TheSamba.com :: View topic - M-code plate help

Sun Oct 01, 2006 5:36 am

The book - VW and Transporter Specification Guide 1967-1979 by Vincent Molnaar and Alexander Prinz - doesn't specify an A19 code for 1972. In fact, there is no A19 group code listed for any year except 1971.

For 1971, A19 includes:
020 - speedo and odo in miles
026 - With activated carbon container for absorbing fuel vapour (USA - California)
089- laminated windscreen glass
102 - Rear-window heating
181 - Chrome hubcaps
206 - Inner rear view mirror - anti-dazzle
506 - Brake servo and dual circuit brake control lamp
507 - Ventilation windows in cabin doors
511 - Padded dashboard and dashboard lid (not for RHD)
517 - factory prepared for campmobile interior
524 - USA and Canada specifications
525 - Seatbelts for USA and Canada

Also, the destination code on your plate - 066 - indicates Furth, Germany.
So, its a North American spec westy that was delivered to Germany? (and not part of the tourist pickup program). Doesn't seem to make sense.

Maybe take a pic of the plate and email it to one of the authors - his email is given on this webpage - http://www.type2.com/m-codes/

Sun Oct 01, 2006 10:51 pm

Thanks for the info. Did some surfing and discovered there is a military base in Furth. Thereis a VW dealer sticker from Nuremburg, and a USA oval country sticker on the back hatch. Guessing a soldier ordered the van and eventually brought it back to the states with him/her.

Fri Oct 13, 2006 5:01 am

Hi All,
this thread is great. Got myself a 77 Sopru Compmobile (Australian camper conversion). I just found the M-Code plate (My other busses don't have them). Stoked to finally have something to decode!!

Here is mine;

82 027 429
612 616
J6J677 A97 026 103 508

37 5 7327 AU 2340 31

That is pretty much as it appears on the plate. Hope you guys don't mind decoding it. Would be a great help. Your first Aussie bus in the thread.

Rob J

Sun Oct 15, 2006 8:58 am

From the book - VW and Transporter Specification Guide 1967-1979 by Vincent Molnaar and Alexander Prinz. There are a couple codes you give that aren't defined, A97, 103, and AU.

It would appear you have a '78 model year.

82 - 8 stands for 1978, 2 for Type 2
027429 - chassis number
612 - Without diagnosis plug connection and wiring
616 - Reversing lights (built in with rearlight units)

J6J6 - body and roof colour - Neptune blue
77 - interior code - Canyon brown Leatherette material '76-'78

A97- group code - note there is no group code A97 listed for '77 or '78 years. Only year is '73 that lists A97.

026 - with activated charcoal container for absorbing fuel vapour '76-'79 Austrailia
103 - No M-code listed (for any year)
508 - One sliding window in sliding door and one in the opposite side panel of the passenger compartment Model 22,23 years '78-'79
37 5 - planned production date of 37th week, day 5 (16/09/77)
7327 - number for production planning

AU - this export destination code is undefined - book gives Austrailian codes as Brisbane - AD; Adelaide - AE; Freemantle - AF; Melbourne - AS.

2340 - type 2 (2), Kombi (3), RHD, sliding door left (4), standard version (0)

31 - engine code 3 - Type 4 2.0L; trans (1) - 4 speed manual

Sun Oct 15, 2006 10:37 am

On the type II list,
103 = Heavy duty shocks on both front and rear
A97 = a group of codes for 73~74 models: 616 (you already have on plate) and 074 = mud flaps on rear. By any chance do you have mud flaps?
AU = out of luck. Are you sure you wrote that one down correctly?

Cheers,
Dave

Sun Oct 15, 2006 10:49 am

I wonder why 103 didn't make it into the book? Also, I noticed the A97 code for '73 in the book, but as he has a 78, it shouldn't apply, and the 616 is already a separate code.

Sun Oct 15, 2006 11:03 am

dwill49965 wrote: I wonder why 103 didn't make it into the book? Also, I noticed the A97 code for '73 in the book, but as he has a 78, it shouldn't apply, and the 616 is already a separate code.

That's why I asked about the mud flaps; mistakes can happen, eh?

Sun Oct 15, 2006 11:38 am

Hi Guys,
Great, thanks for that.
Yes, it does have front & rear flaps, reverse lights, sliding windows & looks to have heavy duty shocks. I had just assumed "AU" meant Australia. That is an abbreviation we use all the time. I double checked all the codes, as I wanted to be 100% certain.

