Vehicle Identification and VIN Decoder

Vehicle Identification and VIN Decoder

BMW 330i 2006  VIN located in windshield, lower right.

Have you ever wanted to know more about your car, but didn't know how to go about finding this information.  Well BMW made it very easy.  The Answer is the VIN number, it can tell you a lot of information.  See information below to get the correct information.  You can figure out where you car was made, what year model it is, or what series model year it is.




SAMPLE VIN:  WBA  V  B 3 3 5 5 6  K  S35190
POSITION        1 2 3  4  5 6 7 8 9 10 11  12-17

Vin
Position
1-3    Country of Manufacture
                 WBA  BMW AG. Munich Germany

4        Line
                  P.   328i xDrive Sedan (2009-2010)
                  U.  328i, xDrive Sports Wagon (2009-2010)
                  V.  325i, 325xi, 330i, 330xi (2006), 328 Sedan, 328xi Sedan and Sports Wagon, 335i,                               335xi (2007-2009)
                  W. 328i Coupe and Convertible, 328xi Coupe
                        335i Convertible (2007-2010)
5        Series
                   A.  328 Sedan (2007-2008)
                   B.  325i, 330i, Sedan (2006) 328 Coupe (2007-2009), 335i Sedan and Coupe (2007-2008)
                   C.  328 Sedan (2007), 328xi Sedan and Coupe (2007-2009)
                   D.  325xi Sedan, 330xi Sedan (2006), 335xi Sedan (2007-2008)
                   H.  328i Sedan (2009-2010)
                   K.  328i xDrive Sedan (2009-2010)
                   L.  328i Convertible, 335i Convertible (2007-2010)
                   R.  328i Convertible (2007-2010)
                   T.  328xi Sports Wagon (2008), 328i Sports Wagon (2009-2010)
                   U.  328xi Sports Wagon (2009-2010)
                   V.  328i xDrive Coupe (2009-2010)

6        Engine Type
                   1.  3.0 liter 6-cylinder
                   2.  3.0 liter 6-cylinder
                   3.  3.0 liter 6-cylinder
                   5.  3.0 liter 6-cylinder
                   7.  3.0 liter 6-cylinder
                   9.  3.0 liter 6-cylinder

7        Vehicle Type
                   3, 7   Passenger vehicle (2006-2009)
                  A, G  Passenger vehicle (2010)

8        Restraint System
                  5.  Multiple restraint system

9        Check Digit
                  0-9 or X, Calculated by NHTSA

10      Model Year
                 6.  2006
                 7.  2007
                 8.  2008
                 9.  2009
                 A.  2010

11      Assembly Plan
                A, F, K :  Munich, Germany
                N, V  :  Leipzig, Germany
                E, J, P  :  Regensburg, Germany

12-17 Serial Number
                Sequential production number for specific vehicle

About my car:
WBA  BMW AG. Munich Germany
V.  325i, 325xi, 330i, 330xi (2006), 328 Sedan, 328xi Sedan and Sports Wagon, 335i,                               335xi (2007-2009)
B.  325i, 330i, Sedan (2006) 328 Coupe (2007-2009), 335i Sedan and Coupe (2007-2008)
3.  3.0 liter 6-cylinder
3, 7   Passenger vehicle (2006-2009)
5.  Multiple restraint system
5  0-9 or X, Calculated by NHTSA
6.  2006
A, F, K :  Munich, Germany
35190 Sequential production number for specific vehicle

Special thanks to Bently Publishers, they have a lot of very useful information in these books, check them out in this Amazon Link:  Bentley Publishers Amazon Link

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Rough start BMW 330i 2006, when low on oil

Rough start BMW 330i 2006, when "low" on oil

Oil Level Low (3 bars is low)

In the past week I've noticed something different when I start my car, it start up a little rough.  Because I drive the car every day, I notice very subtle changes to my car.  In the past I got worried, I wondered if it was something bad, perhaps something wrong with the spark plugs, or coils, etc.   It's very disconcerting because, it's very noticeable, as you drive away from a stop the car tends to feel heavy.  When this happened for the first time, I have to admit I got worried.  Fortunately this problem does have a very easy solution, the solution is to add more oil.

