VIN Numbers

[aljshep]

I have owned six original 9-5s and, having come across Phoenix's VIN decoder again, I was curious to see how close the last two were to the end of production (without success).
Most characters checked out but there were a few curious items:
The 2.3T (Aero type) Turbo Edition was designated "F" for Vector
The 1.9TiD Turbo Edition was designated "K" for Griffin
All should have had a "9" for 5-speed auto gearbox but the 2010 model had a "C"
The year numbers were correct assuming "A" is 2010

I was expecting the serial numbers to increase with time but, most curiously, they seemed random.  Can anyone explain?

2002 - 027809
2005 - 529160
2007 - 506567
2008 - 503019
2009 - 507536
2010 - 501443

[Audax]

2002 - 027809
2005 - 529160
2007 - 506567
2008 - 503019
2009 - 507536
2010 - 501443

Remember that those numbers are serial numbers for each year so you should really leave the year number in front. Anyhow, I suspect that the 5 means the second half of the production year and 0 means the beginning. I would also guess that they allocate serial numbers to production lines so you may have 000001-000500 being a batch of 9-3 and 000501 - 001000 being a batch of 9-5 and some cars in that batch may never be made. Of course I could be wrong

[sgould]

The VIN codes changed for the Classic 9-5 when the new 9-5 saloon was introduced.

The Turbo Edition may have been a UK only designation (which could be why the badges were there for the dealer to fit - or not!)

If so, Saab only made Linear or Vector specs, but they could come with any engine, including the HOT 235R 260 hp.  So although you have what seems to be an Aero, it's actually a 260 hp Vector!!

Later details in the attachment.

[aljshep]

2002 - 027809 first registered March 2003 but was unregistered for some time
2005 - 529160 first registered June 2005
2007 - 506567 first registered October 2006 and recently imported
2008 - 503019 first registered January 2008
2009 - 507536 first registered October 2009
2010 - 501443 first registered March 2010

I can see no logic regarding the 000 series and the 500 series.   The 2002 model was probably manufactured in early 2002.   The 2007 model must have been made in late 2006 and the 2008 model must have been made in late 2007.  The 2009 model was probably made in early 2009.  The 2010 model could have been manufactured in late 2009 but comes in a rare 2010 colour (glacier silver).

[aljshep]

The Turbo Edition may have been a UK only designation (which could be why the badges were there for the dealer to fit - or not!)
If so, Saab only made Linear or Vector specs, but they could come with any engine, including the HOT 235R 260 hp.  So although you have what seems to be an Aero, it's actually a 260 hp Vector!!

Thanks for that. 1)  I know that the Turbo Edition was called the Griffin Edition in the States.  2)  Perhaps that is why my insurance is so low!

[sgould]

The VIN plate on the door sill gives the actual month of manufacture.  It's written up the side.

Here's one - made in November 2006.  But a 2007 model. 10th digit of VIN is 7.

[aljshep]

With sgould's help, I now have the build dates of my six 9-5s:

2002 - 027809 built 11/01/2002
2005 - 529160 built 17/05/2005
2007 - 506567 built 21/09/2006
2008 - 503019 built 14/09/2007
2009 - 507536 built June 2009 (production ended July 2009)
2010 - 501443 built November 2009 (production ended March 2009)

So I have one of the last 9-5 saloons built.  Not many new estates were sold in the UK in the dying months so am not sure how late on it was. 
But the real point of this is to ask if anyone can work out how the serial numbers were devised?

[sgould]

Dunno! 

You have a 5 in May, June, September, November.

I have a 5 in November.

But my wife's car (a 9-3 SS) has a 0 in August.  And you have a 0 in Jan.

Maybe its which of the two line s in the factory they come from.

[CitTone]

From a "QA" standpoint, using the "built on which line" designation makes a lot of sense, for traceability purposes if there was a large number of defect reports, possibly leading to a recall or a change of tooling (or personnel!).

[Audax]

Hmmn, I was going to chip in and say that the production line digit was before the model year in the VIN but I misremembered, it is actually that first digit after model year. If you have a copy of the EPC and look in the help topics it tells you how the vin breaks down, also if you put the VIN into the part catalogue it will tell you which production line was used. As for the serial numbers I'm sure that they are allocated in batches across production lines as when you find recall notices sometimes they will refer to perhaps 100 cars in a range ending 100-199.