Hi everyone,I have a problem.I have a 500sec that has been vandalised,the chassis number has been cut out of the firewall with a grinder and the alloy identification plate in front of the radiator has been taken off also.The stamped plate next to it is there but it does not give me the serial number.Question is how do I find the serial number?[I can get the engine number]Here in Australia we need the number to register the vehicle to drive it.Thanks,Wazza.

There are many locations where they put the VIN.
Check the following:

1. Open driver's door there should be a sticker with some vehicle info, SRS, and VIN
2. Open the trunk there should be a VIN sticker on the trunk lid
3. There is one on the transmission. You need to jack up the car. I think it is on the driver's side. You should be able to see it. Clean off dirt.

There are many more, just can't think of it right now. For some you need to take off interior parts.

Vin

Thanks Vin,Ihave checked trunk lid,door pillars,gearbox,no luck.There is a number stamped on the side of the gearbox but nothing like a chassis number.Any more sugestions anyone?

I just checked my car, the VINs are all over the place. I wonder if the European models are different than US. I doubt it, so check the following places:

1. on the hood
2. on both fenders (inside of engine bay where they attach to body, close to the hood hinges)
3. trunk lid
4. next to trunk seal on body
5. behind trunk panels on qtr. panels
6. next to spare tire on body
7. driver's side A pillar


I am still looking. I'll check with my friend at the dealership to see if there are any that are very difficult to get to.

Vin


[Edited by vinamg on 01-14-2001 at 03:10 AM]

The multiple VIN locations might be year dependent, but I can't remember what year that started. My 73 has the VIN at the A post, the plate on the door post and stamped into the radiator support.

With your VIN missing from these locations I would suspect it had been stolen. Common thing, steal a car from say the US, remove the VINs and ship the car to South America for resale (usually the luxury rides and SUV's). Could be a similar situation with yours, stolen from Europe and shipped to Australia. Did you get a title when you bought it, or was it yours at the time it was stripped of it's VIN's?

__________________
Mike Tangas
'73 280SEL 4.5 (9/72)- RIP
Only 8,173 units built from 5/71 thru 11/72

'02 CLK320 Cabriolet - wifey's mid-life crisis

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