is my bimmer a m3?

[lowrida56]

i have a 1982 323i, it has M bages on the front grill and the boot.. it also had a M gear know and theres a M in the middle of the sterring wheel on the horn (thow i think its a aftermarket steering wheel)
how can i find out if its a real M3 or just badges?
will u know if i tell u the vin. number?

btw its a coupe

 

[epj3]

If it were an M3, it wouldnt be a 323i!!!!!!!! Also, the first M3 EVER was not until 1986.

Whoever had it before you put those badges on.

 

[lowrida56]

ok then..
this is the engine number 7276459
can sum1 tell me the size of it?

 

[epj3]

Alright you really need to be educated on bmw's!!

In your car's model number, 323i, the first "3" means that it is a 3 series (the 5 series is a sedan, and the 7 series is the super luxary sedan), and the "23" is the size of the engine -- 2.3 liters. The I just stands for fuel Injection.

I carfaxed your vin and it is wrong. Try checking to make sure it's right.

 

[lowrida56]

btw the way was there something other then a m3 before 1986? because the badges dont say m3 like on the new bimmers they just say "M"

and was there a sports version? cuz it has dual exhaussts and a tacho..

 

[lowrida56]

ill take a pic of the vin for u.. btw i edited my post because u replyed while i was postin
ill jus go take a pic now

 

[epj3]

Ah yes it might have had some kind of sport package that bmw offered (most likely a dealer option).

Theres no way it's an actual M car -- probably just M parts.

My car, an 88 325is has a few M parts -- the suspension is "m tuned", it has an M steering wheel, better wheels, and a limited slip differential. The 3 is obviously the series number, and the 25 means it's 2.5 liters..."is" means it's fuel injected and that it has the sport package. My car's the top of the line 3 series from that year right before the M3.

 

[lowrida56]

well i cant get a picture atm cuz my cam isnt here but im 100% the vin number is correct.. it sez it on the rego sticker and under the bonnet

btw i know 3 = 3series and 23 = motor size but wen i got a new exhaust put on the guy asked for the engine size (he looked it up in his book and it was either a 3.5 or 3.7

 

[lowrida56]

ye mine also has a lsd and factory mags.. guess its the same sortof package yours has

 

[epj3]

well i cant get a picture atm cuz my cam isnt here but im 100% the vin number is correct.. it sez it on the rego sticker and under the bonnet

btw i know 3 = 3series and 23 = motor size but wen i got a new exhaust put on the guy asked for the engine size (he looked it up in his book and it was either a 3.5 or 3.7

well, that guy's crazy. It's definitely a 2.3 liter engine.

 

[Rudy]

Ah yes it might have had some kind of sport package that bmw offered (most likely a dealer option).

Theres no way it's an actual M car -- probably just M parts.

There are also many people out there who buy M badges and stick them all over the place thinking they are actually fooling people. Don't be surprised if your "additions" were not actually a dealer package but simply something someone did to be "cool".

 

[jrt67ss350]

In your car's model number, 323i, the first "3" means that it is a 3 series (the 5 series is a sedan, and the 7 series is the super luxary sedan), and the "23" is the size of the engine -- 2.3 liters. The I just stands for fuel Injection.

That's not always true. Examples: the e30 325e has a 2.7 liter engine in it and the e46 323i had a 2.5 liter engine in it. While the i may originally have stood for fuel injection way back when BMW started using fuel injection, all e cars (325e, 525e) were fuel injected as well.

 

[epj3]

That's not always true. Examples: the e30 325e has a 2.7 liter engine in it and the e46 323i had a 2.5 liter engine in it. While the i may originally have stood for fuel injection way back when BMW started using fuel injection, all e cars (325e, 525e) were fuel injected as well.

I didnt want to confuse him more than he already was

 

[tool fan]

So I naturally assume ASS U ME that the "s" in 325is means sport. Man sometimes I feel so retarded. I live where these crazy ass cars are made and I still ain't fingered it all out.
So don't feel bad lowrida.
Peace

 

[epj3]

So I naturally assume ASS U ME that the "s" in 325is means sport. Man sometimes I feel so retarded. I live where these crazy ass cars are made and I still ain't fingered it all out.
So don't feel bad lowrida.
Peace

Well... it DOES... the "s" means that it has the sport package (as i said)

 

[brahtw8]

The 323i is not a US model. It probably does not have a US Vin #, although they may have been standardized at some point.

I believe a 1982 Australian 323i would be a late E21 chassis 3 series, as opposed to an early E30 chassis 3 series.

's' has meant a variety of things. I don't know if it was ever officially tied to 'sport' by BMW corporate. On an E36 325is it had no relationship to the sports package, and many other cars have offered the sports package without an 's' on the rear.

During the 1980s the 325es/is and 535is contained additional equipment akin to a sports package, i.e. suspension, wheels, spoilers, etc.

 

[Big Daddy]

Maybe this will help

A Breif Introduction to BMW

 

[brahtw8]

A Breif Introduction to BMW

Great site and resource.

 

[codex57]

dude, ep3, relax a second. Take a deep breath and read where he's posting from. AUSTRALIA. Should clear up the confusion going on between you two. Since the first M3 didn't come out until 1986, I'm sure the ///M parts were added afterwards, but they still are probably factory since non-US BMW dealers could order those parts directly from the manufacturer as an option package. That's hopefully what happened instead of the previous owner just buying fake parts on eBay and sticking them all over the car.