BMW VIN decoder

BMW WMI codes

The first three characters of a VIN are the World Manufacturer Identifier. NHTSA lists 18 of them for BMW. They were issued across 2 countries: Germany and United States (USA). They span 3 vehicle types, listed separately below.

The country shown is where the identifier was issued, which usually but not always matches where a given vehicle was assembled. The eleventh character identifies the specific plant. A single WMI can cover more than one vehicle type, so some codes appear in more than one table.

Passenger Car 10 codes

BMW WMI codes — passenger car

WMI	Registered entity	Country
3MF	BMW AG	Germany
3MW	BMW AG	Germany
4US	BMW MANUFACTURER CORPORATION / BMW NORTH AMERICA	United States (USA)
5UM	BMW AG	Germany
WAP	BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, LLC	Germany
WBA	BMW AG	Germany
WBS	BMW M GMBH	Germany
WBY	BMW AG	Germany
WMW	BMW AG	Germany
WZ1	BMW AG	Germany

Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) 5 codes

BMW WMI codes — multipurpose passenger vehicle (mpv)

WMI	Registered entity	Country
5UX	BMW MANUFACTURER CORPORATION / BMW NORTH AMERICA	United States (USA)
5YM	BMW MANUFACTURER CORPORATION / BMW NORTH AMERICA	United States (USA)
WB5	BMW AG	Germany
WBX	BMW AG	Germany
WMZ	BMW AG	Germany

Motorcycle 3 codes

BMW WMI codes — motorcycle

WMI	Registered entity	Country
WB1	BMW AG MOTORCYCLES	Germany
WB3	BMW AG MOTORCYCLES	Germany
WB4	BMW AG MOTORCYCLES	Germany

Source: NHTSA vPIC, GetWMIsForManufacturer. Retrieved 2026-10-21.

Common BMW models

Some of the BMW models you are most likely to be decoding, as NHTSA spells them. Recall searches by year, make and model need that exact spelling.

• 330i — vPIC and NHTSA recall records list BMW cars by model designation, such as 330i or 530i, rather than by series.
• X3
• X5
• 530i
• X1
• X7
• 430i
• i4

Model names checked against NHTSA vPIC.

Notable BMW recalls since 2018

A few of the largest or most serious recent safety recalls covering BMW vehicles. They are examples, not a complete list: a single model year can have a dozen campaigns. A recall on the model does not mean it is still open on a particular car, so check the VIN at NHTSA's recall lookup, or see every campaign for a year and model with our recall lookup.

Brakes: integrated brake system

Vehicles: Certain 2023-2025 BMW vehicles, including 5 Series, 7 Series, i5, i7, X1, X2, X5, X6, X7 and XM models (years vary by model); the campaign also covers some MINI and Rolls-Royce vehicles.

The integrated brake system can malfunction, causing a loss of power brake assist or keeping the anti-lock brakes and stability control from working properly. Longer stopping distances or a loss of control raise the risk of a crash.

Dealers replace the integrated brake system at no charge; later campaigns 24V739000 and 26V422000 cover some of the same vehicles again.

NHTSA campaign 24V104000, reported 12 February 2024, about 266,716 vehicles across every brand in the campaign.

Electrical system: starter relay

Vehicles: Certain 2019-2022 BMW 230i, 330i, 430i, 530i, X3, X4 and Z4 vehicles (years vary by model); the campaign also covers 2020-2022 Toyota Supra vehicles.

The engine starter relay can corrode, overheat and short circuit, which raises the risk of a fire. Owners are advised to park outside and away from buildings until the repair is done.

Dealers replace the engine starter at no charge.

NHTSA campaign 25V636000, reported 23 September 2025, about 199,674 vehicles across every brand in the campaign.

Engine: variable camshaft timing (VANOS) bolts

Vehicles: Certain 2010-2012 BMW 1 Series, 3 Series, 5 Series, X3, X5 and Z4 vehicles.

The aluminum bolts that hold the housing of the variable camshaft timing unit can loosen over time and break. That can stall the engine, raising the risk of a crash.

Dealers replace the four VANOS housing bolts at no charge.

NHTSA campaign 23V707000, reported 20 October 2023, about 157,796 vehicles across every brand in the campaign.

Electrical system: engine starter

Vehicles: Certain 2021-2024 BMW 3 Series, 4 Series, 5 Series and X3, 2022-2023 2 Series, 2021-2023 X4 and 2021-2022 Z4 vehicles (years vary by model); the campaign also covers 2021-2023 Toyota Supra vehicles.

Wear on a part inside the engine starter can make it overheat and catch fire. A fire raises the risk of injury.

Dealers replace the engine starter at no charge.

NHTSA campaign 26V056000, reported 30 January 2026, about 87,394 vehicles across every brand in the campaign.

Air bags: driver air bag inflator (Takata)

Vehicles: Certain 2006-2015 BMW vehicles, including 1 Series, 3 Series, M3, X1, X3, X5 and X6 models (years vary by model), that received a Takata driver air bag inflator as an interim replacement part in an earlier recall.

The replacement inflators use a propellant that can break down after long exposure to heat and humidity, and the inflator can then rupture when the air bag deploys. Metal fragments thrown at the driver or other occupants can cause serious injury or death.

Dealers replace the driver air bag, or only the inflator on X5 and X6 vehicles, at no charge.

NHTSA campaign 20V017000, reported 15 January 2020, about 59,965 vehicles across every brand in the campaign.

Recall details from the NHTSA recalls API, checked 26 October 2026.

Reading the rest of a BMW VIN

Characters 4 to 8 describe the vehicle — model, body style, engine, restraint system. BMW assigns that scheme itself and files it with NHTSA, which is why decoding requires a lookup rather than arithmetic. Character 9 is the check digit, character 10 is the model year, and character 11 is the assembly plant.

See how to read a VIN for the full breakdown, or model year codes for the position 10 table.

Where the VIN is on a BMW

On the driver's side dashboard, readable through the windshield, and on a sticker in the driver's door jamb. The door jamb sticker usually carries a scannable barcode, which is more reliable than transcribing 17 characters by eye — the decoder can read it with your camera.

More detail in where to find the VIN.