How to tell an XFi
 

(XFi - this question's for you ... ;) )

I've had several people ask me by email how to ID an XFi motor. Is there any easy way to do this? I suspect not.

So the challenge then is: what would be the easiest way to know whether you were looking at an actual XFi, or a garden variety Metro with an XFi hatchback (badge) transplant?

VIN number has MS instead of MR at the beginning. Only the XFi model had MS so that is one way to tell that it started out as an XFi. Doesn't mean it still has the factory motor though...

Spotting an XFi
 

Coyote X is correct. The VIN starts out 2c1ms instead of 2c1mr. I never compared engine or trans casting numbers to check for differences.

All the items MetroMPG listed are correct, but the throttle body is the same as the automatics instead of the base 5spd (couldn't tell by looking). Don't forget the flat black upper bumper cover trim too (instead of the body color).

Don't discount it as NOT and XFi if it has A/C. I've seen a few XFi's with dealer installed A/C.

Id an unmodified XFI from a distance by the paint.
 

The 92-94 Geo Metro Xfi's had unpainted black plastic bumper lids.
I'm not sure I am using the right terminology but part of the bumper on the garden variety metros where painted the same color as the body whereas the Xfi was unpainted black plastic.

At the Auto parts store they told me that there is a modle of Geo Metro that takes a 5 wire o2 sensor, or simalerly exspensive o2 sensor, it came up when they quoted me the price for the vx.
I would think that there would be something on the under hood sticker that would tip you off to differnces as well, but not having an xfi I can't say.

I'm pretty sure I once did an XFi vx non-XFi O2 sensor lookup at rockauto.com and the same part number came up for both cars.

Not saying that's definitive, but there you go.

Ooookay....So I have this XFi engine, ECU, instrument cluster and engine wiring harness. The donor car has since gone to the crusher. I have no VIN, no black bumper, obviously no pass side mirror, no A/C compressor, and no transaxle for ratio calculations.
IF I choose to sell this, how can a prospective buyer be assured that it is of XFi origin?

If I were shopping for such a thing and could inspect it in person, a relatively easy thing I would do is measure the cam lobes. Doesn't prove that the cam wasn't installed in a regular Metro engine though. And it's harder to check for only 2 piston rings. :)

I imagine there must also be something identifying the ECU as unique to the XFi (part no.?), but I don't know for sure.

I thought XFi block was aluminum? Maybe I made that up though...

Anyone confirm this?

I work at AutoZone...I could punch it up and see if there's a difference in the O2 sensors...