- Characters 1-3 of a BMW 528e VIN
- List of WMI Codes for a BMW 528e
- Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a BMW 528e VIN
- Character 9 is the "check digit" in a BMW 528e VIN.
- 10th Character in the BMW 528e VIN — Year Code
- 11th Character in the BMW 528e VIN — Plant Code(s)
- Known BMW 528e Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)
- VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a BMW 528e
- How to find a BMW 528e's VIN?
- What info can a BMW 528e VIN reveal?
- Sample VIN Decode Report for a BMW 528e
How to decode a BMW 528e VIN
Characters 1-3 of a BMW 528e VIN
The World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) is a distinctive code assigned to every vehicle manufacturer by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE). This unique, three-letter or digit code specifically identifies the make of the vehicle and the country of manufacture. For the BMW 528e, the WMI is WBA, where W stands for Germany, B indicates BMW as the manufacturer, and A represents the vehicle type, which in this case is a passenger car. The WMI is the first part of the 17-character Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) that encodes crucial vehicle information, and you’ll find it at the very beginning of the VIN on your BMW 528e. This code is essential for vehicle registration, identification, and for obtaining accurate vehicle history reports.
List of WMI Codes for a BMW 528e
WMI: WBA
- Model Years Covered: 1982, 1984-1987
- Example VIN: WBADK8303C7961691
- 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 528e 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 528e:
| Known VDS for a BMW 528e | |
|---|---|
| DK830 | DK730 |
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 528e 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 528e VIN — Year Code
| Year Code | Year |
|---|---|
| H | 1987 BMW 528e |
| G | 1986 BMW 528e |
| F | 1985 BMW 528e |
| E | 1984 BMW 528e |
| C | 1982 BMW 528e |
11th Character in the BMW 528e VIN — Plant Code(s)
Known BMW 528e Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)
| Plant Code | Plant City | Plant State | Plant Country | Plant Company Name | Example VIN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | Dingolfing | Germany | WBADK8303C7961691 | ||
| 9 | Dingolfing | Germany | WBADK7305E9355049 |
VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a BMW 528e
The final 6 characters in a BMW 528e’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.
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How to find a BMW 528e’s VIN?
Locating the VIN number on your BMW 528e is key for identification. Here’s how to find it:
- Examine the dashboard on the driver’s side of your BMW 528e; the VIN is typically visible through the windshield near the bottom corner.
- Inspect the door pillar on the driver’s side of the BMW 528e. This is a common location for a VIN plate or sticker on the inside where the door latches when closed.
- Look for the VIN under the hood of your BMW 528e. It can be on the front engine block, a strut tower, or the firewall.
- Check the vehicle registration documents or insurance papers for your BMW 528e, as these will always contain the VIN.
- If you still have access to it, review the owner’s manual or service book of your BMW 528e, which may list the VIN.
- Inspect the rear wheel well directly above the tire; sometimes, the VIN can be found engraved in the body of your BMW 528e in this location.
- Examine the underside of the spare tire cover or trunk lid for a sticker or plate that might have the VIN for your BMW 528e.
What info can a BMW 528e VIN reveal?
- Model Year: The VIN can reveal the BMW 528e’s model year, providing insights into the age and potential historical value of the vehicle.
- Manufacturing Country: The VIN indicates that the BMW 528e was possibly manufactured in Germany, suggesting insight into its possible origin.
- Vehicle Type: The VIN specifies that the BMW 528e is a passenger car, giving a potential understanding of its intended use.
- Body Class: The VIN can reveal that the BMW 528e possibly belongs to the sedan/saloon body class, indicating its potential body style.
- Transmission Style: The VIN indicates that the BMW 528e possibly has an automatic transmission, providing insights into its potential drivetrain configuration.
- Fuel Type: The VIN can possibly indicate the primary fuel type used by the BMW 528e, such as gasoline or diesel, offering potential information about its fuel efficiency.
- Engine Specifications: The VIN encodes information about the number of cylinders, engine displacement, and engine manufacturer, possibly providing details about the BMW 528e’s engine.
Don’t have your BMW 528e’s VIN handy? Try our license plate lookup instead!
Sample VIN Decode Report for a BMW 528e
| Vehicle Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Body Class | Sedan/Saloon |
| Displacement (CC) | 2687.478496 |
| Displacement (CI) | 164 |
| Displacement (L) | 2.687478496 |
| Doors | 4 |
| Engine Brake (hp) From | 121 |
| Engine Manufacturer | BMW-AG |
| Engine Number of Cylinders | 6 |
| Fuel Type - Primary | Gasoline |
| Model | 528e |
| Model Year | 1987 |
| Plant City | Dingolfing |
| Plant Company Name | |
| Plant Country | Germany |
| Seat Belt Type | Manual |
| Series | 5-Series |
| Transmission Style | Automatic |
| Vehicle Descriptor | WBADK830*H9 |
| Vehicle Type | Passenger Car |
| Sample_VIN | WBADK8303H9712738 |
Decode a BMW VIN
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