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Can I get an options list with a vin?

billm0066_98223041billm0066_98223041
edited November -1 in Model S
Looking to buy a car at auction from out of state. Is there a way for me to get what options are installed with the vin number? I called Tesla and they said no. There are not many pictures and quality is crappy. Bolsters appear larger so I believe it has next gen seats (P90D). Just curious what options this car has so I can determine what to bid.

Comments

  • T35LAT35LA
    edited February 2018
    This might help you

    https://teslatap.com/vin-decoder/
  • billm0066_98223041billm0066_98223041
    edited February 2018
    That doesn't give any options unfortunately.
  • TeslaTap.comTeslaTap.com
    edited November -1
    @T35LA - Thanks!

    @billm0066 - The VIN doesn't encode much, as you saw. Mainly safety equipment, motors (single/dual) and model year. So a few options, but sounds like it is not what you want. You'll need to get the details from the seller. I'd be reluctant to buy any car sight-unseen from pictures. It would have to be the deal of the century, and then I'd worry about what's really wrong (accident, parts removed, severe wear, etc.).
  • jordanrichard_629778jordanrichard_629778
    edited November -1
    No VIN on any car is going to give you a full listing of options. VIN identify the manufacturer, where the car was made, which model it is and then its production number.

    There is simply no way for a VIN to tell you what color or type of seats are in a car, what level of a sound system it has, etc.
  • billm0066_98223041billm0066_98223041
    edited February 2018
    The car is a salvage vehicle I plan to fix. Cant get options from the seller or Tesla so it looks like I will just take a guess and hope it works out.
  • greggsymington_98197780greggsymington_98197780
    edited February 2018
    https://ev-cpo.com/lookup should give you a list.
  • john_98045494john_98045494
    edited February 2018
    Tesla service can tell from the vin and print it out if they want to. When I took my car in for service I asked them to print out the option codes for my car and they did.
  • desai.hetal_98451374desai.hetal_98451374
    edited May 2019
    I really like to know that, please.
    I am trying to buy model 3 from Carvana and they don't have an option listed clearly.
    new from Tesla is getting too expansive for me.
    all i am looking for is standard color (black- black and 18' wheel) with 10,000 or less miles on it.
    with a long-range battery (310 miles I guess)
    and premium interior with Autopilot with Full Self-Driving Capability $50k or under (include taxes and fees)
    please any one cal help i greatly appreciated.
  • AerodyneAerodyne
    edited May 2019
    EV CPO can do the same. 99% accurate to the SC list, plus you can do it for any VIN.

    It was said once this is a thinking person's car. Do your research!
  • strezitom_98395913strezitom_98395913
    edited May 2019
    Its a bit old school, but the WindowsPhone app Tesla Companion gives a full detailed view of the cars specification.
    Of course, you'd need the tesla account to connect in the first place and a rusty old phone, too...

    Still beyond me, how and three year old app on a dying platform could be better than the most recent Android / Iphone app.
  • akikikiakikiki
    edited May 2019
    If he does not own the car, he's not going to be able to access a Tesla account that will connect to the car.

    john said Tesla service can use the VIN and print out info on the car. I agree, they probably can. But there might also be Tesla policy that directs them not to do so unless its the actual owner and registered as the owner in the Tesla system. I would guess they did it for john because he was the Tesla recognized owner of the car.
  • PBEndoPBEndo
    edited May 2019
    Tesla has a unique reason the VIN alone doesn't encode all options - there are significant after purchase upgrades that are merely software unlocked. If you add FSD, unlock battery capacity or add ludicrous, the VIN doesn't change but the value of the car changes dramatically. A decoder would never be able to determine if these things were added after purchase. Since the upgrades go through Tesla they would be the only reliable source using VIN alone.
  • wagonranch_98517181wagonranch_98517181
    > @jordanrichard_629778 said:
    > No VIN on any car is going to give you a full listing of options. VIN identify the manufacturer, where the car was made, which model it is and then its production number.
    >
    > There is simply no way for a VIN to tell you what color or type of seats are in a car, what level of a sound system it has, etc.

    This is not true. https://vinanalytics.com/ will give you the build sheet for almost any Porsche. mdecoder.com will do the same for most any BMW. They give you the exterior and interior colors, whether the car has full leather or partial leather interior, what sound system is factory installed, whether the seats are sports seats or whatever, and all other factory installed addons like PASM, PSE, Sport Chrono etc. for Porsches and similar information for BMWs. I use both when shopping for these brands and it's invaluable as often the seller does not know what they have. Tesla is able to do the same thing, but doesn't and I haven't found any third party site that will either.
  • jordanrichard_629778jordanrichard_629778
    Wagonranch, build sheets are held by manufacturers, not public record.

    I used to own a Porsche and they have a “Certification” program where by you pay a ridiculous amount of money IMHO to create a “Certificate of Authenticity”. With your VIN number they would print on this certificate what info they had on file. Quite often, especially for the older cars, they didn’t all of the info on file like which seats you had in your car. So I strongly question that this vinanalytics has more info than Porsche has.

    Lastly, build sheets are not the same as a VIN break down.
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