VIN etching worth it?

parkpo31 · 02-13-2007, 08:06 AM

During the negotiation process on my e92 the dealer tossed in a lot of little extras, one of which was VIN etching. In order to get the VIN etching I would need to drive about 45 minutes to the dealership and leave the car to be etched. I was curious, is VIN etching worth the trouble? Advantages/disadvantages?

Thanks for your feedback.

Hound Passer · 02-13-2007, 09:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by parkpo31

During the negotiation process on my e92 the dealer tossed in a lot of little extras, one of which was VIN etching. In order to get the VIN etching I would need to drive about 45 minutes to the dealership and leave the car to be etched. I was curious, is VIN etching worth the trouble? Advantages/disadvantages?

Thanks for your feedback.

I don't really see the advantage. First, all the major parts have the VIN on it anyway. Second, if they are going to steal the car for parts they really aren't going to care about the glass. Third, if you have BMW Assist BMW can track down your car in seconds. Fourth, it's just ugly.

STE92VE · 02-13-2007, 09:12 AM

Why would you need to go back to the dealer? If you want it done, couldn't they do it before delivery, since they are throwing it in anyway?

jc2298 · 02-13-2007, 09:27 AM

Most police precinct offers FREE VIN etching kit. Check with your local precinct first.

It's a 5 minute application, plus you can save about $10-$20 on your insurance.

myfirstbimmer · 02-13-2007, 09:28 AM

Save your money, dont bother with it. As others stated, there is no reason for you to spend extra to etch your VIN else where. BMW have done a great deal to to have the VIN hidden in the engin compartment.

Dont be a sucker on your dealer's way to make more money from you.

I just dont see the point, i mean, this is the first time i have heard that kind of option made available. When i brought my last 2 bimmers, all they offered was tire insurance.

nmulax · 02-13-2007, 09:59 AM

Waste of money.

Like HoundPasser said... the major parts already have the VIN listed, and having the VIN etched on the glass is going to do nothing to deter a thief.

PocketRocket · 02-13-2007, 10:23 AM

Im not too familiar with VIN etching, mind if somebody elaborate... where do they etch (i guess the VIN)?

I rather spend my money on Lojack!

nmulax · 02-13-2007, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PocketRocket

Im not too familiar with VIN etching, mind if somebody elaborate... where do they etch (i guess the VIN)?

I rather spend my money on Lojack!

They etch your VIN into the glass on your car.
The idea is that a thief would have to then replace your glass before selling the car. Apparently this extra work on the thiefs part is supposed to deter them.

JOEVISTA · 02-13-2007, 11:02 AM

i had this done on aprevious car they will say if your car is stolen and not returned they will pay you $5000. my mustang was stolen and they did pay the money.

PocketRocket · 02-13-2007, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nmulax

They etch your VIN into the glass on your car.
The idea is that a thief would have to then replace your glass before selling the car. Apparently this extra work on the thiefs part is supposed to deter them.

that wouldnt be worth my while, but to a thief it may.

For instance, if its a $90k car, dont you think it would be worth for the thief to replace yur glass.

Lojack is the best, plus its also a good selling feature

SteveMD · 02-13-2007, 11:12 AM

In the UK, they etch the license plate (tag) on the windows. I know my Dad had it done.

We lived in London though. If you had a spiffy car and parked it on the street, it was going to get stolen

PocketRocket · 02-13-2007, 11:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JOEVISTA

i had this done on aprevious car they will say if your car is stolen and not returned they will pay you $5000. my mustang was stolen and they did pay the money.

who paid the money ?

Lojack?

bronco · 02-13-2007, 11:47 AM

Ask for something else, if they dont give it to you, ask for service/parts discount.

txusa03 · 02-13-2007, 11:47 AM

I got it for free. Well they might have included this in the markup process and just pretend to tell me my car came with it. Sneaky stealership. If one of my glass breaks, it will not be uniform since the replaced glass will not have it unless I put it on my insurance to re-edge since car originally had it.

parkpo31 · 02-13-2007, 02:07 PM

Thanks for all the good feedback!

JOEVISTA · 02-13-2007, 02:19 PM

seperate insurance company paid it did make alot more sense on 20k car.

