e28 production cycles?

General conversations about BMW E28s and the people who own them.
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Mdreamer
Posts: 526
Joined: Feb 12, 2006 12:00 PM
Location: Atlanta, Georgia

e28 production cycles?

Post by Mdreamer »

All,

Are any of you familiar with the production cycles of the e28 models? What I mean is, from when to when was the 533i built, then the 535i, and the 535is? I remember that when my parents got their (now, my) 535i in 1985, it was one of the only ones around for a while in our area. I recently looked up the production date and saw that is 2/85, which seems pretty early for a 535i. I want to find out from some of you experts here if it actually is. :roll:

I'm posing this question in regards to the U.S. spec m30 cars, primarily, but if any of you would like to include information about the RoW cars too, I'm all for it. Thanks!
Blue Shadow
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Re: e28 production cycles?

Post by Blue Shadow »

Too bad you weren't into e28s enough to be here 10-15 years ago and capture the doc when Dave posted his spreadsheet of BMWs up to about the E32. It had a page or three of the E28 models

Engine, transmission, country all sorts of different categories all set out in that document one line per version showing start and end run numbers (last 7 of VIN) and dates of manufacture of those vehicles.

Sure it probably has errors and the is was Not a special, identified BMW model but it is a nice doc to have for reference. The is is only identified by the build sheet of the VIN in question.
Last edited by Blue Shadow on Oct 31, 2021 2:32 PM, edited 1 time in total.
Mdreamer
Posts: 526
Joined: Feb 12, 2006 12:00 PM
Location: Atlanta, Georgia

Re: e28 production cycles?

Post by Mdreamer »

Blue Shadow wrote: Oct 30, 2021 1:44 AM Too bad you weren't into e28s enough to be here 10-15 years ago and capture the doc when Dave posted his spreadsheet of BMWs up to about the E32. It had a page or three of the E28 models

Engine, transmission, country all sorts of different categories all set out in that document one line per version showing start and end run numbers (last 7 of VIN) and dates of manufacture of those vehicles.

Sure it probably has errors and the is was Not a special, identified BMW model but it us a nice doc to have for reference. The is is only identified by the build sheet of the VIN in question.
Funny, I actually was here 15+ years ago when I had a 535is. Unfortunately, this question wasn't on my mind then, so I would have glossed over the doc you mentioned and been spending my time in the Eye Candy section instead. :cool:

I wonder if the spreadsheet can be resurrected somehow?
topher800
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Location: Marshall, CO

Re: e28 production cycles?

Post by topher800 »

Does the wikipedia page not cover what you are after?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_5_Series_(E28)

There is a chart based on the engines, and then a section down lower about NA specific models.
stuartinmn
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Location: Minneapolis

Re: e28 production cycles?

Post by stuartinmn »

You can figure it out from RealOEM or one of the other parts lookup websites. It shows 09/1984 was the transition month from the 533 to the 535.
https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/select ... model=533i
https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/select ... model=535i
Ibmotoren
Posts: 77
Joined: Apr 26, 2019 9:38 PM
Location: Bay Area, CA

Re: e28 production cycles?

Post by Ibmotoren »

Mdreamer wrote: Oct 30, 2021 5:44 AM
Blue Shadow wrote: Oct 30, 2021 1:44 AM Too bad you weren't into e28s enough to be here 10-15 years ago and capture the doc when Dave posted his spreadsheet of BMWs up to about the E32. It had a page or three of the E28 models

Engine, transmission, country all sorts of different categories all set out in that document one line per version showing start and end run numbers (last 7 of VIN) and dates of manufacture of those vehicles.

Sure it probably has errors and the is was Not a special, identified BMW model but it us a nice doc to have for reference. The is is only identified by the build sheet of the VIN in question.
Funny, I actually was here 15+ years ago when I had a 535is. Unfortunately, this question wasn't on my mind then, so I would have glossed over the doc you mentioned and been spending my time in the Eye Candy section instead. :cool:

I wonder if the spreadsheet can be resurrected somehow?
We’re in luck!
Dave’s Chassis Numbers Spreadsheet
Blue Shadow
Posts: 10195
Joined: Feb 12, 2006 12:00 PM
Location: SE PA

Re: e28 production cycles?

Post by Blue Shadow »

Mdreamer wrote: Oct 30, 2021 5:44 AM
Funny, I actually was here 15+ years ago when I had a 535is. Unfortunately, this question wasn't on my mind then, so I would have glossed over the doc you mentioned and been spending my time in the Eye Candy section instead. :cool:

I wonder if the spreadsheet can be resurrected somehow?
Saw you were here but not capturing what you need in your reference library.

Glad to see someone had the proper search criteria to find the doc for you. Now get your very own copy of it for your BMW Docs file on your computer.

I wonder how many will download this doc now.
Mike W.
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Re: e28 production cycles?

Post by Mike W. »

Dunno about now, but some of us saved it from long ago and still refer to it. He had a good one on engines too. Neither are perfect, but like Realoem, invaluable.
Mdreamer
Posts: 526
Joined: Feb 12, 2006 12:00 PM
Location: Atlanta, Georgia

Re: e28 production cycles?

