78 captured repliesDiscussion pagination complete · Source accounts, not a confirmed diagnosis
THIS DISCUSSION / SOURCE-DERIVED OVERVIEW
Discussion summary
YOUR RESEARCHWho's got the earliest 996 !
Leading reported evidence
Install options
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1
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Performed · outcome unconfirmed
It will list your VIN, Build Date (although in many cases you can subtract one month because of the time to process the original paperwork when the car was built), all of the serial numbers for the major compenents like engine and transmission, the original sticker price, and a comprehensive list of all of the installed options on that car.
Leading evidence: 'Install options' (no explicit attributable resolution; this is a reported action or suggestion). Across 1 matching discussions, the most frequently mentioned possible cause is 'best way' (1 discussions; 0 report identifying it and 1 suggest it). The most frequently discussed action is 'Install options' (1 discussions). For that action, 0 discussions report a resolution and 0 report an unsuccessful attempt. No action has an explicit, attributable resolution report under the current rules. These are forum reports and suggestions, not a confirmed diagnosis.
Source reports, not a diagnosis or a success probability. Counts refer to discussions and can overlap.
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1
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Performed · outcome unconfirmed
So I have used 204 as my car # for the last 9+ years.
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
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Suspected cause · Original poster
The build date is probably the best way, but not eveyone has them
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
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Suggestion
Yes the lettering is difrent, but it won't change the fact that there just isn't enough numbers.
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
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Suggestion
Not sure thou, that you can use the last 4 digits to determinate the age?
These are separate views of the same evidence. Frequency alone does not establish a fix, and these counts must not be added together.
Install options
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
It will list your VIN, Build Date (although in many cases you can subtract one month because of the time to process the original paperwork when the car was built), all of the serial numbers for the major compenents like engine and transmission, the original sticker price, and a comprehensive list of all of the installed options on that car.
Counts describe captured discussions, not unique people or a diagnosis. Author identities are not reliably stored. Exact duplicate evidence is counted once across matching discussions; one discussion counts at most once per action/state. Multiple repairs reported together remain a combination. Suggestions and failed attempts do not establish a fix. Matches cover whole discussions and can include related faults, model variants and incomplete threads.
78 eligible posts · 0 unverified posts · 1 discussions match the subject in their title or opening post.
Rennlist: 1 discussions
0 evidence records excluded for query context · 0 excluded by outcome qualification · 0 adjusted by outcome qualification.
0 acknowledgements have no verified action link; they do not establish a repair result.
Generation: 20261027T064914Z · outcome-qualification-6. Deterministic extraction; no AI model inference. How we use sources
Post your VIN number, mileage and build date (if you have it). If you post it in the format below so i can cut and paste, I'll update this original post with the rankings.
First 996 model made had vin. # 4XS620061
RedBarn...................................60 6055 *156 000kms(earliest based on VIN - Europe ROW)
speed rII.......WP0ZZZ99ZWS 60 2453 119k km's ~73k miles
nineelleben...........................XS 62 0083 (earliest based on VIN - NA)
bullet031........WP0AA 29 9 3XS 62 0161 64K miles/103k km 1/98
DTmiller.................................... 62 0231 Mileage 90,512 build date 1/98(earliest based on reported build date)
coinboy..........WP0AA 29 94 XS 62 0265 with 89,000 miles on it now.That means 4XS620265 would have been the 204th relinuca...........WP0CA 29 9 3XS 65 0446, 68K, build=5/15/1998
Invius.............WP0AA 29 9 5XS 62 0694 82k miles
AceLucas ................................62 0980 Build Date 3/98 55K Miles
dcdreschel.............................xs 65 1131
trapperdog......WP0AA 29 9 8XS 62 2424 April 1998, 33,xxx miles
996_North......WP0AA 29 9 1XS 62 2622 83K Miles
etwd..............WP0AA 29 9 7XS 62 3077 Build Date: 6/98 52K
shark attack ...........................62 3330 7/98 151000
Torontoworker. WP0AA 299 XXS 62 3350 Build date 7/98 96K miles (155Kms)
DBjoe996........WP0AA 29 91 XS 62 3365 Man. Date 7/98124,000 miles
frisbee91........ WP0CA 29 9 2XS 65 3408 Build date 12/98
Revn29k00......WP0AA 29 9 2XS 62 4914 12/98 92,OOO KM'S
Thundertub.....WPOAA 29 9 2XS 62 5058 Build date: 12/98
rb101.............WP0AA 29 9 3XS 62 6669 143K miles 11/ 98
re-arranged. assumes last four numbers are serial
http://stuttcars.com/technical/vin-decoder/
http://stuttcars.com/technical/vin-decoder/
Interesting that Thundertub's build date 12/98 is later than rb101's 11/98, but the serial 625058 is actually lower than rb101's 626669. I was expecting them to be more in synch.
relinuica's cab has an early build date 5/98 but even higher VIN.
