What Have I Got?

Here you can talk about the joy owning a Volvo 480 brings. Non-technical discussions take place here, like what is the difference between an ES and a S version.

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yorkievolvo
Knows where Volvo is from
Posts: 127
Joined: Thu Sep 18, 2014 4:34 pm

What Have I Got?

Post by yorkievolvo » Sat Sep 01, 2018 9:32 pm

The V5 for my 480 says 1991, the VIN says 1992 (from Skandix) but there are only 26 fuses in the fuse-box (pre-1992) - so what have I got?
Can anybody elucidate?

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jamescarruthers
480 Is my middle name
Posts: 2501
Joined: Mon Jul 07, 2003 3:19 pm
Location: Cambridge

Re: What Have I Got?

Post by jamescarruthers » Sun Sep 02, 2018 6:29 am

http://www.volvo-480-europe.org/volvo480/vin_reader.php

Copied from the main site:

Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)

Example: XLBEX313ESC593307

Position Example Purpose
1-3 XLB Manufacturer code
4 E Car type
5 X Safety standard
6-7 31 Engine type
8 3 Transmission type
9 E Verification
10 S Modelyear
11 C Factory
12-17 593307 Chassisnumber

Manufacturer code:
XLB = Volvo Cars Netherlands

Car type:
E = 480

Safety standard:
X = 3 point seat belts
Y = 3 point seat belts + seat belt pretensioners
C = 3 point seat belts + airbag + seat belt pretensioners

Engine type:
01 = B18K-102
02 = B18KP-111
03 = B18E(S)-105
04 = B18E(D)-104
05 = B18FT(M)-107
06 = B18FT(M)-107
07 = B18K(D)-102
14 = B18E-104
17 = B16F-109
18 = B18F-106
19 = B18FT-107
31 = B20F-208

Transmission type:
3 = 5-speed manual gearbox
5 = 4-speed automatic gearbox with lock-up
6 = CVT (sadly?) not in any 480

Verification:
E = Europe

Modelyear:
G = 1986
H = 1987
J = 1988
K = 1989
L = 1990
M = 1991
N = 1992
O = France (all years)
P = 1993
R = 1994
S = 1995

Factory:
C = NedCar, Born (Netherlands)

Chassisnumber:
500000 - 501200 = 1986
501200 - 517501 = 1987
517501 - 536101 = 1988
536101 - 549001 = 1989
549001 - 563101 = 1990
563101 - 573100 = 1991
573100 - 581000 = 1992
581000 - 586300 = 1993
586300 - 590001 = 1994
590001 - = 1995
Looking at all this, our example VIN belongs to a 1995 Volvo 480 with a 2-liter (B20F) engine and manual gearbox and was built in 1995.
1987 Volvo 480 ES, 507274, 217 - Red (Ness)
2006 Citroen C6 Exclusive 3.0 petrol/LPG
2008 Mini Cooper convertible (Mau)

Previous 480's:
J123 CFU -- ES
J449 MNL -- ES auto
D864 CPV -- ES
L691 JFC -- Turbo
F70 MNR -- ES
H858 FGV -- Turbo auto
E981 KHM -- ES (509849)

eye of ra
Can tell where the 480 was built
Posts: 355
Joined: Tue Dec 04, 2012 7:33 pm
Location: Derbyshire

Re: What Have I Got?

Post by eye of ra » Sun Sep 02, 2018 9:55 am

Model Year and Registration Year are two different things. The V5 is Registration Year and VIN is Model Year (a better term would probably be Model Number or Build Number to stop confusion but that would be to sensible).

When I worked for a Volvo dealer the Model Year could change very early in the Registration Year before and many Model Years didn't last a year, some were longer, some shorter.

As far as parts go always go with the VIN (Model Year).

The 32 Fuse Box came in at chassis 581012 Model Year 93 therefore some cars registered in 92 will have it.

Also when it comes to Engine Type the main site is not totally correct.

18 can be B18F with engine 106 (-89) but can also be B18FP with engine 115 (90-)
14 can be B18E with engine 104 (-89) but can also be B18EP with engine 115 (90-)
Current:
480 ES Auto 1989
480 Celebration 187
480 ES Auto 1991
CLK430 Conv 2001
Hyundai i10 2015

eye of ra
Can tell where the 480 was built
Posts: 355
Joined: Tue Dec 04, 2012 7:33 pm
Location: Derbyshire

Re: What Have I Got?

