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Model specific boards => Golf mk4 => Golf mk4 how to guides + info => Topic started by: BARNEY on 15 February 2006, 22:28

Title: How can I tell where it was built?
Post by: BARNEY on 15 February 2006, 22:28
How can I tell where my Mk4 GTi was made? Someone has told me to avoid ones from South Africa and Belgium. I guess they are certain chassis numbers? Cheers in advance.
Title: Re: How can I tell where it was built?
Post by: Organisys on 15 February 2006, 22:34
You want the WVW at the start of the VIN number, not SA
http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/usedcars_roadtest/55406/volkswagen_golf_mkiv.html
Title: Re: How can I tell where it was built?
Post by: BARNEY on 15 February 2006, 22:38
Thanks Organisys. Sigh of relief..its a WVW. Already bought it last week and then just heard that today.
Title: Re: How can I tell where it was built?
Post by: VWmaindealer on 15 February 2006, 22:47
Actually, that Autoexpress article is a bit misleading. The SA prefix appears on dealers computer systems prefixing the chasssis but very few SA build cars were produced with SA on the chassis plate.

The WVW at the beginning is just part of the chassis filler - all chassis numbers for everything are seventeen digits. VW only need 10 so they chuck fillers in. All VW chassis nos. start WVWZZZ. Audis start WAUZZZ.

Barney, if you want to PM me your chassis or reg, I can find out for you tomorrow.

Very few GTIs were SA build though, mostly just SE and S models.  Have a good look around under the bonnet, there are usually made in South Africa stickers hidden around (although some dealers actually peeled these off, i'm not joking)

VWmd
Title: Re: How can I tell where it was built?
Post by: Neaty on 15 February 2006, 23:13
look at that, our resident mole us having a blinder!!  :wink:
Title: Re: How can I tell where it was built?
Post by: VWmaindealer on 15 February 2006, 23:22
sorry, I can get a bit boring about this stuff sometimes...... :nerd: :nerd: :nerd:

 :smug:
Title: Re: How can I tell where it was built?
Post by: Neaty on 15 February 2006, 23:24
no i find this sort of thing really interesting!

so u say not many were built in south africa?
Title: Re: How can I tell where it was built?
Post by: VWmaindealer on 15 February 2006, 23:32
Not many GTis I believe. Loads of Golfs. Volkswagen move production around teh world depending on demand. If the european market has a bit surge, they'll build more here. If it gets too much, they'll outsource some to the SA plant. If the SA plant is a bit quiet (!) they'll build UK RHD for a few months and so on.  After a while, VW UK realised that the public were getting wise to the fact that the quality of the african cars was crap and didn't make a big deal of it in any sales brochures and the like.

Incidentally, I was working for Merc as the then enw C-Class came out. This was the first merc to be built in South Africa and the quality was shocking! Daft point but you can tell a South African built merc because under the bonnet it will say on the slam panel "Made by Mercedes-Benz" as apposed to Made in Germany.  Fascinating stuff eh? :rolleyes: :sick:
Title: Re: How can I tell where it was built?
Post by: Neaty on 15 February 2006, 23:38
ah i c, cleverly worded..."well i would bleedin well hope it was made my mercerdes-benz, it has the badge on"!!  :grin:

Title: Re: How can I tell where it was built?
Post by: Organisys on 16 February 2006, 12:53
Quote from: VWmaindealer on 15 February 2006, 22:47
Actually, that Autoexpress article is a bit misleading. .......

This confirms what I already think of journalists......fnucking idiots, never check their facts properly.
Title: Re: How can I tell where it was built?
Post by: Sugar79 on 16 February 2006, 13:57
erm just reading this on that autotrader link

Quote
While you're at the rear, check fluid isn't leaking from the brake calipers, as hydraulic hoses frequently fail.

what what what!!!  :shocked:
Title: Re: How can I tell where it was built?
Post by: GazB on 16 February 2006, 21:18
Dealers, Stealers, spoke to mine today and they told me different?  They said WVW is Wolfsburg plant prefix :undecided:
Title: Re: How can I tell where it was built?
Post by: VWmaindealer on 16 February 2006, 22:11
Quote from: GazB on 16 February 2006, 21:18
Dealers, Stealers, spoke to mine today and they told me different?  They said WVW is Wolfsburg plant prefix :undecided:

 :undecided:

I've only been selling for VW for four years but I haven't come accross any Volkswagen chasssis that doesn't start WVWZZZ. Beetles start WVW and they are built in Mexico!  :grin:. If I get a chance, i'll try and get something definitive from work tomorrow...

