R REG ESCORT 16LX

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hi i've just bought a used car can someone tell me the windows are etched and i can't seem to understand what it represents i.e it's not the vin number or the reg number has anyone any ideas what else it could represent and do these models usually come etched when you buy them newor do you think someone could of had this etched whilst they've owned it .....also the os wishbone (i think that's what it's called has 2 bolts on it...but the ns seems to look different and doesn't have 2 bolts on it (hope that makes sense!) should they both look the same?
 
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yes, i did the windows with my etch-a-sketch.

It would help if you gave us an idea of what it says, i.e all numbers, all letters, how many /of each
 
If the code starts with DAT it is the 'datatag' security system.
 
hi there it doesn't start with DAT and i can't seem to see anything on the log book that represents the same lettering and numbers without going out now in the dark and looking i think it has PY and some numbers about 4or 5 after the letters
cheers thanks for your replies in advance!!!!!
 
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well i hope not! ? the vin number and the log book all match up i'm just one of those people that like everything to be right and this is bugging me i wouldn't know how to check if it was a RINGER whatever that means?
 
Jeez shaggy the guy will be worried to death!

Years ago we used to buy cars which came from Jersey. They were very low mileage (2-3000) about 3 or 4 months old. These cars were registered in Jersey, used as hire cars then brought here after a few months. They were a couple of grand cheaper at the time. It was all something to do with VAT.

These cars were always a J followed by about 5 numbers. They were then re-registered in the UK. Could the numbers possibly be that?

Mind I do think you should bear in mind shaggies comments and have a good look over the car.
 
Just had another thought, do you think it may of been on a private plate at sometime during in it's life?
 
Here's another one then. An 'R' reg car will be Aug '97 to Aug '98 so if you look at the word 'toughened' on the glass there will be a dot under the letter 'N' if it's a '97 or under 'E' if it's a '98. That's assuming the glass is original. If the dot is under another letter?

....well it could be.
 
well i've just sent the hubby out to the car in his pj's in the rain to have a look at the glass and it says.....YG and then 5 numbers after that ..and under the word toughned there is a letter G with a dotabove it to the right hand side and by the way how can you tell if it's aringer????? i have recently taxed this car the other day at a main DVLA office surley if there were any problems with this car wouldn't they have spotted it on the computer or the log book?
 
Is the dot directly beneath one of the letters that make the word 'toughened'? If there is no dot then the year is '0' i.e. 1990 or 2000
let's suppose you take the reg plates off and the VIN plate and stick them on another car. You can tax it because you can tax the car if the reg doc and reg plate are correct.
 
Lets not get too far ahead of ourselves here. Just because nobody's come up with a suggestion yet is no reason to have a sleepless night.

The date stamp on the glass is when the glass was made and is only a letter eitherway. The car is full of such codes and dial dates.

The numbers could be something simple like a dealer stock number, they must mean something to the first owner or WHY. I would be more concerned if the etching was changed or had another reg no.

I would check the VIN plate on the slam panel for age of rivets/paint condition/damage and on the floor next to the drivers seat, also look under the floor around the drivers door/seat for any signs of damage to the underseal. Then check the engine number, if all is OK don't worry about the etched numbers.

If you were still concerned you could contact these.

http://www.hpicheck.com/

Be warned though if anything was wrong and you told them, you would risk losing the car and getting nothing.
 
d&j said:
Just because nobody's come up with a suggestion yet
But I have made a suggestion? I've suggested it could be a ringer. I agree the Triplex code could be a year out if the glass was made in Dec of one year and the car reg in Jan but generally I've found they tie in ok.
HPI is good and I've used them before parting with money but it costs £40. It's not a conclusive check though. Let's say you write off your car and it's only 3rd party so you can't claim for damage. You steal another identical car and swap the vin and reg numbers. Your car has not changed as far as HPI is concerned. The only car registered with HPI would be the other car if the loss was claimed.
I agree with your last comment and that is to say nothing. If the car looks and drives ok what does it matter? The time to be concerned would be if it was two cars welded together, the well known 'cut & shut', which are usually very dodgy.
Interesting though.
 
But you have no basis or evidence to support your suggestion and may be causing sporty to needlessly worry.
 
I thought a suggestion was just a possibility of what may be true. My suggestion that it could be a ringer was based on the facts that there was an unexplained code etched on the window and the Triplex code hasn't agreed with the year of the car.
I assume that you are in the motor trade yourself so are well aware that there is a lot of car fraud about. I just think it's best to go through life being realistic about possibilities and then there are less disappointments.
 
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