First go here:

http://www.bmw-warranty.co.uk/Pages/CarDetails.asp...

Enter the reg number of the car and press NEXT, helpfully it will pull up the details of the car including the VIN. Keep that page open.

Then follow these instructions courtesy of the BMW Owner's Club:

1> Click http://www.bmw.co.uk/bmwuk/homepage/
2> From the BMW Owner Area menu, choose Genuine BMW Parts
3> From the menu on the left had side of the page click Parts Catalogue
4> From the lower part of the screen click Electronic parts catalogue. Find genuine spare parts and accessories for your BMW.
5> Use the username eu111111 and the password bmwetk1
6> Enter the last 7 digits of you VIN number and click >>
7> From the top of the next window, click Options. This displays a new window with the information on extras.

The build sheet actually includes standard fit equipment as 'options' but it'll tell you exactly what is on your car and also the build date.
The VIN number trick on the Insured Warranty site doesn't seem to work with some stock already at a BMW dealer but then again they'll have the build sheet anyway and also doesn't seem to work with older cars. It found my '55 plate E65 okay though.

Worked on both my '00 540's, cheers for that
The 'BMW individual' one , the detail the original owner went to.

Type code DR62
Type 540I (EUR)
E series E39 (2)
Series 5
Type TOUR
Steering RL
Doors 5
Engine M62/TU
Displacement 4.40
Power 210
Drive HECK
Transmission AUT
Colour SONDERLACKIERUNG (490)
Upholstery SONDERPOLSTERUNG (Z1XX)
Prod.date 2000-05-22

Close Options
Code

Description (interface)

Description (EPC)
S227A SPORTL.FAHRW. MIT NIVEAUREGULIERUNG Sport suspension+lowered+ride-height
S267A LM RAEDER/STERNSPEICHE 49 BMW light alloy wheel, star spoke 49
S302A ALARMANLAGE Alarm system
S354A GRUENKEIL-FRONTSCHEIBE Green windscreen, green shade band
S386A DACHRELING Roof railing
S403A GLASDACH, ELEKTRISCH Glass roof, electrical
S413A GEPAECKRAUMTRENNETZ Trunk room net
S428A WARNDREIECK Warning triangle and first aid kit
S430A INNEN-/AUSSENSPIEGEL AUT.ABBLENDEND Interior/outside mirror with auto dip
S459A SITZVERSTELLUNG, ELEKTR.MIT MEMORY Seat adjuster, electric, with memory
S481A SPORTSITZE FUER FAHRER/BEIFAHRER Sports seat
S494A SITZHEIZUNG FUER FAHRER/BEIFAHRER Seat heating driver/passenger
S500A SCHEINW.WASCHANL./INTENSIVREINIGUNG Headlight wipe/wash/Intensive cleaning
S508A PARK DISTANCE CONTROL (PDC) Park Distance Control (PDC)
S522A XENON-LICHT Xenon Light
Code

Description (interface)

Description (EPC)
S609A NAVIGATIONSSYSTEM PROFESSIONAL Navigation system Professional
S620A SPRACHEINGABESYSTEM Voice control
S627A KOMPLETTVORB. BMW HANDY (NOKIA) Prepartation BMW Handy (Nokia)
S677A HIFI SYSTEM PROFESSIONAL HiFi System Professional DSP
S694A CD-WECHSLER VORBEREITUNG Provisions for BMW 6 CD changer
S710A M LEDERLENKRAD M sports steering wheel, multifunction
S760A INDIVIDUAL HOCHGLANZ SHADOW LINE High gloss shadow line
S773A EDELHOLZAUSFUEHRUNG Fine wood trim
S775A INDIVIDUAL DACHHIMMEL ANTHRAZIT Headlining anthracite
S785A WEISSE BLINKLEUCHTEN White direction indicator lights
L812A ENGLAND/IRLAND AUSFUEHRUNG NATIONAL VERSION GREAT BRITAIN
S850A ZUSAETZL. TANKFUELLUNG EXPORT Additional Export tank filling
S863A SERVICE KONTAKT-FLYER EUROPA Retailer Directory Europe
S877A UEBERKREUZBEDIENUNG ENTFALL Delete cross-pattern operation
S880A ENGLISCH / BORDLITERATUR Operating instructions, English
Code

Description (interface)

Description (EPC)
S940A SONDERWUNSCH AUSSTATTUNG special equipment BMW Individual

Close Standard equipment
Code

Description (interface)

Description (EPC)
S202A STEPTRONIC Steptronic
S210A DYNAMISCHE STAB. CONTROL (DSC) Dynamic stability control
S520A NEBELSCHEINWERFER Fog lights
S534A KLIMAAUTOMATIK Automatic air conditioning
S555A BORDCOMPUTER On-board computer V with remote control
S853A SPRACHVERSION ENGLISCH Language version English

Close Information
Code

Description (interface)

Description (EPC)
S220A NIVEAUREGULIERUNG Self-levelling suspension
S431A INNENSPIEGEL,AUTOMATISCH ABBLENDEND Interior mirror with automatic-dip
S473A ARMAUFLAGE VORN Armrest front
S602A BORDMONITOR MIT TV On-board monitor with TV

Close Individual vehicle data
Text
---- Processing Individual
Sign "BMW individual"

0490 Color
Paintwork "scarab green-metallic", as code 444
including hang on parts.

Z1XX Upholstery
Individual Collection: Volleder in Indivdiual Collectionsfarben

Full leather Nappa dark olive (nb. 2 695 046)

Following items are in leather Nappa dark olive (nb. 2 695 046)

Selector lever gaiter

Text
Handbrake handle

Sewing thread dark olive (2 695 137), no. 0354 D

Quilting yarn in dark olive (2 695 133), code 0354 D.

Following items are in leather Nappa ecru (nb. 2 695 113)

Center seat panels of front seats incl. seat squab lenth and
Center seat panels of rear seats

Door panel inserts

Sewing thread ecru (7 000 797), code 0862 F.

Text
Quilting yarn in ecru (7 000 794), code 0862 F.

Plastic parts of seats in englishgreen

Seam of front and rear seats according to standard option
leather Montana

Carpet in soft velour dark olive (fb7152)

Velour floor mats in dark olive (Fb-code 7152) with trim in
nappa ecru (2 695 113)
***************************************
>Delivery of the floor mats of ZS-F-51<
***************************************

Text
Remainder of spec. as standard leather Montana
stonegreen/englishgreen (code N6GN)

0940 Sonderwunschausstattung
Wood trim "olive maple wood", 0166
bracket of steering wheel in softpaint black.

Steering wheel rim walknappa dark oliv (2 695 046),
quilting yarn ecru (7 000 794), code 0862F.

We are unable to process your policy. Please call the BMW Insured Warranty Services team on 0871 200 0199 to arrange cover.
Lines are open 9am - 6pm Monday to Friday.

I reckon this could be really useful - unfortunately when getting to the portal page - it only displays in French! I will take another look later when I have more time to see why that is happening!

...or you could just look under the passenger seat and pull out the build sheet, which might be easier...