There seems to be a lot of confusion over IDing cars to know if parts will fit or not when ordering from Japan. In Japan they don't use Pre and Post Facelift or Model Years (MY04, MY07 etc) but use the Applied Code to ID each model.
Pretty much all you need to know is on your VIN plate
You can see the Applied Code (Applied Model) on the left of the plate and the first 4 characters, in this case BP5B, is what you need to know.
BP is the chassis code (Liberty/Legacy Wagon), 5 the engine code (2.0l), and the last B the Applied Code.
The Applied Codes when relating to AUDM models are grouped as A-C = Pre Facelift and D-F = Post Facelift
This from Japan Parts lays it all out.
B is Legacy
Body Code:
L is Sedan
P is Wagon
B4 is also Sedan
Model Code:
5 is 2.0L (SOHC N/A <EJ203>, DOHC N/A <EJ204> or DOHC TURBO <A/T is EJ20X and M/T is EJ20Y>)
9 is 2.5L (SOHC N/A EJ25 Model E only)
E is 3.0L (DOHC N/A EZ30D Model A – D)
Applied Model Code:
A. 2003/ 01 – 2004/ 04
B. 2004/ 03 – 2005/ 04
C. 2005/ 03 – 2006/ 04
------------------------------------Minor Change
D. 2006/ 02 – 2007/ 04
E.. 2007/ 03 – 2008/ 04
F. 2008/ 04 – 2009/ 04
Just to add to this someone asked me the other day about a part that had 15.3~ on it and another had 15.3~18.3. This is referring to the build date of the vehicle.
The Japanese calendar is different to what we use and the "year" is based off the years the current Emperor has reigned. It is now the Heisei Period and it started in 1989 so 15 years from there gives you 2003 and the .3 is the month, March
For BP/BL 2003(15) 2004(16) 2005(17) 2006(18) 2007(19) 2008(20) 2009(21)
So, Applied A-C is 15.1~18.4 and D-F is 18.2-21.4
This doesn't guarantee all parts will fit as there are some differences in cosmetics/trim between GT/GT Spec B/3.0R/2.5i when it comes to bumpers and climate control etc but for the most part it'll get you hat you need.
I haven't been able to find a breakdown of the Trim and Option Codes listed on the VIN plate so if anyone has something please add it.
Hope this helps in getting the right parts for your car and saves the frustration of something not fitting properly
This is continued on from this thread in Cosmetics