Free 1998 Buick Riviera VIN Decoder

How to decode a 1998 Buick Riviera VIN

Characters 1-3 of a 1998 Buick Riviera VIN

A World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) is a unique code of three letters or numbers assigned to every vehicle manufacturer to distinguish their brand, location, and type of vehicle they produce. For example, the 1998 Buick Riviera is identified by the WMI “1G4,” indicating it was manufactured by General Motors LLC in the United States, specifically in Warren, Michigan. This WMI signifies that the vehicle is a passenger car and falls within a series of model years including 1981-1985, 1987, 1989-1993, and 1995-1999, showcasing its aligned production within General Motors’ extensive history. Understanding the WMI is crucial for identifying crucial vehicle details directly from its unique Vehicle Identification Number (VIN).

List of WMI Codes for a 1998 Buick Riviera

WMI: 1G4

• Model Years Covered: 1981-1985, 1987, 1989-1993, 1995-1999
• Example VIN: 1G4GD2210W4704958
• Manufacturer Name: General Motors LLC
• Vehicle Type: Passenger Car
• City: Warren
• State or Province: Michigan
• Country: United States

Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a 1998 Buick Riviera 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 1998 Buick Riviera:

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 1998 Buick Riviera 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 1998 Buick Riviera VIN — Year Code

11th Character in the 1998 Buick Riviera VIN — Plant Code(s)

Known 1998 Buick Riviera Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)

VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 1998 Buick Riviera

The final 6 characters in a 1998 Buick Riviera’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.

What info can a 1998 Buick Riviera VIN reveal?

• Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicles model year being the year 1998, providing insights into the age and potential market value of the vehicle.
• Body Class and Doors: A VIN can specify the body class indicating that it is a Coupe with 2 doors, offering detailed insights into the vehicle’s size and type.
• Engine Type: Crucial engine specifications such as a 3.8L V-Shaped engine configuration with 6 cylinders and details about the engine’s manufacturer, FLT, can be decoded from the VIN.
• Fuel Efficiency: The fuel delivery system is identified as Multipoint Fuel Injection (MPFI), indicating the vehicle’s fuel efficiency mechanism.
• Safety Features: Safety specifications such as the existence of front airbags in the 1st row (Driver and Passenger) and the type of seat belt (Manual) are mentioned, pointing towards the vehicle’s safety standards.
• Manufacturing Location: The VIN decodes to reveal the manufacturing location, with the plant city being Orion, Michigan, United States, shedding light on its origin and potentially the quality of manufacturing standards followed.
• Vehicle Specifications: Basic model information including unique identifiers like the Vehicle Descriptor and Sample_VIN, enables a deeper understanding of the vehicle specifics, useful for verification or registration purposes.

Sample VIN Decode Report for a 1998 Buick Riviera