 :nerd: :nerd: :nerd: (this smiley was made for me....)
Title: Re: How can I tell where it was built?
Post by: GazB on 17 February 2006, 14:23
nice one, you dealers are all full of sh@t anyway :grin: :grin: :grin: :grin: :grin:
Title: Re: How can I tell where it was built?
Post by: VWmaindealer on 17 February 2006, 22:30
Forgot all about it today. Touaregs start WVG but thats the only one thats different. :tongue:
Title: Re: How can I tell where it was built?
Post by: VWmaindealer on 18 February 2006, 12:46
The definitive answer!

WVWZZZ9NZ5Y052492 as an example.

This is actually a Polo chassis. The first WVWZZZ are fillers and mean nothing. The 9N is the model code, teh next Z is a filler, the next 5 is the model year (2005) and the Y represents where the car was built.  Most mark IV Golfs will have a W here for Wolfsburg. South African cars will have a U here instead. The last six numbers are the unique chassis numbers for the car.

There you go! :nerd:  :laugh:
Title: Re: How can I tell where it was built?
Post by: BARNEY on 20 February 2006, 20:13
Thanks VWmaindealer for finding out. Unfortunately it has the 'U' so must be South African. Its a 2000 'V' with 86,000 miles and full history. What were the main problems on these apart from trim etc.? The trim on this one all seems sound and I have since managed to speak to the previous owner who had it from new and said it's never give him any problems. Thanks again.
Title: Re: How can I tell where it was built?
Post by: VWmaindealer on 20 February 2006, 20:42
There is nothing inherently wrong with SA cars apart from they never enjoyed the same level of quality control as German builds. To be honest, after six years, your car should be fine. We hated them when they were new as they often had loads of niggly teething problems. Rattles, loose trims - stupid stuff really. Even anything major like leaking brakes (!) as previously mentioned shoudl be well and truly ironed out by now.

These days we still buil dcars in SA and Brazil, Mexico and god knows where else other than Germany but the difference is, all cars go back to Emdon for another quality control check. Anything untoward gets sorted here and not at the dealer. VW learnt from those early South African cars that the public have come to expect a certain level of quality and that cheaper labour didn't outweigh the poor quality and customer satisfaction these cars brought.

VWmd
Title: Re: How can I tell where it was built?
Post by: BenjiC on 07 March 2006, 09:44
Very smooth VMmain.

Tell me, could you sell ice to Eskimos?  :rolleyes:
Title: Re: How can I tell where it was built?
Post by: VWmaindealer on 09 March 2006, 00:12
Quote from: BenjiC on 07 March 2006, 09:44
Very smooth VMmain.

Tell me, could you sell ice to Eskimos?  :rolleyes:

If the money was right! :wink:
Title: Re: How can I tell where it was built?
Post by: welshgar on 18 March 2006, 08:26
where is a car from if it has a 'p' where the 'w' is meant to be?? :undecided:

i've got a 'w', but my m8's new car has a 'p'!

any one know???
Title: Re: How can I tell where it was built?
Post by: GazB on 18 March 2006, 16:41
Send me the chassis numbers and I'll tell you
Title: Re: How can I tell where it was built?
Post by: gooseuk on 16 June 2007, 14:14
I just looked under my hood after reading this. Mines made in germany yes yes.
Title: Re: How can I tell where it was built?
Post by: vin1.8t on 23 June 2007, 16:57
mines got z were the year should be its a 2000 so could mean zero?
and if yot yp for were built?
Title: Re: How can I tell where it was built?
Post by: Trickyboy on 11 March 2008, 20:47
http://www.abvwc.org.uk/vw_vin.htm (http://www.abvwc.org.uk/vw_vin.htm)
Title: Re: How can I tell where it was built?
Post by: bobbarley on 11 March 2008, 20:50
Region: Europe [ W ]
Manufacturer: Volkswagen [ V ]
Car Type: Passenger Car (VW) [ W ]
Body Style: Filler character: No meaning [ Z ]
Engine: Filler character: No meaning [ Z ]
Restraint: Filler character: No meaning [ Z ]
Model: Golf Mk 4 [ 1J ]
Year: 2000 [ Y ]
Assembly Plant: Mosel, Germany [ P ]
Serial #: 056450

Interesting...