Post by Mdreamer »

Thank you all for your input.

I've always used RealOem to look up parts, but I never thought about using it as a tool to learn production cycles. Learn something new everyday. ;)

Wikipedia was never relied upon when I worked for a major German manufacturer when it came to defining facts about matters such as this, so I took the same approach in this situation.

I'll definitely make sure to download the spreadsheet. Thanks again for finding it!
stuartinmn
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Re: e28 production cycles?

Post by stuartinmn »

Ibmotoren wrote: Oct 30, 2021 11:58 AM We’re in luck!
Dave’s Chassis Numbers Spreadsheet
Thanks for the link, I saved a copy for future reference. One question: there is a (0) or (00) after some of the model numbers, does anyone know what they stand for?
Ken H.
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Location: Suburban Gomorrah

Re: e28 production cycles?

Post by Ken H. »

A minor add to the spreadsheet:
In addition to the J2791001-J2792000 VIN run:
BMW did an additional run--late '87 into 'June, '88 ISTR.
These #s are in the J2875001-J2875370 block. Total # of chassis = 370.
Based on this info, and what I've been able to get from the Mregistry website, we have

USA 1239
CDN 101
JPN 30
GBR 187
EU 588
SA 96

These #s = total production = 2241.
JohnH
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Location: Surrey,UK

Re: e28 production cycles?

Post by JohnH »

stuartinmn wrote: Oct 30, 2021 3:30 PM One question: there is a (0) or (00) after some of the model numbers, does anyone know what they stand for?
LHD RHD
BMWCCA2
Posts: 4060
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Location: Central Virginia

Re: e28 production cycles?

Post by BMWCCA2 »

A cautionary note.
Often a production range is used to determine how many of a model were built. This can be incorrect since the factory may have set aside a VIN range and not built all those VINs. From what I own and know about, there were not 2,000 R100CS US models produced. I believe the number of R100CS for the US based on actual VINs with "CS" stamped in the frame is somewhere short of 200. And if anyone can account for all 200 2002 full convertibles from Baur, I've never seen such confirmation. My two 1600 Cabriolets are definitely part of the 1,682 Baur can confirm.

I also posted the number of "is" models of the E28 535i produced, according to BMWNA records. I mentioned this in addressing the first 5-er Fest in Greer. I'm sure it's documented somewhere. I'll have to check my files.
Mdreamer
Posts: 526
Joined: Feb 12, 2006 12:00 PM
Location: Atlanta, Georgia

Re: e28 production cycles?

Post by Mdreamer »

BMWCCA2 wrote: Oct 31, 2021 9:32 AM A cautionary note.
Often a production range is used to determine how many of a model were built. This can be incorrect since the factory may have set aside a VIN range and not built all those VINs. From what I own and know about, there were not 2,000 R100CS US models produced. I believe the number of R100CS for the US based on actual VINs with "CS" stamped in the frame is somewhere short of 200. And if anyone can account for all 200 2002 full convertibles from Baur, I've never seen such confirmation. My two 1600 Cabriolets are definitely part of the 1,682 Baur can confirm.

I also posted the number of "is" models of the E28 535i produced, according to BMWNA records. I mentioned this in addressing the first 5-er Fest in Greer. I'm sure it's documented somewhere. I'll have to check my files.
Wow! Thank you for the asterisks. This is really helpful.
BMWCCA2
Posts: 4060
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Location: Central Virginia

Re: e28 production cycles?

Post by BMWCCA2 »

BMWCCA2 wrote: Oct 31, 2021 9:32 AMI also posted the number of "is" models of the E28 535i produced, according to BMWNA records. I mentioned this in addressing the first 5-er Fest in Greer. I'm sure it's documented somewhere. I'll have to check my files.
Here's the info I got from BMW NA for the 5er Fest article in Roundel:
Having trouble getting classic insurance
for your old 5 Series sedan? In many
cases these models are far more rare than
most would guess. Check out the sales
totals for each model in the U.S. and note
the ratio of manual to automatic transmissions
in the performance models compared to
what BMW NA sells in the U.S. today!Phil Marx

U.S. SALES TOTALS FOR MODEL
YEARS 1975 THROUGH 1988:
E12
530i 11,368
530iA 12,665
528i 10,434
528iA 9,275

E28*
528e 27,078
528eA 52,622
524tdA 3,635
533i 7,848
533iA 2,514
535i 10,252
535iA 7,357
535is 3,634
535isA 2,714
M5** 1,236

* includes 1,393 E28 units sold in calendar year
1989 and 52 units in calendar year 1990
** includes 273 M5s sold in calendar year 1989 and
thirteen in calendar year 1990
78e12
Posts: 15
Joined: Oct 13, 2016 8:59 AM
Location: NY

Re: e28 production cycles?

Post by 78e12 »

Interesting how the e12 m535i is not on here.
78e12
Posts: 15
Joined: Oct 13, 2016 8:59 AM
Location: NY

Re: e28 production cycles?

Post by 78e12 »

Oops, yes it is, my mistake
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