more mysteries: paint code sticker ??, VIN reports

[EODguy]

M decoder is working again...

https://www.mdecoder.com/

Sent from my SM-A730F using Tapatalk

[workingonit]

Thanks, guys. I guess I''l have to find that build sheet, if it still exists.

[oldskewel]

My 2001 3.0i seems pretty similar to yours.

Topaz blue metallic as marked on the vehicle. VIN decoder adds the code (364) to that.

Tan / sand / definitely not black interior. VIN decoder calls it Standardleder/hellbeige 2 (arbeitsn (N6HC). Body trim is black, as are the tires .

All that is definitely original

From some of the seams, like on the edges of the hood, it looks to me like it has a gray primer, but I don't know for sure if that is primer under the paint or something else. I unfortunately don't have any paint peeling yet on the car, other than at those edge locations, and I can understand if they are specially treated somehow.

Interesting thing I recently noticed on the production date ...

• The VIN decoder tells me it is 28.06.2001 build. So did the Foxwell (06_2001), etc. that read the VIN and decide the production month.
• But the VIN plate in the driver's door jamb shows July (07/01) just like yours does.
• From production date stamps on many items throughout the car that I've come across when doing repairs, I see many from late June 2001. Have never seen a July date anywhere other than on that VIN plate.

None of the above is a concern of mine, but in case it helps to throw more confusion onto the fire, here it is.

VIN shown there: WBAFA53591LM90270
interesting that the trailing 5 digits are so different from yours, considering they are from the same build month. I guess they are not consecutive.
VIN decoder says assembled in Spartanburg, of course, which is true.






This last photo shows the outside left edge of the hood. So that is the left headlight in the lower left corner of the photo. Many of the seams around the hood and rear hatch have this same feature. I always guessed that was the primer underneath, but I don't know.

[workingonit]

Originally Posted by oldskewel

My 2001 3.0i seems pretty similar to yours.

Topaz blue metallic as marked on the vehicle. VIN decoder adds the code (364) to that.

Tan / sand / definitely not black interior. VIN decoder calls it Standardleder/hellbeige 2 (arbeitsn (N6HC). Body trim is black, as are the tires .

All that is definitely original...

Which decoder did you use? None of the ones I've tried shows anything about the interior or trim. Sometimes the leather appears very light grey, depending on the lighting.

[oldskewel]

Originally Posted by workingonit

Which decoder did you use? None of the ones I've tried shows anything about the interior or trim. Sometimes the leather appears very light grey, depending on the lighting.

When I first got the car, back in 2014, I looked things up and saved it as a PDF.

In the PDF, it says, "created on: www.bmwarchiv.org"

clicking on that in the PDF forwards to: https://www.bimmerarchive.org/vin/bmw-vin-decoder.html

which hangs.

Here's that PDF, in case you want to see what might be available one day when the service is restored. It all seems accurate to me.
x5 VIN decoder lm90270.pdf

And yes, I agree on how some of the leather - the middle parts, in particular - can look almost light gray depending on the lighting.

[workingonit]

Attachment 80406

Originally Posted by andrewwynn

...I think the post on the shock tower is the factory lock of camber. Has to be pulled to adjust camber.

Watching a CCV delete video on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5T_tev_ybg8, I saw another BMW with the same "post" on the strut tower. I've been mowing our yards all day in high heat & humidity (Accuweather real feel >105 degrees), so I didn't take a photo of mine.

Originally Posted by oldskewel

When I first got the car, back in 2014, I looked things up and saved it as a PDF.

In the PDF, it says, "created on: www.bmwarchiv.org"

clicking on that in the PDF forwards to: https://www.bimmerarchive.org/vin/bmw-vin-decoder.html

which hangs.

Here's that PDF, in case you want to see what might be available one day when the service is restored. It all seems accurate to me....And yes, I agree on how some of the leather - the middle parts, in particular - can look almost light gray depending on the lighting.

I found a VIN decoder at https://www.mdecoder.com/decode, that gave me all the options on my X5. And it shows the leather to be Montana grau (grey).

[Clavurion]

Edit: Didn't scroll the thread as this was already found but never mind I didn't delete the post.

VIN LP20335
Prod. Date 2001-07-13
Type X5 3.0I A
Series E53 (X Series)
Steering Left Hand Drive
Engine M54
Transmission Automatic
Colour topas-blau
Upholstery Leather Montana/basic equip/grau

Comfort And Interior Equipment
S403 Glass Roof, Electrical
S417 Roller Sun Visor, Rear Door
S438 Fine Wood Trim
S441 Smoker Package
S459 Seat Adjustment, Electric, With Memory
S473 Armrest Front

Multimedia
S640 Preparation F Tel.Installation Universal
S645 BMW US Radio
S650 CD Drive
S661 Radio BMW Business (C43)
S676 HiFi Speaker System
S691 CD Holder
S692 Preparation, BMW 6-CD Changer I-Bus

Driver Assistance And Lightning
S533 Air Conditioning, Rear
S534 Automatic Air Conditioning

Wheels And Drive
S205 Automatic Transmission
S249 Multifunction F Steering Wheel

Environment And Safety
S302 Alarm System
S309 BMW Light Alloy Wheel, Star Spoke 57
S354 Windscreen, Green-Tinted Upper Strip
S386 Roof Railing
S845 Acoustic Fasten Seat Belt Reminder
S853 Language Version, English
S876 Radio Frequency 315 MHz

Individual Equipment
S761 Individual Sunshade Glazing

Other Equipment
S926 Spare Wheel
S945 Dummy-SALAPA
S992 Control Of Number-Plate Attachment

[Fifty150hs]

That post is the alignment post. When you remove the strut and reinstall it, that post locates it back to factory location. You can remove it to make tiny changes to caster and camber.

[workingonit]

Slowly starting to get the info I want/need thanks to all you guys. So far, I see that the original radio and cd changer were pulled (but some cd's were left in the strange holder in the console...my friend didn't know what it was, never opened one, so they're from the first owner), and the rear seat air should work (haven't tried it, yet...thought it might've been an add-on, since it is in primo condition...the beverage tray looks like it was never used).

I've a lot more questions coming, I'm sure, so stay tuned.

[Fifty150hs]

Originally Posted by workingonit

Slowly starting to get the info I want/need thanks to all you guys. So far, I see that the original radio and cd changer were pulled (but some cd's were left in the strange holder in the console...my friend didn't know what it was, never opened one, so they're from the first owner), and the rear seat air should work (haven't tried it, yet...thought it might've been an add-on, since it is in primo condition...the beverage tray looks like it was never used).

I've a lot more questions coming, I'm sure, so stay tuned.

beverage tray? The cup holder?