October 25, 2016

When purchasing a car, we often think about how the equipment specified by the manufacturer corresponds to reality. Of course, you can look through the user manual and find all the necessary data there, but in practice, most companies issue one "instruction" for all classes, where errors are often found. A more thorough check of the car can be done using a special code called VIN. Let's take a closer look at how to find out the complete set of a car by the VIN code and is it possible at all?

What is a vehicle VIN?

VIN is a unique vehicle identification code that contains all the information about a particular car. Here, in encrypted form, data about the manufacturer, the country where the vehicle was manufactured, its characteristics and equipment, the year of the model range, the manufacturing plant, as well as the serial number itself are presented.

This code is generated according to specially developed international standards, described in the classifications ISO 3779 (dated 1983) and 3780.

VIN consists of 3 parts:

• WMI - world producer index;
• VDS - characteristics of the car, its equipment, and also contains a check digit;
• VIS - model year, manufacturer and serial number of the vehicle.

Parts of the WMI and VIS code are clearly defined by the standards, while VDS can be factory modified. Literally, this paragraph stands for " car description section».

How to check the complete set using VIN?

So, we figured out what the VIN code of a car is, now you can proceed directly to its decoding, and it is the VDS section that interests us. The complexity of its decoding lies in the fact that each automaker uses its own algorithm for creating this section. The situation is further complicated by the fact that the coding system can change over time, and if you use old algorithms to decrypt, you will end up with completely extraneous data.

Periodically, information about the current coding sequences appears on the Internet, therefore, when trying to decipher the VDS yourself, you should pay attention to the date of publication of the data, since it will most likely be relevant only for a specific model year. Although there are exceptions when the manufacturer does not change the algorithms for a sufficiently long period of time, which makes it possible to determine the configuration of the car even at home.

You may come across special services on the Internet that will help you find out the complete set of a car by the VIN code.

This information can be provided both free of charge and on a paid basis, but it is quite difficult to verify its reliability without knowing the characteristics of your vehicle, so it is up to the owner of the car to trust such sites or not.

One of these services is the site vinformer.su.

How else is VIN used?

The vehicle's VIN is also often used by law enforcement to track down stolen vehicles. Each such number is unique, and the manufacturer can make its own adjustments to its structure.. In addition, thanks to a special index contained in the VDS section, the possibility of code forgery using the so-called "donation" is excluded.

It is quite difficult to check the vehicle equipment using the VIN code without access to the encoding algorithms from the manufacturer, even with the help of companies specializing in this. The information about the car, “extracted” from the VDS section, may not fully or partially converge precisely because of the inconsistency of the decryption methods, and not because someone wants to deceive you. But the VIN code can be used in more serious cases when the car was stolen, since not even the most advanced thief who uses modern equipment can fake the character set provided by the manufacturer.

Quite often, situations arise in practice when it is required to find out the complete set of the car in which it was delivered from the factory. This applies to both the type of gearbox, drive, and the name of the paintwork. All this can be reliably determined quite realistically and without superpowers. All you need is the VIN of the car.

How to check the complete set by VIN code?

Checking the VIN code will be very easy even for novice motorists, which requires only access to the Internet. Many sites offer a service, including on a free basis, to decrypt the code of almost any machine. For example, you can order a check on this site.

At the same time, there are both universal databases that allow you to get an answer on vehicles of various brands, as well as corporate databases (one brand, brands of one concern) or formed according to geographical factors (only German, Japanese or American cars). In practice, the cost of "piercing" t / s most often costs a fairly small amount of money - from 3 to 5 dollars. USA.

What is a VIN and what does it mean?

The use of VIN (vehicle identification number) has been around for a long time and defines identification as a goal. vehicle regardless of the market and country of registration. This code is assigned to each vehicle and is unique. Its structure consists of 17 digits and Latin letters.

Usually, the VIN is stamped on an aluminum plate, which is riveted in two places: under the hood, on the panel near the windshield and on the central pillar of the body - in the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe driver's doorway. In the American markets, the first plate may not be installed in the engine compartment, but already in the cabin, under the windshield.

Features of applying VIN code

There are the following features of applying an identification code.

Firstly, automakers never use letters that can be understood in two ways, that is, I, O, Q. They can simply be taken as ones or zeros.

Secondly, the first three characters always indicate: country of manufacture or SKD, location of production facilities, type of vehicle.

The characters from the fourth to the eighth are already the main specifications(model according to the factory nomenclature, type of power unit, body, etc.). As for the ninth character, this is the number that is the control number. It allows you to understand whether other characters were "interrupted".

Important data

Often, in the context of a complete set, car owners are interested in the following data:

• the engine installed specifically on their car, that is, the working volume, power, its type;

• transmission (drive) and gearbox type;

• type of steering;

• code interior decoration according to the factory catalog;

• paintwork code.

