How to decode a MINI Cooper VIN
Characters 1-3 of a MINI Cooper VIN
The World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) is the initial grouping of three letters or numbers found at the beginning of a vehicle’s unique 17-character Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). This code is crucial as it identifies the manufacturer of the vehicle and often includes insight into the vehicle’s place of production. For a MINI Cooper, the WMI is ‘WMW’, which reveals that the car was manufactured under the BMW AG umbrella. As the core marque behind the MINI brand, BMW ensures that each Cooper possesses quality German engineering, despite the British legacy of the MINI name. Additionally, knowing the WMI is the first step towards uncovering the full scope of information encoded in a VIN, offering MINI owners an essential snippet on the heritage and identity of their vehicle.
List of WMI Codes for a MINI Cooper
WMI: WMW
- Model Years Covered: 2002-2010
- Example VIN: WMWRC33402TC30136
- Manufacturer Name: BMW AG
- Vehicle Type: Passenger Car
- City: Munich
- State or Province:
- Country: Germany
Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a MINI Cooper VIN
These characters correspond to components like:
- Engine type
- Transmission
- Model or trim
- Body style
- Gross vehicle weight range
Below find the known vehicle descriptor codes for a MINI Cooper:
| Known VDS for a MINI Cooper | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RC334 | RE334 | RC335 | RE335 | RE935 | RH335 | MF735 | MF335 | MF7C5 | MF3C5 |
Auto manufacturers have some discretion to decide how they want to code this section, but its contents and decoded results are generally consistent.
Character 9 is the “check digit” in a MINI Cooper VIN.
Based on a formula developed by the US Department of Transportation, it helps reduce fraud by ensuring the validity of the VIN.
10th Character in the MINI Cooper VIN — Year Code
| Year Code | Year |
|---|---|
| A | 2010 MINI Cooper |
| 9 | 2009 MINI Cooper |
| 8 | 2008 MINI Cooper |
| 7 | 2007 MINI Cooper |
| 6 | 2006 MINI Cooper |
| 5 | 2005 MINI Cooper |
| 4 | 2004 MINI Cooper |
| 3 | 2003 MINI Cooper |
| 2 | 2002 MINI Cooper |
11th Character in the MINI Cooper VIN — Plant Code(s)
Known MINI Cooper Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)
| Plant Code | Plant City | Plant State | Plant Country | Plant Company Name | Example VIN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T | Oxford | United Kingdom | WMWRC33402TC30136 | ||
| Y | Turin | Italy | WMWRE93536YB72036 |
VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a MINI Cooper
The final 6 characters in a MINI Cooper’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.
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How to find a MINI Cooper’s VIN?
Locating the VIN number on your MINI Cooper is key for identification. Here’s how to find it:
- Look at the lower corner of the windshield on the driver’s side of your MINI Cooper; the VIN can be found on a metal or plastic plate mounted where the windshield meets the dashboard.
- Open the driver’s side door and check the door post (where the door latches when it is closed) for a label or sticker that will have the VIN on your MINI Cooper.
- Inspect the engine bay; the VIN can sometimes be found stamped on the firewall or other components within the engine compartment of the MINI Cooper.
- Look at the vehicle registration document or the insurance card for the MINI Cooper, as the VIN is commonly printed on these official documents.
- Check under the MINI Cooper’s bonnet; the VIN is sometimes found on a plate or sticker located on the front frame, near the bonnet latch.
- Review service records or inspection sheets, as the VIN is typically recorded on all documents associated with maintenance or inspections of your MINI Cooper.
What info can a MINI Cooper VIN reveal?
- Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicles model year being the year 2010, possibly providing insights into the age and potential historical value of the vehicle.
- Body Class and Doors: A VIN can specify the body class, potentially indicating a Hatchback/Liftback/Notchback with a certain number of doors, offering some insights into the vehicle’s design and structure.
- Manufacturer Name: The VIN indicates the manufacturer name as BMW AG, suggesting the company that produced the vehicle.
- Plant City: The VIN indicates the city where the MINI Cooper was manufactured, potentially suggesting the specific plant where the vehicle was produced.
Don’t have your MINI Cooper’s VIN handy? Try our license plate lookup instead!
Sample VIN Decode Report for a MINI Cooper
| Vehicle Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Base Price ($) | 20400.00 |
| Body Class | Hatchback/Liftback/Notchback |
| Curtain Air Bag Locations | All Rows |
| Doors | 2 |
| Engine Brake (hp) From | 168 |
| Engine Number of Cylinders | 4 |
| Front Air Bag Locations | 1st Row (Driver and Passenger) |
| Gross Vehicle Weight Rating From | Class 1B: 3,001 - 4,000 lb (1,360 - 1,814 kg) |
| Model | Cooper |
| Model Year | 2005 |
| Other Restraint System Info | Model code: 0511 TD98825- TD99988 includes 5/Advanced Airbag Systems TL10000 - to completion of Serial Number Range includes 5/Advanced Airbag Systems TG95803 - to completion of Serial Number Range includes 5/Advanced Airbag Systems |
| Plant City | Oxford |
| Plant Company Name | |
| Plant Country | United Kingdom |
| Seat Belt Type | Manual |
| Series | Cooper S |
| Side Air Bag Locations | 1st Row (Driver and Passenger) |
| Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) Type | Indirect |
| Vehicle Descriptor | WMWRE335*5T |
| Vehicle Type | Passenger Car |
| Wheel Base (inches) From | 97.1 |
| Sample_VIN | WMWRE33505TD99659 |
Decode a MINI VIN
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