Does anyone know what the numbers and letters on the option/paint code tag mean (the ones that aren't option codes)? The option codes and paint codes are well described in various threads on this site plus some external links but other than the model "124133" I can't figure out what the other numbers/letters mean. Anyone have a guide or reference?

This is for my '87 300D Turbo (W124, OM603).

Jeremy

__________________

"Buster" in the '95

Our all-Diesel family
1996 E300D (W210) . .338,000 miles Wife's car
2005 E320 CDI . . 113,000 miles My car
Santa Rosa population 176,762 (2022)
Total. . . . . . . . . . . . 627,762
"Oh lord won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz."
-- Janis Joplin, October 1, 1970

How about posting the codes so we can take a stab?

Sixto
87 300D

First some background:

1) My '87 300D Turbo (W124, OM603) came to me without a paint/option code tag. I've never seen it. I don't know what numbers would be on it if it still existed. The tags are not available from Mercedes so I've been watching for similar cars in the junkyard so that I can at least make my car look like it has the correct tag.

2) I have the VMI, Datacard, and Russian MB Club printouts so I know what the option codes on my car should be.

3) The tag in the picture below is from a 1987 300D Turbo that I found at Pick and Pull here in northern California. Except for the interior and exterior colors it appeared identical to my car so the option codes should be pretty much the same.

4) The VIN of the junkyard car was WDBEB33DXHA300293 or about 17,000 units later (newer) than my car. My car's VIN, WDBEB33D2HA283xxx, is the same except for the "X," which is a check digit, and the last six, of course. Unfortunately I failed to copy the engine number or the transmission number of the junkyard car.

5) BTW, for those who've never deciphered a VIN, here is what it means:
WDB = Daimler-Benz
E = 124 series
B = Diesel
33 = 124.133 model designation
D = Seat belts + SRS
2 = Check digit
H = Model year 1987
A = Built in Sindelfingen
283xxx = Chassis end number

Here is a picture of the tag from the junkyard car. I plan to paint it "Arctic White" and put it on my car.



The first line is "6131376 5." I have no idea what it means. It's obviously not related to the VIN.

The second line "124133 12" is the model number plus "12." A "124.133" is a 124 sedan with an OM603 diesel engine. What does the "12" mean?

The third line "31 4E 1" is a complete mystery.

The "174" that begins the fourth line may be an interior color option code; I can't remember what the interior of the junkyard car was. The rest of the numbers in that line are common option codes that are in all of the published lists.

The 5th line "110695 M . . ." is another mystery. The numbers following the M are more option codes, of course. Those I know.

The 6th line contains only the two option codes 451 and 531, which are known.

The 7th line begins "2 172 G" followed by two more option codes. The "2" is a mystery but I believe the "172" is the exterior paint code for "Anthracite Gray" and the "G," I read on another thread, is the manufacturer of the paint.

The 8th and last line contains five option codes with the "807" giving the model year, "1987."

Finally, it's clear from the lists of option codes for my car that Mercedes put only a partial set on the tag. It would be interesting to understand the thought process that went into the decision of which codes to put on the tag and which to leave off.

Jeremy

__________________

"Buster" in the '95

Our all-Diesel family
1996 E300D (W210) . .338,000 miles Wife's car
2005 E320 CDI . . 113,000 miles My car
Santa Rosa population 176,762 (2022)
Total. . . . . . . . . . . . 627,762
"Oh lord won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz."
-- Janis Joplin, October 1, 1970

1 is LHD, 2 is AT.

Sixto
87 300D

Comparing my tag to the one you shared, the differences are:

- last 5 digits of the 7 digit sequence are different. Might be an internal serial number.
- 4th row begins with 278. 2 is probably leather and 78 is the upholstery color code.
- 7th row has 355 H. Probably paint and manufacturer code as you pointed out. My car is diaminblau. Was
- 8th row has code 491 in place of your 494. 491 is US version, 494 is California version. My car was delivered new in Texas.

