Firewall stamped serial number quality question

[mulberryworks]

Just curious about what other serial numbers look like. My leading digit is about as poor as it gets. There is a faint impression of the 2 in the correct place, visible with a strong raking light beam, but when the fellow tasked with stamping the numbers gave it another go, the number die was so misplaced that the only mark was the top of the 2, quite misaligned. Or the first one was the missplaced strike and he just couldn't give the second one his all.

Of course, the full number is on the steering column and on the engine block, so no worries there, but it does seem a odd faiiure of quality control.
And who stamped this number? BMW or Karmann?

I'm tempted to use paint stripper to get back to bare metal and see if the shallow 2 was filled in with paint over the years as the car has been repainted once, or leave well enough alone.

 

[HB Chris]

Karmann did 100% of the process. I would strip it back.

 

[boonies]

When I painted my engine compartment I got too much paint on the stamping. What is the correct look? Is it back to base metal with a light coat of gray primer or is it painted body color (but lightly)?

 

[HB Chris]

Primer only and then mask before paint.

 

[ScottAndrews]

Where is this stamped? Is it on the VIN plate, or somewhere else?

 

[rsporsche]

on the back side of the firewall (passenger side) between the heater and the fender

 

[Wes]

I've seen a few like that. I've also seen a couple of different style of stampings. Might have some pics somewhere.
Are we sure Karmann did the vin stampings, as there's also their number inside the A Pillar.
If Karmann stamped the vins prior to the chassis arriving at BMW then how/when did BMW stamp the matching engine blocks with the same number? I'm thinking that couldn't stamp the block once engine was assembled.
Just realised what a nerd I am

 

[mulberryworks]

I've seen a few like that. I've also seen a couple of different style of stampings. Might have some pics somewhere.
Are we sure Karmann did the vin stampings, as there's also their number inside the A Pillar.
If Karmann stamped the vins prior to the chassis arriving at BMW then how/when did BMW stamp the matching engine blocks with the same number? I'm thinking that couldn't stamp the block once engine was assembled.
Just realised what a nerd I am

That could explain why the topcoat paint is left off the place where the VIN is stamped. It seemed odd to me that they would mask the VIN numbers if they were already stamped. Leaving that section in primer would make it easier for the BWM line to stamp the numbers cleanly without damaging the topcoat seal.

Or, BMW could assign VINs while ordering bodies from Karmann, so they could simply stamp the VINs from a list, as could the engine assembly line. That would require synchronization of body & engine builds along with the final assembly, but that's doable if a bit tedious.

It's nerdy around here too.

 

[HB Chris]

BMW did not touch the vehicles, all work was performed under contract by Karmann in Reine including final assembly.

 

[Jon B]

When I painted my engine compartment I got too much paint on the stamping.
What is the correct look? Is it back to base metal with a light coat of gray primer or is it painted body color (but lightly)?

Here's the original finish on my unrestored '72.
The stamped area was primed but unpainted, and a preservative was hand-brushed over the stamping.



Jon B.

 

[Breiti]

That could explain why the topcoat paint is left off the place where the VIN is stamped. It seemed odd to me that they would mask the VIN numbers if they were already stamped. Leaving that section in primer would make it easier for the BWM line to stamp the numbers cleanly without damaging the topcoat seal.

Or, BMW could assign VINs while ordering bodies from Karmann, so they could simply stamp the VINs from a list, as could the engine assembly line. That would require synchronization of body & engine builds along with the final assembly, but that's doable if a bit tedious.

It's nerdy around here too.

Stamping w/o color was usual those days. My Mercedes 1969 had also a stripe over the VIN before painting.

It's not only do so at Karmann.

Breiti