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      Decoding Tesla Roadster VINs

      Discussion in 'Roadster' started by doug, May 6, 2008.

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      1. doug

        doug Administrator / Head Moderator

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        #1 doug, May 6, 2008
        Last edited: Sep 28, 2009
        I think it's sometimes interesting to see what the VIN can tell you about a car, particularly cars that are collector's items.

        We've seen several Roadster VIN's:

        1T9RE11A15P829M02 for drivable mule 2
        SFZRE11B963E00001 for EP1
        SFZRE11B063E00002 for EP2
        SFZRE11B663E00005 for EP5
        SFZRE11B773V00001 for VP1
        SFZRE11B173V00009 for VP9
        SFZRE11B873V00010 for VP10
        SFZRE11BX73V00011 for VP11
         SFZRE11B173V00012 for VP12
        SFZRE11B373V00013 for VP13
        SFZRE11B283900016 for VP16
        SFZRE11B483900017 for VP17
         SFZRE11B183F00001 for P1
        SFZRE11B081F00003 for P2/VIN F003
        SFZRE11B981F00002 for P3?/VIN F002
        SFZRE11B681000005 for Signature 100, #5
        SFZRE11B?81000009 for Signature 100, #9
        5YJRE11B481000012 for Signature 100, #12
        5YJRE11B681000013 for Signature 100, #13
        5YJRE11B881000014 for Signature 100, #14
        5YJRE11B181000016 for Signature 100, #16
        5YJRE11B881000028 for Signature 100, #28
        5YJRE11B981V00022 for VP22
        5YJ        RE11B281V00024 for VP24
        5YJRE11B681V00026 for VP26

        5YJRE1A31A1000502 for US 2010MY Sport
        SFZRE2B13A3000002 for EU 2010MY
        SFZRE2B3XA3000001 for EU 2010MY Sport

        SFZRE2B32A3000011 for EU 2010MY Sport
        SFZRE2B30A3900017 for EU 2010MY Signature 250 Sport

        SFZRE2B15A3000003 for EU 2010MY car - RWE promotion - has Signature plate
        SFZRE2B34A3000026 for EU 2010MY Sport - has Signature plate

        5YJRE1A38B1001194 for US 2011MY Sport

        The following is adapted from here:


        How to Decode a VIN

        When decoded, the VIN tells the country and year of manufacture; make, model and serial number; assembly plant; and in some cases it even identifies equipment specifications.

        The vehicle identification number is divided into four parts:

        * World Manufacturer's Identification (WMI - three characters)
        * Vehicle Description Section (VDS - five characters)
        * The VIN Accuracy Check Digit
        * Vehicle Identification Section (VIS - eight characters)

        World Manufacturer’s Identification (WMI)

        The first character in the WMI sequence represents the country where the vehicle was manufactured. The second character refers to the manufacturer. The characters can be either letters or numbers. The third character represents the vehicle type or manufacturing division.
        I believe the S refers to the UK as in Lotus VIN's.

        Vehicle Description Section (VDS) and Check Digit

        The vehicle description section consists of five characters (the 4th to 8th characters) which identify everything from the body style, engine type, and braking system to model, series, restraint system, etc. The 9th character is a VIN accuracy check digit which verifies the previous VIN numbers. It is determined by carrying out a mathematical computation developed by the Department of Transportation (DOT).         Anyone have an interpretation for RE11B?

        Vehicle Identification Section (VIS)

        The vehicle identification section includes the last eight characters in the VIN number. The numbers identify the model year (10th character) and the assembly plant for the vehicle (11th character).         So VP12 is 2007, P1 is 2008. Lotus uses an H for Hethel. Not sure why Tesla uses a 3 (or why P2 and later have a 1 in this position).
        The 12th to 17th characters are the actual serial number of the vehicle—these last 6 digits make the vehicle unique (think of DNA). It can also help to identify whether the vehicle was the first, the hundredth, or the last vehicle off the manufacturer’s assembly line. This is valuable information for collectors.
        We can assume V is for Validation Prototype and F for Founders' Series. I'd guess they're using E for EP.

        Does anyone have any insight to share?
         
      2. doug

        doug Administrator / Head Moderator

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        #2 doug, May 6, 2008
        Last edited: Nov 14, 2008
        Elon in P1
        2276159255_727ef1a9fd.jpg


        VP12
        [​IMG]

        VP24
        [​IMG]
         
      3. doug

        doug Administrator / Head Moderator

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        #3 doug, May 6, 2008
        Lotus Esprit VIN codes for comparison:
        vin.gif
         
      4. pgwoosley

        pgwoosley Member

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        #4 pgwoosley, May 7, 2008
        There is quite a bit of information on the internet on VIN number formats. A few additional quick observations. Yes, S in the first space is for the UK, just as W is for Germany, J for Japan, K for Korea. The formats of the next two characters varies considerably. General Motors generally uses G in the second spot and a character for the division in the third spot. Ford Motor Company does not follow the same pattern.

        There is not supposed to be an I or the letter O in the VIN. Note that for the year model code, numbers were used for a while, then letters, then numbers again.

        There are spaces on the internet to decode VINs, but it probably is too soon for Tesla's information to be there.
         
      5. X-CEOsWife

        X-CEOsWife Member

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        #5 X-CEOsWife, May 7, 2008
        Way back when, Martin wrote a program to calculate the VIN number of a vehicle. I will see if I can distract him from his current "obsession" to comment on this issue.
         
