VIN question

[suzy]

i've searched through the VIN threads and haven't seen this question answered, but apologies in advance if i've just missed it.

My 280 had been registered in California with the VIN of 280SL016402.  According to the data card information on this web site the Fahrgestell-Nr is the VIN (11304312001748 in my case).

The VIN of the 250 i have just purchased was also registered with the 250 number, and not the Fahrgestell-Nr.

Are these 2 numbers essentially the same, and interchangeable as far as the DMV goes?

suzy
1967 250SL auto beige/green

[Klaus]

Suzy,
for the DMV, and insurance, your 280SL should be registered with its full VIN, 113 044 10 016402 if it is a manual, or 113 044 12 016402 if it is an automatic.

The 250 SL would accordingly be 113 043 12 001748.
Using the model designation plus the last 6 digits of the serial number is not correct for registration purposes.

Klaus
1969 280 SL

[J. Huber]

Hey Suzy. Congrats on finding a new car! (Love to see it someday). As for VIN -- in my case, the CA. DMV has always used my "Fahrgestell Nummer" (the 113042XXXXXX) as the Registration number. Not sure why yours is using those other numbers.

James
63 230SL

[wbain]

The correct number starts with 113. Be aware that the DMV and the insurance companies 'talk' to each other (via computer) to verify insurance. Mismatched numbers can cause issues. Talk to both the DMV and your insurance company to find out what number they want and go from there. (ask me how I know, my 220S is a 110012-12-xxxxxx and it was on the title as 220Sxxxxxx from California and I'm in VA.)

Thanks

Warren Bain 1965 220S, 1989 300SE, 1989 420SEL, 2002 Ford Crown Vic Police Interceptor

[suzy]

thanks for these (incredibly) quick responses.  they confirm what i thought, and now i will make the dreaded trip to the DMV to change the recorded VIN #.

what a great group you are  

suzy
1967 250SL auto beige/green

[al_lieffring]

In the states where I have lived getting the VIN number corrected on a title involved having an inspection by a state Highway Patrol officer and a theft search of the number stamp on the vehicle's chassis.

This number is found under the hood stamped directly into the right frame rail in front of the subframe mount (under the air filter boot) numbers stamped into removable number plates could possibly have been swithced from another car so only the VIN stamped into the chassis can be verified as the original number issued by the factory.

Hopefully the numbers on your data cards, number plates and chassis stamp all match.

The more knowledgable you are about where these markings are and what they mean, the easier it will be to get this corrected.

Good luck





Al Lieffring
66 230SL

[suzy]

thanks for these (incredibly) quick responses.  they confirm what i thought, and now i will make the dreaded trip to the DMV to change the recorded VIN #.

what a great group you are  

suzy
1967 250SL auto beige/green

[sjiatrou]

Suzy:

My 230sl is registered as 230SL01515E.  This is how California DMV registered it in 1964.  I am the second owner and the original owner passed along all of the registration cards from 1964 until 2006! I opted to keep the number since it keeps the records consistent.  I gave this number to the insurance company and as long as the insurance and DMV registration numbers match everything is ok. (I also did not want to deal with a VIN change with CA DMV!)

Steve

Steve
Seaside, CA
1964 230sl roadster
White (050)/Black (116)

[Mike Hughes]

Here in Virginia, if there is a discrepancy between the VIN on the title and the actual vin on the vehicle you can go to any DMV branch office and request the branch manager to do a visual inspection of the car.  There is a form that he can fill out to correct the VIN in the DMV records.  I've had to do this twice in the last 30 years for older vehicles incorrectly titled by previous owners.

Good on you for finding another SL so quickly.  I know we'd all love to see some photos when you get a chance!

- Mike Hughes  -ô¿ô-
  1966 230SL Auto P/S
  Havanna Brown (408)
  Light Beige (181)
  Cream M-B Tex (121)

[Raymond]

I bought my car from a Ferrari Dealer in Seattle.  The Washington Title listed the VIN as 280SL00000176.  When I registered in Florida, they copied the number to the Florida Title.  The next year I had a visual inspection and had to show them where to find the number.  They submitted the paperwork and the new registration came back with the same 280SL number.  Oh well, the insurance company has the right number.  Coming up on year four, so I guess the DMV and Insurance companies don't talk all that much.



Ray
'68 280SL 4-spd Coupe