How to decode a 2016 BMW 535i VIN
Characters 1-3 of a 2016 BMW 535i VIN
World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) codes are a key component of a vehicle’s identification number (VIN), uniquely identifying the manufacturer of the vehicle worldwide. For the 2016 BMW 535i, the WMI code is “WBA,” which signifies BMW AG as the manufacturer, with its headquarters located in Munich, Germany. This code is essential for identifying the make of the vehicle and is used globally across the automotive industry to categorize vehicles by their manufacturers. The VIN, which includes the WMI, provides specific information about the vehicle, such as its model year, production location, and unique serial number. For this particular BMW, the WMI indicates that it is a passenger car produced by BMW AG for the model years 1985, 1989-1991, and 2008-2017.
List of WMI Codes for a 2016 BMW 535i
WMI: WBA
- Model Years Covered: 1985, 1989-1991, 2008-2017
- Example VIN: WBA5M2C50GG498907
- 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 2016 BMW 535i 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 2016 BMW 535i:
| Known VDS for a 2016 BMW 535i | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 5M2C5 | 5B1C5 | 5B3C5 | 5M4C5 |
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 2016 BMW 535i 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 2016 BMW 535i VIN — Year Code
| Year Code | Year |
|---|---|
| G | 2016 |
11th Character in the 2016 BMW 535i VIN — Plant Code(s)
Known 2016 BMW 535i Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)
| Plant Code | Plant City | Plant State | Plant Country | Plant Company Name | Example VIN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| D | Dingolfing | Germany | WBA5B3C50GD549027 | ||
| G | Dingolfing | Germany | WBA5M2C50GG498907 |
VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 2016 BMW 535i
The final 6 characters in a 2016 BMW 535i’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.
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How to find a 2016 BMW 535i’s VIN?
Locating the VIN number on your 2016 BMW 535i is key for identification. Here’s how to find it:
- Check the dashboard on the driver’s side of your BMW 535i. The VIN can usually be seen through the windshield on a small metal or plastic plate.
- Inspect the door jamb on the driver’s side of your BMW 535i. The VIN might be found on a label or sticker where the door latches when closed.
- Look under the hood of your BMW 535i; the VIN may be stamped onto the engine block or affixed on a plate in the engine compartment.
- Check the trunk area of your BMW 535i. Sometimes the VIN is placed on the floor right below where the spare tire is stored or on the walls of the trunk.
- On your BMW 535i, the VIN can also be found on official documents related to the vehicle, such as the title, registration, and insurance papers.
What info can a 2016 BMW 535i VIN reveal?
- Model Year and Make: The VIN can reveal the vehicle’s model year as 2016, possibly providing insights into the age and market value of the vehicle as a BMW 535i.
- Engine Specifications: It may encode important engine details, such as a 3L capacity with 300 horsepower from a 6-cylinder engine, possibly illustrating the vehicle’s performance capabilities.
- Body Class and Doors: The VIN may indicate the vehicle is a Sedan/Saloon with 4 doors, offering possible clues about the car’s size and style.
- Safety Features: Information about safety equipment, such as airbags located in the 1st and 2nd rows, along with knee and side airbags for the driver and passenger, might be inferred, highlighting potential protective measures of the vehicle.
- Fuel Type: The VIN could specify the fuel type for the vehicle as gasoline, possibly providing potential owners with an understanding of fuel efficiency and environmental impact.
- Plant Information: Details about the manufacturing, such as the plant city being Dingolfing and plant country Germany, might lend possible insights into production quality and heritage.
- Additional Safety and Comfort Features: The inclusion of a direct Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) and manual seat belt type with pretensioners may emphasize possible additional safety and comfort aspects of the vehicle.
Don’t have your 2016 BMW 535i’s VIN handy? Try our license plate lookup instead!
Sample VIN Decode Report for a 2016 BMW 535i
| Vehicle Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Body Class | Sedan/Saloon |
| Curtain Air Bag Locations | 1st and 2nd Rows |
| Displacement (CC) | 2979.1682352 |
| Displacement (CI) | 181.8 |
| Displacement (L) | 3 |
| 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) |
| Knee Air Bag Locations | 1st Row (Driver and Passenger) |
| Model | 535i |
| Model Year | 2016 |
| 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 | 5-series |
| Side Air Bag Locations | 1st Row (Driver and Passenger) |
| Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) Type | Direct |
| Trim | xDrive |
| Vehicle Descriptor | WBA5B3C5*GG |
| Vehicle Type | Passenger Car |
| Sample_VIN | WBA5B3C50GG252354 |
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