How To: View the original options list for any BMW online

[XVar]

Just came across this thread on pistonheads, showing a way to view all of the options for any BMW online. This means you can check the options list for a Z3 or any BMW before buying it too

If you don't have your VIN to hand, go here http://www.bmw-warranty.co.uk/Pages/CarDetails.aspx

Enter the reg number of the car and press NEXT, helpfully it will pull up the details of the car including the VIN. Keep that page open.

Now to view the options list
1> Click http://www.bmw.co.uk/bmwuk/homepage/
2> From the BMW Owner Area menu, choose Genuine BMW Parts
3> From the menu on the left had side of the page click Parts Catalogue
4> From the lower part of the screen click Electronic parts catalogue. Find genuine spare parts and accessories for your BMW.
5> Use the username eu111111 and the password bmwetk1
6> Enter the last 7 digits of your VIN number and click >>
7> From the top of the next window, click Options. This displays a new window with the information on extras.

All going well, you should get a list like this. Mine was more or less bog standard so this list is rather short.

Code Description (interface) Description (EPC)
S243A AIRBAG FUER BEIFAHRER Airbag for front passenger
S299A LM RAEDER MIT MISCHBEREIFUNG BMW LA wheels with mixed tyres
S388A VERDECK SCHWARZ Softtop, black
S398A VERDECKBETAETIGUNG ELEKTRO-HYDR. Softtop, electromech. semiautom.
S423A FUSSMATTEN IN VELOURS Floor mats velours
S428A WARNDREIECK Warning triangle and first aid kit
S441A RAUCHERPAKET Smoker package
S550A BORDCOMPUTER On-board computer
S687A RADIOVORBEREITUNG Radio preparation
L812A ENGLAND/IRLAND AUSFUEHRUNG NATIONAL VERSION GREAT BRITAIN
S818A BATTERIEHAUPTSCHALTER Battery master switch
S863A SERVICE KONTAKT-FLYER EUROPA Dealer List Europe
S880A ENGLISCH / BORDLITERATUR Operating instructions, English
S925A VERSANDSCHUTZPAKET Dispatch protection pack

[pingu]

I looked at the wrong section at first and it covered ALL the options.

I found the correct section. Good info.

I should have a warning triangle, first aid kit and a blue soft top and Harman Kardon. A non-OEM black soft top is what I'm left with .

[Robert T]

Awesome link. Not only does this give you the options list for your car, but it looks like full access to an online version of the entire ETK!

Options section looks to be correct for my, though I must be really really sad, as I can actually remember my VIN!

I can't remember my own name sometimes!

Cheers R.

[Devon Z]

I remember sitting down with options list and picking all mine and they listed them on the invoice as well when I think mines now worth about what I spent in options in 1999

Never mine, the sun's out

[///M_aniac]

Good link. Thanks for posting.

though I must be really really sad, as I can actually remember my VIN!

- you're not on your own there, Robert.

[Jonttt]

Great find.

Some interesting observations on the options installed on my car:

- M steering wheel with multi function (what multi function unless the you class the horn lol)
- Battery Master Switch (have not got a clue what that means ?)
- No mention of the tyre inflation kit at all

edit: a bit of googling on the battery master switch which I presume was fitted to all UK Z3 as they where extended shipping from the USA to the UK. It was to extend the life of the battery and was to be removed by the local dealership.

The switch serves as a simple way to interrupt the off-load current for electronic components on vehicles which are not in use (being transported, in storage). This increases the obligatory interval between battery recharging from 6 to 12 weeks (cost saving).
Vehicles that will have a long transport route or those for which longer storage times are envisaged (not in customer's hands), are equipped with this factory-fitted battery master switch.
Note:
The battery master switch is not fitted for all markets.

http://tis.spaghetticoder.org/s/view.pl?1/04/60/64

[Bonzo]

All I did was to phone a BMW dealer, quote last 7 digits of the VIN number and ask him for the spec and options lists, (series and ordered), which he faxed over. Very interesting to a newbie. You could do it both ways and compare results. (Said the actress to the Bishop)

Didn't know I had M-sport seats, Harmon Kardon speaker upgrade, hardtop prep, (what's that?), deletion cross-over operation??? Hot climate version??? Anyone have any clue to these? (Green stripe windscreen and Chrome pack were explained to me via the forum and the rest was self explanatory.)

Cheers, Bonzo.

[Robert T]

Hardtop prep is presumably the fitting kit for the hardtop - it can be seen as two rotating covers, just behind the hinge point for the roof frame - under the cover is a metal bracket that the hardtop fits to. It may also include the heated rear windscreen button on the console (usually rear switch tray).

