Differences between VIN decoder equipment sheet and vehicle?
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2021
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
From: Calgary, Canada
2009 ML320 Bluetec
Differences between VIN decoder equipment sheet and vehicle?
Our '09 ML320 was recently written off in an accident and I'm shopping for a replacement. Went to view a 2010 ML350 today and a few things that seem to be listed on the build sheet (including heads-up-display and keyless go) don't actually seem to be on the car. I've checked a couple of sites (lastvin and vindecoderz) and they both show the same info, which doesn't match what I see on the car. I expect they are both drawing from the same source, so I'm not surprised they're the same.
I think I've seen the same issue in a couple other cars I've seen recently (not just MB), which leads me to believe that the info on the VIN decoder sites may not be fully accurate, but I'm working with a pretty small sample size.
So, is this likely just a case of inaccurate data, or is it more likely that the VIN of this car has been tampered with? I took a photo of the VIN on the dash myself, so know that I'm looking at the correct one (I didn't double-check it with the tag in the door). The car is currently registered and actively being used. There was a record of it being at auction in the carfax report, but no theft records. Should I just walk away?
I think I've seen the same issue in a couple other cars I've seen recently (not just MB), which leads me to believe that the info on the VIN decoder sites may not be fully accurate, but I'm working with a pretty small sample size.
So, is this likely just a case of inaccurate data, or is it more likely that the VIN of this car has been tampered with? I took a photo of the VIN on the dash myself, so know that I'm looking at the correct one (I didn't double-check it with the tag in the door). The car is currently registered and actively being used. There was a record of it being at auction in the carfax report, but no theft records. Should I just walk away?
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2023
Posts: 475
Likes: 246
From: New Hampshire
ML 63 AMG
Our '09 ML320 was recently written off in an accident and I'm shopping for a replacement. Went to view a 2010 ML350 today and a few things that seem to be listed on the build sheet (including heads-up-display and keyless go) don't actually seem to be on the car. I've checked a couple of sites (lastvin and vindecoderz) and they both show the same info, which doesn't match what I see on the car. I expect they are both drawing from the same source, so I'm not surprised they're the same.
I think I've seen the same issue in a couple other cars I've seen recently (not just MB), which leads me to believe that the info on the VIN decoder sites may not be fully accurate, but I'm working with a pretty small sample size.
So, is this likely just a case of inaccurate data, or is it more likely that the VIN of this car has been tampered with? I took a photo of the VIN on the dash myself, so know that I'm looking at the correct one (I didn't double-check it with the tag in the door). The car is currently registered and actively being used. There was a record of it being at auction in the carfax report, but no theft records. Should I just walk away?
I think I've seen the same issue in a couple other cars I've seen recently (not just MB), which leads me to believe that the info on the VIN decoder sites may not be fully accurate, but I'm working with a pretty small sample size.
So, is this likely just a case of inaccurate data, or is it more likely that the VIN of this car has been tampered with? I took a photo of the VIN on the dash myself, so know that I'm looking at the correct one (I didn't double-check it with the tag in the door). The car is currently registered and actively being used. There was a record of it being at auction in the carfax report, but no theft records. Should I just walk away?
