VIN Decode required for SL63

[Petrol Pete]

I wouldn't normally bother you lot with this as in the past iv been OK using the various VIN decode 'tools' and links previously posted on here , but this 2008 SL63 a mate of mine wants info on is giving me the run around.

A quick look on CarVertical using the VIN (before paying for the full report) shows it a s a Black SL63 (correct) , but when I enter the VIN into various other sites it either says it's the wrong VIN and one site says its a 2002 car ?, can't be , they didn't make them in 2002.

Confused , can you guys and gal's perhaps help out.?

Cheers

VIN : WDB2304702F147374

 

[AMGeed]

I tried 7 different decoding sites. Not one recognised that Vin# ?
Is it possible its not correct?

 

[Petrol Pete]

I tried 7 different decoding sites. Not one recognised that Vin# ?
Is it possible its not correct?

Thats What I thought , but once CarVertical actually recognised it was a black SL63 I thought it was legit.

I will get my mate to check the VIN again , I only saw it on a poor quality video of the car . The current owner has had it for 6 years and is a friend of his .

Why do I get myself involved in this ?

 

[Petrol Pete]

I'm back.

My mate decided to get a Car Vertical report on this car . I used the VIN WDB2304702F147374 , same as in my first post and it came up good , we got all the usual info from Car Vertical which (to me at least) proves to me that the VIN is good .

So what the heck is going on when we put this VIN into various search engine , which then reject it ??

 

[ALFAitalia]

Something odd there....on most Mercs the 10th digit is the year letter....but some like mine its the 11th...not sure why....in my case that's an A for 2010. On the one above its the 10th digit it is indeed 2 for 2002....but more likely it the11th...which is F....so 2015. Strange.

 

[Petrol Pete]

I need to get to the bottom of it for many reasons (headbolts being one of them) , the car belongs to an old acquaintance of my mate , the bloke has apparently owned it for 6 years and hardly used it so I do not suspect any skulduggery , my mate wants me to go look at the car with him , but I don't think there is any point until we get a look at the datacard......via the VIN.

 

[Dippo]

If you read the description of how CarVertical's VIN decoder works, it sounds as if it's just using the basic code information in the VIN, rather than accessing the manufacturer's database for the full description - although that wouldn't explain how they got the colour, unless they read that part from DVLA records.

So it may be that CarVertical is getting the right car from the basic codes and other external sources like the DVLA, but the last digits of the VIN could be incorrect, which is why it's not showing up on the other VIN decoder sites.

Confused? I am, and I just wrote that!

VIN Decoder UK: Free VIN Number Check | carVertical

Decode VIN number to check any vehicle history in a few clicks. Free VIN number lookup UK.

www.carvertical.com

 

[Dippo]

Ignore that - if the VIN was incorrect, it shouldn't match up with DVLA records to give a colour.

Ask your mate for a copy of the V5!

 

[SpikyMikey]

Ignore that - if the VIN was incorrect, it shouldn't match up with DVLA records to give a colour.

Ask your mate for a copy of the V5!

Actually you could be right; none of the straightforward VIN decoders can find it, but all the "we'll tell you if your car has outstanding finance etc; pay us 20 quid" sites that I tried could.
Would be interesting to put the reg number into www.chipex.co.uk to see what VIN was generated.

 

[ToeKnee]

I was just about to ask what the reg number was.

 

[Petrol Pete]

He is going to see the bloke again tomorrow (on my advice) to get eyes on the V5C and get a proper look at the VIN on the car.

 

[Petrol Pete]

He went to see the car again . Wrong VIN

VIN : WDB2304702F147371

I have run it and it look like engine number is in 'replace the head bolts...' territory.

Engine number 156981 60 030 157.

Any comments/advice welcome .

 

[AMGeed]

He went to see the car again . Wrong VIN

VIN : WDB2304702F147371

I have run it and it look like engine number is in 'replace the head bolts...' territory.

Engine number 156981 60 030 157.

Any comments/advice welcome .

Send him this link

Mercedes VIN Decoder | Decode Your Mercedes-Benz VIN

Datacard for 2008 Mercedes-Benz SL 63 AMG (230.470) - WDB2304702F147371

www.lastvin.com

And yes, that engine number falls in with the old headbolts list.

 

[Petrol Pete]

This car has been purchased and (for some reason) he has asked me to look after all the stuff it needs going forward.

Watch this space...thats if you are interested in hearing about a 2008 SL63 AMG that has been sat under a cover in a works unit for the last 10 years with little or no use.

Mid 20K's mileage on it.

You know you are getting old when a 26 year old bloke adds you to his insurance, fully comp for an SL63 AMG and it cost just £39 per year. !

PS the bloke who sold it has just bought a Ferrari. He might regret that

 

[Petrol Pete]

This is her being woken from her long slumber , $hite battery conditioners , more of which later.....

 

[Petrol Pete]

The work started within minutes of picking it up (Good Friday) . It had been stored on two rather dubious looking battery 'chargers' and it sprang immediately into life when asked .

The tank was nearly empty and what was in there was god knows how old , so a 3 minute drive to fill up with the highest octane we could find was in order. That done the bloody thing wouldn't start so my mate (it's owner) drove his truck back to the seller (his good mate) for jump leads .

With that sorted I set off in the pi$$ing rain with rock hard wiper blades that cleared almost nothing from the windscreen.

Off to the nearest spares place that was open ....Halfords , they had wiper blades but no starter battery in stock . Got it back to base (see photo) and started the hunt for a battery to replace the original (2008) MB , Varta, battery .

Saturday morning I drove it round trip of 80 miles to collect a new battery , the car had to be jumped almost every time we stopped the engine.

Now , I know what you are going to say ..'Pete , why didn't you just order a battery to be delivered by Tuesday after the bank holiday ?' That option was offered to us ....but you don't know my mate (remember it's his car) he is not a patient fellow at the best of times.

Poked the nose into one of his lockups to avoid the rain while replacing the battery (£280) , jobs a good un .......for now. More to come.