Build Date Identification

Basic needs related to restoring a 6er including
Electronics, Bodywork, Welding, Painting, Engine Swap, etc
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gte619n
Posts: 128
Joined: Wed Aug 05, 2015 8:30 pm
Location: Atlanta, GA

Build Date Identification

Post by gte619n »

Hey fellas,

I just acquired a 1985 M635CSi. Looks like a German market car as every last thing is in German. Shifting the car is like stirring soup, so I'm going to replace the knuckle and bushings. I see that there is a late-1985/1986 split and I was hoping someone could help me identify which group my car belongs to. The door tag says 1985, so not really helpful. I've attached a picture of the door tag and the tag under the hood on the passenger side.

Can the build date be identified by these? What else can help determine?

And yeah, no docs or papers... I know... I'm an idiot.

Thanks!

E
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Evan Ruff, Atlanta GA, Engineer
1970 Ford F100
1972 BMW 3.0CSi, L-Jet 3.5L
1978 Ferrari 308GTB
1985 BMW M635CSi
2016 BMW M2
honyama
Posts: 52
Joined: Thu May 19, 2016 12:35 pm
Location: South Germany

Re: Build Date Identification

Post by honyama »

ehicle Identification Number WBAEE310801050899
Type EE31
Model 635 Csi - EUR
Development Code E24
Chassis COUPE
Steering LL
Doors 2
Engine S38
Displacement 3.50
Power 0
Drivetrain HECK
Transmission MECH
Color Schwarz - 086
Upholstery Anthrazit Buffalo - 0180
Production Plant
Production Date 1984-10-01


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Searching for 011 ECU.
gte619n
Posts: 128
Joined: Wed Aug 05, 2015 8:30 pm
Location: Atlanta, GA

Re: Build Date Identification

Post by gte619n »

Well then, that answers that! How did you look that up?

Also, I'm a little confused with the engine code? It says S38, but isn't the 635CSi euros M88?

Thanks,

E
Evan Ruff, Atlanta GA, Engineer
1970 Ford F100
1972 BMW 3.0CSi, L-Jet 3.5L
1978 Ferrari 308GTB
1985 BMW M635CSi
2016 BMW M2
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hornhospital
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Re: Build Date Identification

Post by hornhospital »

Ken Kanne
'84 633CSi "Sylvia"; '85 635CSi "Katja";'85 325e "Hazel Ann"; '95 M3 "Ashlyn"
gte619n
Posts: 128
Joined: Wed Aug 05, 2015 8:30 pm
Location: Atlanta, GA

Re: Build Date Identification

Post by gte619n »

Thanks!
Evan Ruff, Atlanta GA, Engineer
1970 Ford F100
1972 BMW 3.0CSi, L-Jet 3.5L
1978 Ferrari 308GTB
1985 BMW M635CSi
2016 BMW M2
jacko
Posts: 416
Joined: Mon Feb 03, 2014 6:43 pm
Location: DFW Texas

Re: Build Date Identification

Post by jacko »

Has anyone found a way to see how many were produced AFTER a given date? Mine was a pretty late production one.
Jack
Arlington, Texas. USA

1989 635csi
Automatic
gte619n
Posts: 128
Joined: Wed Aug 05, 2015 8:30 pm
Location: Atlanta, GA

Re: Build Date Identification

Post by gte619n »

Hey guys,

Could someone clarify the S38 engine code for me on the car? I thought S38s were USA and M88/3 was Europe? Am I getting this mixed up?

Thanks!

E
Evan Ruff, Atlanta GA, Engineer
1970 Ford F100
1972 BMW 3.0CSi, L-Jet 3.5L
1978 Ferrari 308GTB
1985 BMW M635CSi
2016 BMW M2
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miike87
Posts: 74
Joined: Fri Jun 12, 2015 8:47 am
Location: Kaiserslautern / Germany

Re: Build Date Identification

Post by miike87 »

The M88/3 is the high compression engine with the oil filler cap between cyl 1 and 2 and single chain. Similar to the one in the M1. Used in the first production M635 delivering 286 PS.
The S38 is the lower compression engine with the double chain, oil filler cap on the chain housing and catalytic converter. First used in the US M6, later also in the EUR M635 with catalytic converter. Has only 260 PS. Also got an idle adjustment valve controlled by the Motronic.

All online VIN decodes claim the M6/M635 to have an S38 installed. That's because BMW renamed the M88/3 to S38 and screwed up the naming sheme a bit.
M635 CSi 15.05.1984
Delivered: 199 Burgundrot, 159 Leather black, S2941A Kreuzspeiche, S401A SHD el., S510A headlight aiming, S664A Bavaria Electronic, S680A antenna man.
Today: 086 schwarz, BMW/BBS RC035/RC038, Bavaria C Electronic
gte619n
Posts: 128
Joined: Wed Aug 05, 2015 8:30 pm
Location: Atlanta, GA

Re: Build Date Identification

Post by gte619n »

Thanks for clearing up the confusion, Miike. I was pretty positive I had the M88 engine but seeing that S38 code on the VIN decoder scared me a bit!
Evan Ruff, Atlanta GA, Engineer
1970 Ford F100
1972 BMW 3.0CSi, L-Jet 3.5L
1978 Ferrari 308GTB
1985 BMW M635CSi
2016 BMW M2
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