Free 1988 BMW M3 VIN Decoder

How to decode a 1988 BMW M3 VIN

Characters 1-3 of a 1988 BMW M3 VIN

The World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) is a unique code assigned to every vehicle manufacturer around the globe, which forms the first three characters of the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). It is crucial for identifying the manufacturer’s name, the type of vehicle, and its country of production. For instance, BMW M GmbH, a distinguished manufacturer known for high-performance passenger cars, has the WMI “WBS” for specific models such as the iconic 1988 BMW M3. This particular model, alongside others produced in selected years, was crafted in Munich, Germany, underlining its Bavarian heritage. WMIs thus play an essential role in providing valuable information about a vehicle’s origin and type at a glance.

List of WMI Codes for a 1988 BMW M3

WMI: WBS

• Model Years Covered: 1988, 1995-1999, 2002-2006, 2008-2013, 2015-2018, 2021-2024
• Example VIN: WBSAK0300J2196756
• 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 1988 BMW M3 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 1988 BMW M3:

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 1988 BMW M3 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 1988 BMW M3 VIN — Year Code

11th Character in the 1988 BMW M3 VIN — Plant Code(s)

Known 1988 BMW M3 Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)

VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 1988 BMW M3

The final 6 characters in a 1988 BMW M3’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.

What info can a 1988 BMW M3 VIN reveal?

• Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicle’s model year, indicating it may be from 1988, offering insights into the age and potential market value of the vehicle.
• Manufacturing Location: The VIN might hint at the manufacturing location, possibly suggesting assembly in Munich or Dingolfing, Germany.
• Make and Model: From the VIN, one could learn that the vehicle is a BMW M3 from the 3-Series, providing specific series information and identifying both the make and model.
• Engine Details: Details about the engine, such as its manufacturer being BMW-MOTORSPORT GmbH, and its performance metrics, including a horsepower of 192 and a displacement of 2.294 liters (140 cubic inches), can potentially be decoded from the VIN.
• Body Type and Dimensions: The VIN can divulge the body class of the vehicle, indicating it might be a Coupe with 2 doors, and providing insight into the vehicle’s size class, potentially identified as Class 1: 6,000 lb or less (2,722 kg or less) in terms of Gross Vehicle Weight Rating.
• Fuel Type: The type of fuel the vehicle uses, potentially Gasoline, is another important detail that can be discerned from the VIN, potentially highlighting the vehicle’s primary energy source.
• Safety Features: By decoding the VIN, one could possibly infer the type of safety mechanisms the vehicle was originally equipped with, potentially indicated here by the presence of manual seat belts.
• Engine Descriptor: With a unique descriptor like WBSAK030*J2, the VIN can provide a specific identifier for the vehicle’s engine and other key manufacturing details unique to the vehicle model and engine type.

Sample VIN Decode Report for a 1988 BMW M3

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