Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)

[manic.mind]

Hello fellow forumers,I'm actually planning to by a bimmer, E46 model actually.Have you guys tried to submit VIN number to online verifier to check the history of your cars?FYI, I got the VIN number from one potential car and the manufactured date is actually 2 years earlier than the year mentioned in the car grant. I'm quite sceptical to buy the car now. Hmmm... Anyone can explain on this? Thanks a lot.

 

[bmw7833]

Recon car?

 

[manic.mind]

The grant says, it's Kenderaan Import Baru not Kenderaan Import Terpakai.

Manufactured in 2000, registered in 2005. But the VIN result shows manufactured in 1998, with M43 engine.

So which one to trust ?

 

[deep3102]

When in doubt, delay..

 

[gregcwho]

Hello fellow forumers,

I'm actually planning to by a bimmer, E46 model actually.

Have you guys tried to submit VIN number to online verifier to check the history of your cars?

FYI, I got the VIN number from one potential car and the manufactured date is actually 2 years earlier than the year mentioned in the car grant.

I'm quite sceptical to buy the car now. Hmmm...

Anyone can explain on this? Thanks a lot.

Hi Manic.mind,

Would appreciate it if you could introduce yourself in the Newbie's forum 1st. There's a template which you can use in the Stickies if unsure.

Thanks.

Cheers

 

[manic.mind]

deep3102: yeah, i'm delaying the process actually.. but when i asked the dealer to proceed witht the banks.. the banks call me and it seems everything is genuine..

gregcwho: alright, will do !

 

[deep3102]

is it an AB car?

 

[manic.mind]

deep3102: what do you mean by AB car? sorry for being naive, I'm not familiar yet.

 

[deep3102]

Auto Bavaria car.

 

[bmw7833]

What is VIN#? U can hide few figure to us.

 

[manic.mind]

deep3102: no it's not. imported from Japan in 2005.

bmw7833: nvm, i give you the full number: WBAAL32-070FH50390

 

[Alex5522]

deep3102: no it's not. imported from Japan in 2005.

bmw7833: nvm, i give you the full number: WBAAL32-070FH50390

Bro this is the car spec u talking about: http://www.realoem.com/bmw/select.do?vin=FH50390

 

[deep3102]

1998 car..??

 

[manic.mind]

Bro this is the car spec u talking about: http://www.realoem.com/bmw/select.do?vin=FH50390

Alex5522: yeap, i key-in at the same website. result shows the car was manufactured in 1998 but the car grant that dealer showed me is 2000. so which one is true?

 

[deep3102]

fishy lah..y dont you look for another unit, maybe go through this forum. You may get a better deal, and slim chances of dealers conning you.
Also, go for 6 potter. u wont regret it.

 

[haywire]

Very likely its a used car brought in from UK, but the original importer play with the documents to change the year of manufacture. I could've done it myself when I brought in my E39. Very easy step to do.

But I wonder, if the documents are really played with, how do they play with the 'Kereta Import Baru' from the actual 'Kereta Import Terpakai'. Thats sensitive information and cannot be played with easily on the form.

 

[manic.mind]

1998 car..??

yeap, strange isn't it?

here is the extract from wikipedia.. 1998 is actually the first badge with M43 engine?

E46, Fourth generation, 1998-2005E46
Production 1999–2005
Body style 2-door coupe
2-door convertible
4-door saloon
5-door touring
Layout Front engine, rear-wheel drive / All-wheel drive

The E46 is the fourth generation of BMW's 3 Series entry-level luxury car / compact executive car. The saloon was introduced in 1998 and replaced the E36 saloon the same year. The initial inline-6 engines available were the 2.5 L 323 and 2.8 L 328 (the 323 badge did not match engine displacement but it was numbered as such to increase the spread between both models). The touring and coupé models appeared in 1999 with BMW's newly designed steptronic manumatic transmission, and the convertible and M3 later in 2000. The E46 Compact, a 3-door hatchback, was revealed in 2001 to be sold in European and Australian markets. xDrive all-wheel drive was introduced as an option in 2001.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_3_Series

 

[haywire]

Alex5522: yeap, i key-in at the same website. result shows the car was manufactured in 1998 but the car grant that dealer showed me is 2000. so which one is true?

VIN never lies. Grant document can be played with at first registration in Malaysia.

 

[manic.mind]

Very likely its a used car brought in from UK, but the original importer play with the documents to change the year of manufacture. I could've done it myself when I brought in my E39. Very easy step to do.

But I wonder, if the documents are really played with, how do they play with the 'Kereta Import Baru' from the actual 'Kereta Import Terpakai'. Thats sensitive information and cannot be played with easily on the form.

haywire: that's what puzzled me. i looked at the original grant, and the stamped authorization by Custom; Kereta Import Baru.

 

[deep3102]

Documents can be meddled with easily la, im sure all of us know that by now. Question is, whether you still want to spend ur time with the dealer, as he can promise you the skies just to earn commission.