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During the past few years, we have rec'd numerous questions pertaining to Mercedes-Benz Vehicle Identification Numbers (VIN). No, we don't have all of the answers but we can tell you what we have learned.

The system used for today's Vehicle Identification Numbers (VIN) is based on standards originally set by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) back in 1979 and 1980. Slightly different implementations of the ISO standards have been adopted by the European Union and the United States. Today's VINs consist of 17 characters and do not include the letters I, O or Q. Before the standard was established in 1980, vehicle manufacturers used different VIN formats.

Q: Do AMG Mercedes-Benz cars have a specific VIN designation?  

A: Mercedes-Benz started using VIN designations for AMGs with the C36; prior to the C36 there are no specific AMG indications in the VIN.

Q: Are US and non-US VINs the same (number of digits, etc.) for Mercedes-Benz?

A: No. Mercedes-Benz European and world market cars use a different system for VIN numbers and different VIN systems were used prior to 1980 when the ISO standards were adopted by auto manufacturers.

Mercedes-Benz Vehicle Years 1960-1983:

Reading the VIN from left to right, the digits or positions provide the following information:

1-6: Chassis Number
7: If the 7th digit is a "1" (one), the car was manufactured as a left hand drive (2=right hand drive)
8: Transmission indicator; 0=standard transmission, 1=hydraulic clutch,2=automatic transmission
9-14: Construction serial number

Mercedes-Benz from August 1983 to Present:

1-3: The first three digits indicate the "World Manufacturer Identifier" (WDB is Daimler-Benz until 1999, after that Daimler-Chrysler and so on)

4-9: Vehicle Descriptor Section or VDS, which is used to identify the vehicle type and may include information on the platform, model and/or the body style. Each manufacturer has a unique system for using this field. The 8th digit is used by most manufacturers to identify the engine type whenever there is more than one engine choice for the vehicle; however, Mercedes-Benz uses the following:

4th digit: Model or series

A = W123
B = W102 (also W107, SL class)
D = W201 C = W126 S-Class E = W124 E-Class
F = R129 SL-Class
K = R170 SLK-Class
G = W140 S-Class
H = W202 C-Class
J = W210 E-Class
N = W220 S-Class
P = W215 CL-Class
R = W203 C-Class
S = R230 SL-Class
U = W211 E-Class
W = R171 SLK-Class

5th digit: body style

A = Roadster (wrt the W107)
B = Long Body
F = Sedan
G = Sedan Long WB
H = Wagon
J = Coupe
K = Cabriolet/Roadster
M = AMG (no longer used)
R = Uncertain, but applies to the W463

Note that the 5th digit on older models indicated the engine type:

A = gasoline
B = diesel
D = 4matic Gasoline

6th and 7th digits: Indicate the model within the series

8th digit: Indicates the safety restraint system for MB vehicles

C seat belt + emergency pre-tensioners
D seat belt + emergency pre-tensioners, driver front air bags
E seat belt + emergency pre-tensioners, driver and passenger front air bags
F seat belt + emergency pre-tensioners, driver and passenger front and side air bags

9th digit: Check digit

Digits 10-17: Used as the Vehicle Identifier Section or VIS, which is used by the manufacturer to identify the individual vehicle. Mercedes-Benz uses the 10th digit for model year, the 11 digit for the production plant, and digits 12-17 for the chassis number.

11th digit: Production plant

A-E Sindelfingen
F-H Bremen
J Rastatt
X Graz
T Karmann
M Woking, England (SLR)

12th - 17th digits: Chassis number

Note that Mercedes-Benz commercial vehicles use a slightly differnt VIN system, which is not covered here.

Another resource is the Mercedes-Benz Club of Russia, which provides a free VIN service. We have an article and link to the site here.