Most BMW M240i VINs open with 3MW (Germany, 2022–2025) or WBA (Germany, 2017–2018). Position 11, the plant, shows 2 codes, most often 8 (55%); a 2026 M240i carries T in position 10. Decoding one also brings up 7 recall campaigns and 11 owner complaints from NHTSA.
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How to read a BMW M240i VIN
Here is a real 2026 BMW M240i VIN from our database, split into its parts:
VIN 3MW53CM0XT8G38918 — 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. |
BMW M240i VIN prefixes, and when each one was used
The BMW M240i VINs on record carry 2 different prefixes. The main one is 3MW (Germany, 2022–2025), then WBA (Germany, 2017–2018):
| VIN starts with | Years seen | Built in | Vehicle type | VINs on record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WBA | 2017–2018 | Germany | Passenger Car | |
| 3MW | 2022–2025 | Germany | Passenger Car |
Position 11 names the plant. On the BMW M240i it is not one number either — assembly moved between 2 of them over the years:
| Plant code | Years active | VINs on record | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | 2022–2025 | 6 | |
| V | 2017–2018 | 5 |
Counted from 11 dated BMW M240i VINs attached to NHTSA complaints, each code checked against the NHTSA manufacturer registry.
Model-year codes for the BMW M240i
Position 10 carries the model year, skipping I, O, Q, U and Z. The alphabet comes round every 30 years, which the BMW M240i has not yet outlived: its 10 years still map one-to-one. All 10 model years of the BMW M240i, 2017 to 2026, with the character each one carries:
| Model year | VIN character (position 10) | Same character as |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | T | — |
| 2025 | S | — |
| 2024 | R | — |
| 2023 | P | — |
| 2022 | N | — |
| 2021 | M | — |
| 2020 | L | — |
| 2019 | K | — |
| 2018 | J | — |
| 2017 | H | — |
Body and engine characters we see on BMW M240i VINs
Positions 4–8 are the maker's own build code. Across 33 VINs the BMW M240i uses 10 different characters in positions 4, 5 and 8:
| Position | Characters seen on real VINs | Variety |
|---|---|---|
| 4 — body | 5 (48%) · 2 (27%) · 4 (24%) | 3 distinct |
| 5 — series | 3 (73%) · G (9%) · J (9%) · N (9%) | 4 distinct |
| 8 — engine | 0 (79%) · 5 (12%) · 3 (9%) | 3 distinct |
What a decoded BMW M240i VIN gets you
Behind a BMW M240i VIN: 11 owner complaints and every recall campaign NHTSA has on record:
| Data | For this model | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Recall campaigns | 7 campaigns | NHTSA |
| Owner complaints | 11 filed | NHTSA |
| Fuel economy | 25 mpg combined (avg) | EPA |
| Model years covered | 10 years | ForCar catalog |
Where to find the VIN on a BMW M240i
A BMW M240i VIN normally opens with 3MW; 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 |
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Frequently asked questions
Is this BMW M240i VIN decoder free?
Yes, with no account. Besides the year, plant and build characters it shows 7 recall campaigns and 11 owner complaints NHTSA holds on the BMW M240i.
Why does my M240i VIN start differently from another M240i?
Because the BMW M240i was built under several maker codes, by plant and period. Across the BMW M240i VINs on record we see 2 of them: WBA (2017–2018), 3MW (2022–2025). Each is genuine for its years.
What year is my M240i by its VIN?
Read position 10: a 2026 M240i carries T, a 2025 M240i carries S, a 2024 M240i carries R.
Where was my M240i built?
Position 11 names the plant. Across 11 dated BMW M240i VINs it reads 8 55%, V 45%.
What does position 4 mean on a BMW M240i VIN?
It is part of the maker's own build code, so read it against this model, not a generic chart. On 33 BMW M240i VINs here, 5 is the most common character in position 4, on 48% of them.
What if the VIN on the dashboard doesn't match the door jamb?
On a BMW M240i check the prefix first: most genuine ones open with 3MW or WBA. A plate that starts with anything else, or disagrees with the other copies of the number, needs documents checked before any money changes hands.
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