Where is the VIN number in BMW Seria 5 (G30/G31/G60/G61)?

This guide covers 2017–2020 BMW 5 Series models (G30 sedan / G31 touring; note that VIN placement can vary slightly by market and trim).

Chassis Number Locations

Engine Bay – VIN Chassis Stamping (Right Front Strut Tower)

• Where to look: Open the hood and look at the top of the right-hand suspension strut tower (right front suspension dome). The VIN is stamped into the metal on the dome surface.
• Access: Generally easy—no special tools. On some models (including hybrids), there may be surrounding plastic trim, but the stamped area is usually still exposed. Clean off dust/grease and aim light across the stamping to make the characters “pop.”
• Note: The reference point is always the car’s right side (as you sit in the car, driving forward). On RHD cars this happens to be the driver side; on LHD cars it’s typically the passenger side.
• Tip: If the stamping is dark/painted over, use ScanVin.app “High Contrast AI Mode” after you wipe the metal clean—it helps pull faint characters out of low-contrast body-color paint.

Driver Door Jamb – B-Pillar Certification Label

• Where to look: With the driver door open, check the B-pillar door jamb for a black label with white text and barcodes (VIN printed on the sticker).
• Access: Easiest location—standing height, no parts removal. If it’s smeared with road grime, scrub lightly with a microfiber cloth.
• Note: This is excellent for quick confirmation, but remember: stickers can be replaced. Always cross-check with the stamped chassis VIN.
• Tip: This label is high-contrast—use ScanVin.app scan mode for fast, error-free capture (barcodes/text scan very reliably).

Windshield VIN Plate (Market-Dependent)

• Where to look: From outside the car, look through the windshield at the bottom corner on the driver’s side for a VIN plate.
• Access: Very fast—no opening panels. The main issue is glare/reflections.
• Note: EU/UK warning: many European-market G30 models do not have a windshield VIN display. This is more common in US/Canada.
• Tip: If reflections make it hard to read, use ScanVin.app to capture instantly rather than trying to manually transcribe characters through glass glare.

iDrive / Vehicle Software (Display VIN)

• Where to look: In iDrive, navigate: CAR > Settings > General Settings > “Chassis number” (VIN) (menu wording may vary by iDrive version).
• Access: No tools, no dirt—just menu digging. Useful when you need the VIN quickly while seated in the car.
• Note: Treat this as a convenience check—still verify the physical stamped VIN when buying a used car.
• Tip: If you’re comparing documents during a purchase, scan the physical VIN with ScanVin.app so you don’t mistype a character (O/0, I/1).

Video Guide

Video Tutorial: BMW 530e Number Engine and Chassis Location

▶ Watch BMW Seria 5 VIN Location Guide

• Shows a real G30 (530e) and clearly points out the engine-bay chassis/VIN stamping area (note: the example car is RHD, so left/right will be mirrored vs many LHD markets).

Common Problems & Troubleshooting

• Stamped VIN hard to read in the engine bay: the characters are often painted over in body color and sit in a dark area—wipe the dome clean and shine light from the side to increase contrast.
• Door jamb label dirty or worn: road grime can hide digits—clean the sticker before scanning so OCR doesn’t misread characters.
• Sticker vs stamping mismatch warning: if the B-pillar label VIN doesn’t match the stamped strut tower VIN, walk away and investigate—labels can be swapped, but stamped chassis numbers are the key identity check.

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