Chassis Number??

carrollf

Hi,

I know this is probably a really stupid question but where can I find the chassis number on my 2001 E46 Coupe?

Thanks

michaelanthony

On the very bottom of the passenger side of the windscreen.

Stephen

Dunno if this is the same on other cars, but on my own (Fiesta) there's a plastic flap you lift up from the carpet in the driver side footwell, hidden under the mats. Inside that you can see the chassis number.

blastman

On the VLC?

G Luxel

Ok how do I identify the exact date/month and year that my car was built?
I have a 05 corolla but I think it may have been built in 03. There is a newer
version but the front grille is larger and the headlights are smaller, looks like
it copied the 99 Mazda 323 saloon

blastman

I doubt there's any way of doing this without going back to Toyota with the chassis number. I doubt that they would entertain you though. There is always a grey area where models overlap as the date of first registration can be some time after the car is actually manufactured.

Alun

blastman wrote:

I doubt there's any way of doing this without going back to Toyota with the chassis number. I doubt that they would entertain you though. There is always a grey area where models overlap as the date of first registration can be some time after the car is actually manufactured.

I don't know whether Toyota do the same, but on newer Fords you can tell exactly when (and even where) the car was built from the chassis number alone. Maybe you could ask on a Toyota owners' club website?

VIN code info:

your VIN code starts like this

*1234567891011121314151617*

World Manufacturer Identifier (digits 1 to 3)

9BF = Ford Brazil (Brazil)
SFA = Ford Motor Company Ltd. (England)
TW2 = Ford Lutisania sarl (Portugal)
UNI = Henry Ford and Son Ltd. (Ireland)
VS6 = Ford Espana sa (Spain)
WF0 = Ford Werke A.G. (Germany)
WF1 = Ford Werke A.G. (Germany)
XLC = Ford Nederland nv (Netherlands)

Body Type (digits 4 and 10)

3 = van high roof
5 = combi high roof
A = 5-door hatchback
B = 3-door hatchback
C = 2-door coupé
D = 2-door estate/wagon/clipper
E = 3-door hatchback
F = 4-door saloon
G = 5-door multi-purpose vehicle
L = 2-door cabriolet
N = 5-door estate/wagon/clipper
P = 2-door single cab pick-up
T = 2-door saloon
V = 2-door van
W = 3-door van
XX (digits 5 and 6)

Assembly Line (digit 7)

B = Ford Great Britain (own assembly)
C = Ford Great Britain (assembly by affiliate)
C = Ford Lusitana S.A.R.L., Azambuia, Portugal (own assembly)
E = Ford Germany (assembly by affiliate)
G = Ford Germany (own assembly)
L = Ford Brazil (own assembly)
S = Japan (own assembly)
W = Ford Spain (own assembly)
Z = Unites States (own assembly)

Assembly Plant (digit 8 )

A = Cologne (Germany)
A = Dagenham (United Kingdom)
A = Ipiranga (Brazil)
B = Genk (Belgium)
B = Halewood (United Kingdom)
B = Sao Bernado (Brazil)
C = Langley (United Kingdom)
C = Saarlouis (Germany)
E = Cork (Ireland)
F = La Villa (Mexico)
G = Barcelona (Spain)
H = Hiroshima (Japan)
J = Caracas (Venezuela)
K = Rheine (Germany)
M = Rheine (Germany)
N = Amsterdam (Netherlands)
P = Azambuja (Portugal)
P = Valencia (Spain)
S = Setubal (Portugal)
V = Flat Rock (United States)

Production Model (digit 9)

A = Escort, Orion
B = Cortina, Cougar, Mondeo, Sierra, Taunus
D = Focus
E = Capri, Puma
F = Fiesta
G = Granada, Scorpio
J = Fiesta
O = Mustang
R = Ka
S = Galaxy
W = Galaxy

Production Year and Month (digit 11 and 12)

VIN Position 11 - Year of Manufacture

W 1998
X 1999
Y 2000
1 2001
2 2002
3 2003
4 2004
5 2005

VIN Position 12 - Month of Manufacture

1998--1999--2000--2001--2002--2003--2004--2005
Jan L C B J L C B J
Feb Y K R U Y K R U
Mar S D A M S D A M
Apr T E G P T E G P
May J L C B J L C B
Jun U Y K R U Y K R
Jul M S D A M S D A
Aug P T E G P T E G
Sep B J L C B J L C
Oct R U Y K R U Y K
Nov A M S D A M S D
Dec G P T E G P T E

Production Sequence Number (digits 13 to 17)

from 10001 to 59999

Alun

I've been looking at this in more detail and it would appear that the formats of VIN's are standardised these days... try Googling "ISO Standard 3779", and you'll get more information than you'll ever need. Some bits are still manufacturer dependant (model type, plant etc.), but you should be able to at least work out the year of manufacture from the information provided.

colm_mcm

G Luxel wrote:

Ok how do I identify the exact date/month and year that my car was built?
I have a 05 corolla but I think it may have been built in 03. There is a newer
version but the front grille is larger and the headlights are smaller, looks like
it copied the 99 Mazda 323 saloon

The picture you have there is of a non european spec model. probably Japanese.

The facelifted Corolla Saloon, (mid 2004) used the original headlamp units, but has a one piece bumper and grille with a chrome insert. you will know a newer type Corola because it has different rear light, without the orange indicators. newer morels will have side airbags, a switch for air recirculation (instead of a slider) and will have remote central locking as standard. On T
Toyotas (AFAIK) you can't tell the manufactured date by looking at the chassis number.

unkel

G Luxel wrote:

I have a 05 corolla but I think it may have been built in 03

You bought a brand new Toyota and in fact it was 2 years old? I hope not :eek:

Let us know what you find out

bazz26

unkel wrote:

You bought a brand new Toyota and in fact it was 2 years old? I hope not :eek:

Let us know what you find out

Not as uncommon as one would think, especially with facelifted models. More than likely that Corolla was built towards the end of 2003 or begining of 2004. The facelifted model then appeared in the middle of 2004 but the above car may have been at the dealers forecourt until 2005. If I were buying one of the pre facelifted models new in 2005 I would expect an extra discount however.

AMurphy

if you don't have the translation code for the specific manufacturer,
try one of these sites,

unfortunately I found 2 ROI older model Toyotas, with the Year characters blanked, maybe there are including it more accurately now.

AutoCheck

and here

And yes, the year of sale and the year of mfg or model year could be different.
Unlikely it woud be more than a year though... unless it was a real slow seller.

colm_mcm

they did the facelift in mid 2004, any old type corollas were out of the dealer networks by october. or were registered as hire drives or demos, anyway, who'd buy an obviously old model in 2005,