:rocks:

shragon · 02-13-2007, 02:46 PM

i wouldn't bother. but if it's free, why not.

ase2dais · 02-13-2007, 03:39 PM

Go Lojack instead! mine has it on when I got it.
well worth the money

liquid · 02-13-2007, 09:14 PM

i think it has a lot to do with the parts. say someone steals the car to sell it for parts. they would have to replace the glass in all of the doors.

james

Majikthese42 · 02-13-2007, 09:57 PM

Our Hondas all have this -- Hondas get stolen a lot -- apparently most dealers put this on all the cars along with the stickers and wheel locks about as soon as they get them off the truck. The trick is they ask you to pay for it if you want to "register" the system, I guess for that $5000. I've always refused to pay for it. But the cars all have the etching and the stickers.

Would I drive 45 minutes each way to get this put on my car? Even for free? No. I have much better things to do with 90 minutes. I also don't know about Lo-Jack, if someone manages to steal mine, I don't think I want what's left of it back.

02-13-2007, 08:06 AM	#1
parkpo31 Enlisted Member 4 Rep 46 Posts Drives: 2007 Jet Black 335i Coupe Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Atlanta iTrader: (0)	VIN etching worth it? During the negotiation process on my e92 the dealer tossed in a lot of little extras, one of which was VIN etching. In order to get the VIN etching I would need to drive about 45 minutes to the dealership and leave the car to be etched. I was curious, is VIN etching worth the trouble? Advantages/disadvantages? Thanks for your feedback.
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02-13-2007, 09:12 AM	#3
STE92VE STEVIL Empire 218 Rep 6,297 Posts Drives: Fast Join Date: May 2006 Location: Long Island, NY iTrader: (0)	Why would you need to go back to the dealer? If you want it done, couldn't they do it before delivery, since they are throwing it in anyway? __________________ 2007 E92 328i 6MT-Space Gray/Black Dakota/Gray Poplar w/heated seats-PCD 4/27/07 (SOLD) 2009 E90 328i xDrive 6AT-Space Gray/Oyster Dakota/Dark Burl Walnut w/ZPP,ZCW,Xenons-ED 4/17/09 - Redelivery 5/30/09 (SOLD) 2014 E84 xDrive28i 8AT-Alpine White/Black Nevada/Silver Matte w/ZMV,ZLP,494 - DD 3/14/14 (SOLD)
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02-13-2007, 09:27 AM	#4
jc2298 Registered 0 Rep 1 Posts Drives: 330i Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: nyc iTrader: (0)	Most police precinct offers FREE VIN etching kit. Check with your local precinct first. It's a 5 minute application, plus you can save about $10-$20 on your insurance.
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02-13-2007, 09:28 AM	#5
myfirstbimmer Private First Class 15 Rep 145 Posts Drives: E90 SG 330i Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: T.O. iTrader: (0)	Save your money, dont bother with it. As others stated, there is no reason for you to spend extra to etch your VIN else where. BMW have done a great deal to to have the VIN hidden in the engin compartment. Dont be a sucker on your dealer's way to make more money from you. I just dont see the point, i mean, this is the first time i have heard that kind of option made available. When i brought my last 2 bimmers, all they offered was tire insurance. __________________ 35% Formula 1 Ceramic Tints, //M E-Brake handle, //M Steering Wheel
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02-13-2007, 09:59 AM	#6
nmulax Brigadier General 379 Rep 4,320 Posts Drives: '07 Z4 M Coupe Join Date: May 2006 Location: Metro-Detroit iTrader: (5) Garage List 2007 Z4M Coupé [7.66]	Waste of money. Like HoundPasser said... the major parts already have the VIN listed, and having the VIN etched on the glass is going to do nothing to deter a thief. __________________
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02-13-2007, 10:23 AM	#7
PocketRocket I smile because I dont know whats going on :) 3 Rep 233 Posts Drives: 335i Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: DC Wash iTrader: (0)	Im not too familiar with VIN etching, mind if somebody elaborate... where do they etch (i guess the VIN)? I rather spend my money on Lojack!
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02-13-2007, 11:02 AM	#9
JOEVISTA Private 3 Rep 96 Posts Drives: 335d blk/blk Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: boca raton,fl iTrader: (0)	i had this done on aprevious car they will say if your car is stolen and not returned they will pay you $5000. my mustang was stolen and they did pay the money.
