BMW have asked me to get the Police to check my car!

[mrscalex]

I scrubbed off the engine bay chassis stickers when I resprayed my engine bay.

I tried to order a new set from Sopers. One of them obviously needs to be printed specially with the chassis number. Another with the car's build date. And the colour sticker is also specific. Sopers wouldn't order a set without their bodyshop fitting them for security reasons.

Dick Lovett in Swindon took my order at the time with no provisos. But the manager of the spares dept has just rung me to say they need the Police to inspect my car to confirm the identity and issue me with a case reference number!!!!

Alternatively their bodyshop can fit the stickers...

Has anyone ever heard of this twaddle before? Or can anyone think of any way round it without paying what might be 2 hours labour at £100+/hour?

 

[the Nefyn cat]

There's been plenty of people knocking out ringers in the past, can't be too surprised that dealers are a bit iffy about handing out these stickers. Having said which, the VIN is printed in behind the windscreen, can't be too hard to check that, surely? And if it takes hours somebody's taking the pi55.
Wouldn't the police do it for free, as opposed to paying a bodyshop?

 

[mrscalex]

I don't think it's rocket science for the dealer's parts employee to walk out to the car and check the screen as you say. That's all the bodyshop will do before they put the stickers on.

They may I guess want the Police to do a DVLA check to ensure it's not nicked. Although again that's something they can do themselves and I'd pay for. But on the other hand the body shop won't be likely to do that check.

The stupid thing is if they are that paranoid about security, once the Police have done their check I could then go and put the stickers on a different car.

I'm all for security. But this looks like agro for the sake of it and the dealer said as much as he apologised profusely.

 

[mrscalex]

I also think it's an outrageous waste of Police resources.

 

[Tfp]

The word "jobsworth" comes to mind.

Havn't DVLA done away with their id checks on cars nowadays? Austerity, austerity, austerity, Oh, unless you mean more speed cameras, we'll invest in those.

Quick call to BMW head office will tell you if this has become common practice.

Or I'd google and find your nearest Police Vehicle examination Dept, call them and ask if it's now common practice.

 

[Mac Romans]

As far as the police check, it's easy. A specially trained officer (usually a front line cop with a few years in and has attended the course) will look the car over and confirm it's not a ringed or cut n shut car. It doesn't take long.

I've done quite a few. Just ring your local force and they should sort it.

 

[mwpe]

Have you tried a different BMW dealer?

 

[Brian H]

The chassis number is stamped on the bulkhead, no legal need for a sticker but for the sake of originality it would be nice to have them. What happens if you don't get it checked by the police? Does the incident number stay open?

 

[mrscalex]

As far as the police check, it's easy. A specially trained officer (usually a front line cop with a few years in and has attended the course) will look the car over and confirm it's not a ringed or cut n shut car. It doesn't take long.

I've done quite a few. Just ring your local force and they should sort it.

When you say you've done a few is that as a punter or are you a cop? I have a close relative (not my force) who is a cop and she was bloody useless when I asked her.

 

[Mac Romans]

When you say you've done a few is that as a punter or are you a cop? I have a close relative (not my force) who is a cop and she was bloody useless when I asked her.

It's a course not many do but in Derbyshire there's a few of us who do them. It's just a case of marrying up the numbers stamped around the car and checking for signs of welds etc.

 

[mrscalex]

It's a course not many do but in Derbyshire there's a few of us who do them. It's just a case of marrying up the numbers stamped around the car and checking for signs of welds etc.

Ok cheers. Is there a magic term to quote when I ring up. I.e. Can I speak to the xyz officer. Rather than describe the requirement and get passed around.

Do you know what a typical turnaround is? Weeks or days? Thanks.

 

[Mac Romans]

Ok cheers. Is there a magic term to quote when I ring up. I.e. Can I speak to the xyz officer. Rather than describe the requirement and get passed around.

Do you know what a typical turnaround is? Weeks or days? Thanks.

Here an incident is created and you need a "Vehicle and parts identification" trained officer to look it over. It should be sorted in a few days. Just tell them what's missing and it needs to be verified. Each force is different so I. Can only advise on what goes on here.

 

[mrscalex]

Here an incident is created and you need a "Vehicle and parts identification" trained officer to look it over. It should be sorted in a few days. Just tell them what's missing and it needs to be verified. Each force is different so I. Can only advise on what goes on here.

Thank you.

 

[colb]

Where is the car Swansea or Swindon?
If Swansea try South Wales Police, Traffic Department, if Swindon try Wiltshire Police Traffic Department.
If they come out to do a check they should have an incident reference generated by their Command and Control IT system. The incident when completed will be passed into the Closed Incident listing file but will remain available to view should it be required in the future.

 

[mrscalex]

It's currently in Swindon. But if Wiltshire Police don't give me a positive response I'll take it to Swansea and talk to SWP. Which is where it will be moving to in about a month anyway.

The fact my own Police Officer relative hasn't got a clue is what puts me off. She has nearly 30 years service and has never heard of it.

Best just crack on and see. I might even post a message on their Facebook page and see if I can get the name of the officer like that.

 

[Tfp]

I worked with the Police until 10 years ago and I've never heard of it either, although it may be something introduced since I left?

Or it could be something BMW have started before handing out id stickers?

Although it may not be a new procedure at all.

If the parts chap thought it might have been suspicious he may have contacted the police hence them raising an incident number and needing to investigate, or it could have been a manager higher than him at the dealership.

But at the end of the day you have honest intentions so don't need to worry, it's just a pain it'll cost you money to sort.

I wonder if bodyshops need to do all this to order such things?

 

[Pingu]

I was told that if I wanted a new VIN sticker I would need to produce all the documents needed for a number plate PLUS they would have to fit the sticker.

The sticker would be £30, removing the windscreen would be around £500, unless it was an insurance job.