Decoding the 17-character BIMMER VIN

shaftdrive · Jun 20, 2005

BMW VIN Decoders (collection of the main Internet sources)

In response to a VIN-decoding request, I recently posted a series of VIN-decoding links to BMW E39 forum (http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1231262&posted=1#post1231262 );
however, this useful VIN-decoding information may even better be leveraged in BMW General - so I post just one of the modified snapshots here.

If you have better BMW VIN secret decoder rings ... please add them so others benefit from all your actions.
This is one of the better ones (modified from a Bimmerfest posting of the past for better organization so as to be more usable to the user).

BMWenthusiast · Jun 20, 2005

wow...thast really cool, im gonna check mine

Kaz · Jun 20, 2005

I remember looking at this a long time ago and noticing that it's not quite right for my wagon, and my M6 is nowhere in sight.

shaftdrive · Jun 21, 2005

Kaz said:
my M6 is nowhere in sight.

1. Did you check out the other VIN decoders posted to the referenced thread? (Did any of those other decoders cover your M6?)
http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showthread.php?t=101178

2. If not, let's hope someone posts a better VIN decoder for all of us.

3. In addition, these programatic Internet VIN decoders *might* work for you.

BMW VIN DECODER: http://www.autohausaz.com/bmw-auto-parts/bmw-vehicle-identification-numbers.html
BMW VIN DECODER: http://bmw.aloistreichel.de/bmw-vin-decoder.php
YET ANOTHER BMW VIN DECODER: http://www.e34.de/vin/index.php
BMW MINI-VIN DECODER: http://www.bmw-z1.com/VIN/VINdecode-e.cgi
UNIVERSAL VIN DECODER: http://www.cardetective.com/vin-decoder.html
BASIC VIN EXPLANATION: http://www.is-it-a-lemon.com/vin_check/content.htm
DEFUNCT BMW VIN DECODER: http://www.bmwlinks.com/jump.cgi?ID=2979
ALL BRANDS (INCL. BMW) VIN DECODER: http://www.vehicleidentificationnumber.com/vehicle_identification_numbers_vin_decoding.html
UNIVERSAL VIN DECODER: http://www.analogx.com/contents/vinview.htm

TiAg2000M5 · Aug 8, 2022

shaftdrive said:
1. Did you check out the other VIN decoders posted to the referenced thread? (Did any of those other decoders cover your M6?)
HOW TO - Get help With VIN

2. If not, let's hope someone posts a better VIN decoder for all of us.

3. In addition, these programatic Internet VIN decoders might work for you.

BMW VIN DECODER: Know Your Vin & Get Exactly The Right Auto Repair Parts Every Time | AutohausAZ | www.autohausaz.com
BMW VIN DECODER: http://bmw.aloistreichel.de/bmw-vin-decoder.php
YET ANOTHER BMW VIN DECODER: http://www.e34.de/vin/index.php
BMW MINI-VIN DECODER: http://www.bmw-z1.com/VIN/VINdecode-e.cgi
UNIVERSAL VIN DECODER: A Free VIN Decoder Gives You Full Information on Any Used Car
BASIC VIN EXPLANATION: http://www.is-it-a-lemon.com/vin_check/content.htm
DEFUNCT BMW VIN DECODER: http://www.bmwlinks.com/jump.cgi?ID=2979
ALL BRANDS (INCL. BMW) VIN DECODER: http://www.vehicleidentificationnumber.com/vehicle_identification_numbers_vin_decoding.html
UNIVERSAL VIN DECODER: http://www.analogx.com/contents/vinview.htm

These all want money to do the search.

I’m betting none will give the correct month of manufacture. It’s not the month on the B-pillar decal.

My 2000 M5 shows 02/00.

All of the glass is April/May.

Doubt it was all replaced.

shaftdrive · Jun 21, 2005

Here are the basics of a Bimmer VIN

Notice that this web page ( http://www.vehicleidentificationnumber.com/bmw.html ) even gives you valid starting and ending numbers, including numbers of vehicles manufactured, so you can manufacture your own VIN next time you build a BMW from scratch!

Below are the basics of a BMW VIN.

shaftdrive · Jun 21, 2005

For the BMW record, these "BMW VIN Equipment Codes" from
http://www.angelfire.com/ca/TORONTO/VIN/bmw.html may help.

