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How do I Decode my BMW VIN Number? (explained for beginners)

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How do I Decode my BMW VIN Number? (Explained for beginners)

There are 2 simple ways of decoding a BMW VIN, you can decode a BMW VIN online or offline.

If you choose to decode it online there are two major tools you must employ, the same is also applicable when you choose to decode it offline.

In this article, we will be discussing how to decode your BMW VIN number.

We will be going over the various sections of a BMW VIN number and the purpose behind them.

We will also be discussing what each part means and the information that is contained in each section. Finally, we will close with some tips to keep in mind when decoding your BMW VIN number.

What is a BMW VIN?

The BMW Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) is a 17-character alphanumeric code used to identify individual motor vehicles for registration, titling, taxation, and other purposes.

The first eight characters of the VIN identify the manufacturer of the vehicle. These characters are denoted by two letters that represent the country where the manufacturer is located.

Here is a breakdown 

Consider the following VIN 2T1BURHE0FC320645 you may wonder what each of these characters stands for, here is a breakdown. 

First character: This represents the country where the vehicle was manufactured.

Second character: This represents the manufacturer’s name.

Third character: With this character, you can find out the vehicle’s type or division. The first three digits of a VIN number are known as the World Manufacturer Identifier or WMI.

Fourth to eighth character: This sequence of characters tells you about a vehicle’s engine size and type, vehicle brand, model, series, and body style.

Ninth character: The ninth character provides you with the security check digit. This single digit is used to verify the accuracy of the VIN number.

The fourth to ninth digits are known as the Vehicle Descriptor Section or VDS.

Tenth character: This character represents a vehicle’s model year.

Eleventh character: This character tells you of the assembly plant where a car was produced.

Twelfth to seventeenth character: This sequence of characters represents a vehicle’s serial number. These six digits make every single vehicle in the world different from the others.

The tenth through seventeenth digits is known as the Vehicle Identification Section or VIS.

How to Decode my BMW VIN Number?

You can decode your BMW VIN using the “VIN decoder and vehicle history” App from Detailed Vehicle History, this app has a unique ability to decode VIN offline. download the app and enjoy free and unlimited BMW VIN decoding.

Detailed Vehicle History website provides a web VIN decoding service for people who prefer to do the decoding on a desktop computer.

How do I Decode my BMW VIN Number? (Explained for beginners)

The Detailed Vehicle History Website is also full of valuable information about Car Maintenance and Automobile Safety Tips. Visit the Detailed Vehicle History website and order a free detailed report about your BMW’s Car History and owner details.

BMW VIN’s decoded information

Like most BMW owners you may want to decode a BMW VIN using the BMW VIN decoder, thankfully Detailed Vehicle History has developed a state-of-the-art VIN decoder!

 When you decode a BMW VIN you will gain access to the following information.

Engine Description 

Country 

Width 

Length 

Height 

Standard seating 

Engine Size 

Transmission style 

Drive type 

Body type 

Fuel type 

Displacement 

Engine model 

Valve train design 

Engine configuration. ETC 

                                                      

                                                                

                               

How to decode a BMW VIN offline

To decode the BMW VIN offline simply download the free “VIN decoder and Vehicle History” app, this mobile application which is available in play store and apps store gives its users the rare opportunity to decode BMW and other manufacturers VIN. 

If you desire to run a BMW  VIN check, the video below shows exactly how you can do this. 

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question-mark Why do we need your phone number?
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