What is that "blacked out" data plate on the Radiator Support??

[fixizin]

Looks like it has the official Date of Manufacture... 4X = 4WD... and even a "Braille" barcode...?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Snoranger]

That’s a body buck tag... they’re installed when the body is first assembled, before it hits the assembly line. It’s used to identify it before it’s painted or has the VIN attached.

 

[fixizin]

Cool... some guy with Reynolds Wrap on his head said it was how "the aliens" were tracking me... but I told him no, my truck is too old for The Mexicans to care about.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Those tags get painted with the radiator support so they are body color usually. Some are stapled on and I think some have the VIN on it. If I think about it, I’ll get some of mine

 

[bilbo]

I’m guessing that’s what this is? I knocked it off a few years ago working on something and just tossed it in the cubby above the glove box.

 

[Curious Hound]

Even if it doesn't have the VIN on it, it is a production serial number that is tied to the customer order and the VIN. We use a different system here at BMW. There is a number we call the IGEF number, which is stamped into the body near the front shock towers. That identifies that body as it's being built and ties it to the customer's order. Then, when the body is assembled, it gets married to a temporary carrier that enables it to ride the conveyor system. The carrier has another number on it with a QR code that cameras can read. So, at various checkpoints through the paint shop, the cameras read that QR code which is tied to the IGEF. That's how the computers know what body style (model) it is and what color to paint it. This info is fed to each individual robot so it knows what program to run for the proper paint coverage and physical profile of the body (robot will crash into it if it runs the wrong profile) and, of course, what color paint to use. After painting, inspection and repairs, it goes to assembly and the carrier is removed. Then they just use the IGEF number to assemble it right. I'm not sure when the actual VIN is assigned.

Now you know more than you wanted.

 

[fixizin]

ze Germans... zay luvz ze komplicated tings, ja?...

 

[Curious Hound]

ze Germans... zay luvz ze komplicated tings, ja?...

Ja! But there is usually a reason for it. Our system allows us to change body style and color for each car. We don't have to run blocks of same model, same color. So, we might paint a red X6 followed by a blue X7, followed by a white X5, etc. And the robots paint while the cars are moving on the conveyor. They don't have to stop at each station. Complicated? Yes. But it works and each line can paint about 30 cars per hour.

 

[fixizin]

Any of you workers ever sneak your own Beemer in there for a free re-paint?... no names named...

... maybe someone could create a 'Ford Ranger' profile, just to "test" the system...

 

[Curious Hound]

Any of you workers ever sneak your own Beemer in there for a free re-paint?... no names named...

... maybe someone could create a 'Ford Ranger' profile, just to "test" the system...

That's pretty darn close to impossible to do. It takes a long time to develop the programs to paint a new model.