How would I go about recognising if a Ford Focus has been imported?... what
kind of things would I look for?
I have even tried to look on google to see if the VIN no. interpretation
would tell me but I can't find enough detail on its 17 digit structure.
ta
Bob Minchin - 05 Nov 2006 20:01 GMT
> How would I go about recognising if a Ford Focus has been imported?... what
> kind of things would I look for?
> I have even tried to look on google to see if the VIN no. interpretation
> would tell me but I can't find enough detail on its 17 digit structure.
> ta
VIN number can only tell you directly where it was made not which country it
was built for. Characters 7 &8 GC =Germany, WP = Spain.
A Ford dealer might have a breakdown of the individual serial numbers - last
five digits.
HTH
Bob
You Rang? - 05 Nov 2006 20:56 GMT
> How would I go about recognising if a Ford Focus has been imported?...
> what kind of things would I look for?
> I have even tried to look on google to see if the VIN no. interpretation
> would tell me but I can't find enough detail on its 17 digit structure.
> ta
steering wheel on the wrong side!!! :)
Most the time it is spec levels
Uk one's are often higher spec than on mainland Europe
If its a parallel import don't worry as it will be UK spec
Adder - 06 Nov 2006 10:16 GMT
https://www.fleet.ford.com/maintenance/vin_tools/default.asp
biggirlsblouse je napisao/la:
> How would I go about recognising if a Ford Focus has been imported?... what
> kind of things would I look for?
> I have even tried to look on google to see if the VIN no. interpretation
> would tell me but I can't find enough detail on its 17 digit structure.
> ta
Mike Hunter - 06 Nov 2006 18:52 GMT
You do not say where you live but Ford does not import Focus' into the US,
all Focus' sold in the US are currently made in the US. As an aside the
first number of the VIN reveals the county or origin. '1' is the US, '2' is
Canada, '3' is Mexico, '4' is US with more than 40%, but less than 70%, of
total American content (not only parts.) '5' is US with less than 40%
American content (not only parts.) 'J' is Japan. 'I'M is Korea. I do not
recall at the moment the letter designation for the European counties
however.
mike hunt
> How would I go about recognising if a Ford Focus has been imported?...
> what kind of things would I look for?
> I have even tried to look on google to see if the VIN no. interpretation
> would tell me but I can't find enough detail on its 17 digit structure.
> ta
biggirlsblouse - 06 Nov 2006 19:26 GMT
> You do not say where you live but Ford does not import Focus' into the US,
> all Focus' sold in the US are currently made in the US. As an aside the
[quoted text clipped - 12 lines]
>> would tell me but I can't find enough detail on its 17 digit structure.
>> ta
Sorry...it was the uk, and european specced vehicles aren't as well equiped
as uk ones. Also spares are difficult to source in the uk which is the more
imprtant issue.
My vin no. begins *WF05XXWPDM4.....
RWA - 06 Nov 2006 19:48 GMT
>> You do not say where you live but Ford does not import Focus' into the US,
>> all Focus' sold in the US are currently made in the US. As an aside the
[quoted text clipped - 17 lines]
> imprtant issue.
> My vin no. begins *WF05XXWPDM4.....
Don't know where you got yours from, but mine came in via Spain
and <was> to a full UK Spec, RHD 16v 3 door Zetec, Climate and Reflex
packs, all paperwork present and correct and a saving of 3500 UKP - the
only difference was that the Service record was in Spanish, but the
mechanic had been on holiday there so he could understand it OK! ;-)
Which spares do you reckon are different on European cars? - I can't
honestly see Ford making different cars for European markets as opposed
to ones for the UK (ignoring LHD/RHD issues)
Adder - 07 Nov 2006 08:53 GMT
> Sorry...it was the uk, and european specced vehicles aren't as well equiped
> as uk ones. Also spares are difficult to source in the uk which is the more
> imprtant issue.
> My vin no. begins *WF05XXWPDM4.....
Check this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Ford_VIN_codes#European_Ford
What do you mean with "european specced vehicles aren't as well equiped
as uk ones"?
Pop-N-Fresh - 11 Nov 2006 16:41 GMT
wrong.... my 2000 zx3 was imported from hermisillo mexico.... as were
all ZX3's
> You do not say where you live but Ford does not import Focus' into the US,
> all Focus' sold in the US are currently made in the US. As an aside the
[quoted text clipped - 12 lines]
> > would tell me but I can't find enough detail on its 17 digit structure.
> > ta
Roarmeister - 11 Nov 2006 19:40 GMT
>> > How would I go about recognising if a Ford Focus has been imported?...
>> > what kind of things would I look for?
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
>> recall at the moment the letter designation for the European counties
>> however.
This should help.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vehicle_identification_number
>wrong.... my 2000 zx3 was imported from hermisillo mexico.... as were
>all ZX3's
Fixed the post(s).
BTW, aren't ALL of the hatchbacks assembled in Mexico not just the
ZX3? The sedans and wagons are assembled in Detroit. My ZX5 was
"born" in Mexico validated by the "3" in my VIN.
Pop-N-Fresh - 11 Nov 2006 20:35 GMT
the zx3 zx5 and the SVT are all all mexican... i even found a small
bottle of opened tequila inside mine when i folded the rear seats
foward .
> >> > How would I go about recognising if a Ford Focus has been imported?...
> >> > what kind of things would I look for?
[quoted text clipped - 22 lines]
> ZX3? The sedans and wagons are assembled in Detroit. My ZX5 was
> "born" in Mexico validated by the "3" in my VIN.
Phil Jones - 06 Nov 2006 19:32 GMT
As the original owner of a parallel import there are a couple of places to
go looking:
1. In the original Log Book (if you have it). The supplying (foreign) dealer
should complete that section and stamp the pre-delivery inspection section.
2. The certificate of conformity is often in the language of the supplying
dealer (mine is in french)
3. Ask the DVLA or Revenue and Customs (from whom the VAT demand would have
come from)
As several posters have already said, if it's a parallel import, the vehicle
should be a UK spec car that was built for the UK market but was supplied
via a foreign dealer rather than a UK dealer. Apart from how it got to the
UK, it's identical. If, however, it is not a UK spec car, you may have
issues with insurance and resale value later on. You can always check old
spec sheets to find what your model should and should not have had and see
whether there is a match.
> How would I go about recognising if a Ford Focus has been imported?...
> what kind of things would I look for?
> I have even tried to look on google to see if the VIN no. interpretation
> would tell me but I can't find enough detail on its 17 digit structure.
> ta