BMW VIN Number Decoder
The BMW VIN Number is an important part of every BMW manufactured. It gives access to detailed insights into any vehicle’s specifications, features, production details, and even its past. Learn where to find the BMW VIN and how to decode each character with this simple guide!
What is a BMW VIN Number?
A BMW VIN number is a unique 17-character code (or 5 to 14 characters in classic cars) assigned to every BMW vehicle for identification purposes. It acts as a fingerprint for the car, allowing you to trace its history, specifications, features, fuel economy, and more.
With the VIN number, you can spot damaged vehicles, altered vehicles, fakes, clones, and lots more. It is especially important to check the VIN if you’re in the used car market to buy or sell a BMW.
BMW VIN Number Breakdown – How to Read a BMW VIN Number
Before we start, note that Q (q), I (i), and O (o) don’t appear in a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) to avoid any mix-up with the numbers 1, 0, and 9.
Now, let’s break down what all those characters in a BMW’s VIN mean. A VIN is made up of 17 characters (except in classic vehicles), and each one gives you a clue about your BMW’s specific details. These characters are also grouped into three segments to make decoding easier, they are:
- World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI): It is composed of the first three characters and signifies the country of origin and the manufacturer, in this case, BMW.
- Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS): This section includes the 4th to 9th characters and contains information about the vehicle’s make, engine specs, model, and more.
- Vehicle Identifier Section: Here, you will find the 10th to 17th characters, which encode details like the encoding information, such as model year, manufacturing plant, and a specific serial number for each car.
Breaking Down BMW VIN Number
1st Character: BMW Country of Origin
The first digit of the VIN shows where your BMW was manufactured. This helps identify the country of production. Some common characters you will find here are:
- W = Germany
- 1, 4, 5 = United States
- 3 = Mexico
2nd Character: Manufacturer
The second character in the VIN tells the vehicle’s make. There are two characters you could possibly see here on a BMW VIN. It’s either a “B” representing BMW Germany or a “U” representing BMW USA.
3rd Character: Vehicle Type
The third character shows the specific vehicle type. Some examples are;
- A, S = Passenger vehicles
- X = Utility vehicles
- 1 = Motorcycles, etc.
4th Character: Model Line
With the fourth character, you can identify the specific model, but you cannot be 100% sure what each character means since they are frequently reused. For example, an “A” as the fourth character represents any 3-Series models built from 1980 to the early 2000s.
For better accuracy here, it’s best to use our VIN decoder.
5th to 7th Character: Series, Body Style, and Engine Type
This section has so many characters being reused, representing the BMW series, body type (sedan, coupe, SUV, or convertible), and engine specifications.
8th Character: Safety Features
The eighth character shows the different types of seat belts and airbags installed at the factory. Some examples include:
- 1 = driver’s side airbag.
- 2, 3 = driver and passenger side airbags.
- 4 = advanced driver and passenger airbag.
9th Character: Check Digit
This digit simply verifies that the VIN is authentic and not a fake string of random characters. It is calculated using a specific algorithm developed by the U.S. Department of Transportation.
10th Character: Model Year
The tenth character shows the model year and switches between numbers and letters. Each letter stands for a unique year; for instance, ‘W’ means that the BMW is from the 1998 model year.
Here’s a table that can help you easily identify any BMW’s model year:
| Code/Year | Code/Year | Code/Year | Code/Year | Code/Year |
| A 1980 B 1981 C 1982 D 1983 E 1984 F 1985 G 1986 H 1987 J 1988 K 1989 | L 1990 M 1991 N 1992 P 1993 R 1994 S 1995 T 1996 V 1997 W 1998 X 1999 | Y 2000 1 2001 2 2002 3 2003 4 2004 5 2005 6 2006 7 2007 8 2008 9 2009 | A 2010 B 2011 C 2012 D 2013 E 2014 F 2015 G 2016 H 2017 J 2018 K 2019 | L 2020 M 2021 N 2022 P 2023 R 2024 S 2025 T 2026 V 2027 W 2028 X 2029 |
11th Character: Assembly Plant
The eleventh character shows the vehicle’s assembly or manufacturing plant, and you would mostly find BMWs assembled in these locations represented with these characters:
- A, F, and K = Munich, Germany
- B, C, D, G = Dingolfing, Germany
- E, J, P = Regensburg, Germany
- L = Greer, South Carolina, United States
12th to 17th Characters: Serial Number
These characters make up the unique sequential number of the BMW. This distinguishes it uniquely from other BMWs with the same model, trim, etc., manufactured in the same plant.
