Everyone with an affected AMG Mercedes-Benz has been to the dealer to have their software updated and the secondary relay in the air pumps replaced right? OK, probably not.

We are providing this information now so those that have purchased a used car will be aware of the issue. And, they can have their car repaired at the dealer under the recall if necessary.

The following information is from EPA's "Settlement Fact Sheet" published on their compliance website. It provides the VIN number ranges and AMG Mercedes-Benz models recalled.

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC and DaimlerChrysler AG Settlement Fact Sheet

Background
Manufacturers of new motor vehicles must file an emission defect information report (EDIR) with EPA not more than 15 working days after an emission-related defect is found to affect 25 vehicles or engines of the same model year. These defect reporting requirements are a critical part of EPA's program to ensure that vehicles on the road comply with the Clean Air Act's emissions standards.

Violation
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC and DaimlerChrysler AG (Mercedes) failed to timely file EDIRs relating to eight emission-related defects in numerous 1998 to 2006 model vehicles. The Civil Penalty is $1.2 million

Remediation and Injunctive Relief

• Mercedes is implementing the following voluntary recalls and extended warranties for emission-related defects at issue in this case:
• Voluntary recall of about 79,000 Mercedes M-Class models to inspect and replace catalytic converters that are determined to be defective;
• Voluntary recall of about 29,000 Mercedes AMG models to update software and replace secondary relay in air pumps;
• Extended emissions warranty for catalytic converters in about 20,000 S and CL Class models from 8 years or 80,000 miles to 10 years, unlimited miles.
• Estimated Cost of voluntary recalls and extended emissions warranty: $59 million.
• Estimated environmental benefit of voluntary recalls:
• 55 tons NOx
• 64 tons NMHC
• 446 tons CO
• The Agreement also requires Mercedes to implement a Supplemental Emission-Related Monitoring, Investigation and Reporting Protocol, at an estimated cost of $1 million per year.

Affected Vehicles

The following vehicles have been recalled to inspect and replace, if necessary, the catalytic converter:

• 1999-2001 Mercedes Benz ML 320 (VIN range A036519-A260405)
• 1999 -2001 Mercedes Benz ML 430 ( VIN Range A057639-A260575)

The following vehicles have been recalled to update the software and replace the secondary relay in air pumps:

• 2002-2004 Mercedes Benz SLK 32 AMG (VIN Range 227774-310327)
• 2002-2004 Mercedes Benz C32 AMG (VIN Range 131482-535283)
• 2003-2006 Mercedes Benz E 55 AMG Sedan (VIN Range 136286-917813)
• 2005-2006 Mercedes Benz E 55 AMG Wagon (VIN Range 715663-913573)
• 2003-2006 Mercedes Benz CL 55 AMG (VIN Range 030004-047689)
• 2003-2006 Mercedes Benz S 55 AMG (VIN Range 306185-484676)
• 2003-2006 Mercedes Benz SL 55 AMG (VIN Range 009541-116751)
• 2005 Mercedes Benz G55 AMG (VIN Range 146910-164172)
• 2005-2006 Mercedes Benz SLR (VIN Range 000018-001032)
• 2006 Mercedes Benz CLS 55 AMG (VIN Range 007370-061871)

The following vehicles will have warranties for their catalytic converters extended to 10 years, unlimited mileage:

• 2000 Mercedes Benz CL 500 (FIN Range WDB2153751A000174 – WDB2153751A001519)
• 2000 Mercedes Benz S 430 (FIN Range WDB2200701A001280 – WDB2200701A121670)
• 2000 Mercedes Benz S 430 (FIN Range WDB2201701A000335 – WDB2201701A115308)
• 2000 Mercedes Benz S 500 (FIN Range WDB2201751A000346 – WDB2201751A082651)

Additional information is available from EPA here.

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.