How to decode a 2008 BMW 535xi VIN
Characters 1-3 of a 2008 BMW 535xi VIN
A World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) is a unique code consisting of the first three characters in a vehicle identification number (VIN), which identifies the vehicle’s manufacturer, country of origin, and vehicle type. For the 2008 BMW 535xi, the WMI indicates that the vehicle was manufactured by BMW AG, one of the world’s leading luxury car manufacturers. This specific series was produced in Munich, Germany, highlighting its origins from a country known for engineering excellence. The WMI also classifies the car as a passenger vehicle, indicating its design for personal use rather than for commercial freight. Understanding the WMI is essential for accurately identifying the vehicle’s manufacturing details and origins.
List of WMI Codes for a 2008 BMW 535xi
WMI: WBA
- Model Years Covered: 2008
- Example VIN: WBAPT73508CX00274
- 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 2008 BMW 535xi 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 2008 BMW 535xi:
| Known VDS for a 2008 BMW 535xi | |
|---|---|
| PT735 | NV935 |
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 2008 BMW 535xi 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 2008 BMW 535xi VIN — Year Code
| Year Code | Year |
|---|---|
| 8 | 2008 |
11th Character in the 2008 BMW 535xi VIN — Plant Code(s)
Known 2008 BMW 535xi Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)
| Plant Code | Plant City | Plant State | Plant Country | Plant Company Name | Example VIN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | Dingolfing | Germany | WBAPT73508CX00274 |
VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 2008 BMW 535xi
The final 6 characters in a 2008 BMW 535xi’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.
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How to find a 2008 BMW 535xi’s VIN?
Locating the VIN number on your 2008 BMW 535xi is key for identification. Here’s how to find it:
- Look at the dashboard on the driver’s side of your BMW 535xi. The VIN can typically be seen through the windshield on a small metal or plastic plaque.
- Open the driver’s side door and examine the door jamb area, as the VIN sticker might be located where the door latches when it is closed.
- Check the front of the car frame, near the container that holds windshield washer fluid, for a VIN plate on your BMW 535xi.
- Lift the hood and inspect the front end of the engine block; BMW often stamps the VIN in the metal there.
- Examine the trunk area of your BMW 535xi; sometimes the VIN can be found on the floor right below where the spare tire is stored.
What info can a 2008 BMW 535xi VIN reveal?
- Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicle’s model year, possibly indicating a 2008 model, offering insights into the age and potential market value of the vehicle.
- Body Class and Size: A VIN can specify the body class, potentially indicating a Wagon with 4 doors, providing detailed insights into the vehicle’s design and size.
- Engine Specifications: Details about the engine, including its displacement in liters (possibly 3.0 L), horsepower (around 300 hp), and number of cylinders (possibly 6), may be identified.
- Fuel Type: The VIN may reveal the vehicle’s primary fuel type, possibly specifying that it runs on Gasoline.
- Safety Features: Information on safety equipment, including the locations of airbags (potentially 1st Row for Driver and Passenger) and other restraint systems (possibly Dual-stage supplemental restraint system), can be obtained.
- Manufacturing Details: Insights into the vehicle’s manufacturing, such as the plant city (potentially Dingolfing) and country (possibly Germany), can be discerned, providing information about the car’s origin.
- Vehicle Type and Series: The VIN can specify the vehicle type (possibly Passenger Car) and detailed series information, illustrating this car as part of the 5-Series Sports Wagon line.
Don’t have your 2008 BMW 535xi’s VIN handy? Try our license plate lookup instead!
Sample VIN Decode Report for a 2008 BMW 535xi
| Vehicle Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Body Class | Wagon |
| Displacement (CC) | 2979.1682352 |
| Displacement (CI) | 181.8 |
| Displacement (L) | 3.0 |
| Doors | 4 |
| Engine Brake (hp) From | 300 |
| Engine Number of Cylinders | 6 |
| Front Air Bag Locations | 1st Row (Driver and Passenger) |
| Fuel Type - Primary | Gasoline |
| Gross Vehicle Weight Rating From | Class 1: 6,000 lb or less (2,722 kg or less) |
| Gross Vehicle Weight Rating To | Class 1: 6,000 lb or less (2,722 kg or less) |
| Model | 535xi |
| Model Year | 2008 |
| Other Restraint System Info | Dual-stage suppl. restraint system (SRS) certified to the advanced airbag requiremnets of FMVSS 208, S14. |
| Plant City | Dingolfing |
| Plant Company Name | |
| Plant Country | Germany |
| Seat Belt Type | Manual |
| Series | 5-Series |
| Series2 | Sports Wagon |
| Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) Type | Direct |
| Vehicle Descriptor | WBAPT735*8C |
| Vehicle Type | Passenger Car |
| Sample_VIN | WBAPT73508CX00274 |
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