Where is the VIN Number on a BMW?
Trying to find your BMW VIN number? It’s no surprise that BMW makes it easy to locate this crucial piece of information by placing it in several key spots—on the vehicle itself and in important documents.
Here are some of the places where you can spot your VIN:
- On the dashboard, near the windshield
- On the driver’s side door jamb
- On the engine block
- On the vehicle’s firewall
- In the left-hand inner wheel arch
- On the steering wheel or column
- On the radiator support bracket
- In the car’s title, registration, maintenance book, or auto insurance policy
With just a quick look in these spots, you should be able to find your VIN. However, if after a thorough search, it’s still nowhere to be found, it could be a red flag that you’re dealing with a stolen or cloned vehicle. Stay alert!
What Information Can I Get from a BMW VIN Lookup?
A BMW VIN number lookup provides detailed information about the vehicle’s specifications, features, build sheets, warranty coverage, and past history records.
Here’s a glimpse of BMW specifications you can access when you decode the VIN with a VIN decoder:
- Year
- Make
- Exterior dimensions
- Number of doors
- Ground clearance
- Standard seating
- Transmission style
- Fuel type
- Braking
- Range extender
- Engine Description
- Front airbag information
- Emissions
- Cargo dimensions
- Model
- Valve train design
- Interior dimensions
- Suspension
- Traction battery
- Engine Size and specs
- Drive Type
- Tank capacity
- Trailering
- Displacement
- Mileage
- Tire pressure and size
- Wheels
- Electrical powertrain
- Trim
- Country
- Delivery charges
- Steering
- Weight
- MSRP
- Body type
- Seating
- EPA Class
- Engine model
- Engine configuration
- Seat belt type
- Off-road attributes
- Electrical specifications
- Year
- Make
- Exterior dimensions
- Number of doors
- Ground clearance
- Standard seating
- Transmission style
- Fuel type
- Braking
- Range extender
- Engine Description
- Front airbag information
- Emissions
- Cargo dimensions
- Model
- Valve train design
- Interior dimensions
- Suspension
- Traction battery
- Engine Size and specs
- Drive Type
- Tank capacity
- Trailering
- Displacement
- Mileage
- Tire pressure and size
- Wheels
- Electrical powertrain
- Trim
- Country
- Delivery charges
- Steering
- Weight
- MSRP
- Body type
- Seating
- EPA Class
- Engine model
- Engine configuration
- Seat belt type
- Off-road attributes
- Electrical specifications
Alongside these vehicle specs, a BMW VIN lookup can also give you all of the vehicle’s records from when it first left the factory. Some records you can view include:
- Mileage
- Odometer Readings
- Sales History
- Auction History
- Accident History
- Title Brand
- Salvage Title
- Hail Damage
- Flood Damage
- Structural Damage
- Ownership History
- Usage History
- Ownership Duration
- Lien & Loans
- Maintenance Schedule
- Warranty Status
- Repair Cost
- Recalls History
- Mileage
- Odometer Readings
- Sales History
- Auction History
- Accident History
- Title Brand
- Salvage Title
- Hail Damage
- Flood Damage
- Structural Damage
- Ownership History
- Usage History
- Ownership Duration
- Lien & Loans
- Maintenance Schedule
- Warranty Status
- Repair Cost
- Recalls History
The details you get will depend on the provider you use, but with the right tools, you can get a complete picture of the vehicle’s life from the day it rolled off the assembly line.
