UK-POLOS.NET - THE VW Polo Forum

I've been trying to track these down. It annoys me when I say something (such as in a previous thread on here) and then can't put my hands on the facts to prove it...

Anyway, I was right about the "Y" in the VIN indicating the Spanish factory (still can't remember who told me this, though... (if it was you, sorry...))

See this thread:
http://babelfish.altavista.com/babelfis ... 8&lp=de_en

All I can dig up on the Slovakian factory is this:
http://www.sario.sk/showdoc.do?docid=527

Would I be safe in saying that the quality of the "Slovakian" factory (i.e. not the Spanish one) seems to that bit better? (I have a Spanish car... )

I'd be grateful if people could have a quick look at their VIN next time they're in their boot -- I'd really like to know what figures/letters are there if it's not a "Y". If enough people do this, maybe we can work the nomenclature out... (It would also be useful to know if your car came with the aero wiper originally, its month and year of delivery (manufacture would be better, if you know how to work this out (there might be pressing symbols on the underside of the ashtray, but I forget)) and whether it has a lap belt for the central rear seat passenger, or if it has a full three point harness).

Thanks,

Deek.

There's also this on the horizon (3rd para for lead item):
http://www.germandata.com/pages/volkswagen.html

I'll go and check my car now. 9NZ3Y so that's a "Y" then?

How do I know which month it was made in? I know it was in 2003.

I think the 3 point rear seat belt was an option along with a 3rd headrest.

Mine also has the Aero wiper as standard.

And I've been to the VW factory in Bratislava a few years agoin 1996. Can't remember which cars they were manufacturing at the time but I know one of them was the skoda felicia.

James

Interesting Deek.

So we think we're right about the Spanish vs "Somewhere else" quality issues.

If everyone on this forum with a New Polo could spare 5 mins to look in their boot, under the carpet, where the spare wheel is and can find a big white sticker and report the following, it would be handy, as Deek says

Factory:
Manufacture Date:
Aero Rear Wiper as Standard:
Lap belt or 3 point:
Lots of rattles? :

I will post how to get all this info from the data sticker as soon as my camera is returned to me.

I'll go and check my car now. 9NZ3Y so that's a "Y" then?

Yup, it's the fifth "big" character on that sticker we're looking at. Of course, if everyone comes back and says they all have "Y"s there, then this theory will fall apart - unless the UK is being supplied totally out of one factory.

How do I know which month it was made in? I know it was in 2003.

Not being at my car just now I can't check for locations - but pretty sure the ash tray liner will be one place. Maybe some plastic mouldings on somewhere inside the engine bay, or maybe the underside of the wing mirror casings, would be places to look. Also, those neoprene shelf linings might have these markings - I find the one behind the ash tray the easiest to get out - it has two "plugs" on the vertical surface, but the bottom is just lying there and can be pulled up from one corner. Basically - there should be a series of stamps in the plastic - some of these - like the part number and the plastic type (for recycling) are constant, but others are stamps (well, the opposite of a stamp) inserted into the mould to tell you when the pressings were made. These re usually either a circle with 12 portions (numbered 1-12), or sometimes they're rectanglular(sp?). There will be a mark of some sort inside each segment. If there's only one mark - this will be the month it was made. If there are several marks, they should start in the 1st portion and continue in sequence - the last portion to have a mark in it gives the month of manufacture. Also, there will be a number (i.e. 02) possibly within the centre of the circle, or otherwise nearby that gives the year - hence, you can work out the year and month. Obviously, this will be earlier than the date of assembly of the car, but it should get us reasonably close to that date. After all, manufactuers don't hold inventories of parts any more (in theory)...

(I really need a photo of this!!)

I think the 3 point rear seat belt was an option along with a 3rd headrest.

Oh, OK - I didn't know this - so scratch it from my request above.

And I've been to the VW factory in Bratislava a few years agoin 1996. Can't remember which cars they were manufacturing at the time but I know one of them was the skoda felicia.

Now this would make a lot of sense (if it was the 9n platform version)...

Basically, I'll wait until there are a few replies here and pull everything together to see if we can work anything out about where our cars are being made and any other patterns that might emerge.

Thanks for your response (now just waiting for everyone else )

Deek.

Interesting Deek.

So we think we're right about the Spanish vs "Somewhere else" quality issues.

Yup, just need to work out where somewhere else is and if there is any way (possibly by features of the car) that we can stipulate we get a "somewhere" else one when we order our replacements *heh*.

Factory:
Manufacture Date:
Aero Rear Wiper as Standard:
Lap belt or 3 point:
Lots of rattles? :

We should add whether the colour paint coat does or doesn't "react with either the lacquer or the undercoat" - according to the dealer to that list!!

Also, the same sticker is inside your log book, to save a trip out to the car.

Also, can I get a note of whether or not your ECU has a plastic cover on it, of it is just metal - Mole - I've been looking at your engine bay pics and this is a difference btwn our cars. Well, other than your's being a "good" one, and mine? Well.. let me sit you down sonny, and I'll tell you a story...

I will post how to get all this info from the data sticker as soon as my camera is returned to me.

Polo2k's already done it!:
http://www.tigerstyle.co.uk/poloforum/v ... .php?t=653

The date on the bottom of the ash tray is 4/02 (the circle with the arrow).

I've just took a picture of it.

So thats another thing to add to the list, ECU cover

Ok so 2ks done the data sticker already!

On other data stickers it gives the date of manufacture, but not on the Polo ones That would be a more reliable date than seeing when the plastics were made.

I'll look into a way of finding out.... would be handy to know.

So come on everyone post your findings:

Factory: Y
Manufacture Date:
Aero Rear Wiper as Standard: NO
Lots of rattles? : NO
ECU Cover: NO

On other data stickers it gives the date of manufacture, but not on the Polo ones That would be a more reliable date than seeing when the plastics were made.

Does it? If anyone knows how to work this out then I agree that it would be a far better way of working out the date of manufacture. Another, of course, would delivery date / first registration date.

Deek.

Only problem with delivery dates is that the cars could have been sitting round for months! With mine for example, you could tell it had been sitting outside somewhere for quite a while. So although my delivery date was in May 02, could have been made AGES before that.

I found a sticker on mine that says.

1. · Id. Car: 29-1-9194 KA
2. Type: 9A1 3F4

3. Motor Cod: BAH FQT 042 438

Mine is made in Brazil
De paint code is NOV/DB



On options is allot of numbers and letters. I can`t figure it out.


RES B1G C9G 60C HA2 J1L
MY0 Q2J 318 1AL /// 1MA
5RQ 5SL T1J
4VA OG4 C9G 8GD
8RM 1LQ /// ///

Factory: Y
Manufacture Date: /03
Aero Rear Wiper as Standard: Yes
Lots of rattles? : None
ECU Cover: Yes (If this is the black plastic cover I'm thinking of.)

I checked around my VW Dealer today and there was 2 other polos with the Aero Rear Wiper and they were both built in 03
Every other one was built in 02. I check around 12 cars!
And they were all "Y"'s

Maybe some more Investigatory work over the weekend.

Every time I see a polo now I feel like stopping to see where it was built!

James.

Factory: Y
Manufacture Date: /03
Aero Rear Wiper as Standard: Yes
Lots of rattles? : None
ECU Cover: Think so!

You guys with Turbos: can you hear the turbo whistle for a short time? I can and wondering if this is normal? Done 1000 miles with no problem so far. *touch wood*

Interesting. So all Ys so far then!