4th-7th digits - model

AA13	325is
AA23	325isA
AB03	325iXA
AB54	325 & 325e(s)
AB64	325A & 325e(s)A
AB93	325iX
AC74	318i/4
AC84	318iA/4
AD13	325i/4
AD23	325iA/4
AE03	325iXA/4
AE54	325/4 & 325e/4
AE64	325A/4 & 325eA/4
AE93	325iX/4
AF93	318is
AG33	320i(s)
AG43	320iA
AH31	323i Euro
AH41	323iA Euro
AJ93	318i/4
AK03	M3
AK74	318i
AK84	318iA
AV13	320i (Canada)
BA73	318iC
BB13	325iC
BB23	325iCA
BE53	318is
BE63	318isA
BF33	325is
BF43	325isA
BF93	M3
BJ53	325iC
BJ63	325iCA
CA53	318i
CA63	318iA
CB33	325i
CB43	325iA
CJ95	528i
CJ97	528iA
DB24	524tdA
DB74	533i
DB84	533iA
DC71	M535i Euro

*******> ********>

DC74	535i(s)
DC81	M535iA Euro
DC84	535i(s)A
DC93	M5
DK73	528e
DK83	528eA
EB35	633CSi
EB36	633CSi
EB45	633CSiA
EB46	633CSiA
EB74	633CSi
EB84	633CSiA
EC74	635CSi
EC84	635CSiA & L6
EE14	M6
EE81	M635 Euro
EG13	850Ci & 850i
EG23	850CiA & 850iA
FF33	733i
FF34	733i
FF43	733iA
FF44	733iA
FF74	733i
FF84	733iA
FG24	L7
FH74	735i
FH84	735iA
GB33	735i
GB43	735iA
GC43	735iLA
GC83	750iLA
GD43	740iA
GD83	740iLA
HC13	525i
HC23	525iA
HD13	535i
HD23	535iA
HD53	525i
HD63	525iA
HD93	M5
HE13	530i
HE23	530iA
HJ63	525iTA
HK23	530iTA

*******> ********>

8th digit - restraint system
0	manual belts
1	manual belts with driver supplementary restraint system
2	manual belts with driver & passenger supplementary restraint system
4	manual belts with driver & passenger front & side airbags

*******> ********>

11th digit - assembly plant
A	Munich, Germany
B	Dingolfing, Germany
C	Dingolfing, Germany
D	Dingolfing, Germany
E	Regensburg, Germany
F	Munich, Germany
G	Munich, Germany
J	Regensburg, Germany
K	Munich, Germany
L	Spartanburg, South Carolina

*******> ********>

vern · Jun 21, 2005

shaftdrive said:
In response to a VIN-decoding request, I recently posted a series of VIN-decoding links to BMW E39 forum (http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1231262&posted=1#post1231262 );
however, this useful VIN-decoding information may even better be leveraged in BMW General - so I post just one of the modified snapshots here.

If you have better BMW VIN secret decoder rings ... please add them so others benefit from all your actions.
This is one of the better ones (modified from a Bimmerfest posting of the past for better organization so as to be more usable to the user).

Great information,the only problem is the text is so wide I can't,and I'm sure others can't print it for a reference. Thank you
cheers
vern

Mathew · Jun 21, 2005

vern said:
the only problem is the text is so wide I can't,and I'm sure others can't print it for a reference.

Then they should save it like a regular picture file and print it to fit paper.

shaftdrive · Jun 22, 2005

Mathew said:
save it like a regular picture and print it to fit paper.

As suggested, you can print a photo to fit to your paper.
If that doesn't work for you, the originals on Bimmerfest were in two parts (see the referenced E39 sticky thread if that helps) so maybe printing those (which are half the size) would work for you?
If you switch from portrait printing to landscape, does that help?

I don't have a JPEG/GIF-to-TEXT converter

and the originals on Bimmerfest were not in PDF so it's not easy to convert this text GIF into pure ASCII text for proper printing. It's shrunk down to the minimum that would barely fit in a Bimmerfest post also, so there's not a lot I can do to make the text more printable other than those suggestions above.

S93D · Apr 24, 2008

update

11th digit: plant
W = Graz, Austria

SC4ME · Apr 25, 2008

It doesnt work for my car! My vin starts out WBAEV where the fourth letter, E, says 330i (02-03) yet mine is a 2004 model according to the CPO paperwork and Title.:dunno:

alvincflorentin · Aug 25, 2008

'02-'03

the date stated in your VIN is the date your car actually rolled out of the plant it was made in. it usually doesn't get to where it's gonna be sold until some time and that's why your year model actually became '04. your car probably rolled out of the assembly line sometime in late '03. when i first bought my E34 i couldn't understand my VIN either, let alone find it! i actually got so pissed off trying to understand it (when i did find it) that i went to the official BMW site--it was in German!--and luckily chanced upon a few links and buttons that led me to a page just like this reply page where i wrote--in English, mind you (i was THAT frustrated!!)--to whoever would read it to explain to me my VIN. lo and behold, i received a response in 3 or 4 days explaining to me--in English--about the origins of my car! i can't remember which site i went to anymore but when you're desperate i guess people do desperate things! ha! hope that helps clarify your query a bit. cheers!

fernande-bmw · Oct 17, 2009

Does anyone have an updated version of the VIN Decoder for 2010 cars?

