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BMW paint code by VIN
Enter your BMW's 17-character VIN and we'll find the car, its colour and its factory paint code — free. Handy after a private plate change, or when the label has worn off.
Check it's a BMW VIN
| Starts with | Built by |
|---|---|
| WBA | BMW AG — most BMW cars |
| WBS | BMW M — M models |
| WBY | BMW i — electric models |
| 5UX | BMW USA — some X models |
The 10th character is the model year and the last six are the car's own serial number. What every VIN character means →
VIN and paint code on a BMW
BMW prints the paint code with its colour name on a sticker under the bonnet; the VIN is on the windscreen and the bulkhead.
- Under the bonnet, on a sticker by a suspension turret or inner wing
- On the driver’s door pillar on some models
BMW paint code by VIN — questions
Can I find my BMW paint code by VIN?
Yes. Enter the 17-character VIN above. We match it to the BMW’s records and show its colour and paint code — free, no sign-up.
Is the paint code part of the BMW VIN?
No. The VIN identifies the car — maker, model, year and factory — while the paint code is recorded against the car. BMW prints the paint code with its colour name on a sticker under the bonnet; the VIN is on the windscreen and the bulkhead.
How do I know it’s a BMW VIN?
Look at the first three characters: WBA, WBS, WBY, 5UX are BMW’s manufacturer codes. A different start usually means a different maker, or a mistyped character.
Where is the VIN on a BMW?
At the bottom of the windscreen on the passenger side, on the label in the driver’s door frame, and on the V5C logbook.
Where is the paint code on a BMW?
Under the bonnet, on a sticker by a suspension turret or inner wing. It looks like this: three characters followed by the colour name, for example 300 Alpine White III.
Have the plate instead? BMW paint code by reg
By VIN for other makes: VW, Audi, Ford, SEAT, Skoda, Mercedes, Vauxhall