Vin number ID

[daz]

Good morning. So I searched my vin number finding that the bike was built in March of '71. Europa Ausfuhrung. Version Europe. What does that mean to me? Does it effect the value? Any other differences I should be aware of? Or were all R50/5s labeled that? Thanks.
daz

[SteveD]

Google translation....Europe model. version Europe.
Nuthin' special I think. I wonder how they were different to the NA models though?

[Kurt in S.A.]

Phil Hawksley's site indicates that all R50/5s were built for European delivery:

http://www.bmbikes.co.uk/chassispages/e ... is500s.htm

Kurt in S.A.

[Deleted User 62]

Judging from the photos on that site, and my own experience buying a Euro spec R75/5, they didn't have the side reflectors in the turn signals (a requirement for the USA market), the speedometer was in KPH and there was a round reflector molded into the tail light lens. Other than that, same bike...

[Garnet]

Judging from the photos on that site, and my own experience buying a Euro spec R75/5, they didn't have the side reflectors in the turn signals (a requirement for the USA market), the speedometer was in KPH and there was a round reflector molded into the tail light lens. Other than that, same bike...

And low bars.

[daz]

Thanks Garnet. That settles that. I have the side reflectors and mph odo. One of the things on the bike that is not original are the bars. Higher bars, .875 inch in diameter. So someone sanded and filed under the throttle to make it turn easier. Frown.

[jagarra]

My European speced BMW had the bolted on reflectors on each side, none on the turn signal housing. Did have a MPH speedo and low bars. I have seen the aluminum turn signal housings in both flavors, with or with reflectors.

gg

[Ken in Oklahoma]

My European speced BMW had the bolted on reflectors on each side, none on the turn signal housing. Did have a MPH speedo and low bars. I have seen the aluminum turn signal housings in both flavors, with or with reflectors.

I can easily imagine that BMW, if running low on the non reflector turn signal housings for the Euro spec models, would happily substitute the US ones--and not bother to tell anybody about it in the parts lists, manuals, or anywhere else for that matter...........


Ken