To whom and under what circumstances can information about the configuration be useful?

If you are the owner of a car, then its factory equipment may be of interest to you when looking for original parts, accessories and optional equipment, especially if non-genuine parts have been installed. Similarly, information from the VIN code will be useful when partially painting the vehicle - to select the desired shade of paintwork.

For car buyers, its factory equipment is a confirmation of the words of the seller about the presence of a regular navigator or “climate”. After all, it is likely that such equipment has never been installed on this model or series.

Checking VIN-codes of BMW, Mercedes, Audi, Nissan

It is important to remember that deciphering the VIN of many brands can be fraught with specific surprises that you need to be aware of. So, in case bmw we have a standard designation for all sales markets (the only exception is the year of manufacture). The seventh character is responsible for the market for which the boomer was assembled: 1 - global (except for the USA), steering wheel on the left; 2 - right steering wheel; 3 (or letters C, G) - USA. When numbers 4-9 are found, it should be understood that these are products for regional markets.

Number mercedes benz has a different structure depending on the market. To determine for which countries a vehicle is issued, you need to look at the fourth character: 1 or 2 - Europe, letters - USA.

Important: VIN "European" usually does not have information about the year of manufacture. Company Nissan uses two systems for generating a VIN code: a global standard (for the USA) and without a model year (Europe). By configuration: the eighth character is safety, for example A - only belts, B - plus two airbags, J - AWD, etc.

By Audi also, code differences in the USA and Europe come to the fore: for European countries, instead of characters 4-6, the letters Z are simply indicated (some people confuse this with information about the galvanized body). For the US, model, engine, and safety data is printed in these places.

It is useful for every driver to know how to find out the complete set of a car for free by the VIN code. This may be required in a variety of situations. Most often, the need for this arises when buying a car from hand. In this case, you will be able to determine what should be installed on the car regularly, whether everything is available. Thus, sometimes it is possible to bring down the price when trading.

Another common situation is the search for spare parts. Knowing the decoding of this code allows you to easily pick up all the necessary details. Especially if they are purchased at a disassembly. In any case, the ability to determine the configuration of the machine by the number in the documents will not be superfluous.

What does it mean?

How to find out the complete set of a car for free by VIN code? First you need to find it. The easiest way to do this is to look at the documents. Usually VIN is indicated in the TCP, as well as in the registration certificate. In general, you can find a lot of interesting things in the documents. For example, the same passport usually indicates a large number of additional data. Here you can find some information about the main components of the package. Sometimes this is enough. In the absence of documents at hand, you can find the VIN under the windshield or hood. But, if you are interested in a deeper analysis, then first you need to figure out what elements this number consists of:

• Some information about the manufacturer can be found in the first 3 digits of the number. The very first indicates the geographic region. Second country manufacturer. The third type of vehicle. For many models, these numbers are the same;
• The next 4 digits contain detailed information about the vehicle manufacturer. Usually they need to be decrypted without fail;
• 9 figure does not carry any semantic load. It confirms the correctness of the entire code as a whole;
• The next (10) figure indicates the date of manufacture of the car body. As a rule, these data are duplicated in the TCP. Moreover, pay attention to the method of determining the date. From 1980 to 2000, they were designated by letters from A to Z, while the letters I, Q, O are not used. Since 2000, they are designated by one digit. Starting in 2010, letter designations began to be used again. Also note that in the US the model year starts in summer and in Europe in winter;
• The last 7 digits indicate the features of the machine configuration. If your task is only to find out the complete set, it is these numbers that you will basically need.

How to decrypt?

There is a lot of information on the Internet about VIN numbers. It won't be hard to find her. There are even reference books dedicated to the search for components, as well as a detailed decoding of the data. You can simplify your task and contact any online service, of which there are a lot on the Internet. Most of of which are absolutely free. To do this, you just need to enter into the number of your car, and the service will make a detailed decryption. You will only have to print or save the received data.

Also, these sites offer additional paid services. For example, you can break through the car for theft and other illegal actions. Find out if she is in collateral and so on. This will help you avoid problems when buying a car.

Decryption

As already mentioned, the first ten digits carry background information. With their help, you can find out the country of origin (1-USA, J-Japan, and so on) and some other indicators. But, we will take a closer look at the latest numbers. After all, they are responsible for the description of the configuration. It should be noted that some manufacturers carelessly refer to this indicator, and do not always indicate some data.

The eleventh number usually indicates which plant the car was made in. The last 6 digits are the serial number of the product. On BMW models, only 5 digits count as a number. 12 indicator given under the batch number.

Detail search

Using the VIN-code, you can quickly and accurately find the part for your car. There are several options for this.

