Dash replacement - mismatched VIN tags

[dinkman94]

So I just bought an E30 from MA where the PPO replaced the dash because it had cracks from another car and didn't replace the vin tags. So the VIN# on the dash doesnt match the rest of the car or title.

It didnt register in my mind why this would be a problem when the PO explained it to me, he was very upfront, but now I'm faced with the problem of not being able to register the car in a new state because the primary VIN# on the dashboard doesnt match the title.

I'm contacting the PO to look for the old dash/vin tag but short of that, it sounds like the car has to be taken to a DMV at the last titled state (MA) and properly re-vined, then resold to be reigsterable and titleable in CT.

This sounds insanely complicated and unnecessary since there's 9 other VIN tags on the car that match the title so I wanted to ask if anyone else has dealt with this in the past since replacing a cracked dash on E30's is a common thing you read about.

Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

[aventari]

What if you just remove the VIN from the dash so there's no mismatch? They might consider that VIN tampering, so maybe just remove the whole dash while you register it?

[AndrewBird]

Pretty sure there are places where you can get factory VIN tags, however, I'm not sure of where.

[dnguyen1963]

Contact the DMV directly and explain the situation to them then ask for their advice.

[jw 325ic]

The vin is stamped on the cowl behind the weather stripping. Would that not be a better source?

[dnguyen1963]

The vin is stamped on the cowl behind the weather stripping. Would that not be a better source?

In many states, only the vin tag on the dash is acceptable to the DMV.

[audiquattrot]

was just thinking about this recently....on how you guys swap vin tags when replacing dashes. OP good luck....let us know what ends up happening.

[jw 325ic]

Its just on there by 2 rivets right? Crazy some states wont accept something stamped into steel from the factory on the cowl rather than a piece you can switch.

[jlevie]

The "rivets" are more like push pins. You can carefully pry the vin off the old dash and put it on the new dash.

[dinkman94]

was just thinking about this recently....on how you guys swap vin tags when replacing dashes. OP good luck....let us know what ends up happening.

trust me, you dont want to know how i went about getting around this problem but it was NOT easy or legal. i'm just glad its over with now

[bmwm42]

the vin tags are removable, ive done it several times now that ive replaced a few dashs' in my e30, because i never wanted to have an issue with the vin number not matching

[blueapplesoda]

trust me, you dont want to know how i went about getting around this problem but it was NOT easy or legal. i'm just glad its over with now

So, umm..How did you get around this problem?

[blackhawkimpact]

[pogokat]

Swapping the vin tags is a ton easier than basically every other part of the dash swap...for example, getting the gauge cluster out without breaking something/everything, cutting yourself, or screaming All the cuss words at the same time, is a bit harder

As mentioned above...it's held on by two plastic tacks

Have you through about registering the car in one of the outlets states that doesn't care about anything?

[lateracer]

This really isn't that big of a deal. Pull the dash VIN off, refer anyone that looks to the door pillar sticker, and be done with it. Had a worse situation with my E30 and it was painless. Dashboards on a bunch of different cars go bad and get replaced. Lost VIN tags happen...that's why the number is in more than one place.

In addition to a mismatched dash VIN from the same above situation, I couldn't get mine registered in CA b/c it wouldn't pass smog and the guy I bought it from in 2009 never had any paperwork from the previous documented owner, so all I had was a bill of sale.

Fast forward 3 years. I move to ATL and try to register it here. I show up with an old, out of state, hand written, bill of sale for a car that hasn't been registered in 5 years and has no dash VIN plate. I had a policeman complete a vehicle inspection/VIN verification form as a preemptive move in case I got hassled by DMV.

Cop: What happened to the dash VIN
Me: I don't know. There's one on the door though.
Cop: OK. (runs VIN to see if it's stolen). Here's your form.

DMV didn't care about missing plate when I went to register it. I've got a title, plates, and no more smog worries. I'm no lawyer, but I think the laws about VIN pates are typically there to give authorities something with teeth to apply to people trying to do dishonest things.