South African BMW Build Sheet Help

[drinnovativeproducts]

Hi,

I’ve been trying to find a build sheet for a South African BMW 325 4 door I have, I’ve tried all the VIN decoders that seem to work but it only gives the basic information, no optional extras.
I’ve searched this forums threads and the internet but most things don’t seem to be working.
I tried a couple of local BMW dealers but they couldn’t give me an answer giving various excuses.
Just wondering if someone on here has the magic database of codes or to be directed to a good working VIN decoder?
From what I can see the car has a fair bit of good stuff on it :
Air conditioning (with sunroof)
Automatic heater control
Rear blind
Rear headrests
Cruise control
Long range fuel tank
Extended toolset
Mtech 2 front and rear bumpers + spoiler
Mtech 1 steering wheel
ABS
etc
Just be nice to see if it’s all original spec, checked under rear seat too.

Thanks in advance!

[OldEnglish68]

Sorry, can't help with decode but it does sound like you have very interesting car there...

[drinnovativeproducts]

Hi there, thanks!
It seems to have been imported when it was a year old to england (maybe a rich family) the dealership it was sold no longer exists, it has the original SA number plate etched in the windows.
A member named Sam325is sold it on here in 2009 I believe if anyone knows him? Cheers

[ah]

I’m proberly up the wrong tree,but was the car a very low spec when it rolled off the production line in SA and it’s been added too over the years hence why the spec sheet isn’t up to much.If not an email to the original SA dealership if it stills exists where it was sold from,or even better the factory where it was built.

[drinnovativeproducts]

Hi,

The original BMW Supertech in Lenasia not longer exists unfortunately but I've emailed the one in Durban SA.
I've done a bit more research through the history that came with the car and it would appear another member had it for a while RM2186 and did a post showing the car then:

viewtopic.php?f=25&t=159717&p=1764378#p1764378

There's a book called BMW E30 - 3 Series Restoration Guide which states that most South African built cars had:
- Air conditioning
- Sump guard
- Long range fuel tank
- No plastic insert between rear lights
- Larger airbox

The Mtech bumpers definitely look to be factory fitted and the Pfeba side skirts and pods also look to be very well fitted, from what I've read Pfeba was an approved BMW dealer optional extra?

Cheers

[RM2186]

You are right, I bought it from Sam325Is in 2009 and ran it for a while, sweetest 325i engine I have ever driven. Circumstances meant that I had to get the cars stored (I had 5 E30's at the time) , and it ended up on a farm in Darlington for 9years! Car was then sold on in 2019 as a project to someone in Teesside and now she is with you. All I have left of my once proud fleet is a Tech 2 Sport and a Tech 1 Sport Auto.
I have checked my files and I have no further info on the SA car, the little that I had was passed on to the buyer in 2019. I do recall that the windscreen wiper linkage had broken. I did find out the name of the side skirts once but long forgotten now, although they are rare.

[drinnovativeproducts]

Hi there RM2186, I did wonder what happened to it after you had it makes sense now if you've had it stored for 9 years. I bought it from the son of a car dealer in in Stockton-on-Tees but he decided not to keep it in the end.
It was up on ebay and there was a picture of it in a barn/garage where I assume you must have had it, the add wasn't very well written so didn't mention many of the goodies it came with and there was no mention of history with the car so I got a bit of a bargain (in today's terms).

That's no worries there seems to be a good history with it including some E30 Zone forum thread print outs which is the only reason I found your thread.
I do believe the windscreen wipers are floppy you're right sadly it's missing the sump guard too but that could still be where it was stored! Did you ever manage to get a build sheet for it?

I think most people would be happy with one sport let alone two and both phases!

Cheers for replying

Ps. The side skirts are Pfeba

[RM2186]

No sump guard I'm afraid, and you're right about the skirts! There was a new wiper linkage set in the boot if I recall correctly.

I have now sold the Tech 2 Sport, just the Tech 1 to be picked up now