Decode a BMW VIN
How to read a BMW VIN (position by position)
Every BMW built for North America since 1981 carries a 17-character VIN. The first three characters are the WMI: NHTSA's vPIC lists 15 WMIs used on BMW vehicles, such as 3MF, 3MW and 4US.
| Position | Part | On a BMW VIN |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Country of manufacture | 3, 4, 5, W (Germany and the United States) |
| 1–3 | World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) | 3MF, 3MW, 4US, 5UM, 5UX, 5YM and 9 more |
| 4–8 | Vehicle descriptor | BMW's own codes for model, body, engine and restraints |
| 9 | Check digit | Calculated from the other 16 characters |
| 10 | Model year | G (2016) to S (2025) for current BMW models |
| 11 | Plant | BMW plant code (the decoder names the plant) |
| 12–17 | Serial number | BMW's production sequence |
BMW WMI codes
BMW WMIs point to 2 countries of manufacture: Germany (3MF, 3MW, 5UM, WAP…) and the United States (4US, 5UX, 5YM). vPIC registers BMW WMIs for passenger car, suv / mpv and motorcycle vehicle types.
| WMI | Manufacturer | Country | Vehicle type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3MF | BMW AG | GERMANY | Passenger Car |
| 3MW | BMW AG | GERMANY | Passenger Car |
| 4US | BMW MANUFACTURER CORPORATION / BMW NORTH AMERICA | UNITED STATES (USA) | Passenger Car |
| 5UM | BMW AG | GERMANY | Passenger Car |
| 5UX | BMW MANUFACTURER CORPORATION / BMW NORTH AMERICA | UNITED STATES (USA) | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) |
| 5YM | BMW MANUFACTURER CORPORATION / BMW NORTH AMERICA | UNITED STATES (USA) | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) |
| 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 |
The plant code (11th character) is defined by BMW itself, and vPIC does not publish a list of them; the decoder above shows the plant city and country for any BMW VIN.
BMW model year codes
The 10th character gives the model year: a 2025 BMW X7 carries S, a 2025 BMW XM carries S and a 2025 BMW Z4 carries S. The letters repeat every 30 years.
Full VIN year chart, 1980–2039 →
Where to find the VIN on a BMW
- On the dashboard, at the base of the windshield on the driver side (read it from outside).
- On the label in the driver-side door jamb.
- On the title, registration and insurance card.
- Often stamped on the engine bay firewall or the frame.
BMW recalls
NHTSA lists 732 BMW vehicle recall campaigns across the 2008–2024 model years (counting each campaign once per model year). The 2020 model year has the most, with 60; 2020–2024 models account for 228.
| Model year | Campaigns |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 36 |
| 2023 | 52 |
| 2022 | 37 |
| 2021 | 43 |
| 2020 | 60 |
| 2019 | 57 |
| 2018 | 44 |
| 2017 | 34 |
| 2016 | 30 |
| 2015 | 40 |
| 2014 | 43 |
| 2013 | 36 |
| 2012 | 39 |
| 2011 | 41 |
| 2010 | 40 |
| 2009 | 47 |
| 2008 | 53 |
BMW models in vPIC
vPIC lists 125 BMW models for the 2016–2025 model years.
- 228i 2016–2025
- 230i 2017–2025
- 320i 2016–2018
- 328d 2016–2018
- 328i 2016
- 330e 2016–2024
- 330i 2017–2025
- 335i 2016–2017
- 340i 2016–2024
- 428i 2016
- 430i 2017–2025
- 435i 2016
- 440i 2017–2020
- 528i 2016
- 530e 2018–2023
- 530i 2017–2025
- 535d 2016
- 535i 2016–2017
- 540d 2018–2019
- 540i 2017–2025
- 550e 2025
- 550i 2016–2017
- 640i 2016–2019
- 640xi 2018–2019
- 650i 2016–2019
- 650i, Alpina B6 2016
- 650i, B6 2017–2019
- 740e 2017–2019
- 740i 2016–2025
- 740Li 2022
- 745e 2020–2021
- 745Le 2022
- 750e 2024–2025
- 750i 2016–2022
- 750i, B7 2017–2019
- 750Li 2022
- 760i 2023–2025
- 840i 2020–2025
- 850i 2019
- ActiveHybrid 5 2016–2018
- Alpina B8 2022–2025
- B7 2019–2022
- C 400 GT 2019–2025
- C 400 X 2019–2024
- C 600 2016
- C 650 2017–2021
- C 650 GT 2016–2021
- C Evolution 2017–2021
- CE 02 2024–2025
- CE 04 2022–2025
- F 700 GS 2016–2021
- F 750 GS 2019–2023
- F 800 GS 2016–2025
- F 800 GT 2016–2021
- F 800 R 2016–2021
- F 850 GS 2019–2023
- F 900 2020–2023
- F 900 GS 2024–2025
- F 900 GS Adventure 2024–2025
- F 900 GS-P 2025
- F 900 R 2024–2025
- F 900 XR 2024–2025
- G 310 GS 2017–2025
- G 310 R 2017–2025
- G 650 GS 2016–2021
- i3 2016–2021
- i4 2022–2025
- i5 2024–2025
- i7 2023–2025
- i8 2016–2020
- iX 2022–2025
- K 1300 S 2016–2021
- K 1600 B 2018–2025
- K 1600 GT 2016–2025
- K 1600 GTL 2016–2025
- M 1000 2021–2023
- M 1000 R 2024–2025
- M 1000 RR 2024
- M 1000 XR 2024–2025
- M2 2016–2025
- M235 2025
- M235i 2016–2024
- M240i 2017–2025
- M3 2016–2025
- M340i 2020–2025
- M4 2016–2025
- M440i 2021–2025
- M5 2016–2025
- M550i 2018–2023
- M6 2016–2019
- M760i 2017–2021
- M760Li 2022
- M8 2020–2025
- M850i 2020–2025
- R 12 2024–2025
- R 12 nineT 2024–2025
- R 1200 GS 2016–2021
- R 1200 R 2016–2021
- R 1200 RS 2016–2021
- R 1200 RT 2016–2021
- R 1250 GS 2019–2023
- R 1250 GS Adventure 2024
- R 1250 R 2019–2024
- R 1250 RS 2019–2024
- R 1250 RT 2019–2024
- R 1300 GS 2024–2025
- R 1300 GS Adventure 2025
- R 18 2021–2025
- R 18 B 2024–2025
- R 18 Classic 2021–2025
- R 18 Roctane 2024–2025
- R 18 Transcontinental 2024–2025
- R nineT 2016–2023
- S 1000 R 2016–2025
- S 1000 RR 2016–2025
- S 1000 XR 2016–2025
- X1 2016–2025
- X2 2018–2025
- X3 2016–2025
- X4 2016–2025
- X5 2016–2025
- X6 2016–2025
- X7 2019–2025
- XM 2023–2025
- Z4 2016–2025
FAQ
How do I tell the year of a BMW by its VIN?
Read the 10th character: on BMW models from 2016 to 2025 it runs from G to S (L = 2020, R = 2024). The same letters were used 30 years earlier.
What does a BMW VIN tell you?
The maker and country (characters 1–3), model, body and engine (4–8), a check digit (9), the model year (10), the plant (11) and the serial number (12–17). It does not record color, options or accident history.
Can I find a BMW paint code from the VIN?
Usually not: the paint code isn't part of the VIN. It's printed on the vehicle's information label, often in the driver's door jamb, and a BMW dealer can look it up from the VIN.