VIN (Vehicle Identification Number)
A vehicle identification number, commonly abbreviated to VIN, is a unique code including a serial number, used by the automotive industry to identify individual motor vehicles, towed vehicles, motorcycles, scooters and mopeds as defined in ISO 3833.
The VIN can be used to look up vehicle specific Data Card information which describes the vehicle as supplied by the manufacturer.
Typical information found on the Data Card includes:
- Vehicle Type
- Model Name
- Engine Number
- Transmission Number
- Front Axle Number
- Order Number
- Interior Colour
- Paint Code
- Delivery Date and
- SA Codes (The equipment on the vehicle when delivered).
Examples of a VIN
VIN found on the vehicle Data or Certification Plate: WDB 220175 2A 377365 6 VIN as used in M-B's Workshop Information System (WIS) which requires 17 digits: WDB2201752A377365
Decoding a VIN
The 17 digit VIN consists of the following elements:
- The first three characters (1, 2 and 3) of the VIN (WDB2200671A419444) designate the World Manufacturer Code ie the Country of manufacture, where:
3MB Mexico 4JG M-Class except Europe 5DH Mexico Bus 8AB Argentina 8AC Argentina 9BM Brazil ADB South Africa KPA South Korea vans KPD South Korea KPG South Korea LE4 Chinese production MHL Indonesia NMB Turkey RLM Mercedes-Benz Vietnam TAW NAW Switzerland TCC smart VAG Steyr cross country vehicles VF9 EVOBUS France VS9 EVOBUS Spain VSA Spain WD1 Sprinter WD2 NAFTA Sprinter WD3 Sprinter WD4 Sprinter WD5 NAFTA Sprinter WD6 Unimog NAFTA WD7 Unimog NAFTA incomplete WD9 Sprinter WDB Germany WDC M-Class Europe/203 WDD Daimler Germany WDF Rest of world (ROW) WEB EVOBUS Mercedes-Benz WKK EVOBUS Setra WME smart
- The next three characters (4, 5 and 6) of the VIN identify what series/type the car is. For example a VIN WDB2200671A419444 denotes a W220 series vehicle.
- Characters 7, 8 and 9 of the VIN (WDB2200671A419444) identify the model, where:
026 S320 CDI 028 S400 CDI 063 S280 065 S320 067 S350 070 S430 073 S55 AMG 074 S55 AMG supercharged 075 S500 083 S430 4Matic 084 S500 4Matic 087 S350 4Matic 126 S320 CDI long 128 S400 CDI long 163 S280 long 165 S320 long 167 S350 long 170 S430 long 173 S55 AMG long 175 S500 long 175 S55 AMG long supercharged 176 S600 long twin-turbocharged 178 S600 long 179 S65 AMG twin-turbocharged 183 S430 4Matic long 184 S500 4Matic long 187 S450 4Matic long
or alternatively by model, where;
063 is the S280 163 is the S280 long 065 is the S320 165 is the S320 long 067 is the S350 087 is the S350 4Matic 167 is the S350 long 187 is the S450 4Matic long 070 is the S430 083 is the S430 4Matic 170 is the S430 long 183 is the S430 4Matic long 075 is the S500 084 is the S500 4Matic 175 is the S500 long 184 is the S500 4Matic long 178 is the S600 long 176 is the S600 long twin-turbocharged 073 is the S55 AMG 173 is the S55 AMG long 074 is the S55 AMG supercharged 175 is the S55 AMG long supercharged 179 is the S65 AMG twin-turbocharged 026 is the S320 CDI 126 is the S320 CDI long 028 is the S400 CDI 128 is the S400 CDI long
- Character 10 of the VIN (WDB2200671A419444) identifies LH or RH Drive, where:
1 - left-hand drive (LHD) 2 - right-hand drive (RHD)
- Character 11 of the VIN (WDB2200671A419444) identifies (?)
- Characters 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17 of the VIN are sequential, with each model having a separate number, starting at 000001 and ending with the end of production
How to find VIN
There are several places where you can find the VIN of your vehicle.
Certification label below driver's door latch
If in the U.S. there will be a sticker in the driver's door frame that gives the month and year of manufacture. In the photo below, 10/04 at the upper right of the sticker indicates my car was manufactured in October, 2004. It was sold in the U.S. as an '05 model, and went into service in November, '04.
Engraved below right rear passenger seat
VIN is engraved next to fuse box under right side rear seat. Since here the VIN is engraved, this place is used by authorities to identify a vehicle without doubts.
VIN can be displayed by accessing instrument cluster hidden menu. First access the hidden menu using battery voltage check described in charging system page. Then use steering wheel buttons to navigate through the menu.
Vehicle Technical Passport
Vehicle technical passport issued by government should have VIN printed on it.