Decoding the VIN (Part I)

When i bought the car, i thought it was just a tarted up 525i with most of the goodies i wanted.
It was clear someone had spent time and money on it but i wanted to know what was factory and what wasn´t. So i needed to get the VIN decoded if i wanted to find out.

Over on Bimmerforums there was a handy post offering to decipher BMW VIN codes so, i sent mine in and this is what i got back.

    VIN long      WBAHD51020BGXXXXX
   
    Type code      HD51
    Type      525I (EUR)
    Dev. series      E34 ()
    Line      5
    Body type      LIM
    Steering      LL
    Door count      4
    Engine      M50
    Cubical capacity      2.50
    Power      141
    Transmision      HECK
    Gearbox      MECH
    Colour      SCHWARZ-MICA METALLIC (347)
    Upholstery      ANTHRAZIT STOFF (0411)
   
    Prod. date      1993-10-27
   

    Order options
    No.      Description
    240      LEATHER STEERING WHEEL
    243      AIRBAG FOR FRONT PASSENGER
    314      HEATED WINDSCREEN WASHER NOZZLES
    339      SATIN CHROME
    354      GREEN STRIPE WINDSCREEN
    401      SLIDING/VENT ROOF, ELECTRIC
    423      FLOOR MATS, VELOUR
    428      WARNING TRIANGLE
    438      WOOD TRIM
    481      SPORT SEATS F DRIVER/FRONT PASSENGER
    492      TRAY IN CENTRE CONSOLE
    498      HEADRESTS IN REAR, MECHANIC. ADJUSTABLE
    510      HEADLIGHT BEAM-THROW CONTR. F LOW BEAM
    520      FOGLIGHTS
    530      AIR CONDITIONING
    556      EXTERIOR TEMPERATURE DISPLAY
    564      INTERIOR LIGHT PACKAGE
    661      BMW BAV. CASS. III
    676      HIFI LOUDSPEAKER SYSTEM
    704      M SPORT SUSPENSION
    730      SONDERSERIE
    787      INDIVIDUALSERIE
    801      GERMANY VERSION
    860      LTRL TURN SIGNAL LIGHT FRT


It´s a well optioned car (for Europe) considering what one of these cost new back in 1993. Most of the ones you see still running are poverty spec models with standard (non-sport) cloth seats, a/c and 15'' wheels.
After comparing the options list with what was on the car, it became clear that it was completely stock and unmolested.

I did a little more digging and discovered some more interesting facts regarding this particular car, but i´ll leave that for another post.

A big thanks to Mike Kent from www.thebmwpartstore.com for decoding the VIN.