Identifying Correct "Model Year" E30

[windtendo]

I recently purchased a 1988 M3 and couldn't be more excited to join the community! After doing some digging on one of the many VIN decoder websites, it looks like the Production Date is 11/21/1988... This has me wondering if this is actually a 1989 "Model Year" vehicle with the production date being that late into 1988? The vehicle has 1988 listed on the title with the previous owner, but I'm wondering if it was an oversight on their end before titling it.

VIN: WBSAK050801894551

Thanks in advance for any insight you guys can provide!

[reelizmpro]

It probably was an oversight on their part given that it's a euro model imported to Japan and now the US.

[windtendo]

I don't know if it's worth the deep dive with paperwork to fix it or not. I'm unsure if there's any value in changing if there's some way to verify the model year...

[ForcedFirebird]

It would be considered a 1989 via the title, but the build date is what you need to know when there are part differences.

[windtendo]

It would be considered a 1989 via the title, but the build date is what you need to know when there are part differences.

I believe you on it being considered a model year 1989, but I’d like to know what this is based on? I probably need some sort of backup before I present this to get it titled here in Texas.

[ForcedFirebird]

They will tell you exactly what needs to happen.

Congrats on the purchase! Times certainly have changed.

Laws with imports are really going to depend on your state and status of import. Take that with a grain, I'm just the old man here. Lol

[PEZ2]

Don’t know if this will help or not but I have a 86 325 titled in Delaware and then Florida both states considered it a 86 with a build date of 11/4/1985.

[roguetoaster]

Model year is mostly arbitrary in the US. IIRC, a MODEL YEAR 1989 can be advertised for sale as a 1989 anywhere between 1/1/88 and can likely technically be sold at any time after then as a new 1989 model. The actual production date can be earlier, and there is no set limit that I have seen, but early production would be unlikely in case emissions or safety regulations changed, causing the manufacturer to scrap or rework those cars produced too early to be actually compliant with the regs for that model year.

Although I can find no specific regulations to back it up, I suspect that a manufacturer cannot make a 1989 model at any point in 1990, but likely can make one on 12/31/89.

OP, in your case it's 99% likely that you have a technical 1989, but does it really matter, not at all.

[ForcedFirebird]

Can't remember how many cars I've owned, I know e30's in the teens, maybe 20's. I have found that "typically" a car manufactured in Sept would be the next model year. From what I understand, it was to give the mfgrs time to get ready for a model change. Otherwise you would be stuck trying to build a car in Jan that's supposed to be start delivery in Jan. This was even more difficult when the e30 was new, as they were all built in Germany and had to be shipped here (hence the cosmoline coatings).

EDIT: According to wiki:

This was used as a chance to renew tooling in the factory and was an ideal time to introduce new products which would begin production when the workers returned and the factory restarted. Thus the working year in the car industry ran from September to September.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Model_year

[reelizmpro]

Typically, the cutoff is around Sept or so as ForcedFirebird stated. Although there were some exceptions to this rule. For example, early NA M3's produced as early as Jan 87, were all titled as 88's.

[windtendo]

A lot of the comments are lining up with my thoughts on this. I’m wondering if there was any slight difference/changes between Euro spec m3’s from 1988 to 1989 that would be a tell… With only 10k miles on the car, I want to do everything in my power to ensure documentation is as complete and thorough as possible for the journey ahead. You guys are awesome here!

[ForcedFirebird]

What the registration or title says has little to do with the model year, everything goes by build date. If you punch your vin into realoem, you can see the differences, as some pages won't have parts listed and says something like "not found on your car".

[twright]

I worked for GM for many years. GM defined Model Years by whether or not the date was before, or after, the "Shutdown" period of the factory. The 3 week shutdown period was in August. It was the time that most employees were sent home on vacation, but it was also the time that the factory was reconfigured for the new model year.

Don't know if BMW is the same.

[windtendo]

Reviving an old post, but to put this thread to rest I have a long overdue update. I was able to confirm with BMW Group Classic that this is in fact built in November of 1988, but sold as a 1989 model year M3. The car has been titled as a 1989 M3 in TX (previously a 1988 in FL) which was the biggest headache and took seemingly forever. Getting that <correct> paper in hand felt really nice though. All is straightened out moving forward!