How to decode a BMW 650i / ALPINA B6 VIN
Characters 1-3 of a BMW 650i / ALPINA B6 VIN
A WMI, or World Manufacturer Identifier, is the first three characters of a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) that uniquely identify the manufacturer of the vehicle. For BMW 650i and ALPINA B6 models, the WMI is WBA, which denotes BMW AG, the renowned luxury carmaker based in Munich, Germany. These initial characters help decipher a myriad of important details about the vehicle such as its country of origin, manufacturing division, and the marque it carries. In the VIN of a BMW 650i or ALPINA B6, a WMI code starting with WBA confirms the vehicle as a genuine BMW product, renowned for its performance and luxury.
List of WMI Codes for a BMW 650i / ALPINA B6
WMI: WBA
- Model Years Covered: 2015-2016
- Example VIN: WBA6B4C50FD760530
- 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 BMW 650i / ALPINA B6 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 BMW 650i / ALPINA B6:
| Known VDS for a BMW 650i / ALPINA B6 | |
|---|---|
| 6B4C5 | 6D6C5 |
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 BMW 650i / ALPINA B6 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 BMW 650i / ALPINA B6 VIN — Year Code
| Year Code | Year |
|---|---|
| G | 2016 BMW 650i / ALPINA B6 |
| F | 2015 BMW 650i / ALPINA B6 |
11th Character in the BMW 650i / ALPINA B6 VIN — Plant Code(s)
Known BMW 650i / ALPINA B6 Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)
| Plant Code | Plant City | Plant State | Plant Country | Plant Company Name | Example VIN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| D | Dingolfing | Germany | WBA6B4C50FD760530 | ||
| G | Dingolfing | Germany | WBA6D6C50GG387611 |
VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a BMW 650i / ALPINA B6
The final 6 characters in a BMW 650i / ALPINA B6’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.
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How to find a BMW 650i / ALPINA B6’s VIN?
Locating the VIN number on your BMW 650i / ALPINA B6 is key for identification. Here’s how to find it:
- Look for the BMW 650i / ALPINA B6’s VIN on the dashboard, visible through the windshield on the driver’s side of the vehicle.
- Examine the door jamb on the driver’s side of your BMW 650i / ALPINA B6, the VIN may be located on a sticker or plate where the door latches.
- On the BMW 650i / ALPINA B6, the VIN can often be found under the hood where the engine bay meets the windshield.
- Inspect the front of the car frame, near the container that holds windshield washer fluid, for a VIN plate on your BMW 650i / ALPINA B6.
- Check the rear wheel well directly above the tire for the VIN on your BMW 650i / ALPINA B6; on some models, it might be present there.
- Look at the insurance and ownership documents, which will have the BMW 650i / ALPINA B6’s VIN listed.
- On the BMW 650i / ALPINA B6, the VIN may also be found on the vehicle registration card or on the title documentation.
What info can a BMW 650i / ALPINA B6 VIN reveal?
- Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicle’s model year, indicating the year of manufacture, which may be the year 2015, offering insights into the age and potential historical value of the vehicle.
- Manufacturing Plant: The VIN can provide information about the manufacturing plant location, such as Dingolfing, Germany, potentially indicating the origin of the vehicle.
- Body Class and Doors: A VIN can specify the body class, potentially indicating that it is a Sedan/Saloon with a specific number of doors, offering detailed insights into the vehicle’s design and structure.
- Fuel Type: The VIN can specify the primary fuel type of the vehicle, indicating that it is gasoline powered, providing insights into the vehicle’s fuel efficiency and environmental impact.
- Safety Features: Standard safety features, including pretensioners, curtain air bags, front air bags, knee air bags, and side air bags, can be inferred from the VIN, potentially offering details about the vehicle’s safety capabilities.
Don’t have your BMW 650i / ALPINA B6’s VIN handy? Try our license plate lookup instead!
Sample VIN Decode Report for a BMW 650i / ALPINA B6
| Vehicle Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Body Class | Sedan/Saloon |
| Curtain Air Bag Locations | 1st and 2nd Rows |
| Displacement (CC) | 4395.0105648 |
| Displacement (CI) | 268.2 |
| Displacement (L) | 4.4 |
| Doors | 4 |
| Engine Brake (hp) From | 448 |
| Engine Brake (hp) To | 600 |
| Engine Number of Cylinders | 8 |
| Front Air Bag Locations | 1st Row (Driver and Passenger) |
| Fuel Type - Primary | Gasoline |
| Knee Air Bag Locations | 1st Row (Driver and Passenger) |
| Model | 650i / ALPINA B6 |
| Model Year | 2016 |
| Other Engine Info | Engine Brake (hp) for 650i = 448 Engine Brake (hp) for ALPINA B6 = 600 |
| Other Restraint System Info | Pretensioners for Driver and Front Passenger. |
| Plant City | Dingolfing |
| Plant Company Name | |
| Plant Country | Germany |
| Pretensioner | Yes |
| Seat Belt Type | Manual |
| Series | 6-series |
| Side Air Bag Locations | 1st Row (Driver and Passenger) |
| Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) Type | Direct |
| Trim | 650i xDrive GC/ALPINA B6 xDrive GC |
| Vehicle Descriptor | WBA6D6C5*GG |
| Vehicle Type | Passenger Car |
| Sample_VIN | WBA6D6C50GG387611 |
Decode a BMW VIN
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