Vin Number/registration Date Dfiference

[BarryK]

Some of you may have seen my recent postings about steering/suspension problems on my C3 which proved to be a broken coil spring.

 

However, I saw that my vehicle, bought new and 1st registered in Sept 2004, possibly appeared to be made in 2003.

 

When I checked the vin number (10th digit denotes year, see wiki for full explanation of vin numbers) I found that the actual date of manufacture was in 2002, I paid full price for this (around 10K).

 

Have I got any sort of comeback from Citroen, unfortunately the main dealer I purchased from is no longer trading.

 

Any advice would be very welcome........

 

Thanks

Barry

[Johndouglas]

I don't fancy your chances of getting any interest from Citroen UK. They'll tell you it's between you and the dealer. As for cars being sold long after their build date, take a visit to Calais and see the acres of new Citroens and Peugeots standing awaiting shipping orders. There are thousands of them.

[paul.h]

Your interpretation of VIN dates does not tie up with our Citroens either (to date we have had a C3 reg April 2003 and 10 th VIN is a 2, a 2004 C5 10th VIN a 7, a 2007 C5 10th VIN a 7, a C4 2008 10th VIN a 7 and now a 2011 C4 10th VIN a letter 'b'). If you do any work on your car such as remove any trim panels, they will have the date of manufacture stamped on them and usually this is a few weeks/months before the reg date. Also have a look at the car windows, these include the year of manufacture.

 

If you register on the service.citroen website (allowed as a member of a car club such as this, see terms/conds), you can enter your VIN and see your Vehicle Characteristics which includes the vehicle warranty start date - this will be the same as on your car service book, just as a help to satisfy you of your car reg date.

[BarryK]

Your interpretation of VIN dates does not tie up with our Citroens either (to date we have had a C3 reg April 2003 and 10 th VIN is a 2, a 2004 C5 10th VIN a 7, a 2007 C5 10th VIN a 7, a C4 2008 10th VIN a 7 and now a 2011 C4 10th VIN a letter 'b'). If you do any work on your car such as remove any trim panels, they will have the date of manufacture stamped on them and usually this is a few weeks/months before the reg date. Also have a look at the car windows, these include the year of manufacture.

 

If you register on the service.citroen website (allowed as a member of a car club such as this, see terms/conds), you can enter your VIN and see your Vehicle Characteristics which includes the vehicle warranty start date - this will be the same as on your car service book, just as a help to satisfy you of your car reg date.

 

 

Paul - Wiki gives the following for year codes (10th digit of vin)

 

2000=Y - 2001=1 - 2002=2 - 2003=3 - 2004=4 - 2005=5 - 2006=6 - 2007=7 - 2008=8 - 2009=9 - 2010=A - 2011=B - 2012=C

 

or look here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vehicle_Identification_Number

 

or at any of the many sites that show you how to decode a Vin number.

 

I understand that many cars are now sitting at Calais due to the depression, but in 2004? and a car supplied that could be nearly 3 years older than the dealer claimed.

 

My problem is that if I sell or part exchange the car to a dealer, the price offered will be based on the value of a 2002 vehicle regardless of registration date.

 

John's correct tho' - I don't think Citroen UK will give toss, they'll just blame the dealer, who is no longer around..........

[smokescreen]

I thought the date of manufacture was found from the RP number on the sticker situated on the passenger side A pillar along with tyre pressures.

 

smokescreen

[BarryK]

I thought the date of manufacture was found from the RP number on the sticker situated on the passenger side A pillar along with tyre pressures.

 

smokescreen

 

 

Maybe it is, I'll have look tomorrow, before I get the Car shipped up to the local dealer.......

[paul.h]

How would wiki explain my 2004 C5 with a 7 as the 10th digit. I got the car in 2006 as the second owner.

[BarryK]

Can't explain that at all mate............. :huh:

[smokescreen]

If you put the RP number into this website front page you'll find the production date.

 

http://www.citroen-ds-id.com/gen/Gen_Organr.html

 

smokescreen

[paul.h]

Using our C3 RP no. this gives its production date as 26th Feb 2003, 2 months before the reg date, despite the VIN 10th digit being 2 which according to the wiki notes would be 2002. Our old C5 gives a production date of 7th July 2004, which is close to the reg date 31/7/2004 - wiki would give the 10th digit of 7 as a 2007 year car. Maybe wiki needs modifying to include something specific to Citroens.