318ti (2005) from South Africa..
 

Hi there :)

I just got myself a 2005 318ti . I live in South Africa, and the e46 compact is the only compact released here :) what I would like to know is, what motor came in the 2005 model? (Its the one that can play mp3 too, so maybe that will identify which exact model it is??)). Is it the last year model that came out? What is different to the 2005 model compared to the rest of the year models? Like what advancements were done to the car per year, etc?

Thank you :)

:(2005'

I recently purchased a 2004 E46 BMW 318 ti M-Sport (Japanese Import) and the motor is N46B20. I believe the first E46 hatch was year 2001 with N42B20 motor. It is also my understanding that 2004 was the last year of manufacturing and then the 1 series was born. Maybe your model was first registered in 2005. By the way I am in New Zealand, where the rugby world cup now lives.:wink:

on the papers it sais "Date of liability of first registration" : 2005-06-06. Maybe it was registered half way in 2005, but thats a little late isnt it? You guys very certain on 2004 being last model? Does the 2004 play MP3? I read on a site somewhere that BMW business mp3 thing only came out 2005. I dont know too much at all, so i need your guys help now :)

Im googling now and all sites say either 1998-2005 , or 2001-2005(Wiki sais to 2005, most of the time they right,although not always).

Help??

is there any way i can check what year it was made, by taking the VIN and engine number etc to BMW and they check on their system of some sort?

what's the last 7 digits of the vin??

Try typing in the last seven digits of the VIN (serial number) here.

okay i see it now, its a September 2004 model :) Registered in 2005 June. So would a person pay for it as a 2004 or 2005 model type thing?

BMW makes the greatest number of changes to a model over the annual, August shutdown. Thus, a subsidiary would probably call a September 2004 car, a 2005 model. Sometimes marketers have other less obvious reasons for a decision so SA may have assigned it to 2004.

The deciding factor for what parts are actually in the car – the substance for the sizzle – is the month and year the car was built (9/2004).

You make sense to what you are saying, just interesting to know what exactly is going on. The car was bough from a friend of mine's mother, they bought it new(so I'm 2nd owner), and it only has 70000km on, which is still very new, and has been to bmw dealer for its services. I should post pics of it when I get home. 5 speed manual, black leather, but no sunroof though:(

I'm loving the car, and driving it so slow, I don't like to see the consumption needle pass 10l\100km haha:)

Was thinking of putting a pair of ACS rims on some time in the future.

So anyways, thank you guys for all the info, and I'll post pics when I'm home again (I'm on holiday so barely go home).