Howdy all,

Last week I've picked up a new (to me) '98 A6, bone stock, bought from the original owner with 58K miles. The car was well maintained and taken care of, but the previous owner lost a couple of things:

1) first aid kit - no big deal, got one off of ebay
2) instruction book for the stereo with the unlock code - big deal, but $40 for 1/2 hour of stealer time will take care of that
3) the valet key
4) original maintenance book with the option codes for the car.

So where can I find the build plate on the car? On my 300E, there is a permanently installed build plate that lists every option code, exterior and interior color codes and etc. The Mercedes dealer can also reference this with the VIN, but its easier if I find it myself...like to buy touchup paint.

So... where is it guys? All I've managed to find was the plate with the build date on it... no option codes listed.

Thanks!

__________________
'98, bone stock, blue 2.8L A6
Also drive: '91 Arctic white 300E
But mostly ride: Black 1996 GPZ1100
Mechanical Engineer at a nuclear power plant

Check the trunk area around the spare tire.

There is nothing there in the tire well... I haven't yet completely removed the rear trunk floor liner completely.

Thanks

__________________
'98, bone stock, blue 2.8L A6
Also drive: '91 Arctic white 300E
But mostly ride: Black 1996 GPZ1100
Mechanical Engineer at a nuclear power plant

go to a pro paint shop and ask them to colour match your car ( they will show you where it is )

Thanks, but what kind of answer is that? I need to know more than just the paint match... option codes, interior color, etc. I've completely removed the spare and the foam spacers there, and it simply isn't there, unless it is under that black insulating material that is stuck to the walls in the spare tire well... kind of has the consistency of roofing felt.

Is there anywhere else it could be? My car again is a 98 A6Q, AHA 5V engine. Can the build codes be referenced by the dealer with the VIN? In case you can't tell, I'm pretty frustrated here...I thought it would be in the maintenance manual, but it isn't, and it is definately supposed to be on the car...

Thanks everyone...

__________________
'98, bone stock, blue 2.8L A6
Also drive: '91 Arctic white 300E
But mostly ride: Black 1996 GPZ1100
Mechanical Engineer at a nuclear power plant

the reason I said go to paint shop is because they know where to look for the plate and could save you looking and preventing your frustrations and yes the VIN tell a lot of information if you go to the dealers with it

Follow the linke for a listing of pr codes for vw/audi, don't how current they are.

http://www.gerritspeek.nl/vw-codes-wagengegevens.html

I have an 02 A6, I found the build sticker in the trunk area on the door and in the maintenance booklet.

Thanks for the link JIC. When you say you found it in the trunk area on the door...what exactly do you mean? One of the two storage bins on either side? I tried looking in there and didn't see it.

The stealer told me today that sometimes, some dealers upon receipt of a new Audi did a 'less than adequate' job of posting the build plate during their initial setup and didn't put the build sticker in the wheel well where it is supposed to go, and sometimes didn't put it in the maintenance book either, or sometimes put it in the warrantee book and not the maintenance book.... The maintenance book that came with the car didn't have it, neither did the warrantee book...ARRRGH! I had to make an appointment for next week so they can get me the anti-theft code for the radio, and he promised to get the information to me then, based upon the VIN, as well as get a maintenance report of recall work...

Damn...VAG could really take a lesson from MB here... On my benz, the build plate is made out of sheet metal with raised printing, and riveted to the frame of the car before the car is painted. Plus, any dealer can look up all of your options and tell you EXACTLY what parts you need based solely on the VIN. The only downside to that is that if you bring in a benz from outside the country (what they consider to be a 'grey market' car, even if you purchased it from a dealer while stationed overseas like a good friend of mine did), then a U.S. dealer can refuse to service you. My car was purchased new from the dealer in Seattle, so I don't have that worry though...

Anyway, till next week at the dealer I guess...

__________________
'98, bone stock, blue 2.8L A6
Also drive: '91 Arctic white 300E
But mostly ride: Black 1996 GPZ1100
Mechanical Engineer at a nuclear power plant