Where is the VIN number in BMW 3 Series (F30/F31/F34) [2012-2018]?

This guide covers BMW 3 Series F30 (Sedan), F31 (Touring), and F34 (Gran Turismo) for model years 2012–2018.

Chassis Number Locations

Windshield (Driver’s Side, Lower Corner)

• Where to look: From outside the car, locate the VIN plate at the lower corner of the windshield on the left side (left = driver side on most LHD cars). The standard 17-digit VIN is visible through the glass.
• Access: Generally easy. Glare, reflections, or exterior dirt can make the characters hard to read.
• Note: This is the quickest “walk-up” check and is commonly used for inspections and paperwork verification.
• Tip: If reflections wash out the numbers, use ScanVin.app to capture it instantly at the best angle—no manual transcription errors when the glass is glary.

Door Jamb / B-Pillar VIN Label

• Where to look: Open the front door and locate the black VIN sticker on the B-pillar / door frame. It typically includes the VIN, paint code, and weight limits.
• Access: Easy scan surface—flat, high-contrast text. You just need to open the door.
• Note: Region matters on F30/F31/F34:
  • Many EU/RoW cars place the label on the right/passenger-side B-pillar (LHD passenger side).
  • Many US/North America cars place the label on the left/driver-side B-pillar. Check both sides if you don’t see it immediately.
• Tip: This is one of the best places to scan—use ScanVin.app on the sticker to avoid copying mistakes and to grab the full 17 characters in one shot.

Engine Bay (Right/Passenger Front Strut Tower)

• Where to look: Pop the hood and inspect the top of the right (passenger-side) front suspension strut tower. On the F30 chassis, the VIN is typically stamped into the metal on/near the strut tower area and may be partly hidden by plastic covers or weather stripping depending on trim/engine.
• Access: More effort. You must open the hood, and the area can be dusty/greasy. The stamped characters are often low-contrast (body-color metal), so they don’t “pop” like a sticker.
• Note: Use this as a strong secondary verification point if you suspect the windshield plate or pillar label has been tampered with.
• Tip: If the stamp is dirty or faint, wipe it and use ScanVin.app High Contrast AI Mode to pull the characters out of low-contrast stamped metal.

Digital Cluster / Hidden Menu (Verification Only)

• Where to look: VIN can be viewed via the instrument cluster hidden menu. Typically: hold the Trip Reset button ~10–15 seconds, navigate to Unlock, then enter the sum of the last 5 VIN digits to access additional info pages (varies by cluster/software).
• Access: Not camera-scan friendly and can be confusing if you’ve never done it.
• Note: Useful when physical tags are damaged or you’re cross-checking VIN consistency.
• Tip: Since this is menu-driven (not a simple label), use it mainly to verify the VIN you scanned elsewhere rather than relying on it as your primary source.

Video Guide

Video Tutorial: Where is VIN number of my BMW Series 3 F30-F31-F34 ( 2012

▶ Watch BMW 3 Series VIN Location Guide

• Shows the VIN sticker location on the passenger-side B-pillar on a correct-generation BMW F31 Touring (wagon).

Video Tutorial: Where to find your BMW's VIN | How - To | BMW Northwest - YouTube

▶ Watch BMW 3 Series VIN Location Guide

• Demonstrates VIN at the windshield and door jamb; the car appears newer than an F30, but the shown VIN locations match what most North American F30s use.

Common Problems & Troubleshooting

• Windshield VIN hard to read: Glare/reflections or a dirty exterior windshield can hide digits. Change viewing angle, shade with your hand, or clean the glass.
• Engine bay stamp won’t photograph well: Stamped metal can be greasy and low-contrast. Scrub the area, then use a flashlight from the side to create shadows in the stamping.
• Sticker vs stamped VIN warning: The pillar sticker and windshield plate can be replaced. If anything looks suspicious, verify against the stamped chassis VIN (engine bay) and run a history check.

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