Funny how they list A97 as a package, but then have 616 on there as well?
We used to have a VW plant here in Victoria, where Kombis were built, but I think it was 75 or 76 it closed down. After that, all vehicles were again fully imported. Maybe there is an Australian only M-code list? I grabbed them off my 74 Micro as well, but NONE of them appear in the list????? I will get the whole plate & post it up for you to see.

The 77 is 100% unrestored original & in excellent condition. The only thing missing, is the "Sopru" conversions, fitted front roof rack... BUT, We had a car show down here in Hobart yesterday (Sunday) & I had 3 busses there. 2 splits & the Camper. Just chilling out, when a lady came up & started asking questions about where I got the bus. Turns out, her & husband where the second owners!! I asked if they had the roof rack by any chance & they replied they did!! How lucky was that? They don't usually go to car shows, but they saw the bus from across the road (Where they live!) & came over to ask about it!
I hope to pick it up soon.

Again, thanks for the help with the codes, guys. Much appreciated. We do not have access to as much info as you do in the States.

Regards,
Rob J

Sun Oct 15, 2006 11:43 am

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can you help me decode my m-plate, what is the "e" all about on the 1st line?

Sun Oct 15, 2006 2:02 pm

32 - 1973. type 2
056739 - chassis number
E - denotes a bus built in Emden, Germany (instead of Hannover)

0202 - body and roof colour - Savanna Beige, L620
51 - interior code - Dark Beige, Leatherette. '69-'76

D03 - group code for 1973 includes:
020 - speedo and odo in miles
068 - two front towing hooks
089- laminated windscreen glass
102 - Rear-window heating
113 - Admittance plate for Canada, models 21-23(LHD)
141 - with heater outlet under middle bench seat
161 - seats in cabin with mounting for headrests
172 - tubeless steel ply tires
185 - seatbelts for all factory mounted seats in cabin and in passenger compartment
206 - inner rear view mirror, anti-dazzle
235 - mountings for headrests for all seats in passenger compartment
506 - Brake servo and dual circuit brake control lamp
507 - Ventilation windows in cabin doors
511 - Padded dashboard and dashboard lid (not for RHD)
524 - USA and Canada specifications

507 - see above
508 - Ventilation window in sliding door and in all windows opposite sliding door in the passenger compartment, Models 22-24, '68-'77

45 1 - 45th week of production, 1st day (06/11/72)
7986 - number for production planning

UB - destination code - United States, Columbus via Baltimore
2316 - type 2, kombi, LHD, sliding door right, Seat arrangement 2-0-3
41 - engine type 4 - 1.7L, manual transmission - 4 speed

There's a bit of repetition here, and I don't know why they have 113, but thats what the book says.

Sun Oct 15, 2006 2:12 pm

that is so bada$$, thank you so much! book? you have a book on this?
i do have a few quick questions for you. can you explain what these mean?

113 - Admittance plate for Canada, models 21-23(LHD)
511 - Padded dashboard and dashboard lid (not for RHD)

0202 - body and roof colour - Savanna Beige, L620
does that mean my van color is beige? the paint code is Kasanrot L 30 B?

Sun Oct 15, 2006 2:20 pm

Dwill actually knows those right off the top of his head. He is something amazing. :shock:

Laminated glass was not a requirement for everywhere buses went, but a requirement in the USA and Canada.

Looks like it may have been pre-approved to go to Canada.

Padded dashes and glvoe comaprtment door was a slo a requirement in the US and Canada but not everywhere else.

Sun Oct 15, 2006 2:43 pm

vwhippie wrote: that is so bada$$, thank you so much! book? you have a book on this?
i do have a few quick questions for you. can you explain what these mean?

113 - Admittance plate for Canada, models 21-23(LHD)
511 - Padded dashboard and dashboard lid (not for RHD)

0202 - body and roof colour - Savanna Beige, L620
does that mean my van color is beige? the paint code is Kasanrot L 30 B?

Sun Oct 15, 2006 3:14 pm

Randy in Maine wrote: Dwill actually knows those right off the top of his head. He is something amazing. :shock:

Nah - I just look it up in the book, although I am getting to know a few of them by memory. Its the least I can do to help contribute to the forum, where I've gotten so much for so little.

vwhippie wrote: ... book? you have a book on this?

Yes, and what a book!! Its worth it for so much more than just the M-codes. I highly recommend it. "VW Transporter and Microbus Specification Guide 1967-1979" by Vincent Molenaar and Alexander Prinz. Do a search on amazon.com and it should come right up.

