Missing VIL on service book?

[wibble]

Hi, I have seen a '91 944 turbo that I am interested to buy from a private seller. He's owned the car for 9 years and in my opinion the car looks good overall and is the best car I've seen and driven out of the eight 944's viewed.

However, after checking the Vehicle Identification Label on the rear panel I found the VIL was missing from the service book.

The car came through OPC Chariots in St. Albans and then had its first service at AFN Guildford. Is this purely an oversight by Porsche or is its history suspect in someway (or am I getting paranoid in my search). Your opinions please....

 

[sawood12]

You could ring up all the companies that have stamps in the service book to verify the car was serviced according to the stamps in the service book to put your mind at rest.

 

[944s2]

Could it just be as innocent as a replacement service book someone has painstakingly had stamped by correct garages Its been done before on a turbo?

 

[38F3E1]

No it's not an oversight on Porsche's part. There will be a reason it's not there but not always suspect.

If you loose your service book you can get a replacement and it won't have the missing sticker in it as there are only ever two printed for each car (one in service book, one under bonnet). Normally replacement books from Porsche have 'Replacement' stamped in them somewhere. Once you have a replacement book you if you can track down the service centres and have it re-stamped.

The other 'trick' if a car has front end damage and needs a new bonnet is to cut the sticker out of the service book and put it under the bonnet and loose the service book.

None of this may apply to this car but it would be good to know why it's missing it's sticker. Also without the sticker do you know the service book came from this car or from another? Are there clues in the service stamps and invoices that the book is for this car.

Ian.

 

[wibble]

Thanks for the info.

I have ran a HPI check on the car which is all clear. I am now considering a Porsche technician to check the car over, just to reaffirm my thoughts and tie in the service history.

 

[944Turbo]

If it was dodgy - how hard would it be to forge the sticker?
Tony

 

[cococola]

I would check history back up with the dealers and as you have done a hpi check wouldnt worry too much if the dealers confirm history.

 

[carlmthompson]

An HPI check won't discover if the mileage is off. You need a Vehicle Mileage Check for that... which you'll need to go to a sympathetic garage for as they don't do private.... and they're a nightmare with older cars as there's always some tosspot car salesman that's typed in the wrong mileage and screwed up the system!