What's the deal with my VIN?
 

I've double and triple checked it, this is definitely the VIN:

WDBAB23A7DB409037

Roy couldn't use it, the russian site doesn't recognize it, and if I recall correctly, the dealer had trouble with it, too. Carfax does, however, recognize it. :confused: I think I'm gonna call the dealer again, but what do you guys think?

The VIN decoding info that I use indicates everything in your VIN makes sense except for the 2 in the 23 sequence. Supposedly that pair of digits is to designate a sedan and should be a 33. Only thing that bothers me a little is that there is no differentiation between 240 and 300; but that may just be covered by the serial #, which is the last six digits.

Checked it on the Russian site with the 33 and that didn't work either. Other thing that came to mind is the serial # (last six digits) is huge compared to even my '85 parts car which is only in the mid 200,000's, let alone a W123 in the '83 year group.

I tried it in EPC and it says invalid.

Where did you locate that VIN on the car?

I'd look for one of the other vin plates on the car and see if it matches that one on the A pillar.

-Jason

Try the one on the engine side of the firewall.....
The "123123........" for example.

Is it possible you're misreading a 3 as a 2? I've seen some VIN plates that were pretty hard to read.

Original
WDBAB23A7DB409037

Converted
WDB123123xx409037

For the "xx" make it "12" if it's left hand drive and automatic. I don't recall the proper numbering if it's manual (presumably left hand drive too).

If that does not work, double check the 4. It seems to be a very high number for a production number (409,037).

Make sure the VIN on the firewall, A pillar, driver door jamb and radiator tag all match up too.

"10" for manual transmission, LHD. I forget what the RHD codes are but I think they may just be 2x instead of 1x.

I've got the same issue. My VIN is just like yours, WDBAB23A5DB403477. I went to the dealer to price out some parts for my '83 240D, and they couldn't get my version of that VIN to work. And I've compared the door pillar to the A pillar and they are the same. I've tried the chassis no. (The one on the firewall that's WDB123123... ) on the russian site as well, and that's still not working.

So where are you guys going to figure this stuff out?

Shoot, forgot about this thread. That's definitely the number on the a-pillar, I'll check the others to make sure they match.

Greymarket car?

Definitely not grey-market, I still have the original receipt from the dealer that is actually the same one I go to for parts... and I'm the third owner.

Checked the numbers; registration, a-pillar, door jamb all match. Couldn't find the radiator tag and the firewall said (I think, it was pretty rusty): WDB 123123 10 90 40 3 (or possibly 2) 7.

Tried this site: http://www.decodethis.com/Default.aspx?tabid=65&vin=WDBAB23A7DB409037

About the last 6...at first you said 409037, now you said it's 904037 or 904027... :confused:

WDB12312310409027 and WDB12312310409037 both appear invalid too.

Tried WDB12312310404037 and WDB12312310404027 in case the 9 could have been misread as a 4, but still both were invalid.

Yeah I have no idea, this is messed up. Maybe I'll talk to the dealer, see what they think.