This information is all associated with the vehicle’s VIN, giving future mechanics an easy way to get an overview of all the work that’s already been done, without having to guess at how long the timing belt looks like it’s been in the car. The owner may be able to present a stack of paperwork detailing every service, but it isn’t uncommon for these kinds of records to get lost.įortunately, whenever a vehicle is serviced by a BMW technician, a computerized record of the work done is kept, including any parts replaced and the vehicle’s mileage. Checking BMW service historyīefore buying a used vehicle, it’s normal to expect to see a record of the maintenance work done on the car through the years. All essential information if you are buying a pre-owned or used car, simply want to do some comparison shopping, or wish to find the right upgrades or parts for your own car.Īs every vehicle has a unique identification number, knowing a BMW’s VIN can be a quick and reliable way of finding out more about the car and its past.
You can even use it on certain motor vehicle registries to find out whether the car is considered a salvage (repaired after a major wreck) or is listed as stolen.
Each of the 17 digits actually tells you something specific about your car, from when and where it was built to its feature-set. That seemingly random string of numbers printed on your BMW’s dash or on the driver’s side door jamb is more important than you think. There's a lot more that goes into understanding your vehicle.
Want to know your BMW inside out? Interested in having a full list of options your vehicle is equipped with? Then decode your VIN for free and we'll send you your full car specification, including head unit and software version.