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02-13-2007, 11:12 AM	#11
SteveMD Colonel 196 Rep 2,485 Posts Drives: 2016 F10 535i MSport Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Raventown! iTrader: (3)	In the UK, they etch the license plate (tag) on the windows. I know my Dad had it done. We lived in London though. If you had a spiffy car and parked it on the street, it was going to get stolen __________________ 2006 E90 330i (retired) 2009 E90 335i (retired) 2012 E70 X5 50i M Sport (retired) 2016 F10 535i M Sport
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02-13-2007, 11:47 AM	#13
bronco Colonel 76 Rep 2,104 Posts Drives: e92 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Atlanta iTrader: (0)	Ask for something else, if they dont give it to you, ask for service/parts discount. __________________ SaaS - The world of tomorrow is already here...www.saaschronicles.com
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02-13-2007, 11:47 AM	#14
txusa03 Major General 550 Rep 6,563 Posts Drives: TS330iPPSP6MT Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Planet Earth iTrader: (3)	I got it for free. Well they might have included this in the markup process and just pretend to tell me my car came with it. Sneaky stealership. If one of my glass breaks, it will not be uniform since the replaced glass will not have it unless I put it on my insurance to re-edge since car originally had it. __________________ under construction!
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02-13-2007, 02:07 PM	#15
parkpo31 Enlisted Member 4 Rep 46 Posts Drives: 2007 Jet Black 335i Coupe Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Atlanta iTrader: (0)	Thanks for all the good feedback!
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02-13-2007, 02:19 PM	#16
JOEVISTA Private 3 Rep 96 Posts Drives: 335d blk/blk Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: boca raton,fl iTrader: (0)	seperate insurance company paid it did make alot more sense on 20k car. :rocks:
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02-13-2007, 02:46 PM	#17
shragon Moderator 497 Rep 27,441 Posts Drives: BMW Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Bay Area, CA iTrader: (7)	i wouldn't bother. but if it's free, why not. __________________ www.cardomain.com/id/shragon
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02-13-2007, 03:39 PM	#18
ase2dais //Mdicted 347 Rep 9,988 Posts Drives: a Cop Magnet Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: 495 Ring iTrader: (18) Garage List 2009 e92 M3 DCT CF ... [10.00] 2015 S-Works Roubaix [0.00] 2013 Trek Madone 5.9 [9.50] 2012 Scott - CR1-Pro [10.00] 2008 e92 M3 6MT (Up ... [10.00] 2002 e46 M3 Cabriol ... [7.00] 2006 e90-325i (DD) [7.00] 2002 e39 M5 (retired) [9.50]	Go Lojack instead! mine has it on when I got it. well worth the money __________________ Oo\(lll)'(lll)/oO : 2009-e92 ///M3 SpaceGry DCT CF Rf/Trim ZTP ZPP ZCW Sat/PrmSd : \_lOOl___lOOl_/<< Clickies
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02-13-2007, 09:14 PM	#19
liquid Lieutenant 67 Rep 583 Posts Drives: graphite 328i E92 Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: South FL iTrader: (1)	i think it has a lot to do with the parts. say someone steals the car to sell it for parts. they would have to replace the glass in all of the doors. james
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02-13-2007, 09:57 PM	#20
Majikthese42 Philosopher-king 20 Rep 1,113 Posts Drives: 2008 E91 Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: People's Republic of New Jersey iTrader: (0)	Our Hondas all have this -- Hondas get stolen a lot -- apparently most dealers put this on all the cars along with the stickers and wheel locks about as soon as they get them off the truck. The trick is they ask you to pay for it if you want to "register" the system, I guess for that $5000. I've always refused to pay for it. But the cars all have the etching and the stickers. Would I drive 45 minutes each way to get this put on my car? Even for free? No. I have much better things to do with 90 minutes. I also don't know about Lo-Jack, if someone manages to steal mine, I don't think I want what's left of it back.
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