Does VIN help you identify model year?

[richardfrost]

I am looking to get a new front bumper vof my '05 Jazz but it seems there was a facelift in 2005 and I am not sure which one to get now.

Does anyone know how to tell the difference, or if it even matters? Does the VIN number help?

Thanks.

[Steve_M]

Tenth digit of the VIN will identify the model year.

Post face lift had the honey comb front grill and the aero lumps at the bottom corners of the bumper.

[guest4871]

A good way to guess the month of production (not model year) is to seek out the latest date on the plastic mouldings on the car. Usually accurate to +/- a month. Sometimes the seat belt labels are a clue.

[richardfrost]

Tenth digit of the VIN will identify the model year.

Post face lift had the honey comb front grill and the aero lumps at the bottom corners of the bumper.

Can you tell from these pics?

[Steve_M]

That's a Facelift model 2005-2008

[richardfrost]

That's a Facelift model 2005-2008

Thanks Steve. I had been browsing pics online and came to the same conclusion. There are also two more Jazzes on my street (of just 17 houses) which are a 2006 and a 2008 and I was going to look at them. The 2006 is a 'Sport' so not helpful but the 2008 is the same.

The settlement figure for our car, plus the scrap value of it (including original CAT) comes to about £1000 for which I could get a whole car. But the thing is, there would be no knowing the history of that car. Whereas we have had this car since November 2013, so coming on 8 years. So I think it is worth the price of a £100 (or so) bumper and £250 labour to rejig and repair.

[guest4871]

Sounds good to me.