[pubert]

Hi everyone,

Not sure if this is the right place to put this thread, but here goes.
I just tried a search on a vin decoder to see what info it would come up with
about my MC, particularly the model year, because i read in another thread
that model years and registration years are not always the same, ie 53 reg but 04
model car.

Well, i did the search, but the only info it could tell me was that its a mini cooper
and that it was made in germany, it could'nt give me any of the other info???????
is there a reason for this or do you think there is something wrong with the vin of
my car. I'm very confused now.

My MC is a Sept 03 model.

Cheers
Pubert

[MINIAC]

Did you use the FAQ on VIN decoding?

[pubert]

Quote: Originally Posted by MINIAC

Did you use the FAQ on VIN decoding?

Hi, thanks for the reply, i checked out the faq and according to the description of
the vin on there, my car model is a year 2000, i think this is wrong, i got it brand new
in sept 2003. i also tried the shortcut to the vin checker and when i filled in the last 7
digits i got a "request rejected" message.

now i'm even more puzzled.

[MINIAC]

As I've posted previously, the 10th digit of VIN may only signify model year for US MINIs and be unused elsewhere.

Could you PM me the last seven of your VIN (or at least the first two of the last seven) so I can try them on the decoder?

[pubert]

Quote: Originally Posted by MINIAC

As I've posted previously, the 10th digit of VIN may only signify model year for US MINIs and be unused elsewhere.

Could you PM me the last seven of your VIN (or at least the first two of the last seven) so I can try them on the decoder?

Cheers Miniac, i've pm'd you

pubert

[MINIAC]

pubert -

Got your PM and ran the last 7 of your VIN using the decoder. The attached snapshot of the decode indicates a RHD Cooper built in August 2003:

[pubert]

Quote: Originally Posted by MINIAC

pubert -

Got your PM and ran the last 7 of your VIN using the decoder. The attached snapshot of the decode indicates a RHD Cooper built in August 2003:

Thanks for that Miniac, thats absolutely spot on, is there anyway of finding out the model
year though, i was told that the model year can be different from the build, ie that a september 2003 build mini can actually be a 2004 model, or can have 2004 model features on them.

Cheers
pubert

Just recieved your PM, when i asked my dealer about getting the OBC retro fitted and weather or not it would have the digital speedo, he said that it would but only if it was an 04 model mini, he said there may be a chance that mine is an 04 model because of the time of year it was built. I read somewhere on here that 04 model features were being installed on cars as early as july 03.

[MINIAC]

For 2003 and 2004, the "new model year" MINIs started to be built around the beginning of September in the previous year. The 2005 model year MINIs will begin being built around the beginning of July this year.

Changes can be made anytime during the year (eg. MCS exhaust hangers were changed months into the 2004 model year), so it's "build week" rather than "model year" that is important to feature availability and retrofits.

Your dealer should be able to find out the first build week in which OBCs with digital speed and continuous fuel consumption readouts were fitted, and whether your MINI was built before or after that week.

The question as to whether the digital speed readout can be retrofitted to an older model year has been asked many times, but I couldn't find any posts which answered this question positively.

Since my OBC is quite inaccurate, I don't think the expense of a retrofit is worth it. Reading that big center speedo is a lot easier than a small digital display on the tach

[stryder]

Doesn't the digit after the T (for Oxford) give the transmission code? I'm not sure exactly how it works, but I know from discussions on VINs elsewhere at one point, (specifically '02s) C was Coopers 5 speed, D was for an S. I forget what was a CVT.

[MINIAC]

Quote: Originally Posted by stryder

Doesn't the digit after the T (for Oxford) give the transmission code? I'm not sure exactly how it works, but I know from discussions on VINs elsewhere at one point, (specifically '02s) C was Coopers 5 speed, D was for an S. I forget what was a CVT.

First thought to be the case, it turned out not to be true:

http://www.mini2.com/forum/mini-cooper-s/10901-north-american-s-owners-whats-your-vin.html

[pubert]

Thanks for all your help chaps,

i think i'll give the OBC from the dealers a miss, I saw that cool new are selling the retro fit kit for £109.00, which is well under what my dealer said it would cost me there. i'll get a mate to fit it if its complicated.

I'll definately take your advice though and ask him what is going to be available with the OBC for the week my car was built.

cheers
pubert

[stryder]

Oh yeah, I remember reading that thread, I just forgot it I guess... All these different standards for VINs around the world.

[MINIAC]

Quote: Originally Posted by pubert

I think i'll give the OBC from the dealers a miss, I saw that cool new are selling the retro fit kit for £109.00, which is well under what my dealer said it would cost me there. i'll get a mate to fit it if its complicated.

I'll definately take your advice though and ask him what is going to be available with the OBC for the week my car was built.

The Cool New OBC retrofit kit doesn't list the digital speed and continuous fuel consumption functions. I believe this is an OEM part, and you still need to have a dealer enable it.

You may want to check with monsta on his OBC retrofit:

http://www.mini2.com/forum/showthread.php?p=315753

There's a chance your MINI may have the control unit required for the new OBC functions:

http://www.mini2.com/forum/showthread.php?p=703819

[pubert]

Cheers for those links miniac, very helpful, looks like there may be a chance my MC has the BC2 in it, i'll have a look at that tomorrow see which one i've got, cars due in at dealers on 13th so i'll ask to see if its going to cost to get the upgrade for the OBC if i install the unit myself.

Thanks
pubert

[ScottyB]

I had no idea it told that much!

*ScottyB runs off to enter his own*