BMW VIN decoder
BMW VIN decoder
BMW builds its sedans and coupes in Germany and most of its X-model SUVs in Spartanburg, South Carolina, the company’s largest plant worldwide. The WMI shows which: WBA and WBS for German-built cars, 5UX and 5YM for South Carolina SUVs.
BMW WMI codes
The first three VIN characters. Verified against the NHTSA vPIC database.
| WMI | Manufacturer | Vehicle type | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4US | BMW Manufacturer Corporation / BMW North America | Cars | United States |
| 5UX | BMW Manufacturer Corporation / BMW North America | SUVs, vans & crossovers | United States |
| 5YM | BMW Manufacturer Corporation / BMW North America | SUVs, vans & crossovers | United States |
| WBA | BMW AG | Cars | Germany |
| WBS | BMW M GmbH | Cars | Germany |
| WBX | BMW AG | SUVs, vans & crossovers | Germany |
| WBY | BMW AG | Cars | Germany |
What to know about BMW VINs
- WBS is BMW M GmbH, the performance division. A genuine M3 or M4 VIN starts with WBS.
- BMW dealers and parts catalogues often use the last seven characters of the VIN to look up a car.
- Luxury cars lose value quickly after an accident, so check structural damage and airbag records before paying for a used BMW.
BMW models you can decode
- 3 Series
- 5 Series
- 7 Series
- 4 Series
- X1
- X3
- X5
- X6
- X7
- i4
- iX
- M3 / M4
Any 17-character BMW VIN from the 1981 model year onwards can be decoded. Check open recalls for free on NHTSA.
How a BMW VIN is built
All 17-character VINs for vehicles sold in the US follow the same structure.
Example: 5NPD74LF5LH611542
| Position | What it means | Details |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Country / region | Where the manufacturer is registered: 1, 4, 5 and 7 = United States, 2 = Canada, 3 = Mexico, J = Japan, K = South Korea, W = Germany. |
| 2–3 | Manufacturer | Positions 1–3 together form the World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI), assigned to one maker and vehicle type. |
| 4–8 | Vehicle descriptor | Manufacturer-coded details such as model line, body style, restraint system, engine and gross weight rating. |
| 9 | Check digit | A 0–9 or X calculated from the other 16 characters. It catches typos and many fake VINs. |
| 10 | Model year | A letter or number for the model year. The codes repeat every 30 years (see the table below). |
| 11 | Assembly plant | The factory that built the vehicle. Plant codes are defined by each manufacturer. |
| 12–17 | Serial number | The production sequence number that makes the VIN unique. |
VIN model year chart (10th character)
Codes repeat every 30 years. On cars and light trucks, a letter in position 7 means the later year.
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
The letters I, O, Q, U and Z and the number 0 are never used as year codes.
Where to find the VIN on a BMW
- Lower corner of the windshield on the driver’s side, readable from outside the car
- Sticker or plate on the driver’s door jamb (open the door)
- Title, registration card and insurance card
- Engine bay, often on the firewall or the front of the frame on trucks
- Seller’s listing or the dealer’s window sticker
The VIN on the car, the title and the listing must all match. If they do not, do not buy.
VinCode report · $5.99
Before you buy a used BMW, check its history
Title brands, accidents, total-loss events, odometer readings, owners and service records for the VIN, scored with the VinCode Score.
- Title brand check
- Accidents & damage
- Odometer chart
- Owners & usage
- Service records
- VinCode Score
How do I tell if a BMW is a real M car from the VIN?
Genuine M models built by BMW M GmbH use the WMI WBS. Decode the VIN to confirm the model and engine, and compare it with the title.
Where is the VIN on a BMW?
At the base of the windshield on the driver’s side, on the driver’s door jamb label and on the title and registration documents.
Is the BMW VIN decoder free?
Yes. Decoding a BMW VIN is free. A full VinCode report with title brands, accidents, odometer readings and owners costs $5.99.
Does a BMW VIN show accident history?
No. The VIN only encodes how the vehicle was built. Accident, damage and title history come from records reported for the VIN, which is what the VinCode report shows.