history and reference Help with a VIN (2574356)

[winstontj]

Recently someone pointed out that based on the VIN I have listed as my '70 car, it could not have been produced until at least 1971.

 

When I go places like RealOEM, the BMW HTK CD/Disks, bmwfans.info, etc. all of my other prior VINs pull up fine except for this one. What is VIN# 2574356?

 

I found several other people with similar issues with 257xxxx VINs. Each also claim to have late 1970 or 1971 cars.

 

I'm also not fully understanding the numbering sequence as my '70 is allegedly 257xxx while a '74 I owned is 422xxxx and a '75 I cut up once upon a time was 236xxxx. 

 

Thanks for any clarification. 

[adawil2002]

Send the VIN to info.grouparchiv@bmwgroup.com, they will return build date, delivery to importer and color code.

 

If you purchase this book, it will answer all your questions. http://www.amazon.com/BMW-2002-Comprehensive-Classic-Sporting/dp/1855203340/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1449522189&sr=1-3&keywords=bmw+2002

[Guest_anonymous]

Was it purchased prior to it being manufactured?

[02Les]

Send the VIN to info.grouparchiv@bmwgroup.com, they will return build date, delivery to importer and color code.

 

If you purchase this book, it will answer all your questions. http://www.amazon.com/BMW-2002-Comprehensive-Classic-Sporting/dp/1855203340/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1449522189&sr=1-3&keywords=bmw+2002

+1

 

in the meantime, 2574356 was built in 1971, probably late May.

[Conserv]

The first three digits of the seven-digit VIN's do not signify production order; they signify various '02 sub-models and model years: e.g., "276XXXX" cars are U.S.-spec round taillight tii's.

Given that there is no cost and you generally receive a reply within 24 hours, I don't know why more owners don't take advantage of BMW Archive's data, as Andrew (adawil2002) points to above. Unless someone has one of the rare Belgian-assembled examples -- for which data is generally not available -- there's no mystery regarding production dates.

For cars manufactured after BMW North America was created and assumed the role of sole importer -- from Hoffman Motors -- BMW has additional data in their parts databases. This occurred in early 1975.

Regards,

Steve

Edited December 7, 2015 by Conserv

[Conserv]

+1

 

in the meantime, 2574356 was built in 1971, probably late May.

Yep, 2573466 was built May 10th, 1971.

Steve

[winstontj]

OK so what do I need to do to get the title and registration changed? Can I ask BMW NA to verify the production in some certified manner, have a police station inspect the VIN #'s and then take that to the registry/DMV?

[HBChris]

Send an e-mail as directed to BMW. Is there no DOT/EPA sticker under the hood? All US models have these with year of compliance, in this case 1971.

[winstontj]

Send an e-mail as directed to BMW. Is there no DOT/EPA sticker under the hood? All US models have these with year of compliance, in this case 1971.

Just found it. Says 1971. Still doesn't change the fact that I bought the car almost sight-unseen ~10 years ago and it was previously registered as a '70 so I blindly just re-registered it so I could get a clean title in my name for it. 

[bob02]

Mine is 2573468, built May 5th, 1971. Steve, do you own 2573466?

 

  Winstontj,  Does your car have beltline trim? Silver dollar or black style instrument cluster? Short or long console?

 

 Bob

[Conserv]

Mine is 2573468, built May 5th, 1971. Steve, do you own 2573466...

No, Bob, it's simply on my "reference sheet" of VIN's with BMW Archive-supplied manufacturing dates. But, assuming your car's manufacturing date is May 5, and it's 2 cars AFTER ...3466, I would bet that the person reporting ...3466's date accidentally copied the date when legal title transferred to Hoffman Motors RATHER THAN the manufacturing date.

Regards,

Steve

[Mike Self]

From what I've been able to determine, BMW built US spec cars in batches on the assembly line due to the myriad differences between them and "rest of the world" cars.  These differences increased each year as more Federal regulations--both safety and emissions--went on the books.  

 

For example, my '69 was the 40th "second series" '69 built--these are '69s that were assembled after 1 January 1969, when several Federal vehicle regulations changed.  Most manufacturers incorporated those 1 Jan changes when their new models came out the previous September, but BMW didn't.  While my car was only 40 VIN numbers away from that 1 January changeover, it wasn't assembled until 6 February, so chances are good that there were no US spec cars assembled in January--probably because Hoffman didn't order any.  

 

I also know that one of the last 30 or so "first series" '69s was assembled in early December, so there was a nearly two month period when no US spec 02s were built.

 

mike

[winstontj]

Mine is 2573468, built May 5th, 1971. Steve, do you own 2573466?

 

  Winstontj,  Does your car have beltline trim? Silver dollar or black style instrument cluster? Short or long console?

 

 Bob

 

Bob,

I bought the car about 8 years ago almost site-unseen for iirc about $200. The only thing I can tell you for certain about the car is that it came with a LOT of rust and bondo.

 

Beltline trim is missing and did not come with the car but yes, there are holes for it on the car.

 

Black style instrument cluster

 

Car came with a long console however it was from a later car and had stereo brackets and switches held in with glue and drywall screws. No idea what console was put in at the factory. 

[Mike Self]

FYI, you have a pretty late nevada car...that color was being phased out in 1971 in favor of Sahara.  In fact I've seen  precious few Nevada '71s, and only one '72 Nevada car, and that was am early tii.  Any more out there?

 

mike

[bob02]

Mike, mine was originally Nevada as well, and will be again at some point in the future...  Bet they had a surplus of Nevada paint in May 71:)