I got asked if there was a way to decode the VIN number on a sled that was offered in a salvage sale.
The good news is that the answer to that question is yes... the bad news is that it may not be 100% reliable & here's a good example of why...
The sled is question is listed as a 2004 GSX with a VIN number of 2BPS289794V000289.
OK, first things 1st.... here's a couple pics...
Yep, sure looks like a 2004 GSX to me.... or what's left of one anyway... OK, now the VIN.... from 2000-up they are a 17-digit number
2BPS 2897 9 4 V 000289
Model Number
Model Year
Serial Number
If the "model year" digit is "Y" it's a 2000... from there it switched to the last digit of the year.
So, 4 = 2004.... & the side panel graphics do indeed match what was used in 2004... so, all good so far.
Once you have the model year, you need to check the service manual for that year... that's the other bad news... the only years I know of that specific model numbers didn't change much was 2005 & 2006... for any other year you'll want that specific model year's manual. Also, prior to 2000 there was no model year encoded into the 9 digit numbers used on those years... only a model number (1st 4 digits) & 5 digit serial number.
In this example, we now know it is indeed a 2004.... so, with that we look up the model number from the 2004 service manual and find....
2897 = MX Z ADRENALINE 600 HO SDI (R) BLACK 593 HO SDI CAN/U.S.
Huh?... that says MXZ, but the side panels say GSX?
Yep, sure does... so what's up with that?
REV chassis side panels can be swapped in about 20 seconds & no tools are even needed... however, the trunk/tail panel color & graphics match the side panels... so while that doesn't completely rule out it being a "reskinned" MXZ... there are other clues.
A few other things give it away as indeed being a GSX with the base "Sport" level trim package... the basic-black plain-jane hydraulic shocks, standard seat, & standard track are either GSX "Sport" or MX-Z in base "Trail" trim... the GSX "LTD" package had silver colored gas shocks (non-rebuildable), & the LTD also got a slightly plusher seat with contrasting trim.... while the MX-Z "Adreniline" package had rebuildable gas performance shocks & a "Ripsaw" perfomance track made by Camoplast.
Now granted, like many car nuts, some sledders enjoy swapping parts... but also in the same way & for the same reasons... they put the upscale parts on the base-level sleds to make 'em sportier... not usually the other way around... so to turn a fairly decent performing MXZ Adreniline into an exact replica of a boring plain-jane GSX Sport one could only ask..... why? :>
Either the service manual is wrong, or the listed VIN number is wrong... & given BRPs history with service manual errors... either is really just as likely.
So if you wanted to just go by the VIN number here, you're screwed... however, A couple things also give away the engine if you know the sleds... first & most obvious is the thermocouple in the muffler which only the fuel injected sleds have.
- SDIcan.JPG (269.43 KiB) Viewed 4401 times
Second is that it has the large multi-pin connector ECM & the large fuse/relay box next to it, which is only found on the 600-SDI prior to 2006, rather than the usual multi-connector MPEM on 2000-05 sleds.
So, unfortunately for this example... it's not a 500ss & is indeed the 600HO-SDI engine, in a 2004 GSX Sport.
Now, according to the BRP manual the model number for that (in black) was 2815 (which also came with the 1+1 seat accessory) not 2897... & since I can't look at a keyboard & figure out how you can get from 15 to 97 via simple typo that's obviously not the answer.
- GSXa.JPG (328.58 KiB) Viewed 4401 times