Model Year - Vin Identification

[randolph]

Hello,

How can I pin down exactly what model spec I have?

I have allegedly purchased a Megane 1.6vv Dynamique 5 door on a 58 plate and supposedly a 2009 model year. (According to the dealer's advert).

However the tenth digit of the Vin number is 3 indicating that it is an 2003 model year.

Could this be right? Also a couple of Vin checkers I have done on t'internet have thrown it up as a 2007 model year. If that were the case would it not come with built in Cruise Control with automatic lights and wipers? It has none of these.

Comparing other pictures I have seen of the 2006 model release I would say the front end grill and the headlight shape on mine certainly look the same as the 2006 onwards shape. The wheels look the same too.

This is very confusing I'm even beginning to wonder if I have the 'Dynamic' spec at all. Also the 1.6 petrol engine seems very lacklustre for 111 bhp so I am beginning to suspect this too. Is the a way I can pin down these details for once and for all?

I have the V5C2 form at present which just states 'Megane Dynamique' for the model type. The date of the first registration is 01.01.2009.

Confused.

[AlexB]

The model year and the production year are different things. The facelift for Megane 2 occurred in 2004, and this was the most visible although technically insignificant thing. At some point later new trims were defined and some cars received downgraded front calipers and arguably unnecessary gadgets. The auto lights, auto dimming mirror and auto wipers existed since the very beginning in the UK, but I'm not sure about Dynamique trim. I don't think Dynamique had the auto-dimming mirrors and cruse control as standard in 2003. I wouldn't be worried about what you're worried about and focussed on a few cheap improvements that make the car fun to drive: tyres, wiper blades, brakes, engine, gearbox oil - in about this order. Check if the belts were changed and put some decent oil in the engine in order to avoid expensive repairs!

[randolph]

Thanks, but now I've got the car, call me old fashioned, but I'd like to know exactly what I have got.

All the details I have about this car - be it paperwork to the lack of decals and model descriptors on the bodywork - seem so damn vague.

For all I know I may not even have a 'Dynamique' model or the 1.6 petrol engine it seems so gutless and as for the 'VV', well god knows what that means.

I admit I bought this car for the wrong reasons. It is economical to run, it was cheap for a '58 plate, it was a low miler with full setvice history and one previous owner, and for a gutless runaround, it is quite nice and solidly built but god this bloody French documentation is so appaulling.

In my experience it DOES matter what the model year is. A previous car I had, a Mondeo on a 2004 plate, was actually a 2002 model and TWICE there was a problem with wrong parts when replacing the exhaust over axle U pipe which cost me dear. The design differed between the two model years.

[randolph]

By the way I've just found an "EC Certificate of Conformity Complete Vehicles" whatever the hell that is, in amongst all the documentation.

It is dated from May 2007.

[randolph]

Plenty of views but not many replies!

[tanto12]

all details of the car spec can usually be found on the sticker on the b pillar of the drivers door it will list trim and paint codes amongst others google the codes to see what trim they relate to

[randolph]

all details of the car spec can usually be found on the sticker on the b pillar of the drivers door it will list trim and paint codes amongst others google the codes to see what trim they relate to

I've done all that. That's why I posted on here. All google searches tell you are what aspects the individual codes relate to. For instance EA3 is the trim code or that SAN913 is the equipment code. Well what the hell does that mean?

There seesm to be unanswered froum posts all over the internet asking similar questions.

Anyway I phoned Renault UK 5 days ago as I was unable to register on their website with my car registration or Vin number. Their database would not recognise eiher numbers. The customer services woman looked up my Vin and apparently the car first appeared in Cyprus where it was registered in June 2007. That my explain why I have a EC certificate date May 2007. Oh and apparently it has had no service recalls.

Renault were going to look into this with their Cyprus operation to try and find out more information but it takes up to 5 working days which isn't up until the day after tomorrow. They will then phone me back.

[randolph]

Ok, so Renualt came back to me as they said they would.

Still doesn't explain much. Date of manufacture they say was May 2007 and it is a Megane series 2.

So why is the 10th VIN digit 3 indicating an '03 model year ?

They also confirmed it's an 111Bhp 1.6 Dynamique VVT. Interestingly they have given me a 10 digit version number too whatever that designates. All this they have kindly put in writing for the purposes of informing insurance company.

Shame it's all shrouded in such mystery. Bit more transparency on Renault's behalf wouldn't go amiss.