Antitheft Labels - Update: Overview
90bmw10 Group 00 Maintenance and General HintsBulletin Number 00 21 86 (1267)
Woodcliff Lake, NJ June 1990 Service Engineering
This Service Information Bulletin supersedes S.I. 00 21 86 (1267) dated November 1986. It incorporates updated information.
Please remove and discard S.I. 00 21 86 (1267) dated November 1986 from your S.I. binder.
SUBJECT: Anti-Theft Labels - Update
MODELS: All 1987 and later
Situation: A ruling by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) requires that passenger cars with a high theft rate have the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) marked on specified parts of the car when manufactured. This ruling affects all 1987 and later BMW models and their replacement parts.
The specific parts that must be marked are as follows:
1) Engine - see Attachment 1
2) Transmission - see Attachment 1
3) Front bumper
4) Rear bumper
5) Left front fender
6) Right front fender
7) Hood
8) Left rear quarter panel
9) Right rear quarter panel
10) Decklid
11) Left front door
12) Right front door
13) Left rear door - if present
14) Right rear door - if present
BMW uses a label similar to the one shown:
It will bear the BMW roundels and the 17-digit U.S. VIN.
Do not attempt to remove or tamper with these labels. They have been designed to tear apart if this is attempted. In case of missing or incorrectly marked labels, do not remove or attempt to replace these labels. Replacement is not allowed.
Replacement
Parts: All BMW replacements for the parts listed above also have a label, which bears the BMW roundel, the letter R and the letters DOT to indicate it is a replacement part.
A clear plastic film protects the label on the replacement parts. If the label is painted over or covered with rust-proofing compound, it is important that this film be removed so that the printing on the label is clearly visible.
Note: It is illegal to sell or offer to sell the replacement parts listed above unless they are properly marked before importation to the U.S.
They must be marked with the part manufacturer's trademark, the word DOT and the letter R.
The labels must be manufactured so that removal of the label will cause the label to self-destruct and leave a residue so that investigators will have evidence that a label was originally present.
The labels must be in the exact location specified by BMW for replacement parts.
Violators of these requirements may be assessed a civil penalty not to exceed $1,000.00 for each violation.