How to decode a 1987 BMW 325iS VIN
Characters 1-3 of a 1987 BMW 325iS VIN
A World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) is a unique code consisting of the first three characters of a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), designating the manufacturer, vehicle type, and the country of manufacture. Specifically for the 1987 BMW 325is, the WMI “WBA” reveals that BMW AG, based in Munich, Germany, is the manufacturer. This code is vital as it not only tells us about the maker but also indicates that the vehicle is a passenger car produced in Germany. The WMI forms an essential part of the larger VIN, which helps in identifying specific vehicles globally. This sequence is crucial for registration, identification, and tracking purposes.
List of WMI Codes for a 1987 BMW 325iS
WMI: WBA
- Model Years Covered: 1987-1988, 1990-1991, 1993-1995
- Example VIN: WBAAA1301H8251753
- 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 1987 BMW 325iS 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 1987 BMW 325iS:
| Known VDS for a 1987 BMW 325iS | |
|---|---|
| AA130 | AA230 |
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 1987 BMW 325iS 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 1987 BMW 325iS VIN — Year Code
| Year Code | Year |
|---|---|
| H | 1987 |
11th Character in the 1987 BMW 325iS VIN — Plant Code(s)
Known 1987 BMW 325iS Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)
| Plant Code | Plant City | Plant State | Plant Country | Plant Company Name | Example VIN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Dingolfing | Germany | WBAAA1305H2327123 | ||
| 3 | Dingolfing | Germany | WBAAA2309H3112571 | ||
| 8 | Regensburg | Germany | WBAAA1301H8251753 |
VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 1987 BMW 325iS
The final 6 characters in a 1987 BMW 325iS’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.
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How to find a 1987 BMW 325iS’s VIN?
Locating the VIN number on your 1987 BMW 325iS is key for identification. Here’s how to find it:
- Inspect the dashboard on the driver’s side of your BMW 325is, specifically from the outside, looking through the front windshield at the corner where it meets the dashboard.
- Look at the driver’s side door jamb on your 1987 BMW 325is, where you can often find a sticker or plate with the VIN when you open the door.
- Check the engine bay, where the VIN may be stamped directly on the engine or on a plate somewhere within the bay of your BMW 325is.
- Examine the front of the car frame, near the windshield washer container on the driver’s side, which is a common place for the VIN to be located.
- Inspect the rear wheel well on the driver’s side. Sometimes, the VIN can be found above the tire on older models like the 1987 BMW 325is.
- Look at the vehicle’s registration documents, as well as insurance papers for the 1987 BMW 325is, as these should list the VIN alongside other important details.
What info can a 1987 BMW 325iS VIN reveal?
- Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicle’s model year, such as the year 1987, providing insights into the age and potential market value of the vehicle.
- Plant Location: The manufacturing city and country, for instance, Dingolfing, Germany, can often be identified from the VIN, offering insight into where the vehicle was assembled.
- Vehicle Specifications: The VIN provides specific details about the vehicle, including that it is a BMW 325iS with a 2.5-liter engine denoted by a displacement of 2495.74984720 CC (approximately 2.495 L or 152.30 CI).
- Engine Details: Engine characteristics such as the engine model being “4-Value”, an engine brake horsepower of 168, and it being produced by BMW-AG with six cylinders, can be decoded from a VIN.
- Fuel Type: The primary fuel type for the vehicle can be determined from the VIN, which in this case is gasoline, portraying the energy source the vehicle is designed to use.
- Safety Features: Information such as the type of seat belts, specified as manual in this VIN, indicates the safety mechanisms installed in the vehicle.
- Transmission and Doors: The VIN can also reveal the transmission style, which in this situation is automatic, and the number of doors, identified as 2, further detailing the vehicle’s structure and design.
Don’t have your 1987 BMW 325iS’s VIN handy? Try our license plate lookup instead!
Sample VIN Decode Report for a 1987 BMW 325iS
| Vehicle Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Body Class | Sedan/Saloon |
| Displacement (CC) | 2495.74984720 |
| Displacement (CI) | 152.30 |
| Displacement (L) | 2.49574984720 |
| Doors | 2 |
| Engine Brake (hp) From | 168 |
| Engine Manufacturer | BMW-AG |
| Engine Model | 4-Value |
| Engine Number of Cylinders | 6 |
| Fuel Type - Primary | Gasoline |
| Model | 325iS |
| Model Year | 1987 |
| Plant City | Dingolfing |
| Plant Company Name | |
| Plant Country | Germany |
| Seat Belt Type | Manual |
| Series | 3-Series |
| Series2 | E30 |
| Transmission Style | Automatic |
| Vehicle Descriptor | WBAAA230*H3 |
| Vehicle Type | Passenger Car |
| Sample_VIN | WBAAA2309H3112571 |
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