VIN decoder / BMW
BMW VIN decoder: free VIN check and lookup
Decode any BMW VIN: model year, maker, country, plant and specifications, with a check-digit test. Free, no sign-up.
BMW maker codes (WMI)
The first three characters of a VIN are the world manufacturer identifier. BMW VINs in our data begin with 15 different maker codes, covering vehicles built in Germany, United States and Mexico.
- Germany: WAP, WB1, WB3, WB4, WB5, WBA, WBS, WBX, WBY
- United States: 4US, 5UM, 5UX, 5YM
- Mexico: 3MF, 3MW
| WMI | Manufacturer | Built in | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| WAP | BMW Of North America, LLC | Germany | Passenger Car |
| WB1 | BMW AG Motorcycles | Germany | Motorcycle |
| WB3 | BMW AG Motorcycles | Germany | Motorcycle |
| WB4 | BMW AG Motorcycles | Germany | Motorcycle |
| WB5 | BMW AG | Germany | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) |
| WBA | BMW AG | Germany | Passenger Car |
| WBS | BMW M GmbH | Germany | Passenger Car |
| WBX | BMW AG | Germany | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) |
| WBY | BMW AG | Germany | Passenger Car |
| 3MF | BMW AG | Mexico | Passenger Car |
| 3MW | BMW AG | Mexico | Passenger Car |
| 4US | BMW Manufacturer Corporation / BMW North America | United States | Passenger Car |
| 5UM | BMW AG | United States | Passenger Car |
| 5UX | BMW Manufacturer Corporation / BMW North America | United States | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) |
| 5YM | BMW Manufacturer Corporation / BMW North America | United States | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) |
How to read a BMW VIN
A BMW VIN follows the same 17-character layout as every other make. What differs is the maker code in positions 1-3 (above) and the model, body and engine codes in positions 4-8, which BMW defines itself.
| Position | Part | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|
| 1-3 | WMI | World manufacturer identifier: country and maker. |
| 4-8 | VDS | Vehicle descriptor: model, body, engine, restraints. Codes are the maker's own. |
| 9 | Check digit | A calculated digit that catches typos. Mandatory in North America and China. |
| 10 | Model year | One letter or digit. The code repeats every 30 years. |
| 11 | Plant | Assembly plant, coded by the maker. |
| 12-17 | Serial | Production sequence number. |
BMW model year codes
Position 10 of a BMW VIN is the model year. The code repeats every 30 years, so a letter can mean two years. On BMW cars and light trucks built for North America, the seventh character settles it: a letter means the newer cycle, a digit the older one. Elsewhere, use the registration date.
| Code (position 10) | 1980-2009 cycle | 2010-2039 cycle |
|---|---|---|
| A | 1980 | 2010 |
| B | 1981 | 2011 |
| C | 1982 | 2012 |
| D | 1983 | 2013 |
| E | 1984 | 2014 |
| F | 1985 | 2015 |
| G | 1986 | 2016 |
| H | 1987 | 2017 |
| J | 1988 | 2018 |
| K | 1989 | 2019 |
| L | 1990 | 2020 |
| M | 1991 | 2021 |
| N | 1992 | 2022 |
| P | 1993 | 2023 |
| R | 1994 | 2024 |
| S | 1995 | 2025 |
| T | 1996 | 2026 |
| V | 1997 | 2027 |
| W | 1998 | 2028 |
| X | 1999 | 2029 |
| Y | 2000 | 2030 |
| 1 | 2001 | 2031 |
| 2 | 2002 | 2032 |
| 3 | 2003 | 2033 |
| 4 | 2004 | 2034 |
| 5 | 2005 | 2035 |
| 6 | 2006 | 2036 |
| 7 | 2007 | 2037 |
| 8 | 2008 | 2038 |
| 9 | 2009 | 2039 |
Where to find the VIN on a BMW
- Windscreen. Look through the glass at the base of the windscreen on the driver's side. Cars sold in the US carry the VIN here, and many cars sold elsewhere do too.
- Driver's door pillar. A compliance label on the door frame or pillar usually lists the VIN, often with build date and tyre data.
- Body or chassis. Stamped into the body, commonly in the engine bay on the bulkhead or in the floor of the boot or luggage area. Cars built for Europe and the UK often have a type-approval plate in the engine bay too.
- Paperwork. The registration certificate (V5C in the UK, the title or registration in the US), insurance documents and service book show the VIN.
Exact positions differ by model and year, so treat these as the usual places on any BMW rather than a fixed spot.
Older BMW chassis numbers
BMW vehicles built before 1981 do not carry a standard 17-character VIN, and each maker had its own chassis number format. Those cannot be decoded from the number alone.
Marque-specific chassis numbers are kept in the model registries on Moterno.
BMW VIN questions
How do I decode a BMW VIN?
Enter the 17-character VIN in the decoder above. It shows the model year, maker, country and plant from the VIN structure, plus the model, body, engine and drive type from NHTSA data when the vehicle is in that database, and it checks the check digit.
Where was my BMW built?
The first three characters of the VIN are the maker code. NHTSA and the manufacturer registry list BMW maker codes for Germany, United States and Mexico. The first character alone gives the region: 1, 4 and 5 are the United States, 2 Canada, 3 Mexico, J Japan, K South Korea, S the United Kingdom, W Germany, V France or Spain, Z Italy and Y Sweden or Belgium.
What does the 10th character of a BMW VIN mean?
It is the model year code. Letters and digits repeat every 30 years, so a letter such as K means 1989 or 2019. On North American BMW cars and trucks the seventh character settles it: a letter means 2010 or later, a digit means 2009 or earlier.
Does a BMW VIN have a check digit?
Position 9 is a check digit. It is mandatory on VINs of vehicles built for North America, so a mismatch there usually means a typo. Vehicles built for Europe and most of Asia do not have to follow the rule, so a mismatch is not a warning sign.
Is this BMW VIN check free?
Yes, it is free with no sign-up and no ads. A VIN decode shows the vehicle's specifications, not its history, so it will not show accidents, mileage or owners.
My BMW is older than 1981. Can I still look it up?
Vehicles built before 1981 do not use the standard 17-character VIN, so they cannot be decoded from the number. Marque-specific chassis numbers are kept in the model registries on Moterno.