From January 1989

WBA GG81 0 9 0 D F86990
1 2 3 4 5 6 7

 

1   =   World Manufacturer Identifier Code

 

WBA = BMW
WBS = BMW Motorsport
4US = BMW US-Models
WBX = BMW X3 US-Models and Assembly Graz / Austria
3AV = BMW Mexico (CKD)
X4X = BMW Kaliningrad (CKD)
5UX = BMW South Carolina
5UM = BMW Motorsport USA
5YM = BMW Motorsport South Carolina
MMF = BMW Thailand (CKD)
MHH = BMW Indonesia (CKD)
PAF = BMW Philippines (CKD)
RLF = BMW Vietnam (CKD)
PM1 = BMW Malaysia (CKD)
DAB  = BMW Egypt (CKD)
LBV = BMW China (CKD)
NC0 = BMW South Africa (until 1999)

 

2     = BMW type code (see 1.3.1)

 

3     = Free number “0”

 

4     = Check number    

 

5        = Free number “0”

 

Exception:

 

Sometimes the year identifier (X = 1999, Y = 2000, 1 = 2001 etc.) can be found at this position in vehicles delivered to certain countries, such as USA, Canada, Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, Israel and Korea.

 

6        = Place of manufacture (Plant)

 

A + F + K = Munich
B + C + D + G = Dingolfing
E + J + P = Regensburg
L + M = Spartanburg (USA)
H + N = Rosslyn / South Africa
R = Toluka / Mexico
S = Shenyang / China
T = Oxford / England
U = Goodwood / England
V = Leipzig
W = Graz/Austria
X + Y + Z = Berlin (Engine plant)

 

7       = Serial number

 

(1 letter + 5 digits) but 6 digits are possible from mid 2001!!!