| Installed ETK | ETK online (VINsearch) | |
|---|---|---|
| Setup | Install + licence | None — a browser |
| Data | Frozen at install | Live supersessions |
| Devices | One PC | Any device |
| Other brands | This group only | 53 catalogs, one login |
| Cost to start | High / grey-market | From $5 / day |
BMW ETK · BMW Group
BMW ETK online — parts catalog by VIN
Updated 2026-10-01
BMW and MINI parts by VIN, in your browser. Open ETK in your browser, enter a VIN and read genuine OEM part numbers and exploded diagrams — no download, instant access.
What is ETK?
ETK (Elektronischer Teilekatalog) is BMW Group’s official electronic parts catalog. It links every BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce — by VIN — to the exact components fitted at the factory, with genuine 11-digit BMW part numbers, exploded diagrams and supersession history. On VINsearch it opens BMW and MINI.
ETK resolves a BMW VIN to the precise model, body, engine and equipment package, so a technician sees only the parts that actually fit. Because BMW numbers supersede frequently, reading the current number from a live catalog — not an old printout — is what stops wrong-part returns.
Brands covered by ETK
Open the catalog for each BMW Group brand:
ETK online vs download
Searches for a “ETK download” usually end in frustration: installed copies are dealer-licensed, need a specific setup, and freeze their data on the install date. Online access removes all of that.
ETK part numbers & VIN search
BMW Group uses a recognisable numbering style — for example 34 11 6 794 300 (11-digit grouped number (e.g. 34 11 6 794 300)). Numbers supersede over time, so always confirm the current one against a live catalog. Enter a VIN and ETK resolves the exact model, engine, trim and market, then shows only the parts that fit. Not sure of the build? Use the free VIN decoder first.
Access & pricing
One VINsearch subscription opens ETK and every other catalog — the multi-brand reality of a real workshop, under a single login. Start with a $5 Day Pass, $50 a month, or $500 a year (about $1.37 a day). No per-search fees.
ETK, ETKA and BMW EPC: three names people mix up
ETK and BMW EPC are the same thing: BMW Group’s electronic parts catalog, the one BMW and MINI dealers read. ETKA is a different catalog that belongs to the Volkswagen Group. Both names come from the German Elektronischer Teilekatalog, which is why people type one when they mean the other.
A BMW or MINI VIN will not open in ETKA, and a Volkswagen VIN will not open in ETK. On VINsearch both catalogs sit behind the same login, so the VIN decides which one you land in.
Option codes decide which diagram you see
BMW records the factory equipment of every car as three-character option codes, and ETK reads them from the VIN. Brake size, headlight type, suspension and trim follow those codes, so two cars of the same model and year can take different parts.
Entering the VIN lets ETK filter each diagram to the parts that match the car’s options. Browsing by model alone shows every variant and leaves the choice to you.
BMW and MINI in one data set
MINI parts sit in the same ETK data, with the same eleven-digit numbering. From the third-generation hatch, MINI uses BMW B-series engines, so a MINI and a BMW with the same engine often share engine part numbers.
Body, lighting and trim stay brand-specific. Check each car by its own VIN before you move a part from one to the other.
ETK — frequently asked questions
What is ETK?
ETK (Elektronischer Teilekatalog) is BMW Group’s official electronic parts catalog. It links every BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce — by VIN — to the exact components fitted at the factory, with genuine 11-digit BMW part numbers, exploded diagrams and supersession history. On VINsearch it opens BMW and MINI.
Can I use ETK online without installing it?
Yes. VINsearch runs ETK in your browser — no download, no install. Register, enter a VIN, and identify genuine BMW and MINI parts in seconds.
Is there a ETK download?
The official BMW ETK software is dealer-licensed and any installed copy freezes its data on the day you install it. There is no legitimate free download — online access reads live data and stays current, which is why it is the practical route.
How much does ETK cost?
One VINsearch plan opens ETK and the rest of the 53 catalogs: a $5 Day Pass, $50/month, or $500/year (about $1.37/day). No per-search fees.
Is ETK the same as BMW EPC — or the same as ETKA?
ETK and BMW EPC are the same BMW Group catalog, which BMW uses for BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce; on VINsearch it opens BMW and MINI. ETKA is a different catalog: the Volkswagen Group's, for VW, Audi, Škoda, SEAT and Cupra. Both abbreviate Elektronischer Teilekatalog, which is why they are so often confused.