The easiest option is to search online stores. To do this, simply enter the number in a special form. As a result, you will get a list of all accessories for your model. All you have to do is choose what you need and place your order. Usually, on all sites, the search for spare parts by VIN works according to the same principle. In most cases, you can not only pick up parts, but also make a detailed assessment of the order, compare prices from different manufacturers, and see delivery times.

A more complex option is to search through directories. They are usually used when it is necessary to purchase spare parts in ordinary parts stores. In this case, you need to download the catalog for a specific model. And look for the part number on it. It is desirable to know how the part is called correctly. This will help speed up your search.

Check for theft

When buying a car, it is advisable to check the legality of its ownership. Most often, there is a risk of buying a stolen car. To avoid this, it is possible to check the car for theft. To do this, the easiest way is to use the service on the traffic police website. There you can get detailed information about the owner and other indicators of the car.

In any case, verification by VIN number is mandatory.

Conclusion. When choosing a car, it is desirable to know in what configuration it is offered by the seller. To do this, you must have information on how to find out the complete set of a car for free by the VIN code. This will help you avoid many problems when buying a car. This identification number will help you find out a lot of useful information about the vehicle.

Now we provide vehicle equipment by code for the following vehicles: Mercedes (Equipment + Accessories), BMW (Equipment + Accessories), HONDA (Europe only), MAZDA (Europe only), INFINITI, LEXUS, MITSUBISHI, NISSAN, SUBARU , SUZUKI, TOYOTA, PEUGEOT, CITROEN

Also in the equipment report, you can see the date of manufacture of the car. Type of engine and gearbox.

For example, a complete BMW equipment report looks like this:

