Happy Birthday, Old Paint!

[kiloscott]

Hello, The Forum,

 

My 1974 turns 50 this year and am wondering if there is some way to determine its actual date of manufacture. Looked at Mike Self's info and did not see what I am looking for. Is this encoded in the VIN? Stamped on the car somewhere? In a filing cabinet in some Munich basement?

 

Thanks!

 

Scott

[bergie33]

Send an email with your VIN to: hdz.info@bmwgroup.com

 

[kiloscott]

Thanks, Bergie,

 

Got a reply first thing when the lady in Munich made it to the office, before I even went to bed.  Now that's service.

 

Scott

[Mike Self]

18 hours ago, kiloscott said:

Stamped on the car somewhere?

Not the manufacture date of the car itself, but a lot of components have date stamps on 'em:  engine block, cylinder head (casting dates), tail light housings, instruments, seats, even wheels.  If they're original to the car, it can give you a pretty good idea of manufacture date, as the parts are generally dated anywhere from a few weeks to a few months before the car was actually assembled.  And if you find dates that post-date your car's assembly date, you'll know they aren't original to your car.

 

mike

[Tom Daley]

I tried to get my 02s birthday from the FAQ recommemded place and they want 125 Euros plus tax. WTH!!!!????

[bergie33]

You just sent an email to the address above?  What did you ask for?

[Tom Daley]

Not sure what you mean? I thought I was just adding a comment into an FAQ string discussing vin info and that I had tried to get my 02s info and they now want $$$$. 

[bergie33]

18 minutes ago, Tom Daley said:

Not sure what you mean? I thought I was just adding a comment into an FAQ string discussing vin info and that I had tried to get my 02s info and they now want $$$$. 

I was just wondering if you just sent an e-mail with your VIN to: hdz.info@bmwgroup.com.  If you asked them for a certificate showing manufacturing info, or some kind of letter, then they would ask you for money.  If you went to a website and requested this information, then they would ask for money.  For the free info available from BMW about the manufacture date and original color of the car, just send an e-mail with your VIN to: hdz.info@bmwgroup.com and ask them for the manufacture date and original car color.  You should then receive an e-mail response with the requested info.

 

Just trying to help you get the info you want without having to pay money.

[Conserv]

We’re now hearing from multiple reliable sources that the official certificate (125 €) is the only way BMW will respond with its once-free data!

 

But, like @bergie33, I’m curious precisely how you worded your request.

 

Most of us — yes, I wore out my welcome with my last request regarding three early tii’s — simply asked, in an email,

 

”Can you please provide any data you have regarding a 1976 2002, VIN 2742541?”
 

We wrote nothing more, for fear of being sent to the “Fancy Certificate Department,” where you had to pay for the same free data dump. Who does that? 🤔

 

On my, this could signal the end of an era! 😢

 

Regards,

 

Steve

 

[visionaut]

On 3/7/2024 at 9:00 AM, kiloscott said:

Got a reply first thing when the lady in Munich made it to the office, before I even went to bed.  Now that's service.

Sounds to me like @kiloscott got the expected email reply…

 

And I bet ol’ Andreas Harz would still gladly reply without pushing any ‘official’ Certificate.

 

Maybe you made them have to hire more staff Steve? lol 

 

[Tom Daley]

I received a return email saying that emails sent to the hdz address will no longer be replyed to and gave me url to go to. 

[Tom Daley]

Just any info for my VIN, nothing specific.

[visionaut]

BMW Group Classic are seemly now concerned with ‘data protection’ (GDPR?) and providing their build info only to folks who own & have the actual vehicle in question…

 

”Owners of historical BMW vehicles who have proof of ownership and photos of the chassis and engine numbers can request a birth certificate using the order form.”

 

“Unfortunately, telephone enquiries are no longer possible for data protection reasons.”

 

https://www.bmwgroup-classic.com/en/offers-and-services/classic-center.html

 

Boo!

[Tom Daley]

And for 125 euro??