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2019+ BMW 3 AND 4-SERIES FORUMS (G2x Generation) General G20 Sedan / G22 Coupe / G26 Gran Coupe Discussions My G20’s VIN number matches a completely different car in database searches

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      03-29-2020, 09:02 AM   #1
jstnstr
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My G20’s VIN number matches a completely different car in database searches

I have a brand new 2020 M340i xDrive coming on Tuesday. I recently reached out to a tuner to see if my car could be flashed over OBD. I gave them the VIN number that is listed in my myBMW.com account as well as my lease paperwork. They informed me that the it came up as a 2005 EU-market E91 330d in their database. I've checked with a few other online VIN 'decoders' and I get the same result.

The only thing I could think of is that the VIN is different on the actual vehicle but that seems unlikely as it is the same from multiple different BMW sources. Anyone got any ideas?
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      03-29-2020, 09:26 AM   #2
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wow strange never heard of that. clearly an error somewhere
please post when you get an answer
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      03-29-2020, 09:36 AM   #3
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So it's not only me then.
I was after some window trim part numbers the other day. Someone suggested a website and to type my VIN number to identify the correct parts.

My car is G20 '19. This was the result:
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      03-29-2020, 09:38 AM   #4
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Weird! Is BMW re-using VIN numbers? I don't really get how that would be possible...
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      03-29-2020, 10:18 AM   #5
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what my VIN comes up with


At least the exterior color is correct.
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      03-29-2020, 10:31 AM   #6
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Well I'm glad I'm not the only one... hopefully someone on the inside could help us figure this out
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      03-29-2020, 10:40 AM   #7
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Happened to my car as well. Though mine said unrecognised car manufactured between 1985-2015 even though it’s a 2020MY. Probably because the VIN starts with a 3?
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      03-29-2020, 02:26 PM   #8
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I've got an E46 with suspect service history apparently

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      03-29-2020, 02:31 PM   #9
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Its the last 7 digits that are the same. Happens.
My inbound G20 is showing up as e46 2003.
The sites need to allow for full VIN.
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      03-29-2020, 05:04 PM   #10
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Thank God in not the only one Jesus. I thought something was wrong. Mine comes up as an E46 from South Africa!! or not at all sometimes.
I've even used the the full VIN.
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      03-29-2020, 05:28 PM   #11
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Same thing happened to me
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      03-29-2020, 07:11 PM   #12
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Anyone have a work-around for getting your car tuned if they need the VIN?
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      03-30-2020, 04:48 AM   #13
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Same thing happened to me. I thought I was the only one.
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      03-30-2020, 02:09 PM   #14
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I wonder if they got a database crossed up during an update and need to do a rollback.
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      03-30-2020, 02:14 PM   #15
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I think they're reusing the last 7 digits again.

I guess there was a time when just the last 7 was enough (10 million numbers) and now not?

I know there is other witchcraftery in the full VIN numbers, but most 'check your VIN' sites just take the last 7.
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      03-30-2020, 02:18 PM   #16
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Same here, some 1999 E46 or something
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      03-30-2020, 02:28 PM   #17
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Yeah, I found this happening a few times when I was doing research before buying.
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      03-30-2020, 02:42 PM   #18
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The last 7 digits are no longer guaranteed to be unique. This started somewhere around mid-2019 and affects vehicles produced in Munich and Dingolfing. You will need to use the complete VIN to find your car if the first letter of that 7-letter portion is C (Dingolfing) or F (Munich). That's how it is right now but other plants will likely follow suit in the future.

Any tool that only asks for the last 7 digits is now obsolete and needs to be updated. You're seeing the 90s cars because the official database now returns two matching VINs and the tools, not knowing that this is possible, just take the first one.

Last edited by ynguldyn; 03-30-2020 at 02:48 PM..
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      03-30-2020, 04:54 PM   #19
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Thanks mods for changing the title of the thread for me. What are we in China?
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      03-30-2020, 06:38 PM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jstnstr View Post
Thanks mods for changing the title of the thread for me. What are we in China?
Just my 2-cents
it's their sandbox - we are choosing to play in it. While initially I found the G20 moderator(s) to be a little heavy handed I've grown to appreciate their desire to keep things in check (not saying your title needed to be changed but i get what the mods are working to achieve here)
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      03-30-2020, 06:41 PM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ynguldyn View Post
The last 7 digits are no longer guaranteed to be unique. This started somewhere around mid-2019 and affects vehicles produced in Munich and Dingolfing. You will need to use the complete VIN to find your car if the first letter of that 7-letter portion is C (Dingolfing) or F (Munich). That's how it is right now but other plants will likely follow suit in the future.

Any tool that only asks for the last 7 digits is now obsolete and needs to be updated. You're seeing the 90s cars because the official database now returns two matching VINs and the tools, not knowing that this is possible, just take the first one.
thanks for explaining
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      03-31-2020, 02:03 AM   #22
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Guys, it’s the 10th Letter or number that’s denotes it’s year and then everything after is production country or factory and then numerical order. 2020 is L. Your last seven is matching the older cars and because they are out there and not on the road the database will pick up the older cars but will, if up to date offer both in the future if you don’t use the full VIN.

Stay Safe everyone!

Last edited by randspacific; 03-31-2020 at 02:09 AM..
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