Emissions testing - Invalid VIN

[jrsmitchell]

Hi folks,

My Alpina is registered in Ontario with the Alpina VIN, rather than the BMW VIN. Several times now this has caused problems with government systems thinking this is an Invalid VIN. Presumably they don't recognized the Alpina letter prefix, or the # of digits?

I just went in for a DriveClean emissions test, and the computer system returned that usual error message. The tech was ready to turn me away since he wasn't comfortable. With a little reassuring and an entire crowd gathered around my car, we determined that:

a) Techs can move past this error by manually entering the details of the car into the system, rather than by VIN
b) After the test the tech is likely to get "audited". When this happens a representative of the MTO will pop up on the screen, and ask to be shown (via web cam) the car, the VIN, etc.

So you may have to push a little to get the test done with the Alpina VIN - FYI for those who might run into the same.

P.S. I passed no problem ;)

[Scooter]

We're lucky with this over in BC. Since we have insurance provided by a public corporation all of the registration information is tied together, so once we have it registered we shouldn't have to deal with it again.

Fingers crossed that they ditch the emission testing program in 2014 like they say they will.

[Stirling]

Hi folks,

My Alpina is registered in Ontario with the Alpina VIN, rather than the BMW VIN. Several times now this has caused problems with government systems thinking this is an Invalid VIN. Presumably they don't recognized the Alpina letter prefix, or the # of digits?

I just went in for a DriveClean emissions test, and the computer system returned that usual error message. The tech was ready to turn me away since he wasn't comfortable. With a little reassuring and an entire crowd gathered around my car, we determined that:

a) Techs can move past this error by manually entering the details of the car into the system, rather than by VIN
b) After the test the tech is likely to get "audited". When this happens a representative of the MTO will pop up on the screen, and ask to be shown (via web cam) the car, the VIN, etc.

So you may have to push a little to get the test done with the Alpina VIN - FYI for those who might run into the same.

P.S. I passed no problem ;)

Call your MPP and tell him you think the Liberals should get rid of DriveClean.

After all, they got rid of two massive power plants at a cost of $600 million, they should be able to do that in their sleep!

[jrsmitchell]

I wouldn't want to see it scrapped, I think in theory the testing should be a positive for society. But oh man the way they've implemented it here. :mad: Especially the latest round of "enhancements" :rolleyes: plus they would somehow spend twice as much scrapping it as running it :confused:

Being a '94 my car is pre-OBD2 so I need a 2-stage idle test where they measure actual emissions. You used to be able to get this done anywhere. Now test centers that have the proper equipment are disappearing.

Bah humbug don't get me started I could go on and on. ;)