TheSamba.com :: View topic - Advice on buying 96 Brazilian bus in Mexico. VINs.Border.Spanish

Mon Sep 18, 2023 11:11 am

Regarding late nineties water cooled bus made in Brazil for Mexico.

Short version:

Thank you all for everything I have learned. Seeking additional info on VIN and M plate locations. Any hints about dealing with US Customs & Border control. 1600 Golf engine tips. Searching for rust. How to say stuff like ‘Bill of Sale’ en Español. Gracias por todo.

Best one I can find right now.

https://auto.mercadolibre.com.mx/MLM-1943737455-vo...&pid=3

TL/DR version.

Hello,

New to forum. I want another bus. Had a 72 for a decade in my formative years (my mother sold her when I was off working fishing boats).

Anyways, started looking at Mercado Libre in Argentina to see how much farms are selling for now. And ended up looking at buses in Argentina and Brazil and then Mexico.

Probably a stupid thing to do. But bored and only $5K.
Learned lots reading the archives. Thank you all for all the useful data

1) Numbers. Would the VINs be 17 digits? And where would they likely be located? M plate?

I found lots of info here on earlier model Latin bus VINs. But not much on later water cooled ones. Especially Brazilian Mexicanos. 17 digits good for customs and registration ease.

2) Border. Are some places better to cross than others? What will they likely fuss about?

I learned about the paperwork I need. And them fussing about VIN numbers not being in proper German locations. Are they serious about the steaming of undercarriage thing? (Seems stupid since all the other cars just drive across). Any other pitfalls? Fed website unhelpful.

3)Spanish. I am ok in Spanglish (just not the verbs). And can read it well.

But before I contact a seller would like to know how to say things like ‘VIN, ‘title’, ‘bill of sale’ ‘timing belt’ properly in good Mexican dialect. Maybe Brazilian Portuguese as well.

4) Mechanics. I will just do the John Muir inspection procedure. Any thing I should know about inspecting 1600 straight four VW Golf motor? Also, learned from the archives carrying an extra head and bolts and gasket a good idea. Any other advice? The cooling fan seems a common point of failure. Would fortify that. Stainless or rubber cooling lines too. Any canary in the coal mine places to search for rust on these later models? Assuming a 25 year old from way up high Mexico City won’t be too bad.

5) Am I being a complete idiot? Air cooled more better? Any other good advice?

Thank you all so much. This place rocks.

Mon Sep 18, 2023 2:08 pm

While I couldn’t find any good data on importing a car on the Mexico border (because nobody does it much), just found some useful stuff from people who have done it on the Canadian side.

They say to use a slower border crossing. As the slower crossings will actually answer their phone and give you advice. Also, while Customs does not require the EPA and DOT forms for a 25 year old vehicle to cross, the local DMV ladies will absolutely want them. So just to put ‘exempt’ and get the Customs guy to stamp them anyway.

Nobody seems to care much about the sterilized under carriage at Canada crossings.

Tue Sep 19, 2023 11:35 am

Learned that VIN in Brasil is called ‘número do chassi’. Which helped me find a YouTube. For a 1994 air cooled off the VINs is under the front seat. Passenger side. Hopefully there is another in the door jam or something. And hopefully the same in latter and water cooled models exported to Mexico through 99.

Will report back if I learn anything about the ones actually built in Mexico.

Also here is a video showing the location for the 2006-2013 series of Brazilian buses. For any Canadians or Europeans who are thinking of getting one. And for US peoples still around in the future year of 2031. (Left side of engine compartment and next to passenger seat).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2CaseFSZIY

Tue Sep 19, 2023 3:33 pm

Ok. Watched more Brazilian YouTube. For the 1995-1999ish Brazilian wasserboxers the primary VIN should be on the dash (just like German Bays). The secondary is either under the front seat, or in the engine compartment by the battery.

Just need to find about the 1800 water models made in Mexico for Mexico now.

Tue Sep 19, 2023 5:10 pm

I have learned:

VIN in Mexico = NIV. Número de identificación vehícular. Still cannot find much about early nineties Mexico built 1800 water buses though. Odd ducks.

Title = ‘original factura’ In Mexico, the same piece of paper is used from the date of manufacture. So you can see exactly how many owners there have been. Might be raggedy after 25+ years. Should have some kind of official looking seal.

Bill of sale = ‘Carta responsiva vehicular’. Just a simple contract between buyer and seller. Seems easy to print out a basic version. US Customs wants one.

Timing belt = ‘correa de distribucion’

Tue Sep 19, 2023 9:00 pm

Final thing. From what I can tell from YouTube , VW Mexico went to 17 digit VINs sometime in the early to mid nineties. After then, obvious plate on the dash, next to seat, and in engine compartment.

But according to this

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=667791

10 digit VIN still in use in 92. Which makes Customs want an M Plate, so they can determine the manufacture date. That might be behind the driver seat, might be a sticker on the door jam, or not exist at all. If not at all, ya might need a letter from VW explaining how there old VINs work. (Or just print out above thread and try it). Think Brazil took over manufacture in 95.

Think I answered all my own questions. In conclusion, one needs the title, bill
of sale, three federal forms, two exposed 17 digit VINs. And maybe a steam cleaning of your under carriage. (Call and ask). Then should be smooth like butter.

Would suggest finding one in good neighborhood of Mexico City where they have real parts and real mechanics and money.

Done with research for now. No contacts made here at all. People on Reddit acting like I am thinking of smuggling guns or something. Hopefully this will be of use to somebody. Probably me when I forget.

Will check back. Especially if I get one and am searching for an early 70s fiberglass bubble top. Later gators. Thanks for all the fish.

List of border stations with contact info.
https://www.cbp.gov/border-security/along-us-borders/border-patrol-sectors