'97 Volvo 460 information

[misa]

Hello guys.

I'm comming from 800 & 300 series forum.

I'm in the middle of negotiations for buying a '97 460 with 1.6 engine which is converted on lpg.Good looking car,good engine,interior...etc,but what confuses me is that there are no airbags.No airbag in the steering wheel,no airbag for passenger and no code key.

Can anybody of you guys tell me is this car really a '97 by VIN number and does it need to be equipped with airbags & code key?
Here it is:
XLBLY173EVC762...

I have all tables about how to retrieve informations from VIN for 850,s,v,c,xc70,but these 400 are new to me.

Thanks in advance,
Misha.

[Adi2727]

Hello

That "Y" from the fifth position of your VIN, means "3 point seat belts + seat belt pretensioners". Also if there is an "X" there means "3 point seat belts"... only when is a "C" there you will have "3 point seat belts + airbag + seat belt pretensioners".
Number 10 from VIN tells you the year of fabrication. In your case "V" means '97.
Most of 440/460's after 94 have a standard steering wheel airbag. The configuration without airbag is a specific Dutch market configuration.
http://www.volvoclub.org.uk/vin_400.shtml

There is no passenger airbag on 400 series, but there is a Side Impact Protection with steel bars and special impact absorbing materials located in doors.

[misa]

Thanks for info adi2727.

So,in my case,this car came from the factory without airbag in the steering wheel.

Since the car is '97 i was expecting the steering wheel with airbag.I was affraid that it was involved in some accident,the airbag deployed and that the owner just installed regular steering wheel without airbag,which is much cheaper solution.VIN numbers says that i was wrong.I'm glad that i was wrong,because that means the car was not involved in a heavy crash.

Still,it should have Side Impact Protection...i will look for that.

From all other markets in the world,i guess that i found the rare one made for Dutch market.

[Rainbird]

If you're worried about a poor repair after a smash, then look very carefully at he body seams and the sealer for cracks. Also, as all 460s have problems with the door bottoms and rear wheel arches rusting out, take a magnet to run along these parts to see if it's been covered with filler.

Knowing how vehicles are maintained in Serbia (I have a 1989 460 there), I wouldn't be surprised about a steering wheel swap. Take a good look round the engine bay too for evidence that the wiring loom has been tampered with to get round electrical problems - might also give a negotiating point for the price.

I got lucky with mine in that it was imported into Serbia with a full Volvo service history from Italy and the guy only had it for a year. Still gave him time to pipe the fuel vapouriser the wrong way round after taking the carb. off which meant vapour locks and fuel starvation when hot.

Good luck

[misa]

Thanks guys!

I'll post a picture of the car if i decide to buy it.


Misha.

[misa]

I didn't had a time for reply.The car is sold!

While i was preparing for a trip to see & test drive the car,the owner called me to say that the car is SOLD.