Dad and Son Purchase BMW M3s, Uncover Consecutive VINs

Matthew Moroko and his father Jerry are the proud owners of two 2008 E92 M3s (these are the 4.0-liter V8 coupes): Matthew’s is an automatic with dual clutch in Jet Black, while Jerry’s is a manual six-speed in Alpine White. “My father has always had a desire for an M car within the family,” Matthew shared with me, and it was indeed his father who first brought a Bimmer home.

In December 2020, Jerry Moroko secured an auction on Bring A Trailer for a supercharged M3 that had been relocated from Nevada by its first owner after initially being sold new in California. Matthew, feeling envious, expressed to me that he had “always longed for an E92.”

“It’s been and continues to be my dream vehicle since its introduction, appearing in magazines and all the advertisements and content I would come across when they were first launched. I remember spending hours on my computer constructing various specifications online when I was young.”

Last year, Matthew’s quest for his very own E92 guided him to a dealership in Ohio, where a black E92 from Kentucky equipped with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission was up for sale. It perfectly complemented his father’s vehicle. However, the unexpected revelation came a year later when, while sifting through documents, he noticed the consecutive VINs of the two M3s. His vehicle bore the VIN PY42209, while his father’s was registered as PY42210. A mere digit apart.

“I’m speculating, could this imply that these two cars were assembled alongside each other back in 2008?” Matthew inquired on Facebook.

I reached out to BMW on his behalf, and a representative provided this insight: Production records indicated that both cars were assembled on the morning of June 19, 2008. While the VIN sequence suggests potential adjacency, the differing paint colors could mean they were finalized in a different order if the painting equipment wasn’t cleansed due to a color change directly between them.

Ultimately, the actual proximity of their production remains uncertain, but the occurrence of two consecutive VINs ending up in the same family is a remarkable coincidence. It would be almost implausible to orchestrate this deliberately, and for it to unfold naturally—three years apart through the secondary market, no less—is almost too surreal to comprehend. However, at times, patterns emerge in the most unexpected places. Like our very own driveways.

Have a lead or query for the writer? They can be contacted at: james@thedrive.com