Cheers R.

[lebigmec]

Excellent link, thanks.
Having had a play around with this, entering a few numbers either side of my VIN to see what else was built at the same time, I was quite surprised to see that on the day mine was built they were doing a few colours. I imagined that they would be doing 'runs' of various colours. (But hey, what do I know about vehicle manufacture? )
From what I could see, they built a Topaz blue one, then mine in Sterling Grey, then another Topaz, then two in Hell Red, then one in Fiji Green.. whether they really do build them like that or it's just how the VIN numbers are worked out, I don't know.. (I need this weather to improve, so I can get out more!) LOL!

[Robert T]

I don't know as the sequence of VIN numbers will relate to the order in which the cars were completed. It could easily be that the VIN is allocated when the order is taken, not when the car is completed. It could equally well be that they have 10 paint shops each completing a set of panels a day. Or it could be that the panels are simply taken from stock to complete a car. I guess its pretty pointless speculating.

Cheers R.

[Jonttt]

VIN numbers do not necessarily run in date order

[Jonttt]

Great guide.

I've used it to finally complete the S54 Census of vehicle specs by VIN

http://www.zroadster.net/forum/viewtopi ... =6&t=34517

Now if someone has a year to spend compiling a summary for all Z3's or more likely if some IT guru can write a script to extract and compile the data for the rest of the range...........

[whiteminks]

Excellent deduction Jontt
Amazing to see that my Z3M and my 2.2 are totally original, nothing added and nothing taken away ( not even the sound systems) ........... a bit like a well known breakfast cereal.............. call me old fashioned but I love them that way.

Well done Xvar for posting a fab link too!

[XVar]

Glad people are finding the guide useful . My occasional trips into the BMW section on pistonheads have paid off lol (not much Z3 stuff in there). As for extracting the information for all Z3's this wouldn't be too difficult if the VIN ranges were known. If anyone knows how to find this out then I might be able to knock something up

[Zedona]

I've just researched my 1998 2.8 and it's listed as having a "differential lock 25%"
is that a limited slip diff or something else
It also says I have "hardtop-preparation" but sadly there is no hardtop
fitting kit or heated rear window switch.

[Robert T]

Yes, differential lock 25% is a 25% Limited Slip Diff.

I am beginning to think that "hardtop preparation" is the wiring for the Heated Rear Windscreen and perhaps the front mounts (which are also used for the softtop). Mine doesn't list this, but it does have an electric roof, and I know that the wiring for the roof microswitch is common to the HRW. Does anyone have both listed?

Cheers R.

[XVar]

Mine lists hard top preparation too, and no sign of a fitting kit or heated rear window switch.

[Robert T]

Not the switch, just the cabling. There is a cable that runs through to the side of the hydraulic ram/gas strut for the roof on the passenger side of the car, and another that runs through to underneath the switch tray/storage cubby between the seats. If it is this, then it implies that some cars would need this installing in order to have a HRW.

Cheers R.

[OldskoolRS]

Thanks for this link. Just to add to the knowledgebase, mine wasn't listed as having a hardtop prep and it doesn't have it. I actually bought the fitting kit with the secondhand roof together and AFAIK there is no wiring apart from the cable that feeds the power hood.

I wish this sort of information was available for my 1979 RS2000 as it's a nice bit of history for each car. I'll print mine off and put it with the rest of my Z3 paperwork.

[XVar]

Not the switch, just the cabling. There is a cable that runs through to the side of the hydraulic ram/gas strut for the roof on the passenger side of the car, and another that runs through to underneath the switch tray/storage cubby between the seats. If it is this, then it implies that some cars would need this installing in order to have a HRW.

Cheers R.

I'll have a look, shouldn't be too hard since this is my car right now - operation dry the soggy carpets well under way! http://imgur.com/a6saZ (linked as to not spam up the thread with pictures).

[Robert T]

OldSkoolRS, just to clarify, yours says leccy roof but not hardtop prep. If so, that's the same as mine. The HRW takes its power from the connector that is also used for the roof microswitch - on non-leccy roof cars, this cable is usually there, but folded back on itself and tucked down behind the lateral trim panel by the gas strut for the manual roof. The connector for the switch is just under the rear switch tray, but as we found on another zedders car, it can be quite well hidden under the metalwork.

Cheers R.

[OldskoolRS]

Yes Robert, mine only has:

S398A VERDECKBETAETIGUNG ELEKTRO-HYDR. Softtop, electromech. semiautom.

