Free BMW 135i VIN Decoder

How to decode a BMW 135i VIN

Characters 1-3 of a BMW 135i VIN

A World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) is the initial sequence of three characters in a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), which uniquely identifies the manufacturer of the vehicle. Specifically looking at BMW’s 135i models produced between 2008 and 2013, the WMI is WBA, denoting BMW AG as the manufacturer. This coding signals that the vehicle is a passenger car originating from Munich, Germany. The WMI is a critical component in the VIN, providing valuable information about the vehicle’s origin, make, and type. It serves as a global standard for classifying vehicles, helping in the identification and registration processes worldwide.

List of WMI Codes for a BMW 135i

WMI: WBA

• Model Years Covered: 2008-2013
• Example VIN: WBAUN93508VE94471
• 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 BMW 135i 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 BMW 135i:

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 BMW 135i 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 BMW 135i VIN — Year Code

11th Character in the BMW 135i VIN — Plant Code(s)

Known BMW 135i Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)

VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a BMW 135i

The final 6 characters in a BMW 135i’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.

What info can a BMW 135i VIN reveal?

• Model Year and Make: The VIN can reveal the vehicles model year being the year 2013, indicating a specific {model} from the 1-Series, providing insights into the age and potential historical value of the vehicle.
• Engine Specifications: Vehicle’s engine specifics, including a displacement of 3.0 liters, 181.8 cubic inches, 2979.1682352 CC, and an engine capacity to produce up to 300 horsepower from a 6-cylinder engine, might be obtainable from the VIN.
• Body Class and Size: The vehicle’s body type, such as Convertible/Cabriolet, and the number of doors, specifically 2 in this example, can possibly be deduced, providing insights into the overall design and size of the vehicle.
• Safety Features: Comprehensive safety features, including front, side, curtain, and knee airbags for the 1st row (driver and passenger), might be indicated by the VIN, possibly highlighting the vehicle’s safety measures.
• Fuel Type: It might be possible to identify the primary fuel type the vehicle operates on, which is Gasoline, offering clues to its performance and environmental impact.
• Manufacturing Details: Details like where the vehicle was manufactured, such as Leipzig, Germany, could be decoded from the VIN, possibly giving a sense of the production quality and origin.
• Advanced Systems: Details like the Direct Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) type might be encoded within the VIN, reflecting on the vehicle’s advanced technological capabilities.

Sample VIN Decode Report for a BMW 135i