Etched chassis number differs from main number - MOT?

Question

I am about to buy a car and when checking the MOT advisory item it says:

Etched chassis number differs from main number.

Any explanation for this? I wonder if there is something suspicious in this.

Thanks.

Answer 1

cant understand why its part of the mot test...if it was a ringer then the numbers would have been de-etched..no self respecting car thiefe wioukd leave them one...its probly just had the glass replaced ...as long as the vin number/frame numbers hasnt been tamperd with it shoulkd be ok...

Answer 2

cut and shut possibly ie 2 different cars welded togethercheck for youyrself

Answer 3

If the car has more than one VIN showing then it should have failed the MOT. That would start alarm bells ringing for me straight away.

However, there are some models of vehicles that do display more than one VIN. These are called "multi-stage builds" and it usually happens when a manufacturer releases a model and then an after market company modifies it. An example of this would be Alpina who modify BMW's. When they finish with it they stamp a new chassis number onto it but do not remove the original one. Might be an explanation.

Answer 4

The serial number stamped on the chassis should be the same as the number on the logbook. If they're different the car may be a ringer and should be avoided.

Answer 5

Yes, there is something suspicious about this. Do not buy this car, there are plenty others out there!

Answer 6

its a ringer or stolen