BMW VIN Decoder

A BMW VIN decoder allows you to look up options, models, years, engines, transmissions, and specifications.

Also, you can check the title records and accidents by clicking Check History. Use the free BMW VIN Decoder Tool to check what engine, transmission, and options are installed on your vehicle.

How to decode BMW VIN

Position 1: Country

The first position in the VIN shows the country where the BMW was assembled. This is W for Germany. If your BMW were manufactured in the US, your BMW VIN would start with 5.

• W: Germany
• 5: USA

Position 2: Manufacturer

This number tells you about the manufacturer of your car.

• B: BMW built in Germany (WBA, WBS, WBX, WBY)
• U or Y: BMW SAVs built in Spartanburg, USA (5UX, 5YM).

Position 3: Division

It provides information on the division. If the manufacturer has multiple divisions, this number helps pinpoint which one produced your car. BMW VIN will typically have X or A.

Position 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 VDS

Codes for BMW engine, transmission, and vehicle specs.

Position 9: Check Number

This is used to verify if the VIN is valid. A formula developed by the DOT generates this number.

Position 10: Year of Production

A	1980	L	1990	Y	2000	A	2010
B	1981	M	1991	1	2001	B	2011
C	1982	N	1992	2	2002	C	2012
D	1983	P	1993	3	2003	D	2013
E	1984	R	1994	4	2004	E	2014
F	1985	S	1995	5	2005	F	2015
G	1986	T	1996	6	2006	G	2016
H	1987	V	1997	7	2007	H	2017
J	1988	W	1998	8	2008	J	2018
K	1989	X	1999	9	2009	K	2019

Position 11: Factory

This indicates the plant where the vehicle was assembled. BMW has its own specific codes as follows:

• A, F, K: Munich (Germany)
• B, C, D, G: Dingolfing (Germany),
• E, J, P: Regensburg (Germany)
• H, N: Rosslyn, South Africa
• L, M: Spartanburg (USA)
• R: Toluca Mexico
• S: Shenyang, China
• T: Oxford, England (Mini)
• U: Goodwood, UK (Rolls-Royce)
• V: Leipzig (Germany)
• W: Magna Steyr, Graz (Austria)
• X, Y, Z: Berlin Germany

Positions 12 to 17

Positions twelve through seventeen show the serial number of the car. It is a production sequence number that lets BMW track when the car came off the assembly line. BMW can choose any six-digit number they like, as this number is not standardized.

BMW VIN Number Location

BMW cars have the VIN stamped in several locations. Here is where you can find the VIN of your BMW.

• The lower left corner of the windshield.
• Stamped on the top of the front suspension strut housing.
• Rear trunk or by the wheel well.
• Engine bay
• Your title or registration.

BMW Models

• 1 Series
• 3-series
• 5-series
• 6-series
• 7-series
• 8-series
• C1
• X1
• X3
• X5
• X6
• Z1
• Z3
• Z4
• Z8

5. Example MAKE VIN Number

WBA1G9C56GV726239

Manufacturer: BMW AG

Vehicle Type: PASSENGER CAR

Model Year: 2016

Make: BMW

Model: 228i

Body Class: Coupe

Other Information

The information provided below is based on the details provided by the manufacturer of this vehicle to NHTSA in the part 565 submittal

Series: 2-series

Trim: xDrive SULEV-PZEV

Gross Vehicle Weight Rating:

Drive Type:

Cylinders: 4

Primary Fuel Type: Gasoline

Engine Model:

Engine Brake (HP): 241

Engine Manufacturer:

Transmission Speed:

Transmission Style:

Engine Displacement (L): 2

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Airbags:

• Front: 1st Row (Driver & Passenger)
• Knee: 1st Row (Driver & Passenger)
• Side: 1st Row (Driver & Passenger)
• Curtain: 1st & 2nd Rows
• Seat Cushion:
• Other Restraint Info: Pretensioners for Driver and Front Passenger.

