Free BMW 3 Series VIN Decoder

Lookup and check BMW 3 Series VIN number for Free. 🛡️✅ Need the full vehicle history? Upgrade in one click.

Where to find the VIN?

Looking for the VIN?

Here is there you’ll find it:

  • On the driver’s side dashboard near the windshield
  • Inside the driver’s side door near the latch
  • On the owners insurance card or other docs
Looking for the VIN
• No VIN?
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  1. Home
  2. VIN decoder
  3. BMW
  4. 3 Series
Author avatar by Robert P Allred
5 min read

Why Choose EpicVIN’s BMW 3 Series VIN Decoder?

  • Full specs in seconds: Manufacturer, body/cab, series/interior, motor type, year, and assembly factory; 17-symbol unique vehicle identification number (since 1981) supported for all BMW 3 Series.
  • Accuracy > 99%: Check-digit validation and cross-checks with official NMVTIS and NHTSA sources; open manufacturer recalls available.
  • Equipment & safety: Factory options and key safety systems, including active/closed recalls.
  • One-click facts & risks: Salvage/flood, theft, odometer jumps, owner count, and commercial use. You won’t buy a car with a “dirty” past.

What You’ll Get in a BMW 3 Series VIN Report

Results for VIN Decoding for
VIN# WBA3A5C51CF341517

2012 BMW 328i

BLOCKCHAIN Confirmed Data Approved NMVTIS Data Provider
2012 BMW 328i

  • Odometer

    No problems

  • Safety Recalls

    10 record

  • Accidents

    1 problem

  • Last mileage

    153,801 km

  • Auction Sales

    1 sale found

  • Owners

    2+ owners found
  • Year

    Year 2012

  • Make

    Make BMW

  • Model

    Model 328i

  • Fuel Type

    Fuel Type Gasoline

  • Engine

    Engine 2L

  • Made in

    Made in GERMANY

  • Make/model/series
  • Body/cab type
  • Type of engine and (when available) transmission
  • Year
  • Assembly factory (11th position)
  • Basic options/safety systems (if encoded)
  • Recalls
  • Odometer detailed information: Shows the last known mileage data
  • Accidents
  • Number of owners
  • Sales statistics: Shows vital historical listings of the vehicle’s sales from auctions and dealers
  • Photos: In a free online report, you can see the latest up-to-date photo; in a full report, you can find a large number of photos of each vehicle

Always identify open recalls by VIN; dealer recall repairs are performed at no cost. It’s useful to compare safety ratings for a specific vehicle.

How It Works

Our free VIN decoder provides instant access to your car's information in three simple steps:

Find the VIN
Enter the VIN
Click “Decode VIN free”
Review the Results

Find the VIN

Locate the sequence in the corresponding location.

Enter the VIN

Input the sentence into our VIN decoder tool.

Click “Decode VIN free”

Access basic specifications, recalls, and manufacturer details instantly.

Review the Results

Examine the results and consider using a full report for detailed accident records and car title information.

Where to Find the VIN on BMW 3 Series

How to Find a VIN?
  • On the dashboard under the windshield on the driver’s side.
  • On the sticker in the driver’s door jamb/pillar.
  • In documents: Title, registration, insurance.

BMW 3 Series VIN Structure

  • 1-3 WMI (World Manufacturer Identifier): manufacturer/country (e.g., 1FT = Make, USA)
  • 4-8 VDS (Vehicle Description Section): model/body/systems/motor
  • 9 Check digit: error-protection control digit
  • 10 Year: specific code
  • 11 Plant: assembly factory
  • 12–17 Serial: production sequence number

VIN decoding chart —BMW 3 Series, 17-character layout

Pos Character(s) Meaning
1 W Manufacturing country: GERMANY
2 B Manufacturer: BMW
3 A Vehicle type: PASSENGER CAR
4 3 Model: 3 Series
5 A Body Style: Sedan/Saloon
6 5 Cylinders: 4
Engine Displacement (L): 2
Engine HP: 241
Primary Fuel Type: Gasoline
7 C Trim: 3-Series
8 5 Safety/Restraint: -
9 1 Check digit (ISO 3779)
10 C Model year: 2012
11 F Plant Information: MUNICH GERMANY
12–17 000001–999999 Sequential production number (varies)

List of BMW models

Vehicle History Risk Factors

  • Salvage/Flood/Rebuilt: NMVTIS title brand status indicating severe damage, flood exposure, or rebuilt after total loss.
  • Theft: Reliable analysis of theft records and total-loss events.
  • Odometer: Suspicious mileage “jumps” or inconsistencies across service, auction, and DMV records, which inform buyers of potential issues.
  • Owners/Use: Ownership review, taxi/ride-share/commercial use, liens/leases, and possible usage restrictions.

These items appear in a full VIN report the decoder itself shows factory specifications.

Frequently Asked Questions

The BMW 3 Series VIN code is what is used to decode vehicle details and is printed on the inside frame or jamb of the driver-side front door or on the dashboard on the driver’s side.

Digit 1 is where the car was assembled, digit 2 indicates the manufacturer, digit 3 is the vehicle type, digits 4-8 describe the model, body style, engine type, and transmission, digit 9 verifies the VIN is valid, digits 10-11 indicate the model year and factory of assembly, and digits 12-17 are the factory’s production sequence number. Enter the VIN number into the BMW 3 Series decoder to lookup vehicle details.

Enter the VIN number into the BMW 3 Series decoder to lookup a report on the vehicle’s options such as the transmission, trim color, emissions specifications, and anything that was changed in the production process. Check BMW specs with VIN.

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