Free MINI Cooper VIN Decoder

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:

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

11th Character in the MINI Cooper VIN — Plant Code(s)

Known MINI Cooper Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)

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.

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.

Sample VIN Decode Report for a MINI Cooper