We are going to collect this week, a new VW Golf 1.6SE which has been imported from Sweden. Whilst researching possible sources and pitfalls, it came to light that some VW's are manufactured in South Africa and are exported to Europe and it has been suggested that they are of inferior quality.
We know also that it is possible to identify the country of origin through the VIN and we think that the first letter identifies the country.
Can you tell us the different country codes - our Golf VIN starts off WVW ZZZ, which we think (and hope) is Germany.
Any information would be greatly appreciated.
Kind regards
Howard Collin
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Howard,
I don't know the answer to your question but travelling south into Spain I have seen many car transporters coming up north carrying new Audi and VW cars.
It puzzled me and I could only imagine that they had been built at the Seat factory in Spain.
Or maybe they were lost !!!!!
Alvin Booth
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If it's RHD it's more likely to have been built in South Africa than anywhere else. Same applies to E40 and E46 3-Series and MB C Class.
HJ
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Thanks for your prompt reply. Does this mean then that all the RHD VW Golf's are built in South Africa and does the VIN that starts WVW ZZZ not mean that it was built in Germany as we were led to believe?
We have recently been checking different golf VIN numbers and they all seem to start with WVW ZZZ (we're not really saddo's).
One other thing - does that mean that there is nothing wrong with SA built cars and is it just media hype?
Thanks for your help.
Howard Collin
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My pristine hand built Golf was produced by Germany's finest master craftsmen and its VIN starts with WVW ZZZ.
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It should come with a documentation of origen ,the ports it was imported through ,where the type mark was registered and its country of origen .These documents are compulsory in mainland Europe but are often not supplied to Uk customers ie my Chevy Blazer tells me in the small log book(all cars have two in Germany)tells me where it was made where it was imported and on what date it arrived .The vin number
does not prove country of built .Golfs are assembled with its parts all round the world Brazil being a big producer ,the beetle produced in Mexico passats in the Czech Republic Vag commercials in Spain and you will find a mixture of vin numbers on these vehicles.
Andy Bairsto
Germany
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I have owned many VWs the oldest being made in 1977, they all started with WVW ZZZ !
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Not being one to ignore a challenge........and a belief that the answer to any question can be found on the web....
Have a look at www.autovin.webjump.com (decodes VIN plates of all brands)
and www.reality.sgi.com, you may find the second one more useful !!
Happy surfing
Gwyn
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Gwyn
Tried both sites to check their content.
I'm apparently 'not authorised' for autovin, and reality doesn't exist. Tried both Netscape and IE browsers with the same result. Any thoughts?
Regards
john
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wow, I found them through a Google search. The Autovin site was very informative but was in Greek ! The other site was an American V/W related site......I'll try find them again and email them through as links.
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I found this on another site, basically digit 11 is the manufacturing plant, mine is W which is Wolfsburg
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A lot of information can be obtained from the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) of your Volkswagen.
For example (might be slightly out of date):
Digit #1 stands for the Manufacturing Country
*W - Germany (Europe)
*1 - USA
*3 - Mexico
*9 - Brazil
Digit #2 is the Manufacture
*A - Audi
*B - VW of Brazil
*V - Volkswagen
Digit #3 is the Vehicle Type
*1 - Pickup / truck
*2 - MPV (Multi Purpose Vehicle)
*U - Passenger Car (Audi)
*W - Passenger Car (VW)
Digit #4 is the Body Style
Note: These are only a small set of possibilities. If your vehicle body style letter is not listed, try looking for the same letter under other vehicle types, chances are they may be similar.
