dose any body know the correct loction of the VIN plate

[Jack442]

Dose any know the correct location of the VIN pate on a 'R'reg Mk3 Gti, as I missed out on buying a mint Gti today because the VIN was not riveted to the location front left when standing in front of the engine. As shown in the VW handbook. :undecided:There was a black sticki on type strip with the chassis number weight etc to the right hand side on the suspension bulk head could this be the missing VIN plate and VW have done away with the old steel type. Please advise desperate mk3 buyer
 

[mysticman aka polypathetic]

hi
yeah don't quote me on this but i think you will find a it in about three different places
first- a little black plate rivited to the front cross member (beam thats above the head lights)
second- stamped into the metal underneath the windscreen wipers (the plastic is cut out so it can be seen)
third- there should be a sticker under the boot carpet that lets you know the car colour ,it might be on there
but i have just glanced at these locations so i could be very wrong so as i said DON'T QUOTE ME ON IT
CHEERS
good luck
jay
and oh yeah i had a mk2 that didnt have the steel vin plate but apparently this was normal so i can only guess that the vin plate was change for the little black number as my mk3 hasn't one either but have a look under the boot carpet that i think should give you all you need.... maybe lol
not being much help am i lol  :embarassed:

[Golfer]

Hey - I know exactly what you mean.  When I looked at buying my Mk3 a few years back, some had plates riveted to the front, above the lights?.but none of the R platers did.  I ended up buying an R plater with no VIN plate on the front cross member.   It has a black sticker on the front wheel arch, and it is also embossed on the bulkhead at the bottom of the windscreen.   Also, it can be found on various stickers round the car (including under the boot carpet, inside the door pillars).

My wife?s Polo (which we bought almost new from a dealer) is the same.  Black sticker ONLY.

Lack of a VIN plate on a late Mk3 should not worry you I don?t think.   I had my Golf checked by RAC before I bought and they ensured that the VIN plate was in correct location ? it was actually a box which they ticked (against which I could later sue them if it was false).  I never verified it 100% but I concluded(having looked a loads of R platers) that the last Mk3s didn?t seem to have plates.

You could always call VW to check.

[Tripod]

hmmm, Ive got a R reg MK3 GTi as well..... Ive just had a check and mine doesn't have a VIN plate on the front cross member also... When I went to buy mine my mate checked it out and did't say anything about it.....

im in the same postion as Golfer, ive got the blacksticker on the Wheel Arch as well, and the VIN number stamped under the Front Wipers (under the bonnet though, through the plastic hole), there is also a sticker on the frame of where the drivers door shuts.....  So maybe it is just the R Reg's that didn't have Vin plates....

Bit of a mystery this one......

Maybe there is a R Reg Vin plate theif on the loose.

[Golfer]

Tripod - to be clear - mine is stamped under the wipers like yours - through a gap in plastic, viewable by flipping the bonnet.  Your VIN markings therefore sound identical.

Now - I reckon that with all three of us displaying the same markings we can be fairly sure this is 'standard'.

Not that it helps Jack422 who now finds out he missed out on his dream motor for no reason.

But we've all learnt something new! 

[Tripod]

Yes, it does seem that way... I was getting a bit worried for a moment there..... just in case...

At least noone has said anything agaisnt it.... So we all seem pretty safe for now...

Is that Car not still going Jack442, good one is hard to find.... Only took me three months..

[Jack442]

Cheers for the advise,
been back and made the deal, now the proud owner of a 1997 'R' reg Mk3 8v Dragon Green? 3 door with VIN number under the wipers viewable by flipping the bonnet, a black sticker on the front wheel arch with VIN number weight etc on it, a sticker under the boot carpet and a sticker on the inside of the door pillar.but with no VIN number riveted on the front cross member
Over the last couple of days I viewed 2 more 1997s both were as above? with no VIN number riveted on the front cross member. I also had a look at my mates mk4 which is as above but with an extra VIN number viewable under the front windscreen.
Hope this makes? things a bit clearer
Cheers Jack442?

[mowgli]

Was this one of the South African made cars?? It would have a U at position 11 (I think? ) in the VIN number if it is.? Mine is, must have a look when I get home

[Overseer]

from what i can remember mine has a sticker on the wheel arch, and the stuff stamped by the windscreen.. plus that white sticker in the boot..

[mike.e]

Im in the same postion as Golfer, ive got the blacksticker on the Wheel Arch as well, and the VIN number stamped under the Front Wipers (under the bonnet though, through the plastic hole), there is also a sticker on the frame of where the drivers door shuts

These (in addition to the sticker under the boot carpet), are the correct locations for the VIN number to be located. They became favourable from Jan 97 on...