Etching away the Vin# off the windshield
10-19-2001, 10:18 PM
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Etching away the Vin# off the windshield
I heard some dealer do that for you before it leaves the lot, but my didn't.
So.....how do they "etch" away the vin#....?
So.....how do they "etch" away the vin#....?
10-19-2001, 11:12 PM
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Re: Etching away the Vin# off the windshield (nEoMuGen)
its for theft recovery-the dealer did so on all the glass on my R-don't know if its part of the deal, but if it is and you dont have, you got ripped.
10-19-2001, 11:16 PM
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Re: Etching away the Vin# off the windshield (Dr Pooface)
Why would they do that?
10-20-2001, 02:10 AM
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Re: Etching away the Vin# off the windshield (nEoMuGen)
I dont think thats legal... If u take away that VIN on the dash, when the cops take a look at the VIN and its missing, they'll think its a stolen car... Well, if thats what Etching away means...
10-20-2001, 04:44 AM
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Re: Etching away the Vin# off the windshield (HybridHatch128)
Cover the VIN showing though the windshield on the dash... don't remove it... you'll get hassled by the PO PO. As for the Glass etching, I'd remove it for the reasons stated above...
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10-20-2001, 08:29 AM
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Re: Etching away the Vin# off the windshield (nEoMuGen)
Glass etching is done by putting a template against the glass and rubbing acid over the back. It gives the glass a clouded look, but the numbers are small and not easily visible unless you look for them straight on. Basically its just putting your VIN in another place so stolen parts are identifiable. Unfortunately, if a the cops or someone else is identifying the glass from your car there probably isn't much left of it anyway. 
I don't know about you guys, but I try not to make my VIN# readily available. Not a good idea anyway in today's world of coded keys.
I don't know about you guys, but I try not to make my VIN# readily available. Not a good idea anyway in today's world of coded keys.
10-20-2001, 09:07 AM
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Re: Etching away the Vin# off the windshield
The purpose of having it is supposed to be because with your serial number on every piece of glass if someone steals the car and tries to change the VIN they'll have to replace all the windows too. It's supposed to not be worth it to replace all the windows.
If anyone thinks about for longer than a minute I'm sure they'll realize it's a little harder to replace the firewall, which is another place the VIN is. Who's going to look at the VIN on the glass anyway. Or for that sake who's really going to analyze the VIN under the hood before buying a car? Unless it's something like a Type R and you know to look for it.
And how's it going to matter whether the windows are etched when someone is buying the car overseas? The person who stole it could even use it as a selling feature!
Getting the VIN etched on the glass is a scam by dealers to get an extra couple hundred bucks out of you. Many places won't sell you a car (bullshit) if they don't etch the glass. It's a part of their mandatory prep fees (bullshit). If you think it's included you're mistaken. What would be the point of them doing this "free and generous" service for you? Your car would be less likely to be stolen? No, if that were true you'd be coming back to buy another from them. Would it be to increase customer satisfaction? Hardly, I wouldn't leave the dealership with a smile on my face because they gave me free glass etching.
I've seen dealers here charge $200 for the service AFTER the price has been agreed upon. Freaking theives. If they sold a hundred cars $200 per car is $20000. Freaking theives. (yes, I'm still bitter)
If anyone thinks about for longer than a minute I'm sure they'll realize it's a little harder to replace the firewall, which is another place the VIN is. Who's going to look at the VIN on the glass anyway. Or for that sake who's really going to analyze the VIN under the hood before buying a car? Unless it's something like a Type R and you know to look for it.
And how's it going to matter whether the windows are etched when someone is buying the car overseas? The person who stole it could even use it as a selling feature!
Getting the VIN etched on the glass is a scam by dealers to get an extra couple hundred bucks out of you. Many places won't sell you a car (bullshit) if they don't etch the glass. It's a part of their mandatory prep fees (bullshit). If you think it's included you're mistaken. What would be the point of them doing this "free and generous" service for you? Your car would be less likely to be stolen? No, if that were true you'd be coming back to buy another from them. Would it be to increase customer satisfaction? Hardly, I wouldn't leave the dealership with a smile on my face because they gave me free glass etching.
I've seen dealers here charge $200 for the service AFTER the price has been agreed upon. Freaking theives. If they sold a hundred cars $200 per car is $20000. Freaking theives. (yes, I'm still bitter)
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