1980-84 Pickup (Caddy)
*? - Base Model
*? - Sport Truck
*L - LX
1987-93 Fox
*A - 2 Door Basic
*B - 2 Door Economy
*C - 2 Door Custom
*D - 2 Door Wagon
*G - 4 Door Custom
1985-95 Golf
*B - 2 Door Custom
*D - 2 Door Sport
*D - 2 Door GTi
*F - 4 Door Custom
*H - 2 Door GTi 16V
*K - 4 Door Golf III
1985-95 Jetta
*A- 2 Door Economy
*K - 2 Door Base
*M - 2 Door Custom
*P - 4 Door Base
*R - 4 Door Custom GL / Caret / Economy
*S - 4 Door GLS / Custom
*T - 4 Door GLI / GLX
1983-95 Rabbit / Cabriolet
*A - 2 Door Base
*B - 2 Door Custom (1992-93)
*C - 2 Door Custom (1983-91)
*D - 2 Door Carat
*E - 2 Door Etienne Aigner
1983-88 Quantum
*A - 1983-88 2 Door Basic
*B - 1983-88 2 Door Custom
*C - 1983-88 2 Door Deluxe
*D - 1983-88 2 Door Sport
*E - 1983-88 4 Door Basic
*F - 1983-88 4 Door Custom
*G - 1983-88 4 Door Deluxe
1983-88 Scirocco (USA)
*A - 1983-88 2 Door Basic
*B - 1983-88 2 Door Custom
*C - 1983-88 2 Door Deluxe
*D - 1983-88 2 Door Sport
1983-89 Scirocco (Canada)
*A - 1983-89 2 Door Basic
*B - 1983-88 2 Door Custom
*C - 1983-89 2 Door Deluxe
*D - 1983-89 2 Door Sport
1990-94 Corrado(USA)
*D - 1990-92 2 Door Sport
*E - 1992-94 2 Door SLC
1995 Corrado (Canada)
*E - 1995 2 Door SLC
Vanagon / Transporter
*U - 2 door Pickup
*V - 3 door double cab Pickup
*W - 3 door Delivery Van
*X - 1983-88 Kombi
*Y - 1983-92 3 door Bus (Vanagon)
*Z - 1983-92 3 door Camper
1992-95 EuroVan
*H - EuroVan CL
*K - EuroVan GL
1990-95 Passat
*C - 4 Door GLS
*D - 4 Door Wagon GLS
*E - 4 Door GLX
*F - 4 Door Wagon GLX
*F - 4 Door Custom GL
*G - 4 Door Wagon GL
*H - 4 Door Base
*J - 4 Door Deluxe GLX / GLS
*N - 4 Door Wagon Custom GLX
Digit #5 is for the Engine
*A - Lowest output gas
*F - 1.9l TDI
*G - Lowest output diesel
(Note: Listed by increasing output available for each model; contact local dealer for detailed engine information.)
Digit #6 is for type of Restraint System
*0 - Active; i.e. Manual seatbelt
*2 - Passive w/Manual Lap Belt
*4 - ELRA (motorized)
*5 - Active Belts w/Driver Air Bag
*6 - Front and side Air Bags
*8 - Active Belts w/Dual Air Bags
*9 - Passive
Digit #7-8 are for the Model
*15 - 1983-93 Convertible, Cabriolet
*16 - 1983-88 Jetta
*17 - 1980?-92 Rabbit, Pickup, Golf, GTi
*1C - New Beetle
*1E - 1995 Cabrio
*1G - 1989-92 Golf / Jetta
*1H - 1993-95 Golf / Jetta
*24 - VW Transporter (Pickup and Multivan)
*25 - 1983-92 Vanagon, Transporter Van
*30 - 1987-93 Fox
*31 - 1990-95 Passat
*32 - 1983-88 Quantum 2 Door and 4 Door
*33 - 1985-88 Quantum Station Wagon and Quattro
*3A - 1995 Passat
*43 - Audi 5000 / older
*44 - Audi 5000/100/200/V8
*4A - Audi S4/100CS/V8
*50 - 1990-95 Corrado
*53 - 1983-88 Scirocco
*60 - 1994-95 Corrado
*70 - EuroVan
*78 - Passat?
*81 - Audi 4000
*83 - Audi 4000
*85 - Audi Coupe GT
*89 - Audi 90
*8A - Audi 90
*8B - Audi Coupe
Digit #9 is the VIN Check Digit Manufacturer's Internal Code
Digit #10 is the Vehicle Model Year
*A - 1980
*B - 1981
*C - 1982
*D - 1983
*E - 1984
*F - 1985
*G - 1986
*H - 1987
*J - 1988
*K - 1989
*L - 1990
*M - 1991
*N - 1992
*P - 1993
*R - 1994
*S - 1995
*T - 1996
*V - 1997
*W - 1998
*X - 1999
*Y - 2000
*1 - 2001
*2 - 2002
*3 - 2003
Digit #11 is the Assembly Plant
*A - Ingolstadt
*B - Brussels
*E - Emden
*G - Graz
*H - Hanover
*K - Osnabruck
*M - Mexico
*N - Neckarsulm
*P - Brazil
*S - Stuttgart
*V - Westmoreland, PA. (USA)
*W - Wolfsburg
*Y - Spain (SEAT)
Digit #12-17 are reserved for the Serial Number Sequential Production Number
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Michael wrote:
>
>
> I found this on another site, basically digit 11 is the
> manufacturing plant, mine is W which is Wolfsburg
Any where for Ford and Rover VINs?
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Any locations to get Vauxhall (esp. Astra ) VINs.??
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sorry guys, i found this by luck in an american vw car forum (www.tdiclub.com/)
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