Decode any Alpina VIN free in seconds. Enter the 17-character vehicle identification number from your Alpina into the decoder above and get the model, year, engine family, trim, factory options, plant code, and recall status — instantly, with no sign-up and no credit card.

This page is the Alpina VIN hub. Below you’ll find Alpina-specific WMI codes, the brand’s plant codes, a position-by-position guide to reading a Alpina VIN, where to find the VIN on your Alpina, and direct links to the Alpina VIN decoders for individual models.

About Alpina

Alpina Burkard Bovensiepen GmbH is a German automaker recognized by the Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt as an independent vehicle manufacturer, not a tuner. Founded in 1965 in Buchloe, Bavaria, Alpina takes BMW base vehicles, removes and replaces major drivetrain and chassis components in-house, and sells the finished car under its own marque. Iconic models include the B3, B5, B7, B8, XB7, and the classic B12 V12 of the 1990s.

In 2022, BMW Group acquired the Alpina brand, with production under the BMW name from 2025 onward. Vehicles built up to that point continue to carry the Alpina WMI WAP and are independently registered. Every Alpina VIN starts with W (Germany) and is shorter than the BMW production run — total Alpina output rarely exceeds 2,000 cars per year.

Alpina WMI codes (positions 1–3)

The first three characters of your VIN — the World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) — tell you who built the vehicle and where. The WMI is assigned by SAE International on behalf of ISO. Here are the WMIs you’ll encounter on Alpina vehicles:

If your Alpina VIN begins with any of the codes above, it’s a genuine Alpina. A Alpina VIN starting with an unlisted WMI may indicate a rebadge, a regional partner build, or a counterfeit — decode the full VIN with the tool above to confirm.

How to read a Alpina VIN — position by position

Every Alpina VIN built since 1981 uses the ISO 3779 17-character standard. The 17 characters split into three blocks:

Here is what each position means specifically on a Alpina:

Positions 1–3: World Manufacturer Identifier

See the WMI table above. The country code at position 1 tells you where the vehicle was assembled — not where Alpina is headquartered. A Alpina assembled outside Germany (Buchloe, Bavaria) carries the country code of the assembly plant.

Positions 4–8: Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS)

Alpina VDS encodes the BMW chassis code the car is based on (G20 = B3, G30 = B5, G07 = XB7) plus Alpina-specific engine and transmission designators. Because Alpina re-engineers engines, the displacement and output encoded in positions 6-8 differ from the equivalent BMW VDS.

Position 9: Check digit

The check digit is the most important single character in any VIN. It is calculated from the other 16 characters using a fixed weighting table and modulo-11 math. If even one character of a Alpina VIN is mistyped, the check digit will not match — and any compliant decoder, DMV, or insurance system will flag the VIN as invalid.

Position 10: Model year

The 10th character maps to a model year on a 30-year cycle. Skim the chart below to translate yours:

The letters I, O, and Q are never used in any VIN — including Alpina — because they look too similar to the digits 1 and 0.

Position 11: Assembly plant

The single character at position 11 identifies the specific factory. B is the Alpina assembly code (Buchloe). Donor body shells originate from BMW’s Dingolfing or Spartanburg plants — the donor VIN is documented in the build sheet.

Positions 12–17: Serial number

The final six characters are the production sequence number stamped on your specific Alpina as it rolled off the line. Combined with the previous 11 characters, this makes every Alpina VIN globally unique.

Where to find the VIN on a Alpina

You can find your Alpina VIN in several places. The lower-left windshield and the door jamb are the easiest to read; the others are useful when one of those labels has been damaged or replaced.

• Lower-left windshield, visible from outside
• Driver’s side door jamb sticker (Alpina-specific label below the BMW one)
• Stamped on the engine bay strut tower
• Vehicle title and Alpina Certificate of Authenticity

If your Alpina is older and built before 1981, the chassis number is shorter than 17 characters and follows a Alpina-specific format. For pre-1981 vehicles, use our classic car VIN decoder guide.

Check Alpina recalls and safety information

Open and historic recalls on Alpina vehicles are tracked by national transport authorities. The fastest way to check a specific Alpina:

1. Decode the VIN with the tool above to confirm the model and model year
2. Cross-reference the 17-character VIN with the KBA (Germany) and NHTSA (US-market Alpinas)
3. Review any open safety actions and contact your nearest Alpina authorised service centre for free repair

Recalls are repaired free of charge by the manufacturer regardless of vehicle age or ownership history.

Frequently asked questions

How do I decode my Alpina VIN?

Type the 17-character VIN from your Alpina’s windshield, driver-side door jamb, or vehicle title into the decoder at the top of this page. Results return in seconds and include make, model, model year, body style, engine family, transmission, plant of origin, and open NHTSA recalls. No registration is required.

Where is the VIN on my Alpina?

The two easiest spots are the lower-left corner of the windshield (visible from outside the car) and the driver-side door jamb sticker. Both locations are required by federal labelling regulation on every road-going Alpina sold in North America and the EU.

Is the Alpina VIN decoder free?

Yes. VinDecoderPlus decodes every Alpina VIN free of charge with no sign-up or credit card. Full vehicle history reports — including ownership records, accident history, and odometer history — are available as an optional paid upgrade.

What does the VIN tell me about my Alpina?

A VIN decode confirms the original factory configuration of your Alpina: model, year, body style, engine, transmission, trim level, factory options, country and plant of origin, and any recall actions issued against that VIN. It does not record colour (which is on the build sheet), current mileage, accident history, or ownership chain — for those, you need a paid vehicle history report.

Can a Alpina VIN be faked?

The 17 characters themselves can be retyped, but the check digit at position 9 makes silent tampering nearly impossible — any single-character change breaks the math. Alpina VIN plates are tamper-resistant by federal standard. If you suspect a cloned VIN, our guide how to check if a car is stolen by VIN walks through the next steps.

Decode any Alpina VIN free

Type your 17-character Alpina VIN into the decoder at the top of this page and get a full breakdown instantly. To learn more about VIN structure in general, see our guides:

• How to read a VIN number
• What every character in a VIN means
• Classic car VIN decoder (pre-1981)
• VIN decoder vs. vehicle history report