What's up with Dealer Parts Dept needs VIN?

[NeBWrXWaGoN]

To pull your car up in there system they need it. They type it in, and your car comes up on the screen. The select "Lug Nuts" and the part number needed apears on the screen.

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[f575gtc]

When I called my dealership for touch up paint they didn't ask for the vin (maybe because its paint)

they asked for the name of the paint, I even threw in the color code 37J, they were like thanks we don't have to look it up now.

and I went in and picked it up

[jonklein611]

Originally Posted by f575gtc

When I called my dealership for touch up paint they didn't ask for the vin (maybe because its paint)

they asked for the name of the paint, I even threw in the color code 37J, they were like thanks we don't have to look it up now.

and I went in and picked it up

You gave them the code, that's why. Obviously if you already have the part number, they don't need the VIN.

If you go to the dealership and ask for WR Blue touch up paint, they def want your VIN because of how many variations to WR Blue there are.

[jlklegacy]

the parts catalog look up, and the billing system are two different computer programs, and are not linked together. You can get your parts looked up by vin #, and then pay without giving your customer information, and then no one knows who actually bought the parts (ie cash ticket). I cant believe how paranoid some people are.

[kevin85193]

Originally Posted by jonklein611

You gave them the code, that's why. Obviously if you already have the part number, they don't need the VIN.

If you go to the dealership and ask for WR Blue touch up paint, they def want your VIN because of how many variations to WR Blue there are.

Theirs only one WR blue 02C.

[jonklein611]

Originally Posted by kevin85193

Theirs only one WR blue 02C.

The dealer had to special order the one for my 2011 WRX. I'll check the code when I get home.

[kevin85193]

Originally Posted by jonklein611

The dealer had to special order the one for my 2011 WRX. I'll check the code when I get home.

If it's world rally blue it's the same from 02-11.
but yes, having a VIN if you don't have a paint code or exact color is necessary

[jonklein611]

Originally Posted by kevin85193

If it's world rally blue it's the same from 02-11.
but yes, having a VIN if you don't have a paint code or exact color is necessary

Good to know! Learned something today.

[kevin85193]

Originally Posted by jonklein611

Good to know! Learned something today.

Learning is a good thing!

[M-dub39]

also you may have a part number but for some parts the number changes and could be different between different models and such.. Also just helps insure the customer is correct which most times they are not.

No it isnt to track what you have done or are doing to your cars.

[alvlee01]

i didn't want to scan through the entire forum but I did see some oddball answers like Subaru needing to track your parts for warranty issues...hate to say it but that's absolutely false and a little absurd. The asking for VIN is not necessarily a requirement but is a standard across most manufacturers and the reason for it is because you will be amazed how idiotic about 90% of the customers who come into a dealership are. Case in point...a gentleman came into our service department saying he needed XXX for a 2008 Honda Accord but he didn't have his VIN because his car wasn't physically there so the parts manager got him the part he requested for that specific year. Turns out the guy had a 2007 which is a completely different body style and he came back ranting and raving like all customers do and even when we pointed out that he had made a very big error as far as year, he continued to contest that WE were in the wrong...having the VIN eliminates this customer error

[mbco1975]

Giving the VIN may eliminate the customer error, but it doesn't eliminate the dealer error. I ordered touch up paint from Subaru online and included my VIN and last night the wrong colour code arrived. 74F (rally blue pearl) instead of 02C (WR Blue). I remember making sure I selected 02C before I ordered it as well.

[alvlee01]

Originally Posted by mbco1975

Giving the VIN may eliminate the customer error, but it doesn't eliminate the dealer error. I ordered touch up paint from Subaru online and included my VIN and last night the wrong colour code arrived. 74F (rally blue pearl) instead of 02C (WR Blue). I remember making sure I selected 02C before I ordered it as well.

if you ordered it and were certain you selected the correct color code it could've just been a shipping problem, meaning the person who was in charge of pulling the box had it mislabeled, grabbed the wrong box, etc. happens all the time, especially online. Less so at an actual dealership

[Frederico514]

yah, I work@a dealership here in Montreal...it's just the online system the parts guys use to navigate and find the part u need. Inventory/stock has everything to do with it.

