Late model or Early Model E30?

[brokecollegekid]

So I bought an E30 recently and looking into it more and more I'm not exactly sure which one I have and was wondering if anyone could clear up my confusion. It's a 1989 325is. The VIN is WBAAD2307K8847440 and I used BMW vin decoder and this came up. Since the production date was October 12, 1988 that means it's a late model right? The late models have the plastic bumpers and this one has the metal ones so why is that? Can anyone explain this to me?

[R1dd1ck913]

I would almost bet some one switched bumpers at one time.

[TimeMachinE30]

Late night postings.

[ELVA164]

It's a late model, effectively. '88 production year cars (except for convertibles) had the early-model bumpers, but late-model taillights, ECUs, and coolant systems. Those are the most obvious late-model features at least, I'm sure there are others.

[agent]

Early. Early tails. Early bumpers.

Those aren't early tails.

[Das Delfin]

1988 year model cars had late model features except for the bumpers (but you got the facelift lower valence and fog lights and your bumpers are slightly shorter than 87 and prior). I guess your car was made at the tail end of the 1988 model production year

[brokecollegekid]

1988 year model cars had late model features except for the bumpers (but you got the facelift lower valence and fog lights and your bumpers are slightly shorter than 87 and prior). I guess your car was made at the tail end of the 1988 model production year

Yeah the car was made on September 10, 1988. So replacing these metal bumpers for the plastic ones would be a direct bolt on right?

[KIRIEIW]

Plastic bumpers will be a direct swap, however the front turn signals might have different plugs and you'd need to change over to the newer style. I think this was a point where BMW wanted to get rid of left over inventory and stretched out the use of the "Diving Board" bumpers a bit longer.

[brokecollegekid]

Thanks everyone, I really appreciate it.

[redlightpete]

325is cars were 2 doors, so this would be a 325i as in the description. That explains the bottlecaps too. I'd verify that it actually has a limited slip diff.

[ELVA164]

325is cars were 2 doors, so this would be a 325i as in the description. That explains the bottlecaps too. I'd verify that it actually has a limited slip diff.

My guess is a swapped trunk lid. There's no description of the "S" trim package in the option list.

[brokecollegekid]

Well on the BMW vin decoder it shows that it does have the option for the LSD so I'm assuming it does.

[Staszek]

Well on the BMW vin decoder it shows that it does have the option for the LSD so I'm assuming it does.

Its possible it has the LSD since it could be optioned, although its not possible that it is an IS since they didnt make the IS in 4door.

[ST1G]

It has a late model 3rd brake light, which the 88 cars didn't get. I'm guessing someone put on metal bumpers.

[brokecollegekid]

It has a late model 3rd brake light, which the 88 cars didn't get. I'm guessing someone put on metal bumpers.

Well technically it's an 89, but it was just produced at the end of 88. The PO said he didn't drive it much so I doubt he was the one who swapped them. The main point of this was to find out if it's a late model or early model so I can figure out how easy it was to swap plastic bumpers onto it and from what I've seen everyone say it should just be a direct bolt on which is what I was hoping for.