Not joined yet? Register for free and enjoy features such as alerts, private messaging and viewing latest posts and topics.

VIN number

Specific discussion about the E89 2009 Z4 (sDrive35is, sDrive35i, sDrive30i, sDrive23i)
User avatar
tomscott
Lifer
Lifer
Posts: 7466
Joined: Mon Sep 19, 2011 12:26 pm
Location: Manchester
Contact:

VIN number

Post by tomscott » Mon Oct 02, 2017 11:27 am

Hey guys,

Back on the hunt and it used to be the case that you could find the vin for a BMW through the warranty page.

https://www.bmw-warranty.co.uk/CarDetails/Index

They seem to have disabled this now. Is there anywhere else you can go to find out the vin of cars you may have your eye one without contacting the dealer/owner.

Cheers

Tom

User avatar
Kugaman1
Member
Member
Posts: 367
Joined: Sun Jul 30, 2017 6:16 pm
Location: North East Scotland

VIN number

Post by Kugaman1 » Mon Oct 02, 2017 6:32 pm

No mate, there’s no known way of doing this for free since BMW warranty disabled the function last month.

BeardyJon
Member
Member
Posts: 502
Joined: Tue Mar 25, 2014 5:24 pm
Location: Edinburgh

VIN number

Post by BeardyJon » Mon Oct 02, 2017 8:45 pm

There is a way.

Go to www.targetcarparts.ie and punch in the reg. the site will find the VIN. Then go to [url]www.bmwvin.com[\url] and type in the last 7 digits of the vin and it'll give you the full breakdown of installed options.
2012 E89 sDrive20i M Sport Celtic Tuning Stage 3 Remap
2008 E86 Z4 M Sport 2.0i - Gone
2003 E46 316ti M Sport - Gone

User avatar
mr wilks
Legend
Legend
Posts: 21894
Joined: Wed Jul 04, 2012 10:02 pm
Location: Lancashire

VIN number

Post by mr wilks » Mon Oct 02, 2017 8:46 pm

BeardyJon wrote: Mon Oct 02, 2017 8:45 pm There is a way.

Go to www.targetcarparts.ie and punch in the reg. the site will find the VIN. Then go to [url]www.bmwvin.com[\url] and type in the last 7 digits of the vin and it'll give you the full breakdown of installed options.

Top manouvre :thumbsup: been missing the free vin search through BMW warranty :P
3 ZMRs
3 E89s
5 Si coupes
5 Si roadsters
997 C4
TTRS
F82 M4
MK7 Golf Gti
current Bmw 6 Gran Turismo

User avatar
Kugaman1
Member
Member
Posts: 367
Joined: Sun Jul 30, 2017 6:16 pm
Location: North East Scotland

VIN number

Post by Kugaman1 » Mon Oct 02, 2017 9:37 pm

Nice one!

mcbutler
Senior Member
Senior Member
Posts: 2551
Joined: Fri May 26, 2017 3:40 pm
Location: Plymouth

VIN number

Post by mcbutler » Mon Oct 02, 2017 10:04 pm

I would have thought that it would be illegal. Otherwise you could nick a red BMW, hide it in a garage till you see another red BMW, get the plates copied (easy) and then look up the VIN and change it.

Or am I wrong??
Mark
Plymouth
E89
35i
Carmine Red
Black leather

User avatar
tomscott
Lifer
Lifer
Posts: 7466
Joined: Mon Sep 19, 2011 12:26 pm
Location: Manchester
Contact:

VIN number

Post by tomscott » Mon Oct 02, 2017 10:15 pm

BeardyJon wrote: Mon Oct 02, 2017 8:45 pm There is a way.

Go to www.targetcarparts.ie and punch in the reg. the site will find the VIN. Then go to [url]www.bmwvin.com[\url] and type in the last 7 digits of the vin and it'll give you the full breakdown of installed options.
Excellent! Thank you! Works a charm!

So useful to see the actual spec of the car!

rally-chris
Member
Member
Posts: 696
Joined: Wed Jul 26, 2017 12:32 pm
Location: Newbury, Berks UK

VIN number

Post by rally-chris » Mon Oct 02, 2017 11:10 pm

mcbutler wrote: Mon Oct 02, 2017 10:04 pm I would have thought that it would be illegal. Otherwise you could nick a red BMW, hide it in a garage till you see another red BMW, get the plates copied (easy) and then look up the VIN and change it.

Or am I wrong??
VIN numbers aren't exactly secret though are they - they are printed in the windscreen of every car made in the last 20 years so you'd only have to walk around a car park to get some valid VIN numbers to use for a cloning scam. For the same reason I don't bother blanking my number plate on a photo of my car online, as there doesn't seem much point when it is displayed in public anyway!

Chris
08 Z4 3.0si Sport Coupe in Montego Blue

User avatar
bob4333
Member
Member
Posts: 334
Joined: Fri Sep 19, 2014 7:42 am
Location: Solihull, UK

VIN number

Post by bob4333 » Tue Oct 03, 2017 8:11 am

It works. :thumbsup:

Thanks BeardyJon.

