VW VIN NUMBERS

[Ozca]

Hello,
Two questions from a prospective used Golf or Jetta TDI buyer.

Is there a preferred origin of manufacture for Golf or Jettas ...for example is the German Wolfburg ?  build preferable to other origins ?

Also what are the letters within the VIN that indicate where it was built ?

Thanks
Ozca

[burn_your_money]

The first 3 letters are what you need to know.
German = WVW or something like that
USA = 1VW
Mexico = 3VW]

http://www.alientech.net/nbinfo/vin.html

German is prefered, then I don't know who is worse, USA or Mexico

[Ozca]

Thanks burn_your_money,

Good info, thats exactly what I needed.

I am amazed to see adverts of used  TDi and gas models with over  400000 km on them. Not like the old days when a carburettor motor usually needed rebuilding at about 100000 km.

[JohnS]

Engines can be from a number of places as well, don't know the details on that though.  The German heads seem better made than the Brazilian ones I've seen but I wouldn't claim to be an authority either.

[burn_your_money]

I'm at 445xxx kms on my car, it needs some pump work though

BTW I'm not a fan of Mexican steel at all. The floors on my 95 Golf are 100X worse then that of my 92 German Jetta. That's only 2 cars of millions though

[Ozca]

Good news ...I hope  :lol:
Just purchased a 2003 Jetta TDI auto with 181000km , private deal from original owner.
This car had hit a deer dead center of the grille about 2 years ago and was written off, however the owner decided to have it rebuilt since he owned it from new and the damage was not that bad.
Good running engine  with lots of power and drives straight and true on the highway.
The VIN shows that it is Mexican built
3vwsp69m13mxxxxxx

The VIN chart does not seem to work on this VIN other than the first 3 fields ? maybe the year is too recent for the chart ? maybe I can't read it properly  :shock:
?

[burn_your_money]

Good buy  If you search google there are other charts out there that may make more sence