I've been doing a little analysis of 545 VINs. I have about a 100 VINs and as much detail about the cars a possible.

And so far I can find no correlation between VIN and options, i.e sport Pkg, Manual vs. Step etc.

Digits 9 and 10 run in a series fro X4 to 94. X4, 04, 14, 24, 34, ...94.

In each of the series the chassis number range from B08XXXX - B11XXXX

for example X4B08XXXX through X4B11XXXX
Then on the to next series 14B08XXXX through 14B11XXXX
Then on the to next series 24B08XXXX through 24B11XXXX
etc.

I thought maybe it was Month of Production but that theory doesn't match with my VIN.

Any thoughts?

Attached is the complied list. I could not post an .XLS so if you want it sorted a different way let me know.

 

Interesting effort, but I think VINs are assigned by the Dept. of Transportation or some other governmental agency and not by BMW, so there is no real correlation between the cars and there VINs. There might be a certain set assigned to BMW but there is no correspondence to the car (545 vs. 530 vs. 525) or its options (sports package, etc). My VIN was likely assigned to my car's production slot before I ordered it, so it did not change depending whether I ordered certain options or not. Once the car is made, the VIN is coded to have certain options so when I show up at my dealer wanting the center console wood trim that is now standard on 2005 models, they can punch in the VIN and see that I have the dark poplar wood to make the match...

 

VINs most certainly mean something. I have not done a complete decode but this is what I know so far>

VIN Info Value Mult POS
W Country Germany 6 8 48 1
B MFR BMW 2 7 14 2
A Mfr Plant 1 6 6 3
E Vehicle Type 6 Series 5 5 25 4
H Features Coupe V8 8 4 32 5
7 Features 7 3 21 6
3 Features 3 2 6 7
4 Features 4 10 40 8
2 VIN Accuracy Ck 9
5 Year 2005 5 9 45 10
B 2 8 16 11
1 1 7 7 12
9 9 6 54 13
3 3 5 15 14
1 1 4 4 15
8 8 3 24 16
4 4 2 8 17
Total 365
Divide By 11
33.18
363
Remainder 2



4&5th Char Model
PA X3 2.5
BR M3 Cabrio
BL M3 Coupe
NB 545i
NA 530i
GL 745i
GN 745Li
EV 3251 Coupe
EK 645Ci Cabrio
EH 645Ci Coupe
BW 325 ci Cabrio
BD 325 Ci Coupe

This will probably not line up and be unintelligible so I'll include same info as attachment.

Obviously I do not have all the codes deciphered but what I do have I have validated on many vehicles.

I'll see what I can do on the new info provided

 

Try this.

 

Good find guys. I knew some of the numbers/letters were BMW specific, but did not realize the level of detail contained. One question though, on the third code for restraint system indentifier, my number shows "5", but EBMCS03, the codes your printout show stop at "4" which = Seat belts, dual stage advanced air bags. What does the 5 in my VIN stand for? Maybe "Hold on tight"!

 

Here is a generic VIN decoder discussion.
http://www.vehicleidentificationnumber.com...vin_detail.h tml


kscarrol - I, too, noticed the 5 vice the stop at 4 that EBMCS03 provided. Perhaps we are even better off now? Or as u suggest, we just need to hold on to something

Perhaps it combines with other info to change it as well. The generic discussion only mentions vehicle features in general and I have found what BMW does with positions 4 and 5. That leaves only 6 through 8 to decode and actually only 6 and 7 if #8 is limited to the restraint systems as suggested. Soon as I finish my taxes I might get back to this.

 

Could the 5 in position 8 mean "Rear Side Airbags" ?

My VIN also has a 5 in position 8, and I have "Rear Side Airbags"

Joe

 

I think the 5 means more like side air bags or head curtains instead of rear side airbags... I do not have rear air bags and I still have a 5. its just most likely the next stage of protection after dual stage airbags. that VIN decoder is rather old aleady. I've had it for a while.

-EBMCS03

 

Makes sense. I don't have the rear side air bags either, but have the side curtain system. Wonder why joepoole has the 5 but w/ the side air bags. oh well, I've spent enough time on this one. cobradav, get back to those taxes! :'(