c250 failed its mot... NO VIN plate..what..!!

[jaymanek]

It is supposed to be visible - I'm quite surprised that as a dealer you are so blase about VIN numbers.

Not blase, just "seen it all" and its very rarely something to worry about. There are normally very rational explanations to these kinds of errors...

 

[jgs600]

as far as i can make out it was made in bremen germany, thats what i got back from an online vin history check

 

[jaymanek]

Yes the Data Card would suggest its a UK car too..

You havent found any evidence of grinding or replacement of the vin numbers which is normally the case when anything dodgy has gone on...

This is an interesting one, keep us updated...

 

[bernie driscoll]

Is this car an import? Would explain a lot?

Imports have VIN numbers.

 

[jaymanek]

not in the same places though... many countries dont have the windscreen vin number.

 

[bernie driscoll]

oh and by the way where is the engine number supposed to be as i cant see anything

cheers
guys

On the top of the engine block towards the back, where it meets the transmission.

 

[bernie driscoll]

not in the same places though... many countries dont have the windscreen vin number.

But it would have all the other numbers.

 

[martin_a]

what about the engine number?

Several people have said to check that out but nothing on that so far... Could help!

Do agree it isn't worth panicking over just yet though.

m.

 

[jaymanek]

yes its an interesting one..

 

[jgs600]

just been out twice and i cant see the back of the engine good enough.... will have another go in a min....

 

[jgs600]

well sod it ive been up since 4 am and cant be buggered with this anymore...still cant see no sign of any engine numbers.... and if it is at the back how on earth are you supposed to see it.... well leave this for another day me thinks....least ive got my trusty £400 ...19 year old citroen zx 1.9 to potter me about in...good old girl and shes got a vin plate....hahaha

 

[andy27168]

Hi,
The sticker in the door shut with chassis number on it IIRC can still be bought from MB which may satisfy your MOT inspector an you will have bought it directly from MB with the info vin, no. supplied by you in your V5.
I,m wondering if it may of been reshelled years ago, as I don,t believe new shells have a vin no. stamped on them.

 

[jaymanek]

Just checked on Mercedes WIS, its only STAMPED onto the cross member below the seat...
Then you have the plaque under windscreen and sticker on door shut... doesnt mention any other locations.

 

[jgs600]

re shelled... maybe..
well its definatley has no stamp on either cross members thats for sure, will contact mercedes to see if they can supply the door piller vin, cheers

 

[martyz]

It get's worse if it's been re-shelled.Paragraph from V.I.C vosa checks: 37. However, not all vehicles are accepted through the VIC scheme. For instance, if a vehicle has been re-shelled with a new bodyshell (from the manufacturer) and the VIN is therefore not visible/available or has been stamped by someone other than the manufacturer, or, if a vehicle has been radically altered from its original specification, it is rejected from the VIC scheme and is referred to DVLA. The vehicle is then subject to DVLA’s INF 26 procedures. However, it cannot retain its original identity irrespective of how much of the original vehicle is used in the rebuild.

 

[jgs600]

to be honest the car looks to original.. i still think its just a case of this one hasnt got a vin number on the chassis stamped and the sticker on the door is just missing. anyways the car has passed every mot since 2005 and is totaly solid underneath, am gonna sit and have a think. whatever way i aint giving up my merc for anybody...

 

[bernie driscoll]

i still think its just a case of this one hasnt got a vin number on the chassis stamped and the sticker on the door is just missing.

Mercedes just forgot to give it a VIN number?

Like the old owner just happened to fit a screen without the little window for the VIN?

And the vin sticker on the door pillar just fell off?

 

[martyz]

It depends on who re-shelled it(if that's the case) I have seen some really bad jobs and some jobs where you would not have a clue it's been done.Not common practice to do it these days as when submitted for a V.I.C check they get referred to DVLA,and get re-registered on a Q plate.hence the temptation to clone.

 

[grumpyoldgit]

ok guys easy eh... jesus h...!!!

BUT... even so i would still like to get to the bottom of this myself and will continue to search for some answers. at the moment the car is sorned as i was having it resprayed so am in no rush to get her back on the road just yet.

will post again when this is all sorted so thanks to everyone for there positive and kinda maybe positive answers.....LOL

Did you manage to sort your problem? I see from the DVLA website that it's not on a SORN, as you said here (Date of liability 1/09/2013) so thought you may have sorted it.