E30 Zone

Hello,

I have an E30 BMW 320i. It was 'registered in July 1985 and the VIN states manufacture on 2nd January 1985. This infuriatingly means it wouldn't be 'historic' until 1 April 2026. But I thought if I could prove it was manufactured 31 December 1984 or earlier this could bring forward the historic status by a year in the eyes of the DVLA.

Is this possible? Via BMW paperwork or something? And would the DVLA accept this? Welcome thoughts.

shawz007 wrote: ↑

Mon Jul 31, 2023 12:27 pm

Hello,
I have an E30 BMW 320i. It was 'registered in July 1985 and the VIN states manufacture on 2nd January 1985. This infuriatingly means it wouldn't be 'historic' until 1 April 2026. But I thought if I could prove it was manufactured 31 December 1984 or earlier this could bring forward the historic status by a year in the eyes of the DVLA.
Is this possible? Via BMW paperwork or something? And would the DVLA accept this? Welcome thoughts.

You can get a printout with your VIN from a dealer that has build date and options fitted, If your local dealer is a problem then maybe try Cotswolds here.

The Gov web page does say "the vehicle was built or first registered more than 40 years ago" but as it stands if built on 2nd Jan then you will be waiting another year. Worth checking from a dealer though. Mine just misses the 2024 cutoff so will be April 2025 but it is not on the road yet anyway so does not bother me.

flybynite wrote: ↑

Mon Jul 31, 2023 1:00 pm

shawz007 wrote: ↑

Mon Jul 31, 2023 12:27 pm

You can get a printout with your VIN from a dealer that has build date and options fitted, If your local dealer is a problem then maybe try Cotswolds here.

The Gov web page does say "the vehicle was built or first registered more than 40 years ago" but as it stands if built on 2nd Jan then you will be waiting another year. Worth checking from a dealer though. Mine just misses the 2024 cutoff so will be April 2025 but it is not on the road yet anyway so does not bother me.

Isn't the printout from the dealer you suggest just what you can get online with the VIN in a few clicks anyway - that's how I got to the 2 January date anyway.

Not sure what your 'Cotswolds' suggestion is? Doesn't appear as a link to me?

shawz007 wrote: ↑

Mon Jul 31, 2023 1:06 pm

Isn't the printout from the dealer you suggest just what you can get online with the VIN in a few clicks anyway - that's how I got to the 2 January date anyway.

If you accept the 2 January date then not sure why you need anything else. I just thought it may be worth checking from the proper source in case it is different. Not sure how you think you are going to change it.

shawz007 wrote: ↑

Mon Jul 31, 2023 1:06 pm

Not sure what your 'Cotswolds' suggestion is? Doesn't appear as a link to me?

viewforum.php?f=105

shawz007 wrote: ↑

Mon Jul 31, 2023 12:27 pm

Hello,

I have an E30 BMW 320i. It was 'registered in July 1985 and the VIN states manufacture on 2nd January 1985. This infuriatingly means it wouldn't be 'historic' until 1 April 2026. But I thought if I could prove it was manufactured 31 December 1984 or earlier this could bring forward the historic status by a year in the eyes of the DVLA.

Is this possible? Via BMW paperwork or something? And would the DVLA accept this? Welcome thoughts.

So you’re suggesting that the BMW factory worked on New Years Eve (31 Dec 1984) to manufacture your car. Am I understanding you correctly?
“Tipex”….. I think this is your answer, Tipex out the dates on your V5C, send to DVLA & I’m almost certain this will convince them that your car was actually made in 1984.
Simples in it !!

I've been counting down the years until my car becomes tax/MOT exempt but then discovered that as my '89 car is an import it was officially first registered in 2016. I probably won't live to see it become historic. Gutted.

Cloggy Saint wrote: ↑

Sat Sep 30, 2023 12:43 pm

I've been counting down the years until my car becomes tax/MOT exempt but then discovered that as my '89 car is an import it was officially first registered in 2016. I probably won't live to see it become historic. Gutted.

If you look at the regs you can use the manufacture date if you can show that. A dealer printout should be enough, they can check it themselves if needed.

https://www.gov.uk/historic-vehicles/ve ... ehicle-tax

I've had to wait the extra year also but it is not an issue for me as the car is a long way from being on the road. It will be 'historic' next year though

I have been looking into this as my E30 was manufactured in Oct 1986 but not registered until early 1987. So in order to register it for tax exemption I will need to prove to the DVLA that it was manufactured in 1986.

So far I have found the following ways to do this:

• BMW UK - for a fee of £120
• BMW Car Club - for a fee of £20, but I have to be a member of the Club, which costs £45

Both of these are considerably cheaper than paying for an additional year of tax, but I am wondering if there are any other even cheaper ways? I know I can put my VIN into any online decoder (that's how I found out the manufacture date), but I doubt the DVLA will accept a printout from some random website.

Cheers

I have just read Flybynite's post (properly!), is a dealer printout good enough?

Has anyone successfully done it with a dealer printout?

clarko74 wrote: ↑

Mon Feb 09, 2026 1:27 pm

I have just read Flybynite's post (properly!), is a dealer printout good enough?
Has anyone successfully done it with a dealer printout?

I just waited the extra year as manufacture date would not have helped me anyway. Can't see why a dealer screenshot printout won't work. None of it is definitive proof but they can check it themselves if they need to, your date of manufacture is statement of fact. How you chose to show that is up to you.

All my documents (MOT exemption form etc) had a cursory glance at the post office and were handed back to me. V5 was kept, new historic one arrived in a couple of weeks.