No mention of hardtop (or 'Harden toppen' or whatever it is in Deutsch!). I've not got a heated rear window switch, so not bothered to check for the cables.

It seems that my 'M' sports steering wheel was a factory option, but I'm guessing that my matching 'M' sports gearknob was added later as it's not listed.

[Robert T]

///M steering wheel and knob go hand in hand. They weren't really options on most cars either - they were standard equipment - but I guess it would muck the system up for earlier cars that didn't get them.

Cheers R.

[Trevsky]

Just found out my Z3 had Z Star alloys when new, which is great because I have just bought some to replace the pepper pots I was never keen on. This means I don't need to confess to the insurance company that I have made a modification, they should have been on anyway. It also means I don't need to feel to guilty about not keeping her original - great sight, well pleased - wonder what happened to the original wheels

[Geoff H]

///M steering wheel and knob go hand in hand. They weren't really options on most cars either - they were standard equipment - but I guess it would muck the system up for earlier cars that didn't get them.

Cheers R.

I have the ///M steering wheel but have a part wood gear knob to match the wood trim the car was spec'ed with, the extended leather option I have is not listed nor the Tracker which I expect was fitted once the car got to this country. But both are on the print out the main dealer supplied.

Options

S243A AIRBAG FUER BEIFAHRER Airbag for front passenger

S388A VERDECK SCHWARZ Softtop, black

S395A UEBERROLLSCHUTZSYSTEM Rollover protection system

S398A VERDECKBETAETIGUNG ELEKTRO-HYDR. Softtop, electromech. semiautom.

S423A FUSSMATTEN IN VELOURS Floor mats velours

S428A WARNDREIECK Warning triangle and first aid kit

S438A EDELHOLZAUSFUEHRUNG Fine wood trim

S441A RAUCHERPAKET Smoker package

S530A KLIMAANLAGE Air conditioning

S550A BORDCOMPUTER On-board computer

S658A RADIO BMW BUSINESS CD RDS Radio BMW Business CD RDS

S710A M LEDERLENKRAD M sports steering wheel, multifunction

L812A ENGLAND/IRLAND AUSFUEHRUNG NATIONAL VERSION GREAT BRITAIN

S818A BATTERIEHAUPTSCHALTER Battery master switch

S863A SERVICE KONTAKT-FLYER EUROPA Dealer List Europe

S880A ENGLISCH / BORDLITERATUR Bordliteratur englisch

S925A VERSANDSCHUTZPAKET Dispatch protection pack


Standard equipment

S209A SPERRDIFFERENTIAL 25% Differential lock 25%

S214A AUT.STABIL.-CONTROL+TRAKTION(ASC+T) Automatic stability control (ASC+T)

S272A LM RAD/Z STAR BMW LA wheel Z Star

S345A CHROME LINE INTERIEUR Chrome Line Interieur

S380A HARDTOP-VORBEREITUNG Hardtop-preparation

S410A FENSTERHEBER, ELEKTRISCH VORN Window lifts, electric, front

S510A LEUCHTWEITENREGELUNG ABBLENDLICHT Headlight vertical aim control

S520A NEBELSCHEINWERFER Fog lights

S853A SPRACHVERSION ENGLISCH Language version, English

[Bonzo]

Geoff, your Z3 could be my Z3lda's twin sister! Same spec, virtually the same options and the beautiful Montreal Blue which looks gorgeous, especially in the sun. Somewhere along the line though the Z-star alloys were swopped for 17" 8J retro Alpina wheels, which I personally prefer, and Angel eyes fitted. Do you think of your Z3 as a female? Stand directly behind her and look at her rear. Jennifer Lopez immediately springs to my mind. Hmm...perhaps I need to get out more.

Cheers, Bonzo

[BladeRunner919]

Mine also lists 'M sports steering wheel, multifunction but as a couple of other posts mention, I have no idea what those multi functions are - left, right & horn perhaps!

I also discovered that my leather seats aren't original. Should be Terracotta cloth rather than the Tanin Red leather that I (thankfully) have.

[Geoff H]

Geoff, your Z3 could be my Z3lda's twin sister! Same spec, virtually the same options and the beautiful Montreal Blue which looks gorgeous, especially in the sun. Somewhere along the line though the Z-star alloys were swopped for 17" 8J retro Alpina wheels
Cheers, Bonzo

I changed the Z-Stars wheels to the current ones about 11 years ago

[Gareth 161]

Hi
Not sure how old the links are but don’t now appear to be working for me anyway.
Is it still possible to do a check on the original specs of a z3?
Thanks
Gareth