Question on Model Year

[groovymcawesome]

have what I believe to be a 1995 318ti. I got it about 5 years ago. It was marked at the dealership as a 1995. One day, about a year ago, I was getting my oil changed, and the guy doing it says it was a 1996, because the oil filter for a '95 was the wrong one. I was at a place out of town. Not my usual mechanic.

My question is, where do I look on the car to find out? I've looked on the tag inside the drivers door, and it says it was manufactured in October of 1995. Since it's so late in the year, I'm not sure if it is part of the '96 line.

I know it's a stupid question, but any help would be appreciated.

[m-technik_ti]

Seeing as it was produced so late in the year 1995, it would probably be considered as a 96' model year. A sure fire way to find out is by looking at the engine; 95's had a 1.8l m42, while 96's had the 1.9l m44.

[ZeroG]

Originally Posted by groovymcawesome

have what I believe to be a 1995 318ti. I got it about 5 years ago. It was marked at the dealership as a 1995. One day, about a year ago, I was getting my oil changed, and the guy doing it says it was a 1996, because the oil filter for a '95 was the wrong one. I was at a place out of town. Not my usual mechanic.

My question is, where do I look on the car to find out? I've looked on the tag inside the drivers door, and it says it was manufactured in October of 1995. Since it's so late in the year, I'm not sure if it is part of the '96 line.

I know it's a stupid question, but any help would be appreciated.

Look on the production date of the car. I have a prod. date of 9/95 and my car is a 95 that takes a 96 oil filter and has some other features of the M44 engine. BMW made a some hybrid M42 engines before completely switching to the M44.

So odds are if it is regestered as a 95' it is one. You can also check on the title for your car.

-Chad

[clex2]

I think my car has the same configuration as yours. All 95's have the M42 engine, but I have also been told, like you, that the oil filter is the "newer" style. Either 95 ti's got the 96+ oil filters, or at some point late in the year they switched to the new oil filter. Doesn't matter, I'm sure my car is a 95. It was made 9/95.