Rebuilt Title with vins that don't match
 

I've been researching a very complicated 300TD wagon for over a week to figure out if I should buy it. I have basically decided not to, but I just have to know if I made the right decision or not.

So, here are the issues:

It has a salvage/rebuilt Ohio title that says its a 1979, however everyone seems to agree that its more likely an 81-85.

The vin number on the door pillar has no letters, just numbers, it starts with 123 and is 14 digits long and the writing on the plate is all in German and it matches the vin number on the title. There's no vin plate in the window anywhere or on the radiator support. But then there is a vin stamped into the firewall, starts WDB123, it has both letters and numbers, therefore does not match the vin on the door pillar. When I search the firewall vin I get that it has an invalid check digit.

I would have to register the car in Georgia, and with the salvage/rebuilt title that means I'd need an inspection. I assume that they are going to check the vin numbers. I'm also planning on moving to another state in about 6 months, possible NY, PA or CO, but also possibly somewhere else all-together.

Also the seller says that the odometer slips sometimes, so the reading is inaccurate.

Other than that, the car is in good condition, the asking price is fair. I'm reluctant to step away because there's so much discussion about grey market cars from europe having unsearchable vins, but I can't find anything about vins that don't match and being able to register the car. My mechanic said that the car could get seized from us if the vins don't match. Am I right to worry about being able to continue registering this car from state to state or is this excusable because of the rebuilt title?

Thanks for making it to the end of this complicated question!

Guessing this is the one of ebay?

Mercedes-Benz : 300-Series 300TD in Mercedes-Benz | eBay Motors

Someone in the questions said the vin plate was for a 250t wagon.....this car has no euro features.....10-1 its stolen.....

Yeah, that's the one.

Something is rotten in the state of Georgia.

Most likely stolen. I wouldn't touch it.

If it's that old (either age) in Georgia it can go on Bill of Sale only - no title needed. Unfortunately you'd probably have trouble when you moved...

Run away. That thing looks 1981-1985 (turbo, buntds, second-gen climate control, headrests... the list goes on).

Call your local PD, tell them you're looking into used cars and want to be 100% sure that the VINs are clean. They should be able to run them and let you know.

What probably happened was this:

Someone got a car with no title, and had another junker with a title. They probably swapped the VIN plates instead of swapping the engine/interior, etc. Doesn't sound super legal, but due to the age it might fly as a custom? I have no idea. Maybe the rebuilt title has something to do with it?

Vinaudit.com is cheap and can give you the histories (maybe)

try to run the VIN embedded in the firewall.

the firewall is an assembly number, it's related to the vin, but it's NOT the vin.

however, the wdb part is... should match the vin on the jam.

that is obviously an early vin or a euro vin plate that's been rivited to the jam. the a piller on driver's side should have a correct vin on it. if it's not there, you can't register the car in any state but GA... and GA requires a state issued bill of sale notorized by a public official.
I have registered GA bill of sale's in other states, but they verify the vin... and this vehicle would not pass that inspection.

You mention the possibility of moving to N.Y.. Let me give you a heads up.....with any type of problem with the viin number, you will be spending the rest of your life trying to register the car.........you did the right thing by passing on this one.

That is a good VIN#
 

This is a W123.086 chassis vehicle

WDB12308612004371

Engine# 123920 12 046705
Mercedes-Benz M123 engine - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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The firewall number is the chassis number, the VIN is an American standardised number. In Europe only the chassis number is used to identify cars.

I can't be 100% positive unless I went outside and checked....but I remember the vin on the pillar matched the vin on the firewall....when I had to go to the DMV for vin inspection.....she compared the 2....

Please note that although the car is a diesel, the VIN and the title bearing the 123.086 designation are for a gasoline car.
One might conclude that the car is of suspect origins, with a ripped-off european title.

Hmm
 

My best guess:
It is a Grey market import body that has been altered to diesel.


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