Online BMW VIN decoder for cars 01/1928-02/2009

CSL 1973

CSL 1973

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In case you would like to see the factory data about your E9, BMW provides an online VIN decoder for BMW cars built 01/1928-02/2009.

http://www.bmwarchiv.de/vin/bmw-vin-decoder.html

If you type your VIN (7 last figures) it will give you the following data:

Typecode
Katalysator
Steering
Gearbox
Serie
Country version
Model
Engine
Type of body
Production month and year

Please note that the only CSL VINs that works in this decoder are the ones starting with 4355xxx. For the other E9 models it should work fine.

With this VIN decoder it is easy to find out exactly which car was the first or last etc within a certain VIN range etc.

Cheers
 
Doesn´t work with the early cars

I would say it works from `74 onwards.
I tried my earlier cars, and it said "sorry, no car matches that number".
 
pmansson said:
I would say it works from `74 onwards.
I tried my earlier cars, and it said "sorry, no car matches that number".
Click to expand...

Yea, it didn't work for me either. Entered the VIN for my 1970 2800, and got back that it was a European-delivery 1987 325i with an Automatic!

I suspect that when the multi-digit VIN numbers were introduced (modern VINs are what, like 20 digits?), BMW did not reserve the 7 digit combinations used on earlier cars from inclusion. So the VIN on some 1987 325i would end with the same seven digits as my 2800's entire VIN. Since this site only asks for the last seven VIN digits, it can't distinguish between a 1970 and a 1987 (or whatever).
 
Last edited:
The first `74 US automatic, 4335001 came up as an e9 built 10/73 so it does work for the later vins! The first US 4 speed 4310001 is 11/73, more evidence they changed in Sept/Oct timeframe.
 
As I mentioned, it works with US 74 models but gives an answer that is one month prior to the build dates provided by Andreas so it might be the start of build. There was one exception, a `74 stick built Feb `74 per Andreas and the decoder says Nov `73.
 
As far as I can see, the VIN decoder works fine for all E9 cars with production date 09/73 or later. The problem might be that before 9/73, the VIN ranges (with only seven figures) for the E9 cars were not unique or simply not mapped in the VIN decoder by BMW.

For instance, the RHD CSLs have the VIN range 2285001-2285500. The VIN range (last seven figures) for the special version (117 cars with catalysator) of the last LHD European M635CSi (E24) cars was 2285001-2285117. In terms of the last 7 figures in the VIN, the same VIN range for both E9 RHD CSL and the E24 M635CSi. The VIN Decoder shows 2285117 as an E24 M635CSi and 2285118 as non-existing.

However, as said above, for the E9 cars the BMW VIN decoder works as from 9/73 or later.

Cheers
 
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