Vin#.. what does each # and letter stand for

[showboat33]

would like to understand what info exactly does the vin# show... so far i know the 10th digit is the year when the car was produce....

[Brucelee]

If you REALLY need to know, I could fetch the logic out and post it.

Will do it later today if you really want me to.

Believe me, there are no great secrets in there.

[Brucelee]

Here goes:

First digit: Country of Origin--For Porsche this is a W.

Second Digit: Manufacturer: For Porsche this is a P

Third Digit: Type of vehicle: For 911 and Boxster, this is a 0. For Cayeene, a 1.

Fourth Digit: Model Type There are 6 model types for Porsche, Boxsters are a C.

5th Digit: Engine type: A and B are normally asp. C means turbo.

6th Digit: Designates restraint system type. 0 is active, 2 means passive.

7th, 8th and 12th digit shows the Porsche model number, ie the Boxster equals 986.

9th Digit: Check Digit

10th Digit: Model year. This is a table with no logic except starting in 2001 when this number will be 1.

11th digit is production plant. S is for Stuttgart, U is for Finland etc.

13th-17th Digits: Series number. This is the order in which the vehicle was produced.

Wow, that was annoying.

Enjoy!

[donv]

There is one great secret embedded - the tie between your car and the related databases for it... it is now easy for many makes to generate the lock/ignition key for a car, simply by having the VIN. Car theft rings have caught on to this and now have a relatively easy way to steal cars with no damage - take a quick digital photo of the VIN # one day and come back another with the key!

That's why I've now covered the VIN #s on my cars so you can't see them from the outside - a piece of black cardboard or electrical tape over the VIN plaque takes care of it, and you can remove it if/when needed.

Based on other threads here, it sounds like Boxsters don't totally suffer from this (you need to "train" the key with the car and a PST2 physically in one place to use it in the ignition?) but I'm erring on the cautious side and have the Boxster VIN covered just like my daily driver's.

[Brucelee]

Elaborate on how this theft works in a Porschce. How does knowing the VIN help the crook make a key?


Thanks

[Tool Pants]

A key can be made from your VIN. I know that for a fact because I ordered a pre cut key based on my VIN. Porsche calls it a stipulated key. So instead of buying a key blank you order a key cut for your locks. Problem for a thief is that it will not start the car.

As said, the key has to then be programed for the car. To do that you need a key learning code from Atlanta and as far as I know they only give the code to dealers. Then you need a PST2/PIWIS to code the control unit. I know 2 independent shops with a PST2 and Porsche will not give them key learning codes. They have to go through a dealer who then gets them from Atlanta.

So when it comes to Porsche the gone in 60 seconds is just a Hollywood dream.

[Brucelee]

Indeed. At least at my dealer, you need to show written proof of ownership to get a key made. Ditto to have it programmed. They make copies of the docs of ownership, so at least where I go, this is not gonna help the crooks.



That is why I asked how a crook would steal this bad boy!