not sure what engine is in car

[PeruvianRambo93]

Hey guys, so I bought a 1987 325is and the previous owner said that it had a rebuilt engine in it. I assumed that it was just the original motor, but when I went to reset the service light recently I noticed that I had a later model "resetting cap" thing. I was wondering if there is a way to figure out the year or anything else about the engine?

http://imgur.com/lhIlOqQ

[Killacortes]

Out of a 325is if it had the original engine it should just be a stock m20b25

[CHIF8008]

that is normal for that year if i remember correctly

[PeruvianRambo93]

that is normal for that year if i remember correctly

http://www.beckerelectronics.com/BMW/servicelightreset.html

Ok, because I was looking at that website and it said that only '88 and up had that big black one. And my e30 mechanic friend said that it looked like the engine was from a newer year. So just checking to see if I could figure out what year it actually was.

[PeruvianRambo93]

Out of a 325is if it had the original engine it should just be a stock m20b25

Yea, I meant what year it was. The previous owner just said it was a rebuilt engine.

[CHIF8008]

the block and head and intake should have build dates stamped or molded on them just to make sure. never trust a PO

[PeruvianRambo93]

the block and head and intake should have build dates stamped or molded on them just to make sure. never trust a PO

Oh, awesome. I'll try to figure out where they are exactly and then check them. And yea, I figured that it possibly wasn't even rebuilt but it runs and drives fine so I wasn't too worried.

[Andy.B]

I believe that the 87 model year harness should have individual plugs to each injector, while the later harness has the 1 piece plastic bracket that runs the length of the fuel rail. Any motronic 1.1 and 1.3 harness from an I/is car is functionally identical.

[PeruvianRambo93]

I believe that the 87 model year harness should have individual plugs to each injector, while the later harness has the 1 piece plastic bracket that runs the length of the fuel rail. Any motronic 1.1 and 1.3 harness from an I/is car is functionally identical.

So since mine has all the individual plug/wire things then it is just the normal 87 engine? Still can't figure out why it would have the '88+ service light reset thing...

[Andy.B]

I think the description on that page is slightly inaccurate. Eta engines up to 87 had motronic 1.0, which is the small plug. On 88 the es had the super eta engine with motronic 1.1 had a large plug. I engines, which always had motronic 1.1 or 1.3, always have large plugs.
The 87/88 division only applies to e/es cars.

[Swanny]

So since mine has all the individual plug/wire things then it is just the normal 87 engine? Still can't figure out why it would have the '88+ service light reset thing...

Because it is running motronic 1.3

Like mentioned before this is functionally the same as the 88 and newer harnesses except that it doesn't have the coupler for the injector harness.

[Andy.B]

Long story short, if its a 325e, it's a small plug, and if it's a 325es/is/i it's a big plug.

[Cabriolet]

you have a late 87 325is with a m20b25 engine motronic 1.3. and early cooling. nothing special or weird about it. that car was built like that for like 4 months i believe.

[PeruvianRambo93]

Ok, cool. Thanks for all the information guys.

[MR 325]

Long story short, if its a 325e, it's a small plug, and if it's a 325es/is/i it's a big plug.

WRONG. If it's an Eta (1984-1987) it has the small plug. If it's a M20B25 or Super Eta it has the big plug. And there is no 1988 325eS as you mentioned in your earlier post.

And a not to others, the 1987 M20B25 uses Motronic 1.1 not 1.3.