VIN number	WDDUG8CB1EA008866
Model	222.182 S500
Date of issue	13/08/2013
Engine	278.929 30 139650 M278 DE 46 LA; V8 GASOLINE ENGINE M278 DELA 46
Transmission	722.909 05 096362 W 7 C 700; 7-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION W7C700
Color Code	033U - PAINTING BLACK MOKKA
Finish Code	814A - LEATHER / NAPPA / SEMI-ANILINE - BROWN
Options
SA code	Description
033U	PAINTING BLACK MOKKA
03A	OIL REPLENISHMENT VOLUME +300 ML
110	VOLUME OF FUEL FOR VEHICLE PICKUP FROM THE FACTORY
12B	OPERATOR'S MANUAL+SERVICE BOOK - ENG - USA/CANADA
12R	LIGHTweight DISCS “7 TRIPLE. SPOKES» 19″ WITH DIFF. TIRES
16p	A/M ME
192	STEUERCODE NAG2-GETRIEBE MIT D1 STAND
218	REVERSE CAMERA
223	ELECTRIC ADJUSTABLE BACK REAR SEAT AND HEAD
232	REMOTE CONTROL GARAGE GATES WITH FREQUENCY 284-390 MHz
233	REMOTE PLUS SPEED AND SAFETY SYS.(DIST.PLUS)
235	ACTIVE PARKING ASSIST
237	ACTIVE DEAD ZONE CONTROL ASSISTANT
238	ACTIVE LANE KEEPING (FAP)
249	INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR MIRROR WITH AUTOMAT.DIMM.
253	REAR COLLISION WARNING AND PROTECTION SYSTEM
264	LICENSE PLATE MOUNTING FOR AMERICA
266	SIST. DISTRONIC PLUS WITH CONTR. CROSS MOVE(DTR+Q)
267	MODEL IDENTIFICATION DIFFERENT
268	EXTRA SYSTEM BRAKING EXP. FUNC. (BAS+)
269	EXPANDED EXTREME BRAKE+TRUNK CONTROL(BAS+Q)
271	AUTONOMOUS BRAKING ACTION/WARNING TO PROTECT PEDESTRIANS
275	MEMORY PACKAGE (WATER SEAT, STEERING COLUMN AND MIRROR)
276	MEMORY FUNCTION IN THE REAR
284B	AIR BAG LABEL-ENG FOR USA
289	LEATHER STEERING WHEEL WITH DECORATIVE INSERT
294	KNEE AIR BAG
297	SUN PROTECTION ELECTRIC SHUTTER REAR LEFT/RIGHT DOORS
300	COLLISION MITIGATION-BRAKE IMPACT/WARNING(CMS)
301	ASHTRAY PACKAGE
310	DOUBLE CUP HOLDER
342B	INSTRUMENT PANEL LANGUAGE/HD. SET: AMERICAN
348	EMERGENCY CALL SYSTEM / AUXILIARY SYSTEM
35A	VGS D4-0, SAMPLE D3
3U2	AMERICA HEAD UNIT
401	FRONT SEAT AIR CONDITIONING
402	CONDITION. SEAT REAR
413	PANORAMIC SLIDING/GLASS SUNROOF
427	AKP 7-STUP.
432	SEAT WITH DYNAMIC SUPPORT LEFT AND RIGHT
436	COMFORT. SEAT HEADREST AND TRANS. PASSAGE.
443	HEATED STEERING WHEEL
461	CHECK IN WITH MILE INDICATION AND ENGLISH SIGNS
475	SIST. PRESSURE CONTROL IN TIRES (RDK) HIGH/MID LINE
494	US VERSION
518	UNIVERSAL COMMUNICATION INTERFACE (UCI)
51U	INTERNAL ROOF LINING, FABRIC BLACK
531	COMAND APS NTG5/NTG5.5
536	SATELLITE RADIO "SIRIUS" COMPLETE SYSTEM
540	ELECTRIC REAR WINDOW BLIND
551	ANTI-THEFT WARNING (EDW)
57V	SPEED- + LOADINDEX 102H XL + 101H
581	AUTOMATIC CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM
596	THERMAL INSULATION TRIPLEX GLAZING WITH IR FILTER, K-T
608	AUTOMATIC HIGH BEAM (IHC)
634	CANCEL MEDICAL KIT
636	CANCELING THE WARNING STOP SIGN
640	LED HEADLIGHT WITH DYNAMIC CONTROL SAE, RIGHT HAND DRIVE
668	TRANSPORT PROTECTION A/M, S TRANSPORT. EYES
705L	USA
729	DECORAT. POPLAR WOOD ELEMENTS
763	RADIO REMOTE WITH ALARM BUTTON (315MHz)
7XL	NORTH AND SOUTH AMERICA
800A	LEATHER / NAPPA / SEMI-ANILINE
804	YEAR OF MODIFICATION 13/1
810	PREMIUM SPEAKER
814	DVD CHANGER
814A	LEATHER / NAPPA / SEMI-ANILINE - BROWN
871	SENSORS FOR SYSTEMS OPEN/CLOSED BOOT LID
874	HEATED AQUABLADE WASHER
877	LED LIGHT
881	REMOTE LID CLOSING
883	SERVO LOCK
887	SEPARATE LID LOCK
889	KEYLESS-GO
902	HEATED SEATS COMFORT (FRONT)
903	HEATED COMFORT SEATS REAR
906	HEATED FRONT PANELS
907	HEATED REAR PANELS
986	CUSTOM VIN NUMBER WITH MODEL YEAR
989	IDENTIFICATION NUMBER PLATE UNDER WINDSHIELD
A20	DIRECT START
A21	ELECTRONIC GEARBOX MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
A24	JOINT FLANGE 4-LEVER 120
A59	BODY TRANSFORM. FE 13.5
A65	FE 13,5MM TRANSFORMER
A89	WITH REDUCED FRICTION
A98	T-BLOCK WITH VGS 4-0
B03	DIRECTLY START / ECO START/STOP FUNCTION
F222	RANGE 222
FV	LONG SEDAN
G909	GB CODE: MODIFICATION 09
GA	AKP
HA	REAR AXLE
J7A	DSM: STAR2 BESEITIGUNG I/O-FEHLER-STEUERCODE W 10
J81	RELEASE IN JUNE
K15	STEUERCODE FUER SERVICE INTERVALL 15000 KM
L	LEFT SIDE. STEERING
LS2	BODYBODY LOAD STAGE 2
M278	V8 PETROL ENGINE M278
M46	WORKING CAPACITY 4.6 L
N4C
N6C	STEUERCODE W50 FUER PPS-INTERNE VERWENDUNG
P17	KEYLESS-GO PACKAGE
P20	PACKAGE "PLUS" SYSTEM AUTO. MOTION CONTROL
P21	AIR QUALITY OPTIMIZATION PACKAGE
P35	LIGHT PACKAGE
P64	MEMORY PACK IN THE FRONT
P69	COMFORT PACKAGE HEATING FUNCTIONS FRONT AND REAR
P88	PERFORMANCE LAUNCH
R02	ALL-SEASON TIRES
R66	TIRES WITH ACCIDENT PROPERTIES
U10	SEAT FRONT PASS WITH BUSY RECOGNITION
U12	FOOT MATS - VELOOR
U13	ICON FOR SPEC. MODELS
U25	ILLUMINATED THRESHOLD PANELS
U71	DVD PROG. WITH REGION. US CODE 1
U80	SOCKET 115 V
VL	FRONT AXLE HALF LEFT
VR	FRONT AXLE HALF RIGHT

As can be seen from the report, it contains useful information, such as the exact date release, engine type, automatic transmission, interior color and body color. In addition, the report contains a list of options that the vehicle was equipped with at the factory.