BMW E90/91/92/93 VIN Location — Where to Find Your VIN
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Every BMW has a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) — a 17-digit code that acts as your car’s fingerprint.
It identifies your exact model, engine type, production year, and build location.
If you own a BMW E90, E91, E92, or E93 (the 3 Series made between 2005 and 2013), knowing where to find your VIN is essential.
You’ll need it when checking your BMW E90, E91, E92, or E93 VIN history, registering it, or verifying authenticity during a purchase or inspection.
BMW places the VIN in several fixed spots on the car for easy access and security.
Here’s where you can find it — on the dashboard, under the hood, in the trunk compartment, and on the driver-side door jamb.
Dashboard / Windshield
The easiest place to find your VIN on a BMW E90, E91, E92, or E93 is through the windshield.
Stand outside the car and look at the lower-left corner of the windshield on the driver’s side.
You’ll see the VIN printed on a metal or plastic plate that’s fixed to the dashboard.
This location is visible without opening the car, which makes it the one most often used during vehicle inspections, registrations, and history checks.
The numbers are laser-etched or stamped, making them permanent and hard to tamper with.
Make sure the plate looks clean, flat, and unaltered — any damage or signs of removal could be a red flag.
If sunlight or glare makes it hard to read, try using a flashlight or taking a photo from outside the windshield for better clarity.
Under the Hood
You’ll find another VIN marking under the hood, inside the engine bay.
On most BMW E90, E91, E92, and E93 models, it’s either stamped into the metal or printed on a VIN plate.
Common locations include:
- The right-side strut tower, near the suspension mount.
- The firewall, at the back of the engine bay.
- The front radiator support or crossmember.
These positions make it easy for mechanics or inspectors to verify the VIN during servicing or repair.
Because it’s part of the chassis, this marking is a strong proof of the car’s identity and originality.
If the VIN looks painted over or uneven, be cautious — factory stamps are clean, even, and consistent in depth.
A mismatched or poorly restamped number may indicate past structural repairs or tampering.
Trunk Compartment
Another place to find the VIN on a BMW E90, E91, E92, or E93 is inside the trunk.
Open the trunk and lift the floor cover to access the spare tire well or tool tray area.
You may find a VIN sticker or metal plate attached to the rear panel or side wall.
This hidden label serves as a backup identification point.
It’s useful when the windshield plate or engine bay stamp is missing or unreadable.
Inspectors often check this area to confirm that the VIN matches the other locations on the car.
Keep the label clean and dry — moisture or dirt can cause it to fade over time.
If you don’t see it right away, use a flashlight and check around the spare tire mount or the under-floor panels.
Driver-Side Door Jamb Label
The driver-side door jamb is one of the most common places to find the VIN on your BMW E90, E91, E92, or E93.
Open the driver’s door and look along the B-pillar — that’s the frame section between the front and rear doors.
You’ll see a white or silver factory label stuck vertically on the metal surface.
This label lists important information such as:
- The 17-digit VIN number
- The production month and year
- Paint code and tire pressure details
It’s the same VIN you’ll see on the windshield plate and engine bay stamp, and all three should match.
The door jamb label is often used during registration or emissions checks because it’s quick to access and easy to read.
If the label looks torn, replaced, or has uneven edges, that could be a sign of repair or repainting.
A genuine factory sticker always has clean printing, proper alignment, and no residue from past removal.