How to decode a 1990 BMW 525i VIN
Characters 1-3 of a 1990 BMW 525i VIN
A World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) is a unique code of three letters or numbers that identifies the manufacturer of a vehicle, providing insights about where and by whom a vehicle was made. For the 1990 BMW 525i, the WMI “WBA” indicates that BMW AG manufactured this passenger car. This specific identifier points to a vehicle crafted in Munich, Germany, which is known for producing high-quality luxury vehicles. The use of the WMI not only helps in identifying the vehicle’s origin but also assures the buyer of the authenticity and standards upheld by BMW AG. Through this coding system, each vehicle can be traced back to its manufacturer, offering valuable information for registration, service, and history reports.
List of WMI Codes for a 1990 BMW 525i
WMI: WBA
- Model Years Covered: 1988-1991, 1993-1995, 2001-2007
- Example VIN: WBAHC2300LBE24580
- 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 1990 BMW 525i 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 1990 BMW 525i:
| Known VDS for a 1990 BMW 525i |
|---|
| HC230 |
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 1990 BMW 525i 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 1990 BMW 525i VIN — Year Code
| Year Code | Year |
|---|---|
| L | 1990 |
11th Character in the 1990 BMW 525i VIN — Plant Code(s)
Known 1990 BMW 525i Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)
| Plant Code | Plant City | Plant State | Plant Country | Plant Company Name | Example VIN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B | Dingolfing | Germany | WBAHC2300LBE24580 |
VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 1990 BMW 525i
The final 6 characters in a 1990 BMW 525i’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.
Check your BMW 525i’s VIN below:
How to find a 1990 BMW 525i’s VIN?
Locating the VIN number on your 1990 BMW 525i is key for identification. Here’s how to find it:
- Check the dashboard on the driver’s side of your BMW 525i. The VIN can usually be seen through the windshield on the dashboard.
- Look at the door jamb on the driver’s side of your BMW 525i. The VIN might be present on a sticker or plate where the door latches when closed.
- Examine the engine bay of your BMW 525i. The VIN can often be found stamped onto the firewall or on a plate attached to the engine bay.
- Inspect the trunk area under the spare tire. The BMW 525i may have the VIN located on the chassis beneath the spare tire.
- Review your vehicle’s paperwork or owner’s manual. The VIN for your BMW 525i will be listed on the title, registration, and insurance documents.
What info can a 1990 BMW 525i VIN reveal?
- Model Year: The VIN may indicate the vehicle’s model year as 1990, providing insights into the age and potential market value of the vehicle.
- Manufacturer: The VIN identifies BMW-AG as the engine manufacturer, adding information about the source of the vehicle’s engine.
- Vehicle Type and Body Class: The VIN can denote the type of vehicle as a Passenger Car, with a specific body class of Sedan/Saloon.
- Engine Specifications: Details about the engine, such as having 6 cylinders with a displacement of approximately 2.491 liters (152 cubic inches) and producing 168 horsepower, may be encoded within the VIN.
- Fuel Type: Information on the primary fuel type the vehicle uses, which, for this example, could be Gasoline, can be retrieved from the VIN.
- Transmission and Safety Features: The VIN can possibly reveal the transmission style, which is Automatic in this case, as well as the type of seat belt, which might be Manual.
- Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR): The VIN might illustrate the vehicle’s weight class, here possibly identified as Class 1, accommodating vehicles 6,000 lb or less.
- Manufacturing Details: Information about the manufacturing location, including both the city, Dingolfing, and country, Germany, is detailed in the VIN, offering insight into the vehicle’s production origin.
Don’t have your 1990 BMW 525i’s VIN handy? Try our license plate lookup instead!
Sample VIN Decode Report for a 1990 BMW 525i
| Vehicle Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Body Class | Sedan/Saloon |
| Displacement (CC) | 2490.833728 |
| Displacement (CI) | 152 |
| Displacement (L) | 2.490833728 |
| Doors | 4 |
| Engine Brake (hp) From | 168 |
| Engine Manufacturer | BMW-AG |
| Engine Number of Cylinders | 6 |
| 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 | 525i |
| Model Year | 1990 |
| Plant City | Dingolfing |
| Plant Company Name | |
| Plant Country | Germany |
| Seat Belt Type | Manual |
| Series | 5 |
| Transmission Style | Automatic |
| Vehicle Descriptor | WBAHC230*LB |
| Vehicle Type | Passenger Car |
| Sample_VIN | WBAHC2300LBE24580 |
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