I just bought a suposedly 81 300SD. The VIN plate on the door post loos like it was cut out of the firewall of another car. The VIN on the firewall has been blanked out with a hammer and then coated over with undercoating. Then someone stamped a VIN in the radiator core support. Is there another location where I could find the correct VIN on this car? There is no VIN plate on the windshield post. Thanks for any help, Jeff
PS: Hope I didn't buy a stolen vehicle!

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1971 R600 Mack toterhome (SuperDawg)
99 NU-WA Snowbird 34+2 SE 102 5er
If it's not diesel, it's not in my stable!
53 F100 617.951/auto
95 Dodge 3500 Cummins/5 speed service truck

OUt of curiosity, did you run a Carfax report on it? If so, what did it show. I don't know of any location of VIN's other than the ones you describe.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

I had a friend who is a police officer run the VIN that is applied to the car. All is well with this one.
Just wondering why someone would go to the trouble to change the VIN? Stolen, wrecked, lein.
Some states have laws about putting salvage cars back on the road. Makes me wonder if this is not one.

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1971 R600 Mack toterhome (SuperDawg)
99 NU-WA Snowbird 34+2 SE 102 5er
If it's not diesel, it's not in my stable!
53 F100 617.951/auto
95 Dodge 3500 Cummins/5 speed service truck

Hi,

I have a 1984 300SD, and I have some confusion over the VIN. The Data plate on the drivers door jamb, and the metal plate on drivers side of the windshield have the same VIN. The # stamped into the firwall, does not match the others. Is that normal, or what?

Thanks,

300SDOwner

They should all be the same.

What are the VIN numbers?

The one on the firewall is uaully all numbers, and is the European VIN I think! I know it is the one you use on the russian VIN site taht gives you all kinds of cool info about your car. http://www.mbclub.ru/mb/vin/index.html?lng=eng

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On the later W126's MB put vin stickers on pretty much all the body panals. They get lost overtime but a few should still be around.

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2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Really? that's a neat idea.. (Stickers on all the panels....)

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-Matt

EPA Section 609 Certified MVAC Technician
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Oil Burner Kartel Member #10

Ahh the smell of Diesel Fuel, it's like coffee in the morning!

My Car:

1982 300SD Turbo Diesel (231,500 miles!) RIP

1984 300SD Turbo Diesel Custom (235,500 mi on driveline.) - On Road!!

www.icsrepair.com

My '87 has them on all the sheet metal as well. I believe all the stickers are still present and the numbers match.

Chris

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1987 300TD 309, xxx 2.8.2014 10,000 mile OCI


Be careful of the toes you step on today, as they may be connected to the ass you have to kiss tomorrow. anonymous

“Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter, and those who matter won’t mind.” Dr. Seuss

Yep its a good way to tell if a panal has ever been replaced.

One trick on the W126 to see if its had any paint work in the back is to look at the inside of the trunk lid. It should be gray, if its body colored its been painted.

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2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

You said the car is an 81, so whether it was stolen or not, as long as it was more than three years ago, the car is all set. Just register it with whatever vin# is on it. This is a federal thing, not a state thing so it's the same everywhere. The statute of limitations on stolen vehicles runs out after 1095 days.

I've had to deal with this same issue on more than one occasion over the years, and have done my homework on the subject. Just hope, that if it was stolen, that it happened atleast three years ago, and you are in the clear. If not, there is a process, to make it legally yours, but it is long and drawn out, with lots of red tape.

It is very likely that the stamped in Vin# on the firewall, is a DMV issued one, and the car is probably all legal. Someone probably did all of the leg work already, and the Vin# is official.

Check with your local DMV. Either way, just point in the direction of the seller, if you have very much trouble, and don't worry about it.

There is a vin# stamped in on the sheetmetal behind the rear bumper, and there is also one stamped into the side pannels, if you remove the rear sail panel. I've also seen them on the package tray's on both my 84, and my 86 300CD's. I also know that coupes have them on the passenger side/inside behind the rear passenger side panel...

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