      6. doug

        doug Administrator / Head Moderator

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        #6 doug, May 9, 2008
        Last edited: May 9, 2008
        VIN's out of sequence

        Apparently there is some precedence for producing cars with their VIN's out of sequence. Just one example I found online:
        LOVEfords -* VIN Information - 1953-1959 Fords, 1958 and 1959 Mercurys, Edsels, and Lincolns

         
      7. doug

        doug Administrator / Head Moderator

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        #7 doug, May 14, 2008
        Last edited: May 14, 2008
      8. doug

        doug Administrator / Head Moderator

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        #8 doug, Jun 25, 2009
        Last edited: Jun 25, 2009
        2010 model year car:

        3575450890_e35b159199.jpg
        5YJRE1A31A1000502
         
      9. doug

        doug Administrator / Head Moderator

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        #9 doug, Jun 25, 2009
        Last edited: Jun 25, 2009
        Interesting that the Euro spec cars have UK prefixes and their own VIN sequence.

        3661542316_0d96e70848.jpg
        SFZRE2B13A3000002

        3660750259_49f22c30c3.jpg
        SFZRE2B3XA3000001 Sport
         
      10. Tdave

        Tdave Member

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        #10 Tdave, Jun 25, 2009
        I already have my VIN for my Roadster Sport. It's the same as the above except for the last 3 digits (and the check digit of course if different).
         
      11. Palpatine

        Palpatine Banned

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        #11 Palpatine, Jun 26, 2009
        My is also the same with the last three digits at 553.
         
      12. doug

        doug Administrator / Head Moderator

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        #12 doug, Jun 26, 2009
        Thanks. I had thought VIN502 was a Sport model, but didn't have confirmation. Maybe a "3" in digit 8 indicates it's a Sport model.
         
      13. Palpatine

        Palpatine Banned

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        #13 Palpatine, Jun 26, 2009
        Mine has the "3" in digit 8 also.
         
      14. doug

        doug Administrator / Head Moderator

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        #14 doug, Sep 11, 2009
        Last edited: Sep 11, 2009
        Euro-spec cars at the Munich store opening.

        3910339540_2ddd3a0018.jpg
        SFZRE2B32A3000011 Sport

        3909533605_41a2cf7b81.jpg
        SFZRE2B30A3900017 Signature 250 Sport

        Curious what that 9 indicates.
         
      15. doug

        doug Administrator / Head Moderator

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        #15 doug, Sep 28, 2009
        EU spec cars at the Frankfurt auto show.

        3933465098_cec0e045b4.jpg
        SFZRE2B15A3000003 RWE promotional car

        3932734289_a30c94b74b.jpg
        SFZRE2B34A3000026 Sport
         
      16. razorblade

        razorblade Member

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        #16 razorblade, Sep 6, 2010
        Here you can actually also decode Tesla vehicles : http://www.pronto-net.com/vin_app/vin.php
        Tested with some VINs and seems pretty accurate.

        This is result for EP1 :
        VIN SFZRE11B963E00001
        DECODED 2006 Tesla Roadster
        Country UNITED KINGDOM
        Make Tesla
        Vehicle Type Passenger Car
        Model Roadster
        Check Digit 9
        Model Year 2006
        Assy. Plant Hethel, UK
        Production Seq. Number E00001
        Engine Type Electric Motor; 3-phase, 4-pole AC induction motor; 375 volts
        Body Type 2 Door Convertible; Roadster
        Trim Level Base; Sport
        Restraint System Dual Air Bag; Seat Belts
        Drive Line Type RWD
        Vehicle Class Small Car
        Fuel Type Electric
        Manufacturer Tesla Motors Incorporated
        Engine Code S
         
      17. mpt

        mpt Electrics are back

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        #17 mpt, Sep 7, 2010
        MINI E reported in as:

        DECODED 2008 MINI Cooper
        Country GERMANY
        Make MINI
        Vehicle Type Passenger Car
        Model Cooper
        Restraint System Dual Air Bag; Manual Belts; SRS-Dual Stage Advanced
        Check Digit 9
        Model Year 2008
        Assy. Plant Oxford, Great Britain
        Body Type 2 Door Hatchback
        Engine Type L4, 1.6L
        Trim Level S
        Drive Line Type FWD
        Vehicle Class Small Car
        Fuel Type Gasoline
        Manufacturer BMW-AG, Munich, Germany
        Engine Code M

        A hint at its former life before it went under the knife?
         
      18. doug

        doug Administrator / Head Moderator

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        #18 doug, Sep 7, 2010
        Interesting. Not too much info yet on 2010MY (Roadster 2.0) cars, though, where the VIN actually indicates differences like Euro spec, Sport version, etc. Anyone see a Roadster 2.5 VIN yet?
         
      19. kgb

        kgb Member

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        #19 kgb, Sep 7, 2010
        Last edited: Sep 7, 2010
        I haven't taken delivery of my 2.5 yet, but I've been told my vin is as follows:

        5YJRE1A38A1001078

        It is a Tesla Roadster Sport 2.5. This VIN supports the theory that '3' in 8th digit = sport.

        Interesting: The VIN decoder did not decode that the vehicle is "sport"
         

        Attached Files:

      20. doug

        doug Administrator / Head Moderator

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        #20 doug, Sep 7, 2010
        Interesting. I would have thought they'd label the 2.5s as the 2011MY, but this indicates they're still using 2010.
         
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