VIN on every body panel?

[KevinC]

I remember hearing YEARS ago that BMW labels every body panel with the car's VIN number, which is obviously VERY handy later in determining if a car has had any body work. Do our ZHP's have this feature, or did they quit doing it at some point?

[Meric]

Theres one on the passenger side strut place. By the engine bay. I dont know if theres any other.

[M3TA5IN]

This is where they are on the e36

Windshield
Strut tower
Passenger and driver door seals and on the doors
1 on passenger side of hood looking from underneath
1 on passenger side of trunk looking from underneath

These 2 are kind of hard to see
Almost directly above the rear wheel wells in where the body and bumper plastic meet, if you lay down and look up at the body they are in between there stamped to the rear quarters.

Again this is an e36 I'm not sure if e46 are the same.

[cakM3]

On the E46, you will see the VIN label on the bootlid behind where the license plate mounts. You have to take the mount completely off to see it. Not sure where else you would see the VIN....haven't noticed them anywhere else other than below the windshield...

[webster]

bootlid, drivers side door, drivers side strut tower

[nk_zhp]

My E30 has vin tags on EVERY panel, inclusive of the bumpers. This practice has been suspended by many manufacturers as it brings the resale value of the car down if the panels are changed. Resale value is key in setting lease pricing, and lowering lease rates increases sales.

[das boots]

VIN tags are very important when buying or selling a E30 M3. One of the things that sets the value of the car. And the tags are just about everywhere. Not forgetting the stamped VIN on the hood cowl.

[KevinC]

My E30 has vin tags on EVERY panel, inclusive of the bumpers. This practice has been suspended by many manufacturers as it brings the resale value of the car down if the panels are changed. Resale value is key in setting lease pricing, and lowering lease rates increases sales.

THIS is what I was referring to. Does anyone know if BMW has quit this practice, or if our E46's still have it? I remember now when I first learned it - it was at a dealer in the early '90s, a sales guy was trying to sell an old 5-series to a buddy of mine, and showing him several of the body panels' VIN tags and bragging about how the car had never been hit.

[das boots]

Yes...The E34 5er was the last of the 5 series cars to have the VIN tags to all panels to my understanding.