Different VIN #'s on the same car?

wasupdu · 04-12-2016, 04:30 PM

My Z4 is finally to the age where I need to do emissions testing in order to receive my annual vehicle registration. No big deal, right? Not exactly. I store the car over the winter with the battery removed and apparently it takes a few hundred miles for the car to receive enough emissions data to trigger a passing test. It took me 3 times to pass as a result, but that's not why I'm writing here.

After talking with the tech at the emissions facility and looking over the report that the OBDII generated, the VIN is different than the one on the door jam/dash. We're not talking a few digits off, but seemingly this is a different model BMW altogether. Dash/door jam VIN is 4USBT53565LTXXXXX, whereas the OBDII report shows WBAAA00000LTXXXXX. How could this be?

Punisher3.0si · 04-12-2016, 06:57 PM

Probably was in an accident and had parts replaced. Either that or the car was stolen at some point.

Edit: I missread your post. It looks like the DME was replaced at some point and the VIN wasn't written to the car. The first digit is a W which is for Germany.

pokeybritches · 04-12-2016, 07:17 PM

The first should be your actual VIN.

inTgr8r · 04-12-2016, 10:05 PM

Did you have the DME tuned?

Vanne · 04-12-2016, 11:39 PM

Not meaning to gate crash, but as Ian said, since I had my car tuned, I get this when I try to read the dme.

,
As said, maybe its a tune f_up.

wasupdu · 04-13-2016, 07:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by inTgr8r

Did you have the DME tuned?

No, I didn't have the DME tuned. I've had the car since '07.

Steeler · 04-13-2016, 08:34 AM

I would lean towards the DME being replaced. Either corrupted or stolen!!! as Punisher said.
The DME with WBA as the first 3 digits are German built cars.
Ours at 4USB are U.S. built cars as we know.

Finnegan · 04-13-2016, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dbarton62

I would lean towards the DME being replaced. Either corrupted or stolen!!! as Punisher said.
The DME with WBA as the first 3 digits are German built cars.
Ours at 4USB are U.S. built cars as we know.

Probably a replacement ECU.

Is this preventing you from registering your car or being compliant with emissions regulations?

It's not too hard to reprogram the correct Vin number into the ECU. You'll need access to the cable and the right software of course. But any competent BMW shop should be able to do this for you as well.

Google "change vin in dme bmw". There are YouTube videos, threads, quite a few things out there on this topic. Many right here on Bimmerpost!

Steeler · 04-13-2016, 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Finnegan

Probably a replacement ECU.

Is this preventing you from registering your car or being compliant with emissions regulations?

It's not too hard to reprogram the correct Vin number into the ECU. You'll need access to the cable and the right software of course. But any competent BMW shop should be able to do this for you as well.

Google "change vin in dme bmw". There are YouTube videos, threads, quite a few things out there on this topic. Many right here on Bimmerpost!

OP says he has owned it since '07 so would have needed to have been replaced before then

wasupdu · 04-13-2016, 09:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Finnegan

Probably a replacement ECU.

Is this preventing you from registering your car or being compliant with emissions regulations?

I was ultimately able to explain the situation to the lady at the DMV over multiple phone calls, but I'm not so sure that she believed me. I get the impression that she just didn't want to talk about this anymore, so I got a pass this time around. I don't see myself having the car much longer (I've REALLY been eying the new Cayman and Boxster), so hopefully this is the last I have to deal with this.

04-12-2016, 04:30 PM	#1
wasupdu Lieutenant 25 Rep 413 Posts Drives: Z4 3.0, CLS63 AMG Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Milwaukee, WI iTrader: (0) Garage List 2013 Mercedes CLS63 ... [0.00] 2005 BMW Z4 [0.00]	Different VIN #'s on the same car? My Z4 is finally to the age where I need to do emissions testing in order to receive my annual vehicle registration. No big deal, right? Not exactly. I store the car over the winter with the battery removed and apparently it takes a few hundred miles for the car to receive enough emissions data to trigger a passing test. It took me 3 times to pass as a result, but that's not why I'm writing here. After talking with the tech at the emissions facility and looking over the report that the OBDII generated, the VIN is different than the one on the door jam/dash. We're not talking a few digits off, but seemingly this is a different model BMW altogether. Dash/door jam VIN is 4USBT53565LTXXXXX, whereas the OBDII report shows WBAAA00000LTXXXXX. How could this be? __________________ 2005 BMW Z4 Roadster 3.0 - Black Sapphire with Red Extended Leather / NAV / Premium & Sport Pkgs / 19" wheels / M steering wheel / Xenon 2013 Mercedes CLS63 AMG
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04-12-2016, 06:57 PM	#2
Punisher3.0si Second Lieutenant 28 Rep 204 Posts Drives: 2007 E86 manual Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Illinois iTrader: (0)	Probably was in an accident and had parts replaced. Either that or the car was stolen at some point. Edit: I missread your post. It looks like the DME was replaced at some point and the VIN wasn't written to the car. The first digit is a W which is for Germany.
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04-12-2016, 07:17 PM	#3
pokeybritches Colonel 479 Rep 2,782 Posts Drives: ESS/G-Power Z4M, VF Z4, 996tt Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Los Angeles iTrader: (12) Garage List 2006 BMW Z4M [10.00] 2006 BMW Z4M [8.50] 2003 BMW Z4 3.0i [9.00]	The first should be your actual VIN. __________________ VF Engineering Z4 3.0i, ESS Z4M, G-Power Z4M, 996 Turbo
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04-12-2016, 10:05 PM	#4
inTgr8r Lieutenant General 2426 Rep 11,667 Posts Drives: M2 Comp Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Toronto iTrader: (10)	Did you have the DME tuned? __________________ '21 M2C Hockenheim Silver '18 718 Cayman S Lava Orange (sold) '13 E92 M3 Santorini Blue (sold) '07 Z4 M Coupe Alpine White (sold)
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04-12-2016, 11:39 PM	#5
Vanne Down Under!! 1621 Rep 4,294 Posts Drives: 2007 Z4MC Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Dubai iTrader: (4)	Not meaning to gate crash, but as Ian said, since I had my car tuned, I get this when I try to read the dme. , As said, maybe its a tune f_up.
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04-13-2016, 08:34 AM	#7
Steeler Colonel 2428 Rep 2,704 Posts Drives: Built not Bought 04 Z4 VF Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Kitchener Ontario Canada iTrader: (2)	I would lean towards the DME being replaced. Either corrupted or stolen!!! as Punisher said. The DME with WBA as the first 3 digits are German built cars. Ours at 4USB are U.S. built cars as we know. __________________ W2A Intercooled Vortech V3Si, custom ducting, Alpha N, 60# Bosch,2.62 pulley, multi port WMI, Severn Tuning(pokeybritches), Tial, magnaflow,SS race muffler, 42 design,3.91LSD, H&R, Hotchkis,ST coils,Konis, Megan camber arms, AKG SS, Nylon mounts, Poly bushings, Carbon interior, CF Aero.APEX
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