[Sinister04WRX]

I work in the parts dept for a Subaru dealership and the reason we need VIN numbers is because subaru does not let us go into specific years of vehicles, they group many years together so it is very difficult for us to find parts with out a vin number depending on the part we are looking for sometimes we wont need it. People need to understand this and the ones who don't are just ignorant. We want to help you get the parts you need but we need a vin number 95% of the time. If you did what i do you would understand too. Hope this helps.

[meandmysti]

i guess is to make the sale more legitimate… don’t really know but i can ask my hook up at subaru...

[Subachouli]

No hook up necessary. This question has been answered by a number of Subaru parts guys and gals on this website, right here in this thread.

Originally Posted by Unabomber

For the love of God people!!!!!!!!!

Here's the deal and quit listening to the people that think your VIN blew up the twin towers.

The VIN is a many digit number that among other things, lets the dealer know your build date. This is important because (for example) the brake pads on the 2004 WRX changed mid year. With the VIN, you will get the right brake pads. If you just walk in there with a part number you scoured off the internet (reason #1 why I no longer put part # in my FAQs), you will likely be sitting with your car on jackstands all weekend because you have the wrong part.

The VIN is also computer and/or shop required to look up ANY parts? Why? This is due to the reason above. It assures 100% that any parts given are suitable for your vehicle.

The only killer is when you do odd stuff, like say the H6 upgrade to the rear brakes. This changes your brake pads from 04 WRX to 02/03 Outback. This can and does cause some confusion with dealers. You can handle this by copying a random VIN off of eBay or using a reputable Subaru NASIOC vendor like Subie Gal, Annapolis Subaru, etc.

If you'd like to copy a random VIN off of ebay and wear your tin foil hat into the dealer, you could receive the wrong part. Will you then come here and complain?

VINs are NOT recorded at the dealership when you buy parts. Do you get that tin foil hat wearers? They have zero impact with regard to warranty work.

My VIN is JF1GG29694G803308

Feel free to post this on every internet site ever.

This thread should be cleaned out, save for Unabomber's post, locked and stickied.

[JustyWRC]

Originally Posted by kevin85193

If it's world rally blue it's the same from 02-11.
but yes, having a VIN if you don't have a paint code or exact color is necessary

Why am I thinking of a World Rally Blue Mica?

When(if at all) was that a color?

[jonklein611]

Originally Posted by JustyWRC

Why am I thinking of a World Rally Blue Mica?

When(if at all) was that a color?

look it up on cars101.com

[Danimal_Dan]

Sumo off topic but I had an 82 civic that I lost the keys to walked in to Honda and gave them my vin written on a napkin and he cut mr a new one on the spot and it worked kinda scary never asked me to prove I own the car or anything

[powercurve]

Originally Posted by Danimal_Dan

Sumo off topic but I had an 82 civic that I lost the keys to walked in to Honda and gave them my vin written on a napkin and he cut mr a new one on the spot and it worked kinda scary never asked me to prove I own the car or anything

They figured that nobody would want to steal a 82 Civic to begin with.

[Subbie Dude]

I had a friend that did the same with his toyato. Supposedly at one time with a vin you could walk into any dealership and get a key for your car or anybodys car. It didnt matter the make model or year. I would like to try that with a porsche or masserati some time.

I guess the car companies only made about a handful or a dozen types of keys for the same model. So you could even try your key in the same make and model as your car and have a possiblity of starting it up and driving it off. Because I know another guy told me that he drove off in someone elses car at the mall once.

[powercurve]

Originally Posted by Subbie Dude

I had a friend that did the same with his toyato. Supposedly at one time with a vin you could walk into any dealership and get a key for your car or anybodys car. It didnt matter the make model or year. I would like to try that with a porsche or masserati some time.

I guess the car companies only made about a handful or a dozen types of keys for the same model. So you could even try your key in the same make and model as your car and have a possiblity of starting it up and driving it off. Because I know another guy told me that he drove off in someone elses car at the mall once.

I really doubt it. I've had BMWs for the last 10 years and not once was I able to walk in without proof of registration and my license (with matching information) to get a key made.

[joeboxer]

Originally Posted by Danimal_Dan

Sumo off topic but I had an 82 civic that I lost the keys to walked in to Honda and gave them my vin written on a napkin and he cut mr a new one on the spot and it worked kinda scary never asked me to prove I own the car or anything

Thats a piss-poor parts guy because I've worked at a couple dealerships and we always wanted i.d. to match registration or you weren't gettin a key.

[girlsubie]

Better safe than sorry!