Production date ?
 

I'm currently looking into purchasing a "2005" 4.8is but the production date is 10/2004 that I verified from the vin. The seller states the car is an 05 but is it really ? I understand that in order to have a car in January 2005 a car must be produced in 2004, but a whole two months ? Were there any changes from the 04 to 05 models ? What year do you value the vehicle ?

Thanks

It varies by manufacturer and year of production, but generally September was the rule for most. Some BMW models came out with the following year's model in March of the previous year. An October 2004 build is a 2005 model. It is valued as a 2005 model. Nothing significant changed from 2004 to 2005 as I recall, the big change was for the 2004 model year.

Actually, with the 4.8is wasn't that when the facelift was introduced? Or was it "mid-2004" MY?


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Ditto what ha already been said. The build date and model year can be different and for early build models...usually is.

Historically in the USA, September has traditionally been the debut month for the new model year...but sometimes new model year rollouts can occur early. For example, due to OBD II mandates...the e39 debuted in the USA as a 1997 model year...but they hit the market in June/1996. The 2000 e39 model year also started early in June 1999 as BMW dumped the 3 speed auto tranny 528i models...then upgraded the 528 auto trannys to the 5 speed STEPTRONIC starting in September 1999. The 1999 e38 model year was truncated & ran from 9/98-4/99...with the 2000 e38 model year starting in April 1999.

To accomodate the difference in build date versus official model year...the US DOT requires that the 10th digit of the VIN indicate the official model year. So if you are suspicious...you can always check that digit to know what the official model year is regardless of build date. See chart below:

Just wanted to update this thread. Mine was manufactured in europe on 22/11/04 so you would probably say it is a 2005 model. However, for the 10th digit of the VIN it is listed as 0 (zero) so I am not sure what that means.

BMW just started taking orders now for 2025 model year x5s, to be delivered in May. Not sure what the zero means.

VIN numbers and production year changes
 

In the US, model years do follow a specific pattern, with one year's production closing out usually a couple of months prior to the "big reveal" of the new models in September. At least, that was the way it was done back in the day, but maybe not so much, now.

Some models were introduced later, due to production delays ('70 1/2 Camaro), and once the production delay was so bad, they skipped a model year (there were no '83 Corvettes sold). And, there were parts continued from one year to another (cylinder heads made in 1965 on my '66 Chevelle), and parts made for the following model year were used on late-production previous model year cars (my '66 Chevelle, built in July '66. had a '67 rear axle assembly...improved spring perches...). There are many other examples, but I'm an old-school Chevy gut....

As for European VIN numbers, there seem to be different coding standards, at least prior to the EU, so you'd have to use a VIN decoder specific for European cars. Perhaps this one: https://coceurope.eu/vin-decoder-vehicle/

Just as an added data point. The production date can be way off from model year.

Our 2006 530xi wagon (10th digit is a "6") was built 2005-05-18 (Wednesday).

Don't forget matching VIN or special VIN depending upon order

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Thanks Work, but that search link gave me an explanation mark(!) in position 10 and told me the plant was in the US…smile

I guess I'm odd man out. My 10th digit is '4' on an '04 production date

Well, I just found the answer to the digit which confirms QSilver from wikipedia lol

The North American implementation of the VIS uses the 10th digit to encode the model year of the vehicle. Besides the three letters that are not allowed in the VIN itself (I, O and Q), the letters U and Z and the digit 0 are not used for the model year code. Outside North America the 10th digit is usually 0. But it still doesn’t give me an answer on model year.

I was always under the impression that ALL e53 models were produced at the Spartanburg plant in the USA. Later X5 models were produced in other locations (Russia, Thailand, India etc.) but not the e53. :confused:

So talljames, where WAS your e53 produced? :dunno:

Yes, that is correct Spartanburg, USA / BMW AG. Maybe it depends on what market it is made for. Then again I am only going on the reference off wikipedia but it does seem to have some decent references at the bottom of it.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vehicl...%20usually%200

I suspect that is our key.

What would be Intersting AF is to check the VIN on that smooth top '06 manual from the Craigslist thread. Might answer some questions.

Edit:

And looky there:

The VIN from the add is 5UXFA13516LB09998

A '6' on a smooth top! W in the actual F? :wow:

Weren't all E53s including RHD built in the US (Spartanburg SC) or Mexico (Toluca MX)?

I think the Mexico plant was only involved in the armored mods to the e53 security version (adding to an already built vehicle).

So, reading in other forums it is likely 0 represents a car built for European delivery that is imported to Australia instead. This still does not confirm my year of car. I think I am pretty confident it would be labeled as a 2005 given my build date so close to the end of the year.

It would be an '05 in the US. I can also offer that my May and July 2004's are '04 builds. It seems like I remember hearing that September production is considered when the model years 'flip' in the US.

Edit:

Yeah.. Now I know where I read it. Right above! :rofl:

LOL @ the OP not popping back in with the VIN.

My 2006 4.8is also has a 10th digit of "6"

But here's yours talljames.

Attachment 84038

Thanks all. I think we can put this 10th digit of zero to bed unless there is a build mechanic out there from Spartanburg who worked back then and wants to add a comment. Unfortunately, I dont own the thread so cant add resolved to the heading.