Exact position of VIN stamp in footwell

Exact position of VIN stamp in footwell

Author
Discussion

GO LEO

Original Poster:

108 posts

172 months

Friday 13th November 2015
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Hi everyone,

Having sold my TVR Cerbera a few weeks ago I am now in the market for a Noble M12.
I am now looking at a specific car and noticed that the VIN number on the plate in the engine bay may not exactly match with the number stated in the V5C. What seems to be an "I" on the plate should be a "1". HPI check proves that what the V5C reads is correct and matches the registration. Now... Has Noble made a mistake on the plate or has someone played with the plate and is there something wrong with the car's identity?

To be sure I would now like to check the VIN stamped directly onto the frame of the car.
Other posts claim it should be located in the driver's footwell. But where exactly? There is carpet everywhere and it is glued to the floor. Can anyone describe exactly where I should search so I don't have to destroy everything.

More questions to come in the next days. I am very excited to become part of the Noble Gang hopefully soon.

Cheers, Leo

stevegto3

428 posts

144 months

Saturday 14th November 2015
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I always thought the VIN is stamped on a metal plate that is rivoted to the chassis rail in the engine bay - passenger side is the only marked location

AMG Merc

11,954 posts

260 months

Saturday 14th November 2015
quotequote all
stevegto3 said:
I always thought the VIN is stamped on a metal plate that is rivoted to the chassis rail in the engine bay - passenger side is the only marked location
+1 This is also my understanding. OP, mail me for details of other ways to confirm authenticity or alternatively post a photo of the VIN plate and other details of the car here.

GO LEO

Original Poster:

108 posts

172 months

Saturday 14th November 2015
quotequote all
Yes, that's one of the two locations where the VIN can be found and as I said this # doesn't fully comply with what the V5C states. But the difference is minor so it could be just a mistake. If the car was a ringer it would differ a lot more.
Anyway, this plate can be removed or changed relatively easily. Hence the VIN is also stamped directly onto the frame, somewhere in the footwell driver's side. But where exactly?

Hopefully someone out there knows.

Leo

AMG Merc

11,954 posts

260 months

Saturday 14th November 2015
quotequote all
I doubt the owner will allow this (I would not) but try peeling back the carpet around the drivers side chassis bar front right-hand of seat, you will need to unstick the carpet. As said there are also other identifying marks/locations.

TuxMan

9,011 posts

245 months

Saturday 14th November 2015
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Speak to the Noble factory , I'm sure they can help .

andrewr

409 posts

205 months

Saturday 14th November 2015
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Yes, I agree it's on the chassis rail under the carpet in front of the drivers seat. The only way to be sure as the chassis plate in the engine bay is only riveted on. You will also find the car number, typically the last 3 digits of the VIN marked on panels like the doors under the door panel etc.

GO LEO

Original Poster:

108 posts

172 months

Saturday 12th December 2015
quotequote all
Quick final feedback to close the post.

It finally appeared that both VINs (the one on the plate in the engine bay as well as the one in the drivers footwell) were identical and correct and that the V5C was wrong! I would have never thought of this scenario...

Meanwhile Noble Automotive supplied a letter stating that the paperwork has to be corrected and that the VINs on the car match with their own production database.

Anyone heard of something like this before?

Cheers, Leo

GO LEO

Original Poster:

108 posts

172 months

Saturday 26th March 2016
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Proof picture that the VIN is really stamped in front of the drivers seat.
Needed to show this to German MOT. Now carpet refurb required :-(

Zoobeef

6,004 posts

165 months

Saturday 26th March 2016
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Mine was the same (one letter was a number on the V5) and when the last owner bought it he picked it up (about 6 years ago)
I have in the history a letter from noble and one from the DVLA saying the V5 will be changed etc etc so it's all ok now.