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I'm about to collect my new Polo. Can the year of manufacture be worked out from the VIN plate ?
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Model year encoding
One consistent element of the VIS is the 10th digit, which is required worldwide to encode the model year of the vehicle. Besides the three letters that are not allowed in the VIN itself (I, O and Q), the letters U and Z and the digit 0 are not used for the model year code. Note that the year code is the model year for the vehicle.
The year 1980 was encoded by some manufacturers, especially General Motors and Chrysler, as "A" (since the 17-digit VIN wasn't mandatory until 1981, and the "A" or zero was in the manufacturer's pre-1981 placement in the VIN), yet Ford and AMC still used a zero for 1980. Subsequent years increment through the allowed letters, so that "Y" represents the year 2000. 2001 to 2009 are encoded as the digits 1 to 9, and subsequent years are encoded as "A", "B", "C", etc.
Code Year Code Year Code Year Code Year Code Year Code Year
A = 1980 L = 1990 Y = 2000 A = 2010 L = 2020 Y = 2030
B = 1981 M = 1991 1 = 2001 B = 2011 M = 2021 1 = 2031
C = 1982 N = 1992 2 = 2002 C = 2012 N = 2022 2 = 2032
D = 1983 P = 1993 3 = 2003 D = 2013 P = 2023 3 = 2033
E = 1984 R = 1994 4 = 2004 E = 2014 R = 2024 4 = 2034
F = 1985 S = 1995 5 = 2005 F = 2015 S = 2025 5 = 2035
G = 1986 T = 1996 6 = 2006 G = 2016 T = 2026 6 = 2036
H = 1987 V = 1997 7 = 2007 H = 2017 V = 2027 7 = 2037
J = 1988 W = 1998 8 = 2008 J = 2018 W = 2028 8 = 2038
K = 1989 X = 1999 9 = 2009 K = 2019 X = 2029 9 = 2039
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I remember something on HJ about the month/year being on a tag on the seatbelt, although I looked on a mate's Focus when the subject came up and couldn't find it.
Another clue is some small plastic parts will have a calendar stamped on them with marks to indicate the month/year.
The ashtray was always the easiest, but since cars no longer have those, finding a suitably marked small plastic part can be tricky.
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>>The ashtray was always the easiest, but since cars no longer have those, finding a suitably marked small plastic part can be tricky.
>>
Rear ashtrays still seem to survive :-) back seat smokers?
It does not have to be a small part. e.g a fuse box air filter, battery box covers are often marked.
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Alas, in these days of common use componentisation, where the part you are peering at my be used in several models of car, maybe even several makes of car, it could have been made quite some time before the birth of your car.
The vin is the only way.
Last edited by: Zero on Sun 5 Aug 12 at 09:03
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...The vin is the only way...
The text in Melders' post states: "Note that the year code is the model year for the vehicle."
So the VIN is not a nailed on build date.
If I really needed to know, I would check the VIN and a few bits of plastic and see if there was a consensus date.
Last edited by: Iffy on Sun 5 Aug 12 at 09:08
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ISTR that Audis tend to have a build sticker somewhere near the spare wheel well. This lists all the options fitted (over manufacturers base, so including equipment standard in the UK), along with paint and trim codes. It also used to include build week and year (ours was built in week 48 of 2007, but didn't arrive at the dealer until January '08). Maybe VWs have the same?
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bing - memory time, yes they do Nicoles polo has one in the spare wheel well. And this sticker is in the front of the service book, its used to input into Ekta and VAG.COM
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When the Volvo was delivered the Keys had a sticker on them showing that they were made about 4 weeks prior to delivery to me.
I'll have a look and see if anything else is dated, but 4 weeks sounds about right as it was a factory build that I had to wait for rather than from stock
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BMWs have their date of birth stamped on the front suspension turret in plain language.
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If I can demonstrate that my 1960 Morris Minor was actually made in 1959, then it will soon be exempt MOTs.
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Than you all for your helpful replies, much appreciated.
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Your Polo's VIN will tell you the date your car was made and also what VW factory it was assembled in (you will need a code table to decipher the letters for this).
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Although my cars VIN number indicates the build year, the car had a paper labels on many major components giving the factory build code and exact build date.
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Agree that VAG cars have a sticker on the boot floor under the carpet - it's where bodyshops look for the paint code. All the info should be on there - engine power, trim level, dates etc.
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Volkswagen Polo V - Year of manufacture - Meldrew
