Dodgy VIN Number?

Hi folks, Just purchased a 996 Carrera 4 from OPC Hatfield. I've had the car a week and just noticed that the VIN number on the underside of the bonnet does not tally with that on the logbook. Yes I know I should have checked that before buying but you just assume that since the car is covered by the Porsche Approved programme they would make sure it was kosher. Took the car back and having fully checked the car they are sure it has never been in an accident and that it must have been an error at the Porsche factory. Anyone have any experience of this? What are my rights - can I insist they take the car back? I'm hoping i've not just made a huge (and costly) mistake. Any help gratefully received. Thanks David

Your rights are quite simple - IF the car has a wrongful conversion of title (i.e.: it is not the vehicle it puports to be) then you may demand your money back in full. But - I'm not sure from what you've written which VIN plate is incorrect. When a car is manufactured at Zuffenhausen, (I was told by the factory) the computer prints two labels, one to be stuck on the underside of the bonnet and the other to go in the service book. The VIN is also shown in the ECU (accessible when the car is put on the System Tester) and in the door jam (from memory) - and in the windscreen plate (I think, it's awhile since I owned a road 996). I have tried to obtain a replacement sticker - believe me I tried very, very hard and communicated right up to Andy Goss and several people in Germany - when my OPC lost my GT2's service book - I was absolutely assured after six months trying that there was no way to replace / re-create / duplicate the sticker under the bonnet. One final thing to note is that regularly you will find incorrect characters entered into the DVLA's computer - for example the 'Zs' (as in WP0ZZZ)in the chassis number can sometimes be 'SS', '55' or even '22' - which bit of the chassis number doesn't match up? First things first, HPI the car - very easy to do online. This will give you the chassis number that DVLA have on file from when the V55/5 was produced to first register the car, then compare this to your V5 - there shouldn't be any difference. Then go to your OPC's parts department and ask to see the chassis record (they should be able to give you a print out) and compare the numbers - if it's just a case of a couple of transposed digits in the 'ZZ's then don't worry - it happens all the time with Porsche. If it's simply that the sticker under the bonnet is wrong - and all other VIN's are correct (windscreen visible one, door jam plate, ECU etc) then MAYBE it was a manufacturing error - but it would be the first one I've ever heard of. If it's a more fundamental difference, consult a lawyer and get him to write a stiff letter to the OPC as something is wrong. Check your service book - that *should* contain a copy of the sticker under the bonnet. Perhaps you could give us more detail on which numbers are different and in what way? Is the under bonnet sticker number different to the VIN plate / door jam sticker? P

To add to Phillips excellent post, The VIN is: On the plate at the base of the screen (passenger side) Under the bonnet next to the battery (drivers side and visible through a transparent plate in the plastic cover) On a label in the drivers door aperture And on the sticker under the bonnet - and repeated in the service book. All of these should match (of course). My bet is the DVLA got it wrong (or the original dealer supplying the info to DVLA)

Agree with the above. One additional point is that if you are looking at the sticker under the bonnet, and that is different to the one in the door jam/front window then the bonnet MAY have been changed! Maybe the original was damaged and a 2nd hand one fitted!. Just a thought.

Ah - I meant to go out to the garage today and look at the GT3 I very rarely have the bonnet up on it [8|] Agreed - let us know which digits are wrong and we'll see if we can help [ ] P

Thanks guys! To be precise: the VIN on the service book matches exactly to that on the windscreen, door jam plate and ECU. The last 6 characters of the VIN on the bonnet sticker are however completely different. OPC has apparently checked their records for this VIN number and can find no record of it as a UK car. They conceded that the bonnet may have been replaced by a cheap Porsche parts supplier - but that is exactly my point, why would anyone do that unless the original bonnet had been damaged? The Salesperson agreed that if they had known that the car had been accident damaged they would "not have touched it with a bargepole" as a P/X and in any case the car would have failed its Independent inspection at Porsche Reading (who had the car for 3 weeks before I took delivery bringing the car up to Porsche Approved standards). They have now agreed to contact the previous owners of the car (2) to try and establish if there has been any accident damage. My view is that if this is confirmed I will demand a full refund - even though it is my dream car (I searched for months to find one wth this specification, mileage (only 12850) etc. Many thanks for your posts. Cheers

It makes you wonder about the value of a Porsche inspection if they didn't check that all the numbers match. You could try Scouser's VIN decoder on http://www.renntech.org to see if it gives you any information.

[:-][ ] Unbelieveable - I cannot believe an OPC wouldn't have spotted this - what the bloody hell are they doing for their money! [8|] Totally agree First things first - either get your money back or a substantial chunk of cash in recompense - if you still have the car in your possesion, get it inspected by a body expert - I'd thoroughly recommend Tony Littlejohn - he's ex. Porsche Reading body specialist - find out if anything else on the front has been replaced. One key point - with metalic paint, you can't just swap parts around - the mica will be 'blown' in different directions with each paint process - so if there's no obvious difference in the paint on the bonnet, wings, PU and scuttle top - then there's been a lot of painting going on. Finally - don't worry about finding another one - there's plenty out there [ ] If you need Tony's number, mail me at [email removed] Good luck! P

Thanks Richard - i've fired off an email to Scouser, fingers crossed!

Thanks Philip, your posts have been extremely helpful, i'll send you an email for Tony's contact details. Cheers David

If this doesn't confirm the value of club membership and the function of the forum, then nothing does. Can you keep the string running as it develops please?

Agreed with Alex on the value of opinions and information from member re the site & forum. Without panicking too much, it would appear that the bonnet has in fact been changed at some point. I really dont believe it would be a computer error or misprint and also, having been to the factory recently, I think its also unlikely that someone has put the wrong sticker on the wrong car. If the bonnet has in fact been replaced it doesnt necessarily mean its been inviolved in a serious acceident - maybe some road damage (something dropping on it whilst driving etc.) or maybe (hopefully very) light front end. Maybe someone tried to close the bonnet with an oversized item in and damaged it from inside? [X(] Arctic silver is a popular colour and probably easy to match so there are probably a few 2nd hand one knocking around. Also agree its pretty shoddy that the OPC didnt spot it. Makes you think that if they miss something this obvious what else have they missed [:-]

Agreed Beershark. I'm not minded to accept the "must be a problem at the factory" excuse. It seemd to me that OPC were negligent in accepting the car as p/x and the error was compounded by Reading's inability to spot the difference when doing their Porsche Approved preparation - BUT wait 'cause it gets worse.... The car wouldn't start over the weekend and so I called out Porsche Assistance i.e the RAC. They arent allowed to touch Porsche (makes you wonder what the point of that is really...) so the car went back on a trailer to Hatfield. Starter motor had to be replaced - Q what exactly is the point of the Porsche Approved programme and what were Reading doing with the car for 3 weeks? Anyhow the car came back this afternnon and guess what? The PCM is demanding that I input a code (I think beacuse the battery has had to be re-started) but surprise surprise OPC don't have the codes - fantastic! I'm now so disillusioned with my purchase that I just want them to take the car back and give me a refund. I'm going to OPC on saturday so I'll let you know how I get on.