VIN ID
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- 998 Cooper
- Posts: 281
- Joined: Tue Nov 01, 2011 4:31 am
- Location: Mexico City
VIN ID
I took my mk1 mini to a technical check and the VIN impressed in plate besides the radiator does not matches exactly with the VIN of the V5. Is there another part where I could check the VIN of my car?
thanx
Nick
thanx
Nick
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- 998 Cooper
- Posts: 712
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- Location: in my workshop
Re: VIN ID
usual dvla screw up
one of mine had the s replaced with a 5
also theres a 998 cooper chassis number here thats got the k missing off the beginning and an extra digit on the end that dont exist or has ever been a part of any mini chassis number
they dont like ammending them either....its a real nitemare to get it altered..you end up being at fault and its thier screw up
one of mine had the s replaced with a 5
also theres a 998 cooper chassis number here thats got the k missing off the beginning and an extra digit on the end that dont exist or has ever been a part of any mini chassis number
they dont like ammending them either....its a real nitemare to get it altered..you end up being at fault and its thier screw up
for my sins,i own a 1957 wolsleley 1500
- Simon776
- 1275 Cooper S
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Re: VIN ID
Mk 1 Mini's don't have a VIN, they have a chassis number and it isn't always the DVLA's fault, quite often the original handwritten entry on the old buff or green log is wrong and DVLA simply copied it when the records were computerised.
The power of accurate observation is commonly called cynicism by those who do not possess it.
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- 998 Cooper
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Re: VIN ID
I got mine corrected quite easy but it took about 6 weeks, I went to my local DVLA armed with a colour scan of the original logbook which had been hand written wrong,a colour photo of the chassis plate including the FE number, the heritage cert, a copy of the post on the mini mania forum stating how the DVLA always got this wrong and the current V5C, the guy at the office said no worries as it all looked genuine but they had to forward it to Cardiff as they cannot amend it in local offices. All came back including all pics and scans.
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- 998 Cooper
- Posts: 281
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- Location: Mexico City
Re: VIN ID
Following Simon's answer, where could I look for the chasis number besides the plate that is screwed besides the radiator, cuase I think this plate is wrong since I exported the car and I don't think customs would let the car entry the country if the V5 didn´t match the chasis number,
Is there some impression of the chasis number in other place in the mini that I could check?
thanx
Nick
Is there some impression of the chasis number in other place in the mini that I could check?
thanx
Nick
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- 1275 Cooper S
- Posts: 2109
- Joined: Thu Jun 24, 2010 7:47 pm
Re: VIN ID
the dvla local office altered (or at least inspected the paper work and sent it to swansea) the chassis number on one of my cars without question, no hassle at all.
the shiney new v5c came back a couple of weeks later with out problem
the shiney new v5c came back a couple of weeks later with out problem
please note, these are my own, individual sales, nothing whatsoever to do with my employer, minispares
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- 1275 Cooper S
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Re: VIN ID
The answer to your question is pretty much ..no. However, some cars (allegedly) had part of the chassis no stamped on the triangular brace at the drivers (RHD) end of the crossmember - or maybe in the gutter at the rear of the bonnet opening.... (Mine has neither.)
If you have the body number (small plate on bonnet slam panel to drivers side of bonnet latch) you could ask Heritage for the matching chassis number....
Cheers, Ian
If you have the body number (small plate on bonnet slam panel to drivers side of bonnet latch) you could ask Heritage for the matching chassis number....
Cheers, Ian
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- 998 Cooper
- Posts: 712
- Joined: Fri Jun 25, 2010 1:24 pm
- Location: in my workshop
Re: VIN ID
depends who deals with your alteration at dvla
ive had some changed without question,
if you get a jobsworth ur in for a right task ahead..
the previous owner of my surf blue mk1 superdeluxe .(a well known concours car some of u may know) had his v5c and mot revoked cos of a discrepancy-he was advised not to use the car till dvla got back to him -took them 3 months!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
it transpired that the original folding buff log book had been written incorrectly when was registered in 1963 !!!
ive seen quite a lot like this

ive had some changed without question,
if you get a jobsworth ur in for a right task ahead..

the previous owner of my surf blue mk1 superdeluxe .(a well known concours car some of u may know) had his v5c and mot revoked cos of a discrepancy-he was advised not to use the car till dvla got back to him -took them 3 months!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
it transpired that the original folding buff log book had been written incorrectly when was registered in 1963 !!!
ive seen quite a lot like this
for my sins,i own a 1957 wolsleley 1500
- Simon776
- 1275 Cooper S
- Posts: 1181
- Joined: Thu Jun 24, 2010 6:08 pm
- Location: Shakspere's county
Re: VIN ID
There is no allegedly about it, some cars do have this butHowever, some cars (allegedly) had part of the chassis no stamped on the triangular brace at the drivers (RHD) end of the crossmember
a) not that many and
b) mainly those built at Cowley.
Cars built for export markets have the chassis number stamped in a variety of places.
The power of accurate observation is commonly called cynicism by those who do not possess it.
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- 998 Cooper
- Posts: 281
- Joined: Tue Nov 01, 2011 4:31 am
- Location: Mexico City
Re: VIN ID
Sorry but I'm having trouble to understand where to look in the triangular brace at the drivers end of the crossmember? Is just that my english is not that good. thanx
- AustinSuperSeven
- 850 Super
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Re: VIN ID
Simon776 wrote:There is no allegedly about it, some cars do have this butHowever, some cars (allegedly) had part of the chassis no stamped on the triangular brace at the drivers (RHD) end of the crossmember
a) not that many and
b) mainly those built at Cowley.
Cars built for export markets have the chassis number stamped in a variety of places.
Very interesting Simon.
My 62 was built at Cowley and the last 6 digits are stamped on the stiffener plate.
My 61 was built a Longbridge and is not stamped.
That's why i love BMC

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- 1275 Cooper S
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Re: VIN ID
Hi Nick. Take a look at this pic. The stiffener is on the left hand side as you look at the pic with the fresh air intake tube hole behind it. I did mark it with some red to highlight the area you should be looking in.nickacb wrote:Sorry but I'm having trouble to understand where to look in the triangular brace at the drivers end of the crossmember? Is just that my english is not that good. thanx
Hope it helps.

- Frogeye61
- 998 Cooper
- Posts: 372
- Joined: Sun Mar 18, 2012 8:56 pm
- Location: Storkøbenhavn
Re: VIN ID
Then the cool question...AustinSuperSeven wrote:Simon776 wrote:There is no allegedly about it, some cars do have this butHowever, some cars (allegedly) had part of the chassis no stamped on the triangular brace at the drivers (RHD) end of the crossmember
a) not that many and
b) mainly those built at Cowley.
Cars built for export markets have the chassis number stamped in a variety of places.
Very interesting Simon.
My 62 was built at Cowley and the last 6 digits are stamped on the stiffener plate.
My 61 was built a Longbridge and is not stamped.
That's why i love BMC
Mine is LHD and originally sold in Sweden. It has the numbers on the stiffener...
Where was it built?
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- 998 Cooper
- Posts: 281
- Joined: Tue Nov 01, 2011 4:31 am
- Location: Mexico City