Whats the difference

[Shawn D.]

Your car may have "528" on it, and it may have had "528" on it since new, however it's going to be the functional equivalent of either a 528e or 528i. The designation depends on the engine, whether it's equipped with the M30 (i), or M20 (e).

If your car indeed never had an (i) or an (e) ever, and it's SUPPOSED to be that way, that would mean your car doesn't have fuel injection, as the lack of a letter literally meant the car had a carburetter setup instead.

Now Glen, do you really think that:

1) Such a car (E28 with carbs from the factory) ever existed anywhere?

2) Such a car (E28 with carbs from the factory) could have possibly been sold as new in the US, especially in California?

[tomkatdo]

It s fuel injected

[Jay in VA]

I got it! They ran out of e's that day! Or the QC guy fell asleep as the car rolled by while he was dreaming of a good looking German girl he saw at the pub the night before, yeah, yeah thats it.

[Kenny Blankenship]

Ok,i bought the car from the original owner,an elderly man,who took great care of the car,the car is a clean title,with everything original,its an 87,why would someone change the badge to take out the E,and i have seen other 528s without the E

There is a 2006 530i sitting in the garage at work which has where the "5" and "3" have fallen off, apparently due to faulty glue. So it is possible that the badge is not original or has been removed for some reason such as body work.

All the US E28s had an "e" or "i" designation from the factory.

[Jay in VA]

That's a Canadian model, 0i! Soory, I had to go there.

[Azure]

Your car may have "528" on it, and it may have had "528" on it since new, however it's going to be the functional equivalent of either a 528e or 528i. The designation depends on the engine, whether it's equipped with the M30 (i), or M20 (e).

If your car indeed never had an (i) or an (e) ever, and it's SUPPOSED to be that way, that would mean your car doesn't have fuel injection, as the lack of a letter literally meant the car had a carburetter setup instead.

Now Glen, do you really think that:

1) Such a car (E28 with carbs from the factory) ever existed anywhere?

2) Such a car (E28 with carbs from the factory) could have possibly been sold as new in the US, especially in California?

No Shawn, I doubt it existed, even though there have been some extremely strange & rare cars in BMWs history (E12 M533i anyone?) However my point, which is quite valid, states: (if you reverse engineer it) that if it has fuel injection, it isn't really a "528", even if it was badged that way. In reality, I was agreeing with you, but coming from a "badge = engine" standpoint to make my point.

In any case, it's a beautiful example of a 5er. e, i, or otherwise.

[tomkatdo]

I have a folder of all maintanence since new,there was never any body work done on this car,the paint is original,the car was garaged its whole life,not one dent on it,so as far as removing it to do body work,no way.Its a 528e that came from the factory without the e,just like many others i have seen here in California.

[Shawn D.]

I have a folder of all maintanence since new,there was never any body work done on this car,the paint is original,the car was garaged its whole life,not one dent on it,so as far as removing it to do body work,no way.

Abscence of evidence is not evidence of abscence. I take it you are unfamiliar with BMW of North America, Inc. v. Gore where a buyer of a new BMW sued because the car had been repainted before sale without his knowledge?

From The Supreme Court of Alabama:

At trial, BMW acknowledged that it had adopted a nationwide policy in 1983 concerning cars that were damaged in the course of manufacture or transportation. If the cost of repairing the damage exceeded 3 percent of the car's suggested retail price, the car was placed in company service for a period of time and then sold as used. If the repair cost did not exceed 3 percent of the suggested retail price, however, the car was sold as new without advising the dealer that any repairs had been made.

The fact that BMW would make repairs and not tell the dealers or buyers is that -- a fact. A repainted trunklid on an E28 would fall under the 3% rule. I really doubt that the official repairers would leave the "e" off, though.

Its a 528e that came from the factory without the e, just like many others i have seen here in California.

Nope, they've fallen off or just weren't put back on. Seeing other cars with missing portions of their badges doesn't constitute proof.

