My 2001 3.0i seems pretty similar to yours.
Topaz blue metallic as marked on the vehicle. VIN decoder adds the code (364) to that.
Tan / sand / definitely not black interior. VIN decoder calls it Standardleder/hellbeige 2 (arbeitsn (N6HC). Body trim is black, as are the tires
.
All that is definitely original
From some of the seams, like on the edges of the hood, it looks to me like it has a gray primer, but I don't know for sure if that is primer under the paint or something else. I unfortunately don't have any paint peeling yet on the car, other than at those edge locations, and I can understand if they are specially treated somehow.
Interesting thing I recently noticed on the production date ...
- The VIN decoder tells me it is 28.06.2001 build. So did the Foxwell (06_2001), etc. that read the VIN and decide the production month.
- But the VIN plate in the driver's door jamb shows July (07/01) just like yours does.
- From production date stamps on many items throughout the car that I've come across when doing repairs, I see many from late June 2001. Have never seen a July date anywhere other than on that VIN plate.
None of the above is a concern of mine, but in case it helps to throw more confusion onto the fire, here it is.
VIN shown there: WBAFA53591LM90270
interesting that the trailing 5 digits are so different from yours, considering they are from the same build month. I guess they are not consecutive.
VIN decoder says assembled in Spartanburg, of course, which is true.
This last photo shows the outside left edge of the hood. So that is the left headlight in the lower left corner of the photo. Many of the seams around the hood and rear hatch have this same feature. I always guessed that was the primer underneath, but I don't know.
