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BMW Vehicle Identification Number translation

BMW Vehicle Identification Numbers (VIN)

Example:
WBA    BR33    4    4    Y    E    A82019
(1)       (2)      (3)  (4) (5)  (6)    (7)

BMW uses a VIN with 17 characters.
To decipher the BMW's VIN code see below:

(1) - Digits 1 - 3 are the manufacturer's code:
4US - BMW MFG Corp Spartanburg (Not used after 1999)
NCO - BMW South Africa (Not used after 1999)
WBA - BMW AG
WBS - Motorsport

(2) - Digits 4 - 7 are the model code:

(3) - Digit 8 is the restraint system identifier:
0 - Seat belts
1 - Seat belts and Driver airbag
2 - Seat belts and dual airbags
3 - Seat belts, Second generation dual front airbags
4 - Seat belts, Dual stage advanced front airbags

(4) - Digit 9 is a check digit determined by VIN:

(5) - Digit 10 is the model year identifier (starting in 1980)
I, O, Q, U and Z are not used because possible mistaken identity between numbers and letters
A= 1980  G= 1986  N= 1992  W= 1998  4= 2004  A= 2010
B= 1981  H= 1987  P= 1993  X= 1999  5= 2005  B= 2011
C= 1982  J= 1988  R= 1994  Y= 2000  6= 2006  C= 2012
D= 1983  K= 1989  S= 1995  1= 2001  7= 2007  D= 2013
E= 1984  L= 1990  T= 1996  2= 2002  8= 2008  E= 2014
F= 1985  M= 1991  V= 1997  3= 2003  9= 2009  F= 2015

(6) - Digit 11 is the Plant code:
L= Spartanburg  E= Regensburg
A= Munich         N= South Africa
B & D= Dingolfing

(7) - Digits 12 - 17 are the Sequential Production Number