I would like to know what the PM7C model code refers to as well as the new restraint system identified with 5.

Thanks!

fernande-bmw · Oct 18, 2009

^^^^
Anyone?

jleon426 · Oct 19, 2009

ok i have a question about my vin the thing is that in the 11th position mine has a number not a letter does any one know what that means?

Bimmerman4ever · Feb 18, 2010

The number represents what order in the alphabet the digit is. As is mine it's a 7, which is G (made in Munich Germany).
Also the same in the fourth and fifth digits, which is 1 and 7 in mine which is AG (model 320i(s)).

Missmodena310 · Oct 20, 2009

thats so cool!

BarrowJon · Oct 20, 2009

Ordered a 2010 Z4, currently in route on ship from Bremerhaven, model designation in VIN is "LM7C" and restraint is noted as "5*

Looks as if we're all searching for an updated VIN decoding table

Andrew*Debbie · Mar 16, 2010

This is an old thread, but one of the most complete lists Google comes up with.

A couple of more data points.

WMWMF3......

Digit 2 - M MINI
Digits 4-7
MF32 MINI Cooper Hatch RHD (R56)
MF33 MINI Cooper Hatch LHD (R56)
ML33 MINI Cooper Clubman LHD (R55)
Digit 11 Plant Code T is Oxford England.

thr33dviz · Apr 26, 2010

Great guide!.still doesnt help me though. Trying to decode my VIN due to the "0" in the tenth spot. Found a plate during a new windshield install. "Substitute For US VIN WBAHC610803532586 SEE 49 CFR 565" any help I would greatly appreciate it.

Tony

Andrew*Debbie · Apr 29, 2010

Your car is a European model and not originally built for the US market. I'd guess that plate was added when the car was Federalized.

Production Code HC61. 12/1988 E34 530i Sedan M30 Europe Left hand drive Automatic.

thr33dviz · Apr 29, 2010

Andrew*Debbie_ thank you for the information. Was even a pain getting insurance had to go to 3 companies to get it.
The inside of the door says it was made 3/89.. Don't know all I do know is I love the car and have always loved Bimmers 4th one all I have ever owned since I was 18, 22 yrs of nothing but enjoyment!

Bimmerman4ever · Sep 19, 2010

Definitely. After five 3 series, two 5 series, now I own a 7.
I have owned four Mercedes but they don't compare to the sportiness of a BMW.

DJOzma_FTW · Jul 7, 2010

My restraint system indicating number is 5.......what does that mean?

flemcadiddlehop · Nov 26, 2010

Ok , I am new to this forum and got here looking for an answer to the 11th VIN character. This is supposed to tell you what plant you car came from,right? Well mine is a 6...not a letter. Now , the example given and broken down at the begining of this post is also a number, not a letter. All of the plants seem to be given a letter. I have two five series and both of them have a number in the 11th spot. So....?
thanks for any help, Gordo.

dalekressin · Nov 26, 2010

Bimmerfest has real value. Now we can create our own VIN for a build
Very interesting.

flemcadiddlehop · Nov 26, 2010

Uh, Yeah that one may be a bit missleading. That is my project car. an e28 with a Northstar engine in it and will be a Alpina badged sleeper with e46 black leather interior.
Not the VIN in question.This is my old BMW (rip). It is a 1981 e28 euro with an odd history that I am trying to straighten out.
So 11th is a 6, that means it is a Munich Plant Car?

Gordo.

Andrew*Debbie · Nov 26, 2010

flemcadiddlehop said:
So 11th is a 6, that means it is a Munich Plant Car?

Gordo.

'81 :yikes: Does it even have a standardised 17 character VIN? No idea if the plant code digits map to what we've got here.

Most but not all 5 series cars were and are built at Dingolfing. Some e28 M5's were built in Munich but your car is to old to be a factory M5.

BMW AG does keep records. You could try asking BMW mobile traditions.....

flemcadiddlehop · Nov 29, 2010

That is the issue I am trying to research. The staory I was told from the importer (who was my old boss) was that it came from Germany, was a police car, and was an early Motorsport product. I had found a listing in an issue of Bimmer mag that spoke of these early m528i cars that it was a limited production and that they where 145mph cars.
Every time that I have renewed my insurance the file was flagged and they wanted me to get a British Columbia asigned VIN.
Every VIN decoder has no full story on this VIN, I have been ovoiding contacting my local BMW dealership because they are hugely understaffed and underqualified. For the first year of opperation they had one of the instructors from the college working weekends because they had no techs hired. Inspiring story...huh?

Thanks for any help. Gordo.

Decoding the 17-character BIMMER VIN

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