As for your paint code question - the book says 0202 is savanna beige, but for years '68-'70, and that 0206 is Kasanrot - Kasan Red, L30B for 1973. Obviously, your bus is red. So, it looks like there's the odd discrepancy - maybe a mistake at the factory, as earlier posters have commented.

Sun Oct 15, 2006 4:13 pm

dwill49965 wrote: Its the least I can do to help contribute to the forum, where I've gotten so much for so little.

i know what you mean. i've gotten so much help here, with the little time i've spent, and with so few topics i've submited. With nice, freindly people like yourself i know i can never go wrong. Thanx

Sun Oct 22, 2006 12:54 pm

hey,
here's my m-plate

72 130 019

060 547 690 731

915 741 GTK LLE VV4 Z05

14 4 7463 121 2319 01

I've got most of it sussed, but the bold sections above have me lost. I've been back to the plate a few times and I'm fairly sure I have it right. The GTK could be 6TK. Havn't managed to get a photo yet

I can provide vehicle basics to aid deciphering, but figured you'd enjoy the challenge :D

Thanks for any help with this.

Kenny

Sun Oct 22, 2006 2:32 pm

dwill49965 wrote: Yes, and what a book!! Its worth it for so much more than just the M-codes. I highly recommend it. "VW Transporter and Microbus Specification Guide 1967-1979" by Vincent Molenaar and Alexander Prinz. Do a search on amazon.com and it should come right up.

I recently picked this book up on Darryl's reccomendation, and I second every good thing he has to say about it. It covers everything from m-codes, paint and interior, production dates, special models and even detail changes from year to year. I just recently got my '68 and even with all the great info on The Samba I have learned alot with this book.

Shane

Mon Oct 23, 2006 1:02 pm

77westyberlin wrote: hey,
here's my m-plate

72 130 019

060 547 690 731

915 741 GTK LLE VV4 Z05

14 4 7463 121 2319 01

I've got most of it sussed, but the bold sections above have me lost. I've been back to the plate a few times and I'm fairly sure I have it right. The GTK could be 6TK. Havn't managed to get a photo yet

I can provide vehicle basics to aid deciphering, but figured you'd enjoy the challenge :D

Thanks for any help with this.

Kenny
I don't think GTK, LLE, and VV4 are valid codes - at least they're not in the book. Also, 731 was not in the book, although there are 700 series codes that are special body codes, such as 734, 736, 737, but no 731.

I do recognize Z05 right off the bat - I got my trip odometer speedo and clock out of a bus in NS with that same m-code plate option.

72 - 1977. type 2
130019 - chassis number

060 - Eberspacher BA6 petrol heater (LHD) (fitted under cargo floor)
547 - Extra rust prevention treatment
690 - Passenger seat in cabin as swivelling seat without metal partition behind this seat Model: 211, 221, 231, 234 Years: '76-'79
731 - unidentified "special body" code.

9157 - body and roof colour - Marinogelb Dach PastellweiB, Chrome yellow, roof pastel white, L21H/L90D. Rmks: from VIN 2x72 079 872
41 - interior code - Camping Green Red, Clth, '76-'78, Wesfalia campmobiles

Z05 - group code for '73-'79 containing:
025 - trip km counter and clock
162 - rubber moldings on bumpers front and back
507 - ventilation windows in cabin doors
616 - back up lamps

14 4 - 14th week of production, 4th day (07/04/77)
7463 - production code
121 - destination code - VW-Audi Vertriebszentrum (distribution center) Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel
2319 - type 2, kombi, LHD, sliding door right, campmobile
0 - engine type 4 - 2.0L, Fuel injection
1 - manual transmission - 4 speed

Tue Oct 24, 2006 1:50 am

cheers Darryl,

i'll have another look and confirm those mystery codes, maybe have to do a little pencil tracing!!

What would 'back-up lights' have included??

kenny

Wed Dec 06, 2006 3:38 am

Hi again,
OK dwill49965 & daves_ale, I have another one for you guys.
I think it is a rare (In Australia) bus. It is a 1973 Westfalia VW-Continental, RHD from factory, & I assume as they all were, a genuine Sliding sunroof bus (These are mega rare in Australia).

Here is the M-Code plate as it reads.

32 000 013 (1973 type 2?? & it is number 13 bus??)
518
060650
020 061 094 187
EN
3249 11

I assume the EN is for England. Any other info would be greatly appreciated.

Also, on the VIN plate. It says TYP23-517
What does the 517 mean?

Regards,
Rob J