Nobody here is saying your car is crap because it's missing the "e" -- just the opposite! It is quite humorous and puzzling, though, that you keep insisting the lack of an "e" is correct in the face of everyone here telling you otherwise.

[tomkatdo]

You live in Georgia,I live in California,I am telling you and everyone else here on this board that there are 528 Es without the E in California,If you think im lying come out to California and see for yourself,look around for more proof its out there.

[tomkatdo]

And from the pictures up there does it look like the E fell off,look where it sits!

[robeyff]

Abscence of evidence is not evidence of abscence.

Shawn!? Ahem. Hack, Cough.

I think you stole his E and traded it for an extra C

Shame on you - as if you don't have plenty of extra letters around your house already.

[FastFiver]

And from the pictures up there does it look like the E fell off,look where it sits!

You're on the verge of becoming a forum legend here, and that's not a good thing, mind you. Let it go... you know MUCH less about E28's than the people with which you've chosen to argue. You think Shawn D. is a moderator for a reason? Perhaps? *looks around* ...

[Lancelot]

You could enter part of the car's VIN in here and let the computer give some direction.

[tomkatdo]

Is there anyone from Cali here?For the love of God,I have eyes which i use to see,now what i saw is many 528s without the E,I'm sorry if you have not seen them on the east coast but they exist,go on ebay for e28 parts and see that there are people who list e28s as 524td,528,528e,533i,535i and 535is.Why,because they exist,i own one that is beautiful and i love it.Look at the pictures,all original,pristine.Im not giving my vin on here,i already gave my license plate to prove a point,i respect your guys' opinion but you are wrong about this..

[tomkatdo]

Look at the e28 parts car on ebay from bavarian in Sacramento,where im from,why would a reputable company list the 528 and 528e on there,because they exist.

[mkarkos]

Click on the blue word "here" in lancelot's post and enter the last seven digits on your vin that the link asks you for. You might get your answer there. Cut and paste what you find out and post it here delete your vin if you want.

You know people see your plate eveyday you drive down the road and they might even look at your vin when you are parked somewhere. My point is... nevermind.

[tomkatdo]

That vin link doesnt work

[Dinan e28]

You also might want to check if your Vin is on the trunk lid. And if it is, check if it matches the doors, hood and dash.

Look here mine fell off. really, when I was washing my car.

I have a folder of all maintanence since new,there was never any body work done on this car,the paint is original,the car was garaged its whole life,not one dent on it,so as far as removing it to do body work,no way.Its a 528e that came from the factory without the e,just like many others i have seen here in California.

Your making assumptions, you know what that does to you?

[tomkatdo]

What assumptions

[mkarkos]

Take another shot at the link. I just did it. Try my numbers 2791005.

[tomkatdo]

link doesnt work for me

[Shawn D.]

Is there anyone from Cali here?

Did you not see Eric Q's post? (FYI, that's a direct link to his individual post)

For the love of God,I have eyes...

AGAIN -- the fact that you've seen 528s with no "e" does not constitute any form of proof! Letters fall off all across the country, not just in California!

Try these links to decode your VIN:

http://www.bmw-z1.com/VIN/VINdecode-e.cgi (yes, this has already been posted)

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/select.do

[tomkatdo]

I already knew what it was going to tell me,1987 528e,i said so myself earlier that it was a 528e.Im done trying to explain to shawn of the dead and everyone else about the e never coming on some 528s.Ill carry my camera around and whenever i am fortunate enough to spot some ill take a picture to show you that they have the same placement as on my car,meaning the e was never there because it couldnt fit there,it didnt fall off and it was not replaced.E or no E my car is original and mechanically and cosmetically beautiful and thats what matters,i really wish i knew how to post pictures so that everyone could see pictures of the whole car,the interior is perfect,i dont think anyone ever sat in the passenger seat or the rear,and the original paint shines like it came out of the factory yesterday.I love my e28!