BMW 5251 Service Manual page 9

002 Vehicie identification
and
VlN Decoder
Vehicle identification Number (VIN), decoding
Some of the information in this manual applies only to cars of a parlicuiar model year or range
of vears. For examole. 1999 refers to the 1999 model vear but does not necessarilv malch the
caiendsr year in which the car was manufactured or sold. To be sure of the model year of a
particular car, checic the Vehicle ldentification Number (VIN) on the car.
The VIN is a unique sequence of 17 characters assigned by BMW lo identify each individual
car. When decoded, the VIN tells the country and year of manufacture; make, model and serial
number: assembly plant and some equipment specifications.
The BMW VIN is on a plate mounted on top of the dashboard, on the driver's side where the
number can be seen through the windshield, The 10th character is the model year code. The
letters
I. 0 , Q
and
U
are not used for model year designation. Examples:
X
for 1999,
Y
for 2000,
1 for 2001,2 for 2002, etc. The table below explains some of the codes in the VIN for 1997
through 2002 BMW E39 5 Series BMWs covered by this manual.
Sample
VIN:
~ ~ I z ~ o ~ w ~ B ~ w ~
1 3 8 9
1
lposition
1 2 3
z i
5 6
7
8 9
10 11 12-17
VIN
position Description Decoding information
1 - 3 Countrv of WBA
B
I
J
1
znan~+q
; B T
BMW Molorsporl. Gmon, ~ ; n c h Gerrn;!n,
Linc 525
(2UU1
-
2003) 528 (2000-2003. 530; 540
i
5
1
Manual belts with dual airbags
Manual belts with advanced airbaos
Series
Body type i
engine lype
. ..
D
5251 (2001 - 2002), 528i (1997 - 2000)
E MS. 530i, 540i (1997
-
1998)
J 5251 Wagon
M 528i (1999
-
2000)
N 5401 Sedan (1999
-
2003) 540i wagon (2001)
P 528i wagon (1999
-
2000)
R
540i waaon 12002
-
20031
6,4
Aulomatic
5,3 Manual
Vehicle type 3.4.7 Passenger vehicle
Checlr digit
Model year
Restraint system
1
0 Manual belts
3 Manual belts wilh driver
&
passenger airbags
4
Manual belts with advanced passenger B driver airbags
0
-
9 or X, calculated by NHTSA
V
1997
W 1RRR
Assembly plant A, F, K Munich, Germany
B, C, D, G Dingolfing. Germany
E,
J. P Reqensburq. Germany
.
Serial number
Sequential produclion number lor specific vehicle