Thread: Help with a VIN

Originally Posted by brucep

Hi Everyone,

I'm looking at buying a 97' SE 4.0 P38A Range Rover. I'm a little confused by the VIN. The VIN on the plate, on the roadworthy, and on the rego is SALLPAMB3TA342014 and the engine number is 44D00569A. I've checked this with V Check (checkitout.com.au) for $20....and it all seems to check out....1997, SE, 8 Cylinder, Petrol etc... The problem is when I use calVIN on the same VIN it says the engine (8th digit) should be a 2.5l turbo diesel. I have seen 2 other vehicles listed for sale (P38 4.0 SE's) and their VIN's also have 'B' as the 8th digit....I'm totally confused. Have I missed something?...are these vehicles not right...or are there special codes for VIN's used in Australia?

I would really appreciate any help.

Regards,

Bruce

Bruce, AFAIK the 4.0 is SALLPAMB3TA......, The 4.6 is SALLPAMM3TA...... Not sure of the diesel numbers, but the P38 had a 3litre BMW diesel anyway I thought...??May be wrong, anyone else?


JC

Hmm you get the same looking at Dingo Croft (Vin number chart post '79) to. I'd be putting this to one of the guy's on the forum who work at a dealers and can check it.

My new 97 4.6 HSE is SALLPAMD3VA361075 and engine number is 48D005617A ...according to the VIN checker ..mine should be a diesel as well ..with the 8th character being a 'D'..!!!..it's certainly a 4.6.!!..got the petrol receipts to prove it..

Maybe someone can let us know what is going on with the VIN's in Australia..are they different to Europe and the US.

cheers,
Richard

Originally Posted by brucep

Hi Everyone,

I'm looking at buying a 97' SE 4.0 P38A Range Rover. I'm a little confused by the VIN. The VIN on the plate, on the roadworthy, and on the rego is SALLPAMB3TA342014 and the engine number is 44D00569A. I've checked this with V Check (checkitout.com.au) for $20....and it all seems to check out....1997, SE, 8 Cylinder, Petrol etc... The problem is when I use calVIN on the same VIN it says the engine (8th digit) should be a 2.5l turbo diesel. I have seen 2 other vehicles listed for sale (P38 4.0 SE's) and their VIN's also have 'B' as the 8th digit....I'm totally confused. Have I missed something?...are these vehicles not right...or are there special codes for VIN's used in Australia?

I would really appreciate any help.

Regards,

Bruce

Bruce

Classic Land Rover comes up with the same data (below) I would have thought the engine code should be "M"

Diana

Range Rover (P38A)
VIN number : SALLPAMB3TA342014.
Manufacturer code SAL Land Rover
Model code LP Range Rover (P38A)
Wheelbase / Trim level A 108"
Body M 5-door Station Wagon
Engine B 2.5l turbodiesel (engine model 19J)
Steering and transmission 3 Right-hand Drive, automatic
Model year T 1996
Build location A Solihull, UK
Serial Number 342014

Thanks everyone for the replies. I have confidence now that all is OK with the vehicle.....don't know why the VIN's use 'B' for 4.0 and 'D' for 4.6.....but seems there is a definite pattern...and not a dodgy P38. I might send an email to calVIN, and ask if they have any idea why some Australian VIN's use a different coding for engine type...and post back here.

Hopefully I'll be the owner of a 97' P38A by the end of the week!

Regards,

Bruce

Originally Posted by brucep

Thanks everyone for the replies. I have confidence now that all is OK with the vehicle.....don't know why the VIN's use 'B' for 4.0 and 'D' for 4.6.....but seems there is a definite pattern...and not a dodgy P38. I might send an email to calVIN, and ask if they have any idea why some Australian VIN's use a different coding for engine type...and post back here.

Hopefully I'll be the owner of a 97' P38A by the end of the week!

Regards,

Bruce

Go for it! You won't regret it, until you go to "the servo".

19J is the old Turbo diesel engine code - the ones fitted to the 110s in all but Australia in the late 80's before the Tdi.

LRH