Hidden VIN number?

**ASCH MAN** · 04-30-2003, 11:39 AM

Ok, I pulled a Tommy Boy and dropped paper down the front of the dash and it is covering the vin plate in the windshield.

I have tried about everything short of pulling down the dash or replacing the windshield to get it out.

The paper is rectangular and I can't get my fingers on it.

I have tried a vacume and it does blow around a bit, but always retuns to the VIN plate. Is this illegal? My last idea is to put something sticky down there and pull it back out, any ideas on what to do here? Thanks.

**Croak** · 04-30-2003, 12:17 PM

Air compressor and air hose, blow it out. Worked for me.

**ducky** · 04-30-2003, 01:47 PM

Try taking a piece of card stock or cover stock (some sort of heavy weight thick paper) and slid it around until you can get it to move. Same thing happened to me except it was a movie ticket stub, big pain in the ass to get out.

**ASCH MAN** · 04-30-2003, 02:09 PM

Originally posted by Croak
Air compressor and air hose, blow it out. Worked for me.

I will give that a shot. I only dropped one thing down there, but when trying to fish it out, it appears the previous own got at least two parking stubs down there and a receipt. I will give the air compressor a shot.

**Mpty3** · 04-30-2003, 02:53 PM

When this happened to me...I forgot what I did, but I think I either shoved one of those thin metal rulers in there and got the paper off of the VIN tag, or a long thin NOT too sharp knife.
Basically anything long and thin will work.
Good luck.

**BSH** · 04-30-2003, 02:58 PM

a ruler works well. you could try getting under the paper with the ruler by coming in at an angle (from the passenger side) and then just scooping out. it worked for me.

**ASCH MAN** · 04-30-2003, 03:17 PM

I didn't realize that this has happened to so many people!! I will try all ideas. The paper can be blown to the middle, but always seems to gravitate back to the VIN.

**Reid** · 04-30-2003, 03:21 PM

Originally posted by AudioMan
I didn't realize that this has happened to so many people!!

LOL!

I didn't realize this was such a common occurrence either.

There has been a piece of paper covering the VIN on my car since I purchased it earlier this year.

I am in no rush to remove it though, as covering your VIN# is a good idea since it rules out the chance that a thief could have keys made for your car.

**ASCH MAN** · 04-30-2003, 03:51 PM

Is there any kind of legality issue not displaying your VIN. Wouldn't a policeman look at it kind of funny and possibly consider your car stolen?

**Croak** · 04-30-2003, 04:35 PM

You can get a ticket for it if the cop is anal, but no serious trouble because they WILL get that paper off there if there's any doubt, and they will do it without damaging the car if possible.

**U1arunit** · 04-30-2003, 04:40 PM

Just leave it there. It's not illegal. I like mine covered so no one can see my vin when I am parked.

**hoog23** · 04-30-2003, 05:21 PM

I had one there on my old 325is. When some kid came to look at it when I tried to sell it he freaked out thinking I was trying to scam him. (Which kind of pissed me off since we have/had mutual friends.)

In the end I beleive I used some type of thin wire to get undernieth the paper and press it up against the glass as I drew the wire out. It worked.

I traded the car anyways.

Tip of the day: I saw on tv the other week that leaving a bsn card over the vin is a trick that people use who are about to have their cars reposessed.

**Whatup1049** · 04-30-2003, 06:30 PM

whats a bsn card? Bull Shit Number?

**///Mpmp1025** · 04-30-2003, 07:29 PM

dude i felt like a genius when i did it. i took my ruler, a very thin one, and took paper and made a sort of hook at the end. more like a pocket. i took tape and taped one of the sides shut and i taped the where i folded it, double fold, to give it reinforcement. i took the ruler and put it in the pocket and slide the ruler and the paper down the crack. i wiggled it around until the paper that was stuck caught on the pocket and i pulled it up. it took care of the obstruction and removed the paper as well.

good luck

**Mode** · 04-30-2003, 09:49 PM

You can also piggyback 3-4 post-it notes sticky-side down. Same deal.

**NLR** · 04-30-2003, 10:47 PM

I currently have the same exact problem. My school requires a parking sticker and I didn't want to have it pasted to my windshield, so I just laid it between the dash and the windshield. Nonetheless, it worked itself down and as of right now is covering the VIN tag with the word "STUDENT" showing in that entire VIN area. You would think that it was purposely placed there due to the precise lining upand centering of the word.

I did try to get it out when it first happened a few months ago, but was unsuccessul. I tried using a plastic kitchen spatula, and while it did get down there I couldn't get it to pull the sticker up. Afraid if I tried any harder that I would potentially scratch the dashboard, I just gave up.

I'll definitely try the above mentioned solutions eventually, except that I haven't had the patience to mess around with it after the first attempt as of yet.

**///M LIFE©** · 05-01-2003, 12:31 AM

"Hidden VIN number"

Vehicle identification number number

**Baby ///M3** · 05-01-2003, 01:43 AM

I've had a dealer service card stuck in that gap between the windshield and dash for the past 7 years. It only bothered me for a while.

Hahaha.. at least no one can just take a look at the my VIN and tell me that I have a non M3 now.

Jon

Originally posted by AudioMan
Is there any kind of legality issue not displaying your VIN. Wouldn't a policeman look at it kind of funny and possibly consider your car stolen?

**ASCH MAN** · 05-01-2003, 10:26 AM

Originally posted by ///Mpmp1025
dude i felt like a genius when i did it. i took my ruler, a very thin one, and took paper and made a sort of hook at the end. more like a pocket. i took tape and taped one of the sides shut and i taped the where i folded it, double fold, to give it reinforcement. i took the ruler and put it in the pocket and slide the ruler and the paper down the crack. i wiggled it around until the paper that was stuck caught on the pocket and i pulled it up. it took care of the obstruction and removed the paper as well.

good luck

Ok McGyver, I will attempt to follow this method too. It seems as if some of the paper went down into the window, and is somehow working it's way into the actual dash. It is hard to explain, but if you put your fingers down as far as they go, you will feel the dash end and another piece go under that end point. The paper is working it's way into that spot. I could always just smash the W/S and get a new one put in, then take the papers out while they are working. Well, that would cost $100 for the deductible, so maybe it is not such a great idea.

**ss109** · 05-01-2003, 10:48 AM

Wow, maybe someone should consult BMW for a recall as this is such a common occurance? lol

**ArcticFox** · 05-01-2003, 10:55 AM

I used a dental pick to work it out...it worked...dental picks are handy for many things...lol

**alexd** · 05-01-2003, 12:05 PM

popsicle stick with duct tape wadded at the end.

**///MZG** · 05-01-2003, 12:13 PM

A string with a piece of gum on the end. lol.

I'm sorry, but this thread is funny.

**Balthazarr** · 05-02-2003, 03:36 AM

Same thing hapened to me.

When i bought the car i didn't notice it, but after a couple of days this yellow paper caught my eye.

It has since moved out of the way of the VIN so I don't bother myself with it.

I'll have to look and see if it is visible. Maybe I'll feel ambitious enough to pull it out.

**sfmng** · 05-02-2003, 04:24 AM

Same thing happened to me. A burst of air (canned air used to clean computers and such) got it right out of there.

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