I couldn't take not knowing so I tore the 6 pack open......thus destroying any chance of a profitable "factory sealed case" sale on the rip-off marketplace.
Behold, I slid the receipt into the slot atop the box. Purchase date: 5/17/2010. The oil was an even $3/qt. (sigh). Evelyn was my checkerouter.
M072116ATWS161401 was on the first bottle...in white. Sooooooo, the 21st week of 2007.
M072116ATWS161402 was on the second bottle. I thought, "Wow, this IS German engineering!, they ordinate the bottles in a case!"
Alas, the "2 number" was on the remaining 5 bottles.
We start the bidding at $1,200. (insert cricket sounds here)