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WBABMW passenger cars

Held by BMW AG · registered in Germany

WMI WBA decodes 133 models, the longest list among the 250 passenger car WMIs in the catalog. Its rules place assembly in eight countries. The same rules start at model year 1981 and have no end year. Its rules name 89 percent of the 150 models found under all 10 codes of BMW.

Models in the decoding rules, by model year

  1. 318i1981–1998
  2. 318iC1981–1996
  3. 318iS1981–1996
  4. 318ti1981–2000
  5. 320i1981–2018
  6. 524td1981–1986
  7. 528e1981–1988
  8. 528i1981–2016
  9. 533i1981–1984
  10. 633 csi1981–1984
  11. 635CSi1981–1989
  12. 733i1981–1984
  13. 735i1981–1992
  14. 735iL1981–1992
  15. 840Ci1981–1996
  16. 850Ci1981–1996
  17. 850CSi1981–1995
  18. L71981–1988
  19. M61981–1988
  20. 325/325e1985–1988
  21. 535i1985–2017
  22. 325/325eS1986–1988
  23. 325ix1986–1991
  24. 535i/535is1986–1988
  25. 325i1987–2006
  26. 325iC1987–1995
  27. 325iS1987–1995
  28. 750iL1988–1999
  29. M31988–1991
  30. M51988–2019
  31. 325i/325is1989
  32. 525i1989–2007
  33. 850i1991–2019
  34. 740i1993–2026
  35. 740iL1993–2001
  36. 530i1994–2027

Also in the rules (97 more): 540i, 730i, 328i, 328iC, 328iS, 323iC, 323is, 323i, 328Ci, Z3, 325Ci, 750Li, X5, 330Ci, 330i, 750i, Z8, 325xi, 330xi, 745i, 745Li, 525iA, 530iA, 540iA, 760Li, 545i, 645Ci, 645i, X3, 760i, 525xi, 530xi, 550i, 650i, 328xi, 335i, 335xi, 128i, 135i, 528xi, 535xi, 335d, Z4, 750Lxi, 750xi, 335is, 740Li, 640i, 650xi, 750i, Alpina B7, 750Li, Alpina B7, 750Lxi, Alpina B7, 750xi, Alpina B7, ActiveE, ActiveHybrid 5, X1, 228i, 328d, 335, 428i, 435i, 535d, ActiveHybrid 3, ActiveHybrid 7, M235i, 650i, Alpina B6, 330e, 340i, M2, 230i, 430i, 440i, 650i, B6, 740e, 750i, B7, M240i, M760i, 530e, 540d, 640xi, M550i, B7, 745e, 840i, M340i, M850i, M440i, 745Le, Alpina B8, M760Li, 750e, 550e, M235, 228, 740, i3, M350.

Where the rules place assembly

Plant countriesGermany, United States, South Africa, Austria, Netherlands, Mexico, Brazil, United Kingdom

Plant locations namedDingolfing; Regensburg; Munich; Greer; Pretoria; Graz; Leipzig; Born; San Luis Potosi; Rosslyn; Munich Or Dingolfing; Manaus; Spartanburg; Oxford

Bodies and power

Body classesSedan, Coupe, Convertible, Wagon, Hatchback, SUV, Roadster

Primary fuelsGasoline, Diesel, Electric

Electrified versionsBattery electric, Hybrid, Plug-in hybrid

Compared with the closest code, WBX

WBX is held by BMW AG. Measured by the overlap of the two model lists, it is the code closest to WBA.

Models in both37

Only under WBA318i, 318iC, 318iS, 318ti, 320i, 524td, 528e, 533i, 633 csi, 635CSi, 733i, 735i, 735iL, 840Ci, 850Ci, 850CSi, L7, M6, 325/325e, 325/325eS, 325ix, 535i/535is, 325iC, 325iS and 72 more

Only under WBXX2, iX3, iX4

Model yearsWBA: 1981–open · WBX: 2004–open

Plant countries only for WBAUnited Kingdom

Body classes only for WBAHatchback

Vehicle typeWBA: passenger cars · WBX: multipurpose passenger vehicles

Other codes held by BMW

CodeVehicle typeMakesModel yearsModels
WMWpassenger carsMINI2002–open8
3MWpassenger carsBMW2019–open6
WBYpassenger carsBMW2014–open5
5UMpassenger carsBMW2002–20082
3MFpassenger carsBMW2023–open1
WZ1passenger carsToyota2020–open1
WBXmultipurpose passenger vehiclesBMW2004–open40
WB5multipurpose passenger vehiclesBMW2021–open1

1 more not shown here. All 10 codes of BMW

BMW under other holders

Models named in each code's rules

  1. WB1 BMW AG MotorcyclesGermany113
  2. WBS BMW M GmbHGermany37
  3. WB3 BMW AG MotorcyclesGermany36
  4. WB4 BMW AG MotorcyclesGermany34
  5. 5UX BMW Manufacturer Corporation / BMW North AmericaUnited States6
  6. 4US BMW Manufacturer Corporation / BMW North AmericaUnited States5
  7. 5YM BMW Manufacturer Corporation / BMW North AmericaUnited States5
  8. WAP BMW of North America, LLCGermany1

Source: NHTSA vPIC, October 2026 release (database updated October 17, 2026). How the figures are counted: How the catalog is read.