[I've Seen Things]

Folks, My vin number starts with a 'W' which normally indicates that the vehicle was built in Germany. I thought all X5's were built in Spartanburg?

[AlexG05be]

Originally Posted by SteveReeves

Folks, My vin number starts with a 'W' which normally indicates that the vehicle was built in Germany. I thought all X5's were built in Spartanburg?

Nope, mine also starts with W and was built in Spartanburg. No X5 that I know is built on this side of the ocean.

[Qsilver7]

With the addition of several new models...the first 3 digits of BMW's 17 digit VINs have changed in the last decades or two.

At one point, your initial assumption would have been correct. When the X5 debuted...it probably had a 4 as the 1st VIN digit. And at one point vehicles produced in Spartanburg may have had a 5...but as you can see in the chart below...it is entirely possible that your X5 built in the USA could have a W as the 1st VIN digit:

[GOLFFRR]

all x5s are built in Spartanburg USA

[GrussGott]

Originally Posted by GOLFFRR

all x5s are built in Spartanburg USA

Nerd question: I keep hearing that Malaysian X5s are "locally assembled" ... not true? If true, does that happen anywhere else?

[Noneya]

Originally Posted by Qsilver7

With the addition of several new models...the first 3 digits of BMW's 17 digit VINs have changed in the last decades or two.

At one point, your initial assumption would have been correct. When the X5 debuted...it probably had a 4 as the 1st VIN digit. And at one point vehicles produced in Spartanburg may have had a 5...but as you can see in the chart below...it is entirely possible that your X5 built in the USA could have a W as the 1st VIN digit:

I don't think that chart is valid anymore - most of it doesn't apply to my VIN.

[Qsilver7]

I don't think that chart is valid anymore - most of it doesn't apply to my VIN.

Yeah...that's plainly revealed by the listed 10th VIN digit (which reveals the official model year) which stops at 2015 (5 years ago). But it does answer the OP's original question that the 1st digit of the VIN starting with a W doesn't necessarily mean it wasn't built at the Spartanburg plant.

You may be able to find a more updated VIN decode list with a google search. Look for one that has the 10th digit (model year) more up to date...or at least closer to 2020 or has 2020 listed (which would be an "L")

[RocketGoBoom]

I recall reading that only the X1 is made in Germany.
Everything from X3 and above is made in South Carolina.

[GOLFFRR]

Originally Posted by GrussGott

Nerd question: I keep hearing that Malaysian X5s are "locally assembled" ... not true? If true, does that happen anywhere else?

I am 99% sure they are all built in US but let me find out bc I have been wrong in the past....once hahah

well looks like some security versions are made in Mexico at the BMW de México Toluca plant. Since July 2009, some assembly operations are also performed in Kaliningrad, Russia by Avtotor. did a quick google search and that was the info I found. So sounds like there are some specialty builds at other location but 99% of them are made in US.

[eagle_bmw]

This is closer to my VIN but not 100% accurate.

https://www.bimmerfest.com/attachmen...ive-gif.52297/

[Noneya]

Originally Posted by Qsilver7

Yeah...that's plainly revealed by the listed 10th VIN digit (which reveals the official model year) which stops at 2015 (5 years ago). But it does answer the OP's original question that the 1st digit of the VIN starting with a W doesn't necessarily mean it wasn't built at the Spartanburg plant.

You may be able to find a more updated VIN decode list with a google search. Look for one that has the 10th digit (model year) more up to date...or at least closer to 2020 or has 2020 listed (which would be an "L")

Understood. This seems to have more current info, at least as far as the first 3 characters go - matches both '14 and '21 for me: https://carvin-info.com/marka-avto/bmw/

Fwiw I also browsed through a few dealer '20-'21 X5 inventories, and don't see any that have a VIN that doesn't start with 5. Based on that limited data it looks like 5UX for regular X5 and 5YM for X5Ms, so whatever the story is with the W* VINs - those seem to be rare.