M5 Vin - Online checks dont work.

[tuney]

Hi Im looking to Buy a 2000 M5 and have the followin Vin:
WBSDE92000BJ11133

Id like to run some checks, but the onlines ones seem to think this is an invalid number... strange...

Im in the UK, does anyone know the best way of validating Mileage History etc. (he doesnt have the log book!)

Thanks
Chris

[dutchbmw]

A car from 2000 without log book.... hmm, don't buy!

[Gulelin]

I'm not sure if a car that is manufactured for the UK should have the exact same VIN specs, but I think they should follow the same format. I can tell you from experience(cause I run alot of VINs in my line of work) that the VIN is probably close to being valid, it may be only 1 or 2 numbres off. Certain digits will make a VIN unreadable if wrong. I can look at it and tell you it's a BMW, but it doesn't show up as a valid VIN. It's probably off a little. The first 13 digits are the ones that count, the last 4 are just a sequence of numbers assigned to that specific package of options for that car for that year.

[Gulelin]

Here is a breakdown of what a VIN means, just for FYI for you guys:



1-3 digits is the World Manufacturer Identifier.
1st - Country of origin
2nd - Manufacturer
3rd - Vehicle type
4th-8th - Describe other features of the vehicle
9th - Check digit
10th - Model year digit
11th - Plant digit
12th-17th - Individual vehicle identification number

[325isBaby]

The way your's reads it is a

WBS-Motorsport
DE92-Next 4 are Model Code
0-Means it only has Seat Belts (odd for a 2000, should have Air Bags)
0-9th is a check digit
0- Should be Model Year, 0 is an invalid year though Y should be 2000
0- Unknown
B- Plant Code indicates Dingolfing
J11133- Production Number


And there is actually 1 more number here than the typical VIN should have...Standardized 17 number. Curious...