Not knowing the transmissions installed in the vehicles in your inventory can present a number of challenges. Determining the installed transmission type from VIN alone has traditionally been hit-or-miss. Finding aftermarket parts for your BMW by VIN Many replacement BMW parts or retrofits are designed with a specific vehicle in mind, and rely on a specific factory configuration that may differ from car to car, even in the same model family.By Joe Kiley. Digit 9: This is the check digit, used simply to tell whether there is an error in the VIN, like if you input it incorrectly.ĭigits Used to tell the year and the factory where it was assembled. Digits These usually tell you where the car was assembled, the manufacturer, and the vehicle type.ĭigits These describe your particular vehicle, like its model, body style, engine type, and transmission.
Java xmx gigabytesĪnd we also have retrofit solutions to upgrade your vehicle should it fall short on factory-installed options. Ready to check your own BMW? Perhaps your best step is just to check with us. A small number of options codes are fohermatted slightly differently, e.
For example, run-flat tires are option SA, a digital instrument cluster goes under the option code S6WBA and option SA refers to the optional xenon lights in many vehicles. This is vital information for checking what to expect from a used car, or to confirm compatibility with aftermarket retrofits. The VIN can reveal the iDrive head unit fitted in the BMW, which influences not just the technology and connectivity features available from the factory, but also compatibility with third-party retrofits. As well as performance, knowing a vehicle's VIN can also give an idea of what to expect from the in-car experience. As digits are unique to each factory, and digits will never be repeated by the same factory, the last seven digits of a VIN are enough to uniquely identify a BMW.īimmerTech therefore needs only these last 7 digits of the VIN to accurately match the right upgrades, parts, and retrofits to your car. This is just a general guide, because while the U. Before checking your VIN, it might help to brush up on the VIN decoding system so you can understand what all those digits mean.
In most vehicles, the VIN is clearly visible through the front windscreen, meaning that - like a license plate number - it is assumed to be public knowledge.įor this reason, they are designed to be safe to share.
You can confirm your VIN by checking it online and comparing the returned information to what you know about your vehicle. Vague information, like the model code and transmission type, right down to the production date, language version and factory color.
That means you'll be able to see every little detail about the car you own or are interested in buying. As every car's VIN is unique, the information gathered from running a VIN search is specific to the exact vehicle, not just to the model or production run. Many replacement BMW parts or retrofits are designed with a specific vehicle in mind, and rely on a specific factory configuration that may differ from car to car, even in the same model family.Ī VIN is enough to tell us exactly which parts and features can be found on your car, letting us prepare a compatible retrofit kit. Looking up the VINs of vehicles you expect to be built just before your vehicle should give you an idea of how long you have left to wait.Īfter production is complete, it may even be possible to track your vehicle on its way from the factory to your local dealership. Seeing where the services were performed will also reveal where the car has spent most of its life - potentially vital with older vehicles, when the effects of climate become more pronounced. Some commercial services also allow individuals to use a VIN to access all this information themselves, helping anybody shopping on the second-hand market get a clear idea of how well the vehicle has been maintained. All essential information if you are buying a pre-owned or used car, simply want to do some comparison shopping, or wish to find the right upgrades or parts for your own car. You can even use it on certain motor vehicle registries to find out whether the car is considered a salvage repaired after a major wreck or is listed as stolen. Each of the 17 digits actually tells you something specific about your car, from when and where it was built to its feature-set. There's a lot more that goes into understanding your vehicle.
Want to know your BMW inside out? Interested in having a full list of options your vehicle is equipped with? Then decode your VIN for free and we'll send you your full car specification, including head unit and software version.