How to decode a BMW 850CSi VIN
Characters 1-3 of a BMW 850CSi VIN
World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) codes are a unique sequence of three characters at the beginning of a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) that signify the vehicle’s manufacturer, the type of vehicle, and the country of manufacture. Specifically, for the BMW 850CSi produced in 1994, the WMI WBS indicates it was manufactured by BMW M GmbH in Munich, Germany. These early characters of the VIN provide vital details not just about the manufacturing entity but also highlight the vehicle as a passenger car, embedding it within a specific subset of automotive productions. The precise decoding of this WMI reveals the prestigious origin and category of the BMW 850CSi, anchoring it within BMW’s esteemed lineup and verifying its authenticity and origins directly from Germany. This system of identification allows for reliable tracking and validation of vehicles worldwide.
List of WMI Codes for a BMW 850CSi
WMI: WBS
- Model Years Covered: 1994
- Example VIN: WBSEG9322RCD00035
- Manufacturer Name: BMW M GmbH
- Vehicle Type: Passenger Car
- City: Munich
- State or Province:
- Country: Germany
Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a BMW 850CSi 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 850CSi:
| Known VDS for a BMW 850CSi |
|---|
| EG932 |
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 850CSi 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 850CSi VIN — Year Code
| Year Code | Year |
|---|---|
| R | 1994 BMW 850CSi |
11th Character in the BMW 850CSi VIN — Plant Code(s)
Known BMW 850CSi Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)
| Plant Code | Plant City | Plant State | Plant Country | Plant Company Name | Example VIN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | Dingolfing | Germany | WBSEG9322RCD00035 |
VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a BMW 850CSi
The final 6 characters in a BMW 850CSi’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.
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How to find a BMW 850CSi’s VIN?
Locating the VIN number on your BMW 850CSi is key for identification. Here’s how to find it:
- Look at the lower corner of the windshield on the driver’s side of your BMW 850CSi, where the VIN is often displayed on a metal plate visible from outside the vehicle.
- Open the driver’s side door and inspect the door post (where the door latches when it is closed) on your BMW 850CSi, as the VIN is frequently found on a label or sticker in this area.
- Check under the hood of your BMW 850CSi for a VIN plate located on the engine block, which can often be found when you’re performing maintenance or inspection tasks.
- For older models or for additional verification, look at the rear wheel well directly above the tire on your BMW 850CSi. In some cases, the VIN can be found stamped in the metal in this area.
- If you have documentation for the vehicle like insurance cards, registration documents, or the vehicle title, the VIN of your BMW 850CSi will be listed on these documents, often providing an easy way to find it without needing to physically inspect the car.
What info can a BMW 850CSi VIN reveal?
- Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicles model year being the year 1994, providing insights into the age and potential historical value of the vehicle.
- Engine Specifications: A VIN decodes to reveal comprehensive engine details like a 5.578L engine with 377 hp made by BMW-AG, demonstrating engine displacement in CC, CI, and L, alongside the engine model and number of cylinders, which in this instance is a 12-cylinder 4-valve engine.
- Fuel Type: The VIN can help identify the primary fuel type a vehicle uses, which for the BMW 850CSi is possibly gasoline.
- Safety Features: VIN information may include safety equipment details such as the airbag locations, which for this particular vehicle are in the 1st row for both the driver and passenger, and additional restraint systems like the Driver and Passenger Supplemental Restraint System (SRS).
- Manufacturing Details: The VIN can give insights into where the vehicle was manufactured, pointing to Dingolfing, Germany for the BMW 850CSi, without explicitly naming the plant company.
- Body Class and Doors: A VIN can specify the body class and the number of doors, indicating this car is possibly a Coupe with 2 doors.
- Vehicle Type and Series: A VIN might reveal the type of vehicle and the specific series it belongs to, in this case, classifying it as a Passenger Car within the 8-Series.
Don’t have your BMW 850CSi’s VIN handy? Try our license plate lookup instead!
Sample VIN Decode Report for a BMW 850CSi
| Vehicle Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Body Class | Coupe |
| Displacement (CC) | 5578.1565856 |
| Displacement (CI) | 340.4 |
| Displacement (L) | 5.5781565856 |
| Doors | 2 |
| Engine Brake (hp) From | 377 |
| Engine Manufacturer | BMW-AG |
| Engine Model | 4-Value |
| Engine Number of Cylinders | 12 |
| Front Air Bag Locations | 1st Row (Driver and Passenger) |
| Fuel Type - Primary | Gasoline |
| Model | 850CSi |
| Model Year | 1994 |
| Other Restraint System Info | Driver and Passenger Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) |
| Plant City | Dingolfing |
| Plant Company Name | |
| Plant Country | Germany |
| Seat Belt Type | Manual |
| Series | 8-Series |
| Vehicle Descriptor | WBSEG932*RC |
| Vehicle Type | Passenger Car |
| Sample_VIN | WBSEG9322RCD00035 |
Decode a BMW VIN
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