Production Date - VIN decoder

[Mistertmac]

When checking your VIN in the VIN decoder websites, is the Production date the day the car went into production, or the day it finished?
I just noticed my MY17 F82 just started displaying 1 Sep 16 instead of 00-00-0000.

[Gibson6594]

If I recall correctly, production date is the day it finishes.

[tn002]

I find it to conflict with BMW official website. The decoder says 13 Aug. BMW official site says 23 Aug. Based on updates I got from the dealer the vehicle was still at Job card stage on 13 Aug so its not possible it could've finished production on 13 Aug. This leads me to conclude that the VIN decoder gives the start of production date.

[Vitacura]

On my VINs it is the day it finished production.

[E90Fleet]

With both German made and South African made BMW's ive tracked (and thats many cars) on my dealers system and compared it to the VIN date its the day the car body goes into Production.
System calls it "Production Start".

It then goes to "vehicle paint" and then "Final line", which is the fitting of all the components and drivetrain before finally being shown as "production end"

The difference between "Production Start" and "Production end" can be 2 days or even a week.
It generally depends what type of a buffer there is between the bodyshop, paint shop and Final line, or if there is a parts supply problem for some reason causing a production sequence shift.
Some lines stop over the weekend, causing a couple extra days between start and end.

At the 3 Series factory here they keep a 24 hour buffer between paint and final assembly, so if there is a problem in paint it does not affect final assembly unless it lasts longer than 24 hours.

Paint is generally just a few hours after start of body production in the body shop.

[Mistertmac]

Okay.. So, either way, I am close to delivery!! Very close!

[Mistertmac]

Car showed up today! waiting on paperwork to come back from customs, then I can register and pick up... Hopefully it won't take a whole week!