Does any part of the first row correspond to the 124133.12.XXXXXX form VIN in the EPC datacard? You'd have to know the US VIN of the pnp car.

My car has leather, memory driver seat and telescoping steering column. The last two don't seem to be noted in the tag.

FWIW, I believe the serial number digits in the US VIN (WDB) do not correspond to the serial number digits in the 124133.12.XXXXXX form VIN.

I'll bet the folks in the vintage forum know more about these tags.

Sixto
87 300D

The VIN of the P&P car is WDBEB33DXHA300293. Thanks for the suggestion to check the car's Datacard in EPC. The factory form of the VIN is "WDB1241331A300293 8" and the space before the final "8" is as I typed it. Don't know why it is "1A" instead of "12." The six digits of the serial number are the same as in the USA version of the VIN.

I can't find any similarity between the numbers on the paint/option code tag and the numbers in the Datacard. The Datacard has only the engine and transmission serial number, the "order number," and the various option codes.

I'll post a message in the Vintage section.

Jeremy

__________________

"Buster" in the '95

Our all-Diesel family
1996 E300D (W210) . .338,000 miles Wife's car
2005 E320 CDI . . 113,000 miles My car
Santa Rosa population 176,762 (2022)
Total. . . . . . . . . . . . 627,762
"Oh lord won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz."
-- Janis Joplin, October 1, 1970

this thread, and the link in it were helpful for me when i wanted to decipher the codes on my plate:
Option Codes

amcon: Mercedes-Benz common options

Thanks, WNC. We're trying to figure out what the non-option codes are.

Sixto
87 300D

I wonder if a VMI will yield some clues.

Sixto
87 300D

Have you looked under the carpets or under the rear seat to see if the data/build sheet is still there in your car? Maybe a piece of paper 3" x 7" or so? That may have info on your car. If I recall from my 123, there were codes to corresponded to assembly date and/or work shift. Those may also be on the data tag.

Here's more info on an '87 300D. Most are probably known, but it's got an example of the build sheet. http://www.mbspares.com.au/Information/DataCards.aspx

Thanks, Yak, the Australian site has a lot of good info, although nothing seems to correspond to the strange numbers on the tag. The closest possibilities are the "product number" and the "order number" although that's only because of the number of digits. The actual "order number" in the Datacard doesn't look like anything on the option tag.

I can't claim to have completely stripped the car looking, so the build sheet might still be around. Maybe I'll find it some day.

Sixto, does the VMI have to come from a dealer? I have the one for my car but can't remember where I got it. Anyway, there's not much on it, just the VIN, engine and transmission serials, option and paint codes, and the warranty start date (original sales date).

Jeremy

__________________

"Buster" in the '95

Our all-Diesel family
1996 E300D (W210) . .338,000 miles Wife's car
2005 E320 CDI . . 113,000 miles My car
Santa Rosa population 176,762 (2022)
Total. . . . . . . . . . . . 627,762
"Oh lord won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz."
-- Janis Joplin, October 1, 1970

The two that I pulled both came from the service manager at the local dealer. I've read on here that some dealers don't like to give them out, but I didn't have any trouble.

__________________
1987 300TD 309, xxx 2.8.2014 10,000 mile OCI


Be careful of the toes you step on today, as they may be connected to the ass you have to kiss tomorrow. anonymous

“Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter, and those who matter won’t mind.” Dr. Seuss

VMI should list recalls and when performed.

Sixto
87 300D

It does. The trap cat recall is listed as "open" for my car, suggesting I got it from the dealer immediately after buying the car, since that was one of the first things I did to it. I didn't mention the recall in my earlier post 'cause it's not on the options tag.

Jeremy

__________________

"Buster" in the '95

Our all-Diesel family
1996 E300D (W210) . .338,000 miles Wife's car
2005 E320 CDI . . 113,000 miles My car
Santa Rosa population 176,762 (2022)
Total. . . . . . . . . . . . 627,762
"Oh lord won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz."
-- Janis Joplin, October 1, 1970