450 SEL VIN NUMBER location

[saint]

I wonder if any of you have come across the location of the VIN No. of a 450SEL 6.9,other than the firewall,doors.This number is supposed to be somewhere hidden in the chassis and is a sort of security ID(same 14 digit Vin No.).I inquired at the classic center and was told that it is in the engine compartment ,along the passanger side rail ,where the engine base is.Couldn't find it.
Thanks

[nathan]

saint,
if you dont have your papers, the easiest place to find your VIN is on the firewall as  you can see in the picture with the yellow arrows.
sometimes a spare data card was glued somewhere odd in the factory; mine was on the back of the ashtray holder in the centre console...others have had theirs under their rear seats, and others behind the glovebox!! but before you rip apart your car, just get the vin out of your engine bay w116036 22 (or 12 if leeft hand drive) 00XXXX (where the last 4 Xs are your number out of 7380!)
regards
nathan

[saint]

Thanks Nathan, perhaps I should have explained.I'm importing a 1977,6.9 in to Mex.,the customs broker has asked me for the location of this number,which he calls a"confidential number" which is the VIN No. but it's stamped somewhere, kind of hidden,  in the chassis.I do have title which has the same VIN than the firewall's. Supposely when the car is imported,the title and the firewall and this hidden number are checked ,therfore one has to know the location of this number beforehand.I know,it's odd.
Eduardo

[TJ 450]

These cars don't have a VIN as such, just the Chassis, Engine and Gearbox numbers. The only "hidden" details are those on the data card, which include the chassis number, gearbox number and engine number.

Tim