Vehicle Identification Numbers

Vehicle Identification Numbers are referred to as the VIN. BMW utilizes a VIN with a 17
character structure. The characters are grouped to include multiple information as follows:

WBA

Digit 1-3 are the manufacturer's code:
WBA = BMW Cars and SAVs
WBS = Motorsport
4US = Spartanburg (not used since 1999)

BR33

Digits 4-7 are the model code

4

Digit 8 is the restraint system identifier:
0 = Seat belts
1 = Seat belts and Driver airbag
2 = Seat belts and Dual airbags
3 = Seat belts, Second generation dual front airbags
4 = Seat belts, Dual-stage advanced front airbags

4

Digit 9 is a check digit determined by VIN

Y

Digit 10 is the model year identifier (started in 1980):
A = 1980 model year, sequentially progresses every year. I,O,Q,U and Z are not used because they can be mistaken for numbers.

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

E

Digit 11 is the Plant code:

A, F, K = (Plant 1.1) Munich
C, B, D, G = (Plant 2.4) Dingolfing
E, J, P = (Plant 6.1) Regensburg
L, M = (Plant 10) Spartanburg
N = (Plant 9) Rosslyn
W = (Plant) Graz, Austria
V = (Plant) Leipzig

A82019
Digits 12-17 are the Sequential production number

Engine Numbering System

In order to organize and classify the engines developed by BMW, a numbering system
has been developed.

N46 B20 K 0

Digit 1 is the engine developer and/or generation:
A = Motorcycle
M = BMW Group (Old Generation)
N = BMW Group (New Generation)
G H K L T = BMW Group (Future Generation)
P = BMW Motorsport
S = BMW M GmbH

Digit 2 is the engine type:
Combustion Engines
2 = V6
4 = in-line 4
5 = in-line 6
6 = V8
7 = V12
8 = V10
Electric Motors
A = Asynchronous
P = Permanent Magnet
R = Switched Reluctance
S = Synchronous
T = Transversal flow

Digit 3 is the engine technology

Digit 4 is working procedure and/or fuel:
B = Gasoline
D = Diesel
E = Electric
G = Natural Gas
H = Hydrogen
M = Methanol
X = Electronic - Diesel
Y = Electronic - Gasoline

Digits 5&6 are the displacement value

Digit 7 is the performance class:
T = Top performance class
O = Upper performance class (standard)
M = Intermediate performance class
U = Lower one performance class
K = Smallest one performance class

Digit 8 is release relevant information:
0 = New Development
1-9 = Revision (such as technical update or cost project)

Transmission

A 5 S 440 Z

Digit 1 is the transmission type:
A = Automatic
S = Standard (manual)

Digit 2 is the number of gears

Digit 3 is a reference for the final drive ratio:
S = Top gear overdrive
D = Top gear direct drive

Digits 4-6 are a torque rating index

Digit 7 identifies the manufacturer:
Z = ZF
R = Hydramatic
G = Getrag

5 HP 24

Digit 1 is the number of gears

Digits 2-3 refer to the type of transmission:
HP = Hydraulic planetary

Digits 4-5 are an internal ZF designation

 

Vehicle Identification Numbers

Vehicle Identification Numbers are referred to as the VIN. BMW utilizes a VIN with a 17
character structure. The characters are grouped to include multiple information as follows:

Thank you. Next time, a bit more detail would be nice.
So, to recap:
5UM - Spartanburg plant
DU93 - Z4M
4 - coupe (5 - roadster)
2 - check digit
7 - model year
LL93756 - production sequence number

 

Wow, now that's an answer!

 

Curious as to why you say 4US = Spartanburg (not used since 1999)

My 04 Roadster starts with 4US

Just curious..

 

It means it didn't start until 1999 (Z3 perhaps?). The translation from German to English gets weird sometimes and texts from "our" archives do get "this way".

 

Thank you, BMW Tech!

 

Best VIN decode post I've seen. BMW_tech's post needs to be a sticky in General BMW!

4US = Spartanburg (not used since 1999)

MY 2000 X5's had VINs that started with WBA. Go figure. At some point BMW switched back to a 5UX that indicates American production but doesn't have US in it.

Smells like someone in marketing had way too much time on their hands.

X3s are built by Magna Steyr in Austria and start with WBX.

 

BMW cheated for a while, giving south carolina cars WBA or WBS VINs. That's not playing by US rules, so the 4s and 5s returned as lst VIN character around the 02 model year.
1,4,5 VIN means assembled in US.
2 Canada
3 Mexico
Letters indicate other manufacturing locations (W germany, J japan, etc) according to the US rules for cars manufactured to be sold in US.