How to Decode a BMW VIN Number
If you have the BMW VIN handy, you can decode it with our VIN decoder instantly with just a few steps:
- Enter the BMW VIN in the form above. Our tool can decode standard VINs (17 characters) and classic VINs (5 – 14 characters). You can also use the license plate number or the year, make, and model of the vehicle if you don’t have the VIN.
- Click on ‘Search’ to preview your vehicle’s specifications for free.
- Complete the payment process to get a detailed vehicle history report showing vehicle specifications and history records.
Using our Jeep VIN decoder, you can also break down all the characters of a VIN to access the specifications, options, and build data, whether for classic or modern vehicles.
Common Uses of the BMW VIN Number
The VIN has numerous applications, and its use varies depending on who’s using it. Some of the common uses of the BMW VIN are:
Vehicle Registration
No vehicle can be driven on the streets legally without registration, and this process requires the VIN. At the State bureaus or departments of motor vehicles, the VIN is used for all vehicle paperwork for proper identification.
Insurance Purposes
The VIN is also required during insurance applications. Insurance companies usually check every vehicle before providing quotes. With the VIN, they can check the vehicle’s specifications, costs, and history records to create personalized quotes for BMW owners.
Window Stickers
The VIN is very useful in generating window stickers to check any vehicle’s specifications, such as make, model, engine type, MSRP, warranty, standard and optional features, and trim. This ensures that potential buyers can verify the exact features and details of the vehicle before making a purchase.
Vehicle History Checks
The VIN is very useful in checking any vehicle’s specifications and history records, such as theft records, sales records, damages, accidents, salvage brands, rebuilt titles, build data, warranty coverage, and more. With a simple BMW VIN number check, car buyers, sellers, and dealers can avoid damaged cars and negotiate accurately.
Police Checks
The police also need the VIN to track vehicles. For example, if a car gets reported as stolen, they can place police markers on the VIN and keep track of the vehicle easily. With this, they can even get alerts at checkpoints.
Safety Recalls
Hundreds of thousands of vehicles are recalled every year. With the VINs, BMW can identify specific vehicle models that get recalled and notify the owners to get them fixed as soon as possible. Car buyers can also check for pending recalls on any used car before purchasing using the VIN.
Top BMW Models You Can Lookup With a VIN Decoder
Our database covers all BMW models, modern or classic. No matter what model you have in mind, you can decode it in seconds with our VIN decoder. Some top models you may be looking at are:
| X3 | X6 | 4 Series | 8 Series |
| X5 | M3 | iX | X5 M |
| 3 Series | M4 | M2 | X6 M |
| M5 | i5 | Z4 | M5 Touring |
| 2 Series | X7 | 1 Series | XM |
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I check the specs of my BMW?
You can check the specs of any BMW by decoding the VIN with our VIN decoder. Simply fill out the form on this page and submit it. With the VIN decoded, you can check the specifications, features, MSRP, interior and exterior colors, and more.
What is the difference between the VIN number and the chassis number of a BMW?
There is no difference between the VIN number and the chassis number on a BMW. They are both used to refer to the same unique 17-character code assigned to every vehicle during manufacture.
Can you look up the build sheet by VIN?
Yes, you can look up the build sheet by VIN with a simple VIN check. All you need to do is enter the VIN into the form to get one. Alternatively, if the VIN is unavailable, you can also get one with the license plate number or the year, make, and model information.
How do I read my BMW VIN number?
A BMW VIN is a 17-character code that identifies your vehicle. Here’s how to read to VIN number: 1st character is the country, 2nd is the manufacturer, 3rd is the vehicle type, 4th-8th are vehicle features, 9th is the security code, 10th is the model year, 11th is the assembly plant, and 12th-17th are the serial number.
Can a BMW VIN check show owner records?
Yes, a BMW VIN check gives full access to the ownership records, including the number of previous owners, duration of ownership, and the locations where the vehicle was registered. Note, however, that we cannot provide personal owner information due to privacy protection laws.