VIN code, its telling me that my car is a 325e. Ok so i got ripped off when i bought it, but no, further investigation of the VIN reveals that i have the regular 2.5 litre engine. So naturally i'm confused. What's going on here?

Where are you reading the VIN? Dashes often get swapped etc.

The VIN is screwed onto the dash. Im just wondering why the VIN would tell me i have a 325e with the 325i engine... from the factory

It wouldn't. Pop the hood and look right along the top of the gutter below the windshield and the vents. The VIN should be there as well.
Post the vin, I'd be interested in seeing what it says.

Checked the other location and its the same code: WBAAE6403J8824299. There was another series of numbers right next to the VIN, not sure what it is: 43354071

You've got a super eta, based on the production date, so yours should just say 325 no e or i physically on the car. Someone probably swapped boot lids, or slapped the i on there. But as for the vin info, I can't say why it lists it as a 2.5L, but I ran two known 86 eta vins in the decoder and they both came back M20B25 instead of 27, so there you go. You do have the cold start valve correct?

Im not sure, what does it look like/where is it located?

Check the VIN on the engine. Who knows, you might have a dashboard or an engine from a different car.

Good idea, where is the code located on the engine?

Lol, this reminds me when I was crossing the border back into the US with my E30, and I forgot my doors we're from another car. Patrol Agent checked my registration and door vin and flipped out saying it wasn't the registration and asking so much BS. Told him "It's a GERMAN car, VIN is EVERYWHERE, look at the TRUNK ". Lol, he felt bad afterwards.

Point: VIN is also in teh trunk

Originally Posted by JDW124

Lol, this reminds me when I was crossing the border back into the US with my E30, and I forgot my doors we're from another car. Patrol Agent checked my registration and door vin and flipped out saying it wasn't the registration and asking so much BS. Told him "It's a GERMAN car, VIN is EVERYWHERE, look at the TRUNK ". Lol, he felt bad afterwards.

Point: VIN is also in teh trunk

the only place ive ever found my car is where it is stamped on under the windscreen

Originally Posted by straightSixer

Im not sure, what does it look like/where is it located?

Number 7 in the pic:

Originally Posted by PhilipWOT

Check the VIN on the engine. Who knows, you might have a dashboard or an engine from a different car.

He's already determined that the dash serial and the stamped serial match, so not the dash. And the vin decoder is what lists it as an eta, but with a 2.5 instead of a 2.7. But like I said, I checked two other eta vins, both from 86 and they came back M20b25 instead of M20b27 as well.

He should see if the vin on his boot lid matches the others as well.

Ok so it looks like i dont have the cold start valve, though there is something not pictured in your diagram, i'll try and post a picture

no picture

Ok lets try this then....

Alrighty i dont think thats working, someone wanna give me a crash course on adding pics?

upload the pic somewhere, ie
http://tinypic.com/
http://imageshack.us/

them copy image location (URL) them click on the little yellow squeare with the mountain on top of the reply box and its gonna tell you to enter the url or your pic. thats all

Ok how bout i just link to the pic in my profile http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/alb...pictureid=8259

Or i could try what you said lol *crosses fingers*

Holy **** thats a big pic. Apologies, if i knew it would be that big id have stuck with the link

whereabouts is the vin located in the trunk?

Looks like a 2.5 "i" engine. Weird. Unless it's an error somewhere.

Originally Posted by bretgc

whereabouts is the vin located in the trunk?

Under the trunk lid toward the back on the right side between the roundel and the 325.