Post by eye of ra » Sun Sep 02, 2018 11:56 am

The main site is also not quite right when it comes to Model Year changes, they should be

500000 - 501199 = 1986
501200 - 517500 = 1987
517501 - 536100 = 1988
536101 - 549000 = 1989
549001 - 563100 = 1990
563101 - 573099 = 1991
573100 - 580999 = 1992
581000 - 586299 = 1993
586300 - 590000 = 1994
590001 - = 1995

According to Vadis.

Also while working for said Volvo dealer on one occasion we registered as NEW an S60 about 5 years after it had been built so if you ordered parts using the V5 Registration Year you got facelift parts that would not fit the 5 year older pre-facelift car. Extreme example I know but you should always order parts from VIN Model Year.
Current:
480 ES Auto 1989
480 Celebration 187
480 ES Auto 1991
CLK430 Conv 2001
Hyundai i10 2015

yorkievolvo
Knows where Volvo is from
Posts: 127
Joined: Thu Sep 18, 2014 4:34 pm

Re: What Have I Got?

Post by yorkievolvo » Sun Sep 02, 2018 9:52 pm

Gentlemen, thank you for the information.
However, I didn't make my point very clear: my car is registered in 1991 but, according to the VIN, the car didn't exist in 1991.
The letter corresponding to the year of manufacture is 'N', i.e., 1992 and the chassis number - 573169 - agrees with 1992.
From where does the DVLA get their information? Also, should I put them right?
Actually, putting them right is a moot point as I, accidentally, may have told them, already.
Anyway, to summarise what I've learned: refer to the VIN when ordering spares and ignore the V5.

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jamescarruthers
480 Is my middle name
Posts: 2501
Joined: Mon Jul 07, 2003 3:19 pm
Location: Cambridge

Re: What Have I Got?

Post by jamescarruthers » Mon Sep 03, 2018 5:27 am

I wouldn't bother trying to communicate with the DVLA. I tried to get them to correct the engine size on my last 480. It is 1721cc like all the rest but they had it down as 1758cc or something. What was clearly explained as a typo they wanted to complicate with technical reports on the car. It's like they couldn't see sense. I simply ignored them and regretted ever starting correspondence.

I am dreading getting in to re-issuing latest 480's original number plate!
1987 Volvo 480 ES, 507274, 217 - Red (Ness)
2006 Citroen C6 Exclusive 3.0 petrol/LPG
2008 Mini Cooper convertible (Mau)

Previous 480's:
J123 CFU -- ES
J449 MNL -- ES auto
D864 CPV -- ES
L691 JFC -- Turbo
F70 MNR -- ES
H858 FGV -- Turbo auto
E981 KHM -- ES (509849)

eye of ra
Can tell where the 480 was built
Posts: 355
Joined: Tue Dec 04, 2012 7:33 pm
Location: Derbyshire

Re: What Have I Got?

Post by eye of ra » Mon Sep 03, 2018 8:28 am

As I mentioned Model Year and Registration Year are not the same.

If my time with Volvo in the 00’s is anything to go by Model Year 92 could have been received by the dealer as early as April/May 1991 and registered very soon after. Model Year actually has nothing to do with the actual year it was built and is really just a Build or Design Number.

The dealer will register the car with the DVLA at the point of sale and has no bearing on when it was built. As with my S60 example above (not the same as your issue but explains the principle) built sometime in 2002, Model Year 03 (VIN), sat in field for 5 years, sold by dealer and first registered in 2008 so V5 and DVLA info will be Registration Year 2008, Number Plate example AB58CDE, implying car was “NEW” in 2008 when actually it was built around 6 years earlier, customer did know and got the car at a very reduced price I hasten to add.

The DVLA info you have for your car will be correct as it’s when the car was first registered not when it was built or its Model Year.

Looking at your chassis number your car would have been built in the first few months of 1991 and is the 69th car of Design Number 92 and probably registered mid/late 1991.

Hope that explains it a bit better.
Last edited by eye of ra on Tue Sep 04, 2018 10:23 am, edited 1 time in total.
Current:
480 ES Auto 1989
480 Celebration 187
480 ES Auto 1991
CLK430 Conv 2001
Hyundai i10 2015

yorkievolvo
Knows where Volvo is from
Posts: 127
Joined: Thu Sep 18, 2014 4:34 pm

Re: What Have I Got?

Post by yorkievolvo » Mon Sep 03, 2018 6:02 pm

Once Again Gentlemen,
thanks for the info.
Jamie - you have my sympathy, although, probably, it won't be any help when dealing with the DVLA.
eye of ra - I've got it now! It's obvious really, it's the chassis number wot matters, but use the VIN when ordering parts - yeah, right.

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