5 replies to this topic

[gavgalligan]

Hi all,

I have a 98 mini cooper.

I have failed my NCT, the equivalent to the MOT in Ireland because my Vin Number was obstructed by paint.

I dont know where it is located, could someone please tell me or show me the location with the use of illustrations?

Any help would be great, thanks.

Gavin.

[waddle]

im not sure because yours is a modern one, but i thing theres one in the bonnet lip guttering thing and one in the scuttle, there might be more, can you not ask your mot man, afterall if he failed it on it he should be able to tell you where he was looking for it

[gavgalligan]

It was bout half a year ago, he was foreign and told me in broken English that there was a bit of paint on it and it was in the engine bay somewhere. Not sure what im looking for?

[Yoda]

He was probably talking about the aluminium Vin plate, usually located on one of the inner wings under the bonnet. maybe it has been painted over and needs cleaning off.

[gavgalligan]

Found it there on the inner wing, have no idea what he is taking about, no paint on it at all and not obstructed! They money hungry bast*#ds!

Cheers for the help lads.

[Yoda]

If he was talking about the vin number in the scuttle lip, they are painted over from factory and not always easy to see. I spoke to my local Tester yesterday and he said that the guy should use the aluminium plate to prove the identity of the car as it should match the number in the scuttle. If a car has been reshelled or is a ringer, these numbers will not match, also most older mini's have had repairs or replacement scuttles and not many people bother to renumber the new scuttle panel.

You can see how easy it can be to ring a Mini just by replacing the scuttle! and swapping plates.