Decode A Vin#

Found an older BMW listed as a 1985 for $1150, but the VIN does not match the year. Also, their is no model designation on the car, except an "M" badge, (I'm not really familiar with BMW's but it looks like a 5 series 4-door, with Auto Trans). Car is solid with no rust, and only the interior (Carpets) need steam cleaning.

Speaking to the owner, he has had the car for over 18 years, (with maintanance records), and was bought used from a "German Gentleman". Car body and exterior in excellent condition., and will be test driving tonight..

Here is the VIN#

WBADB6108D1058626.

Is this a Euro Spec 1983???.

Owner is not sure of the engine size. Did I just find a rare "grey market" car???. If so it has current Smog inspection, and tags for N.C.

At the price it's great, but what is it???

Thanks for the help.

Chris

I suspect your car is just like mine. Regular old 1985 535i, manufactured in Munich, in the Dinofing plant.
Real, live 'M' cars were manufactured in their own MOTORSPORT plant.
My car has a small 'M' badge on it, but that's something American dealers got to stick on there if they felt like it. Usually, they stuck it on their if they changed some of the moulding or modified the suspension a little.
Real, live M535i cars will have a double-overhead cam motor that makes about 260 horsepower. Our cars have single-overhead cam motors that make about 180 horsepower.
M535is from 1985 also came with a limited-slip differential (LSD), which means that BOTH of the rear wheels will spin when you're doing a burnout. My right rear wheel is the only one that spins, so I know I don't have the LSD, either. That tire tends to wear out much more quickly...
I paid $1800 for my car in decent shape, although it had a bunch of stuff broken, like the control knobs for the climate control, the windshield wipers are very temperamental, the power antenna doesn't work, the speedometer had quit, and a bunch of other stuff...like the on-board computer didn't light up any more, and the batteries for the service indicator lights were dead.
So, all in all, $1200 sounds like a good deal. But it is NOT an M car. It's really just a stock 535i...and believe me, a stock 535i is a bad-to-the-bone driving machine!
Once I get a turbocharger, I'll be able to keep up with the much more expensive M cars from 1985.
Flunky
PS-Here's a link to a site that helps you decode the VIN for yourself:
http://www.bmworg.ru/repair/digestfaq/faq1.htm#1.3

I went to this site:
http://www.analogx.com/cgi-bin/cgivin.exe

And that one confirms that your car was manufactured in 1983, although you already knew that...(I didn't).