A BMW 335xi VIN opens with WBA (Germany). A 2008 335xi carries 8 in position 10.
Got a VIN from another make? The free VIN decoder reads any 17-character VIN, whatever built it.
How to read a BMW 335xi VIN
Here is a real 2008 BMW 335xi VIN from our database, split into its parts:
VIN WBAWC735X8E066987 — decoded free on its own report page.
| Position | Section | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|
| 1–3 | WMI | World Manufacturer Identifier — country, manufacturer and vehicle type. |
| 4–8 | VDS | Vehicle Descriptor Section — body style, engine, restraint system, series. |
| 9 | Check digit | A calculated digit that validates the whole VIN. Wrong digit = wrong VIN. |
| 10 | Model year | One character for the model year. Letters skip I, O, Q, U and Z. |
| 11 | Plant | The assembly plant that built the car. |
| 12–17 | Serial | Sequential production number of this exact vehicle. |
Where BMW 335xi VINs say the car was built
The first three characters are the World Manufacturer Identifier. Across 4 BMW 335xi VINs we have on file, these are the codes that actually show up — and the plants behind them:
| WMI | Built in | Vehicle type | VINs on file | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WBA | Germany | Passenger Car | 4 |
Country and vehicle type come from the NHTSA manufacturer registry. Share is measured across VINs decoded on ForCar, not production volume.
Model-year codes for the BMW 335xi
Position 10 carries the model year, skipping I, O, Q, U and Z. The alphabet comes round every 30 years, which the BMW 335xi has not yet outlived: its 2 years still map one-to-one. All 2 model years of the BMW 335xi, 2007 to 2008, with the character each one carries:
| Model year | VIN character (position 10) | Same character as |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 8 | — |
| 2007 | 7 | — |
Body and engine characters we see on BMW 335xi VINs
Positions 4–8 are the maker's own build code. Across 4 VINs the BMW 335xi uses 5 different characters in positions 4, 5 and 8:
| Position | Characters seen on real VINs | Variety |
|---|---|---|
| 4 — body | W (75%) · V (25%) | 2 distinct |
| 5 — series | C (75%) · D (25%) | 2 distinct |
| 8 — engine | 5 (100%) | 1 distinct |
What a decoded BMW 335xi VIN gets you
What a decoded VIN opens up:
| Data | For this model | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Recall campaigns | 4 campaigns | NHTSA |
| Fuel economy | 20 mpg combined (avg) | EPA |
| Model years covered | 2 years | ForCar catalog |
Where to find the VIN on a BMW 335xi
A BMW 335xi VIN normally opens with WBA; the full number sits in four places, and all four must match.
| Where | How to see it | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Dashboard, driver side | Through the windshield, bottom corner | Easiest to check before you touch anything |
| Driver door jamb | Open the door, sticker on the pillar | Also lists tire pressures and build date |
| Under the hood | Firewall or strut tower plate | Survives a windshield replacement |
| Title and insurance | Paper documents | Must match the car — a mismatch means fraud or a swapped panel |
You know what it is. Find out what it's worth.
- Exact value for this VIN, adjusted for mileage
- The original window sticker and factory options
- Full research report as a PDF you can hand to a mechanic
- Decode a whole list of VINs at once
- No ads, no tracking — and much more
Frequently asked questions
Is this BMW 335xi VIN decoder free?
Yes, with no account. Besides the year, plant and build characters it shows 4 recall campaigns NHTSA holds on the BMW 335xi.
What year is my 335xi by its VIN?
Read position 10: a 2008 335xi carries 8, a 2007 335xi carries 7.
What does position 4 mean on a BMW 335xi VIN?
It is part of the maker's own build code, so read it against this model, not a generic chart. On 4 BMW 335xi VINs here, W is the most common character in position 4, on 75% of them.
Mark ForCar as a preferred source and our data shows up first in your Google results. One click, no account.