Where is the VIN number in BMW Seria 1 (F40) [2019-2021]?

This guide shows you where to find the VIN (chassis number) on the BMW 1 Series F40, produced between 2019–2021, and which spot is easiest to scan accurately.

Chassis Number Locations

B-Pillar / Door Jamb Label

• Where to look: Open the front passenger door (right side on LHD cars). Look on the lower section of the B-pillar (the post between the front and rear doors) for a black manufacturer sticker with white text that includes the VIN and weight ratings.
• Access: Very easy. No tools needed; just open the door and read/scan the label.
• Note: On this F40 shown in the source, the VIN label is on the right B-pillar (passenger side for LHD)—if you don’t see it there, check the other door jamb as well.
• Tip: Because this label is high-contrast (and often includes a code), you can scan it directly with your phone instead of typing the VIN and risking a character mix-up.

Windshield (Dashboard)

• Where to look: Stand outside the car and look through the lower corner of the front windshield on the driver’s side (left side on LHD). The VIN sits behind the glass at the bottom edge of the dashboard area.
• Access: Easy to reach, but harder to read in bright light due to reflections on the glass.
• Note: This matches an LHD layout (VIN plate visible at the lower left windshield corner).
• Tip: If glare or reflections wash out the numbers, capture it instantly with the VIN scanner while shading the area with your body/hand to help the camera lock focus.

Engine Bay (Chassis Stamp)

• Where to look: Pop the hood. On the right side of the engine bay (vehicle right / passenger side on LHD), locate the suspension strut tower (strut dome). The VIN is stamped into the metal along the top curve of the dome.
• Access: Moderate. You’ll likely need to wipe dust/road film off the metal to make the stamped characters visible.
• Note: The stamped VIN can be low-contrast (same color as painted metal), so lighting angle matters.
• Tip: Clean the stamp and use angled light; if the characters are faint, use High Contrast AI scanning to pick the stamped numbers out of the paint and grime.

Video Guide

Video Tutorial: BMW Series 1 F40 (2019-2024) – VIN Location & Decode

▶ Watch BMW Seria 1 VIN Location Guide

• Clear walk-around showing the windshield VIN, the passenger-side B-pillar label, and the engine-bay strut tower stamp on a BMW F40.

Common Problems & Troubleshooting

• Windshield VIN glare: Reflections from sky/clouds can hide or distort the VIN through the glass—change your angle, shade the corner, and refocus.
• Engine bay stamp hard to read: Dirt and low-contrast stamped characters can make the VIN look “blank”—scrub the area and use side-lighting to create shadows in the stamping.
• Sticker validity check: If the door-jamb label looks tampered, mismatched, or freshly replaced, verify the VIN against the windshield and engine-bay stamp before relying on it.

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