5W-30

This is something that i've noticed for a few years.  If I am just about due for an oil change and my oil is "low", my car start rough, it doesn't seem to have the same amount of power as it did when the oil was new and topped off.

BMW 330i 2006

As I drive my car month end month out, I tend to forget when it's time to change the oil.  I know it happens to me all the time, I tend to wait for the car to tell me it's time for an oil change. I know I am not suppose to wait, but if you have life, you will forget.

This is the first time I've had to add oil to my engine this year and in this particular case I ended up adding 1 quart of oil to top it off.   I can definitely tell the difference.  I've always added 5W-30 Mobil 1 brand, and I've never had any problems.

Oil cap, top right. (cover removed)

Side note: On the intro picture above there are 3 bars (green bars), this is LOW oil level in my opinion, if you add a bit more oil to the engine the 3 bars turn to 4, which is better.  I've found that 4 bars is better for optimum power output for the engine, 3 bars is okay, but low.  Note that on the picture it states that the Oil Level is O.K.  it's definitely okay, but not for optimum power.  Also note that adding more oil at this point is actually bad, to be sure add a bit more oil and check level, keep doing this until you reach the 4 bars.

The last thing I wanted to say is that if you own a 2006 BMW 330i, you know about oil leaks, around the oil filter case, and around the valve cover manifold, if you have oil leaks there, oil will be low after a few months because oil is always coming out of these areas, although you should fix these problems because they can lead to more serious problems, if you keep driving the car to and from work for example, the oil level will drop little by little, so definitely keep an eye the oil level once every couple of months, and if you are low, top it off.

I hope this was helpful to you

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How to read codes in your E90, bluetooth OBDII reader

How to read codes in your E90 
bluetooth reader/scanner, BMW 330i 2006, E90

I've used this little OBDII sensor so many times, that it already paid for itself.  It was not very expensive to begin with, only $20 dollars US.  It has been a lifesaver many times over.  I have diagnosed many problems in my E90.   The product is a Bluetooth OBDII  adaptor.  The one I got was from Amazon, it's from a company called XiTech, the model is XR7.

Torque APP, Android

You have to download a program called "Torque" link to download from Google Play Store to run on your Android phone.  The app is free but if you pay for the app you get all sorts extra goodies.  When the XR7 is paired with your phone's App it can give you a ton of information in real time. The best part of course is that it can read codes.  But it can tell you all sorts of information like: Revs, speed, Throttle, Coolant temp, Acceleration, etc...  If you mount it on your dashboard it can give you all sorts of useful information.


 You only have to pair it with your phone one time, and after that you only have to connect the adaptor to your car and then run the app.

To Pair:  Plug in the XR7 into your cars OBDII, then Turn on Bluetooth on your Phone and search for the device on your phone, mine comes up as CBT, select it to pair with phone, you may need to enter a 4 digit code, mine was included in the paperwork I got with the device, usually it's 0000 or 1234, then run the Torque App.  Wait for the device to link with the bluetooth and you are ready to read the codes or run the Real Time Information.

OBDII Back of Device

The first problem I diagnosed was a stuck vanos.   But I've diagnosed other problem with a spark plug coil, timing sensors, etc..

When I get the dreaded Check Engine Light in my car, the first thing I do is I plug in the XR7 and I run the app, with in seconds I know what is wrong with my E90.

If you go to the Dealer to get an Engine check light diagnosed, it will run you $150 dollars US.  Why spend that much money when you can diagnose the problem yourself.

A must have for any BMW E90 owner.

Real Time information Gauges




Updated with current Bluetooth device:

Check Engine Light