HELP~ VIN location on 1996 R1100RSL

So....long story short. Bought a 1996 R1100RSL from my buddy. Go to DMV in Calif. this morning to title and register it.

The bike was previously registered in NY, so they needed to "verify" it. Me and the DMV guy start looking for the VIN and can't find it. I pull the side fairing panels off and everything. I located the engine number on the right side of motor, but no VIN.

I call local BMW dealer, no help. Call my buddy who thinks there should be a sticker on the right side frame member going from steering head tube to motor, but I see no sticker.

Look in the service manual and owners manual that came with the bike, no mention of VIN.

So can anyone let me know 1) where should the VIN sticker be on this particular model. 2) if the VIN sticker is gone, is the number also stamped in the frame or somewhere else on the bike.

Saving grace is I got a temporary registration, so at least I can ride to the BMW Lake San Antonio campout in central California this coming weekend.

Any help appreciated.

Scott

It is on the sticker on the right side of the main frame just aft of the steering head. Look down past the brake lever to the spot just below the front of the fuel tank.

The number starts with the printed WB1 and the remaining digits are comprised of the little holes punched in the sticker - the bottom row on the sticker.

Hi Scott:

Just looked at my 1996 RS. The VIN sticker and stamp is on the right side. Hang on we'll need a picture.




The number is stamped into the frame piece as well. Maybe your tank is hiding it a bit more than mine.

Mike

This is very odd. There is definitely no sticker at this location on my bike. I've known the owner for 13 years. He bought the bike in 1999 from BMW of Westchester in New York. So I know there is nothing fishy with the bike. Not sure what happened to the sticker.

Still havent found the location where the number is stamped or engraved in the frame. Any leads on that?

stwilliams said:

This is very odd. There is definitely no sticker at this location on my bike. I've known the owner for 13 years. He bought the bike in 1999 from BMW of Westchester in New York. So I know there is nothing fishy with the bike. Not sure what happened to the sticker.

Still havent found the location where the number is stamped or engraved in the frame. Any leads on that?

Click to expand...

Scott I pmed you There is a stamped frame # just above where the sticker is located. It is possible the sticker is missing. The sticker is hard to read and so is the stamped #. Shine a bright light on it. Both numbers are the same as I recall. If you look closely at Mottorad Mike's photo you can see the stamped number just above the VIN plate. If you have a hard time reading it, you may be able to take a yellow Crayon and rub the numbers to gain visibility.
James

Well...there is definately no VIN sticker and no engraved or stamped VIN at the location where the above picture in this post indicates. Furthermore I slid the tank back to fully expose the area and can conidantly say the numbers are not files or worn away. The frame paint is intact and the factory rough cast type texture is still there. I'm beginning to think this is a replacement frame.

Does BMW keep info on this. Meaning if it was replaced at a dealership, would a dealer be able to investigate this?

Does anyone with California DMV know what happens in this situation where there in no verifiable VIN on the bike?