I guess VINs are assigned well in advance, and then don't follow build sequence very well.
Can someone take a shot of what this sticker looks like? I'd be surprised if mine was repainted. Not saying it's impossible, but doesn't seem probable.
Not the earliest build date but here it is. WPOAA2992XS624914 12/98 92,OOO KM'S. It's great seeing these early build dates. According to Jake Raby he is a fan of these early build 996's
The most interesting way to do that is to go to the Porsche Cars NA website and look through the menu until you find the form to order your Certificate of Authenticity. Yeah, they want a lot of money, but it is SOOOO worth it to have the official document. It will list your VIN, Build Date (although in many cases you can subtract one month because of the time to process the original paperwork when the car was built), all of the serial numbers for the major compenents like engine and transmission, the original sticker price, and a comprehensive list of all of the installed options on that car. And signed by somebody like the COO PCNA.
http://www.porsche.com/usa/accessori...fauthenticity/
Mine is:
WP0AA2994XS620265
with 89,000 miles on it now.
I have owned it for 10+ years and the last 5 it has been complete Race car.
My notes say:
First 996 model made had vin. # 4XS620061
That means 4XS620265 would have been the 204th made.
So I have used 204 as my car # for the last 9+ years.
I don't think you necessarily have the VIN numbers in the correct order. The last 6 digits are the serial number, but not sequential.
First Digit (12th overall) = 6 ; This is the last digit in the "996" designation
Second Digit (13th overall) = Body Type. 2=coupe, 5= cab. others?
Last 4 digits = sequential serial number?
Anyone know more about how they issue these numbers?
Nothing in the thread about whether they are better or not. This is not a tallest midget contest either..just wondering if we have some of the first 996's here on rennlist.
Dude, you can't be a JR disciple SOME of the time...you're either in or out. In all of your other posts you are espousing everything he's ever written..and then you wander over here to **** on a perfectly good post amongst car enthusiasts that has NOTHING do to with you. Go degrease something, or remove your engine for absolutely no valid reason, or find another post to intrude on. Simply put, **** off.
DS
Well, mine is 60 2453. Whole win is on post #20. Maybe you missed it
Not sure thou, that you can use the last 4 digits to determinate the age?
Porsche made 140k 996:s (correct me if I'm wrong)
So after the first 9999, did they start all over??
Yes the lettering is difrent, but it won't change the fact that there just isn't enough numbers.
I missed yours completely ! Looks like another Europe / ROW number as well. We can't really use it to determine the age, because apparently some series were run and held over. The Cab serial sequence looks different all together, and does not synch with the build daet. The build date is probably the best way, but not eveyone has them
In Service Date is the day that the car was first sold and delivered to a "civilian" customer (not a dealer trade or just transferring from factory to distributor to dealers for inventory).
My "In Service Date" is actually about 4 months after my build date, because the car was not pre-ordered by a customer but rather was ordered by the dealer for inventory, and then it took a little bit of time for the first owner to purchase my specific car. So the car can potentially sit on the lot a few days or several months.
Again, your build date may be on a sticker on the drivers side door jamb, on the option stickers (1 under the front trunk lip, 1 inside the front cover of the original owners manual or Warranty Book), and also available by ordering a Certificate of Authenticity from Porsche (via their website).
I just bought my 1999 996 today, my first Porsche and I'm pretty excited. It has many flaws but that just gives it character. I just drove it home 200 miles and it ran great. I just looked at the door and noticed the 1/98 build date and figured it must be an early one. My VIN ends in 620108.
Thinking of buying a 996 with VIN WP0ZZZ99ZWS600301, and first registered in 13.October.1997.
I read that there were only 14 cars produced in 1997, does this mean that this is one of them?
[Image-only post; no author-written text. Original image references:]
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/rennlist.com-vbulletin/1102x1044/20240725_120621_85c39d188c9bbd7d078ccdfe70af14cbfab8cb82.jpg
"W" in the middle of the VIN indicates 1998 model year, "V" indicates a 1997 model year. 1998 model year production began in late August/early Sept 1997 so this car is an early build 1998.
I have yet to see anyone post a vin with "V" in it. Not sure where these 14 cars ended up but it's possible none ever made it into private owners hands.
