Free BMW VIN decoder
Enter a VIN to see how the car left the factory: every option code, the paint and upholstery, the engine, the production date and the plant. Two free decodes a day, no sign up.
Decode a BMW VIN
Checking a car? Get its AutoCheck report for $5: title brands, accidents, odometer readings, owners and auction history.
What a BMW VIN decoder shows
BMW keeps a build record for every car it makes, and the VIN is the key to it. The decoder reads that record and shows:
- Model, chassis and type code.
- Engine code, output, drivetrain and transmission.
- Paint and upholstery, by name and BMW code.
- Production date and plant.
- Every factory option by its BMW option code, from the M Sport package to the sound system.
How to read a BMW VIN
A VIN is 17 characters, never using the letters I, O or Q. On a BMW they break down like this:
| Position | What it is | On a BMW |
|---|---|---|
| 1–3 | Manufacturer | WBA is a BMW car, WBS a BMW M car, WBY a BMW i, and 4US or 5UX a BMW built in Spartanburg, South Carolina. |
| 4–7 | Type code | BMW's own code for the model, body and engine: 7F23 is a G12 750Li xDrive. |
| 8 | Vehicle detail | Further detail on the vehicle, as BMW files it. |
| 9 | Check digit | Calculated from the other sixteen characters, so a mistyped VIN fails it. |
| 10 | Model year | For US cars: 1 to 9 for 2001 to 2009, then A for 2010 through K for 2019, L for 2020, and so on (I, O, Q, U and Z are skipped). |
| 11 | Plant | Where the car was assembled. |
| 11–17 | Short VIN | The last seven characters, which BMW uses to identify the car. |
The VIN is at the base of the windshield on the driver's side, on the sticker in the driver's door jamb, and on the title, registration and insurance card.
BMW option codes
BMW records each option on a car as a three-character code. A few common ones: 337 is the M Sport package, 322 Comfort Access, 2TB the sport automatic transmission and 6NW wireless charging. The decoder lists every code the car was built with, with its name, so you can check a seller's claims against the factory record. Options a dealer or owner added later will not appear.
Finding your BMW's paint code
The decoder shows the paint code beside the color's name, and the same for the upholstery. A code such as 490, BMW's "special paint," usually marks a BMW Individual color ordered outside the standard palette. Have the code with you when you order touch-up paint or a panel.
What a VIN decoder can't tell you
The build record says how the car left the factory, not what has happened to it since. Before you buy, run an AutoCheck report for $5 for accidents, title brands, odometer readings and owners, see what the model actually sells for in the free valuation tool, and if it is out of state, get an instant shipping quote.
What popular BMWs sell for
E46 M3 valueE46 330i valueE36 M3 valueE9x M3 valueE30 325i valueE39 M5 valueE36/7 Z3 M valueE90 328i valueE46 325i valueE39 540i valueE90 335i valueE85 Z4 valueAll BMW values
Questions
Is the BMW VIN decoder free?
Yes. You can decode up to two VINs a day free, with no sign up.
What does a BMW VIN decoder show?
The model and chassis code, BMW's type code, the engine code, drivetrain and transmission, the paint and upholstery codes, the production date, the plant it was built in, and every option the car was ordered with at the factory.
Can I find my BMW's paint code by VIN?
Yes. The decoder shows the paint code and the upholstery code with their names. The paint code is also printed on a sticker in the driver's door jamb or under the hood.
Does the decoder show accident history or title problems?
No. The VIN records how the car was built, not what has happened to it since. For accidents, title brands, odometer readings and owners, run an AutoCheck report for the same VIN: it is $5 here.
What is a BMW short VIN?
The last seven characters of the VIN. BMW uses them to identify a car in its parts catalogs and service records, so they are often all a dealer or parts counter asks for.
Why are some option codes missing a description?
A few codes are internal to BMW, such as package and production markers, and have no published name. Options added after the car left the factory, by a dealer or an owner, are not listed.