Just need to find out what a "Dummy-SALAPA" is now, and if I'm missing out because I don't have a real one. :rofl:

User avatar
Taz
Lifer
Lifer
Posts: 19501
Joined: Tue Jul 14, 2009 9:56 pm
Location: Saddleworth

VIN number

Post by Taz » Tue Oct 03, 2017 10:02 am

rally-chris wrote: Mon Oct 02, 2017 11:10 pm
mcbutler wrote: Mon Oct 02, 2017 10:04 pm I would have thought that it would be illegal. Otherwise you could nick a red BMW, hide it in a garage till you see another red BMW, get the plates copied (easy) and then look up the VIN and change it.

Or am I wrong??
VIN numbers aren't exactly secret though are they - they are printed in the windscreen of every car made in the last 20 years so you'd only have to walk around a car park to get some valid VIN numbers to use for a cloning scam. For the same reason I don't bother blanking my number plate on a photo of my car online, as there doesn't seem much point when it is displayed in public anyway!

Chris
My thoughts too

BeardyJon
Member
Member
Posts: 502
Joined: Tue Mar 25, 2014 5:24 pm
Location: Edinburgh

VIN number

Post by BeardyJon » Tue Oct 03, 2017 5:28 pm

rally-chris wrote: Mon Oct 02, 2017 11:10 pm
mcbutler wrote: Mon Oct 02, 2017 10:04 pm I would have thought that it would be illegal. Otherwise you could nick a red BMW, hide it in a garage till you see another red BMW, get the plates copied (easy) and then look up the VIN and change it.

Or am I wrong??
VIN numbers aren't exactly secret though are they - they are printed in the windscreen of every car made in the last 20 years so you'd only have to walk around a car park to get some valid VIN numbers to use for a cloning scam. For the same reason I don't bother blanking my number plate on a photo of my car online, as there doesn't seem much point when it is displayed in public anyway!

Chris
Yeah, blurring out reg plates always seemed weird since you drive around with it on show anyway. Besides, you can't get any personally identifiable info from the plate due to the data protection act so the only ones who can identify you with the reg are the DVLA and the Police.
2012 E89 sDrive20i M Sport Celtic Tuning Stage 3 Remap
2008 E86 Z4 M Sport 2.0i - Gone
2003 E46 316ti M Sport - Gone

User avatar
Mr Tidy
Legend
Legend
Posts: 23608
Joined: Wed Jul 02, 2014 12:18 pm
Location: North West Surrey

VIN number

Post by Mr Tidy » Tue Oct 03, 2017 8:06 pm

BeardyJon wrote: Mon Oct 02, 2017 8:45 pm There is a way.

Go to www.targetcarparts.ie and punch in the reg. the site will find the VIN. Then go to [url]www.bmwvin.com[\url] and type in the last 7 digits of the vin and it'll give you the full breakdown of installed options.
Great news OP - and thanks for letting us know. :thumbsup:
Coupes because stunning!
Current - Silver Grey MC, Imola Red heated Nappa & carbon trim. Aeros, H & R Coil-overs, 224s, OE Strut brace, Nav, cup-holders, DSP Hi-Fi, pdc, cruise, MFSW, no CDV! E90 330i daily
Gone - Montego Blue
Gone - Ruby Black

User avatar
tomscott
Lifer
Lifer
Posts: 7466
Joined: Mon Sep 19, 2011 12:26 pm
Location: Manchester
Contact:

VIN number

Post by tomscott » Wed Nov 15, 2017 11:12 am

Looks like targetparts.ie has also gone.

Cant seem to find another way to do it. Seems all the sites and tricks you could use have been removed. :headbang:

Lazza
Member
Member
Posts: 488
Joined: Sat Nov 11, 2017 10:42 am
Location: Wokingham

VIN number

Post by Lazza » Wed Nov 15, 2017 7:34 pm

tomscott wrote: Wed Nov 15, 2017 11:12 am Looks like targetparts.ie has also gone.

Cant seem to find another way to do it. Seems all the sites and tricks you could use have been removed. :headbang:
It is still there, I just gave it a go. The link didn’t work though, I just typed it in.
Z4 S-Drive 35i
Audi TT S-line
Mazda MX5 Mk2.5 (for sale)
Wokingham Berkshire

User avatar
tomscott
Lifer
Lifer
Posts: 7466
Joined: Mon Sep 19, 2011 12:26 pm
Location: Manchester
Contact:

VIN number

Post by tomscott » Thu Nov 16, 2017 1:41 am

Lazza wrote: Wed Nov 15, 2017 7:34 pm
tomscott wrote: Wed Nov 15, 2017 11:12 am Looks like targetparts.ie has also gone.

Cant seem to find another way to do it. Seems all the sites and tricks you could use have been removed. :headbang:
It is still there, I just gave it a go. The link didn’t work though, I just typed it in.
True the link didn’t work.

Tried on chrome safari and IE and it loads to a blank screen for me has done for a few weeks.

Post Reply