6. Options and Feature Codes

Standard equipment

• S1CBA CO2 equipment (CO2 UMFANG)
• S2LPA BMW LA wheel Y-spoke 380 (17″ LM RAEDER Y-SPEICHE 380)
• S216A HYDRO STEERING-SERVOTRONIC (SERVOTRONIC)
• S249A Multifunction f steering wheel (MULTIFUNKTION FUER LENKRAD)
• S255 ASports leather steering wheel (SPORT-LEDERLENKRAD)
• S258 ATyres with runflat properties (BEREIFUNG MIT NOTLAUFEIGENSCHAFTEN)
• S4AEA Armrest front, retractable (ARMAUFLAGE VORNE VERSCHIEBBAR)
• S4NEA Blow-by heater (BLOW-BY-HEIZER)
• S5DSA Emergency release, luggage compartment (KOFFERRAUMNOTENTRIEGELUNG)
• S520A Fog lights (NEBELSCHEINWERFER)
• S544A Cruise control with brake function (GESCHWINDIGKEITSREGEL. MIT BREMSF.)
• S645A BMW US Radio (RADIO-STEUERUNG US)
• S663A Radio BMW Professional (RADIO BMW PROFESSIONAL)
• S823A Hot-climate version (HEISSLAND-AUSFUEHRUNG)
• S842A Cold-climate version (KALTLAND-AUSFUEHRUNG)
• S845A Acoustic fasten seat belt reminder (AKUSTISCHE GURTWARNUNG)
• S853A Language version, English (SPRACHVERSION ENGLISCH)
• S992A Control of number-plate attachment (STEUERUNG KENNZEICHENBEFESTIGUNG)
• S993A model year code in VIN (MODELLJAHRESCODE)
• Custom options
• Parameter Value
• S1CAA Selection of COP-relevant vehicles (SELEKTION COP RELEVANTER FAHRZEUGE)
• S2TBA Sport automatic gearbox (SPORT-AUTOMATIK GETRIEBE)
• S2VBA Tire pressure display (REIFENDRUCKANZEIGE)
• S3DZA Omission of additional lettering, outer (ENTFALL ZUSATZ-SCHRIFTZUG AUSSEN)
• S302A Alarm system (ALARMANLAGE)
• S319A Integrated universal remote control (INTEGRIERTE UNIVERSAL-FERNBEDIENUNG)
• S322A Comfort access (KOMFORTZUGANG)
• S346A Chrome Line exterieur (CHROME LINE EXTERIEUR)
• S387A Wind deflector (WINDSCHUTZ)
• S4LVA black high-gloss accent korall-rot (INT.L.SCHW.HOCHGL.M.AKZENT.L. KORAL)
• S423A Floor mats velours (FUSSMATTEN IN VELOURS)
• S430A Interior/outside mirror with auto dip (INNEN-/AUSSENSPIEGEL AUT.ABBLENDEND)
• S431A Interior mirror with automatic-dip (INNENSPIEGEL,AUTOMATISCH ABBLENDEND)
• S441A Smoker package (RAUCHERPAKET)
• S459A Seat adjustment, electric, with memory (SITZVERSTELLUNG, ELEKTR.MIT MEMORY)
• S465A Through-loading system (DURCHLADESYSTEM)
• S481A Sports seat (SPORTSITZE FUER FAHRER/BEIFAHRER)
• S488A Lumbar support, driver and passenger (LORDOSENSTUETZE FAHRER/BEIFAHRER)
• S493A Storage compartment package (ABLAGENPAKET)
• S494A Seat heating driver/passenger (SITZHEIZUNG FUER FAHRER/BEIFAHRER)
• S521A Rain sensor (REGENSENSOR)
• S534A Automatic air conditioning (KLIMAAUTOMATIK)
• S563A Light package (LICHTPAKET)
• S6ACA Intelligent emergency call (INTELLIGENTER NOT RUF)
• S6AEA Teleservices (TELESERVICES)
• S6NHA Hands-free system with USB interface (FREISPRECHEIN. M. USB-SCHNITTSTELLE)
• S655A Satellite tuner (SATELLITENTUNER)
• S676A HiFi speaker system (HIFI LAUTSPRECHERSYSTEM)
• S697A Area-Code 1 for DVD (AREA-CODE 1)
• P7ACA Sport Line (SPORT LINE)
• S8KLA Oil service interval 15,000 km/12 months (OELWARTUNGSINT. 15.000KM/12MONATE)
• S8TNA Daytime driv.lights adjus.via light menu (TAGFAHRLICHT UEBER LICHTMENUE EINST)
• S9AAA Outer skin protection (AUSSENHAUTSCHUTZ)
• S925A Dummy-SALAPA (VERSANDSCHUTZPAKET)

On a BMW, the production date matters more than the year

This is the single most useful thing to take from a BMW VIN, and it catches people out constantly. BMW revises components partway through a production run, so parts catalogues are not organized by model year at all. They are full of entries reading “up to 03/2010” and “from 03/2010”, and ordering against the year on your registration document is how you end up with a part that looks right and does not fit.

What you need is the build month and year, which BMW records against the VIN. Any BMW dealer parts counter will give it to you over the phone in seconds, and several free online lookups return it along with the full build specification. Write it down next to the VIN and quote both whenever you order anything.

Learn your chassis code

BMW owners, forums, independent specialists and parts suppliers all work in chassis codes rather than model names, and you will struggle to find accurate information without yours. A 3-Series could be an E46, E90, F30 or G20 depending on generation, and those are effectively four different cars sharing a badge. The same applies across the range.

The VIN identifies which one you have. Once you know it, searching for your chassis code rather than your model name will get you dramatically better results, both for parts and for the known faults that affect your specific generation.

The option codes tell you how it was built

BMW records every option fitted at the factory as a three character code, and those are retrievable from the VIN. The list tells you exactly what the car left Munich with: the suspension package, the differential, the towing preparation, the trim, the headlight type and so on.

That matters when buying a used BMW, because options are easy to claim and hard to verify by eye, and it matters when ordering parts, since the correct component often depends on an option code rather than the model. On older cars there is usually a sticker carrying the same codes in the trunk, under the parcel shelf or on the underside of the hood.

What the VIN cannot tell you

Decoding describes the factory build and nothing since. Mileage, accident history, outstanding finance and title status all sit in separate databases, which is why a history report is a different service from a decode.

Recalls are the free exception, and BMW and the national road safety authority will both take a VIN and list any open campaigns for that specific car. One last check worth doing on a used purchase: the VIN is also stored electronically in the car’s modules, and if the number read from them does not match the plate, a module has been replaced with a used unit at some point. A full system scanner that supports BMW will read the stored VIN along with codes from every module, which is the same check a dealer runs before taking a car in part exchange.

Frequently Asked Questions

What do the first three characters of a BMW VIN mean?

They are the world manufacturer identifier. WBA is used for most BMW cars built in Germany, WBS for many M models, and 5U for many X models built in South Carolina.

Why do BMW parts sites ask for the last 7 digits?

BMW catalogs identify each car by the last seven characters of the VIN. That short VIN pulls up the exact build data, including options and production date.

Is the check digit used on BMW VINs?

Position 9 is a calculated check digit on VINs for North America. Cars built for other markets may use a filler character there, so a VIN that fails the check digit test is not automatically fake.

Related guides: Locating Your BMW’s VIN: A Detailed Guide for Uncovering Vehicle Identification Numbers · Where to Find BMW VIN Number · YOUCANIC VIN Decoder

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