hi guys,

how do you know if your mercedes is a gray market-european model, or a usa car ?

the vin # is:
wdbca45e3la505579


thanks,
kevin
kevinrea@adelphia.net

If I am not mistaken..the WDB as a prefix denotes it as a US market car....a Euro would start with something different.

__________________
Proud owner of ....
1971 280SE W108
1979 300SD W116
1983 300D W123
1975 Ironhead Sportster chopper
1987 GMC 3/4 ton 4X4 Diesel
1989 Honda Civic (Heavily modified)
---------------------
Section 609 MVAC Certified
---------------------
"He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you." - Friedrich Nietzsche

Actually no doc
Here is my euro vin WDB1240231A864094.

What makes your vin a euro is the 'A' before the last six numbers. That letter gives a few of the insurance companies here fits.

ok....that clears that up. Its good to know however.

__________________
Proud owner of ....
1971 280SE W108
1979 300SD W116
1983 300D W123
1975 Ironhead Sportster chopper
1987 GMC 3/4 ton 4X4 Diesel
1989 Honda Civic (Heavily modified)
---------------------
Section 609 MVAC Certified
---------------------
"He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you." - Friedrich Nietzsche

Looks like a US VIN for a '90 560SEC. Were it a euro the VIN would probably be WBD1260451A864094.

The US VIN breaks down:
W - Made in Germany
DB - Mercedes
C - 126
A - 0 (as in the fourth digit of the model no.; diesels are B)
45 - model no. digits 5 and 6
E - Equipment code, maybe safety equipment?
3 - check digit
L - 1990
A - Sindelfingen assembly plant
864094 - serial number

The Euro VINs are easier - no need to decode 126.045, and I believe 1A means LHD automatic. But I reserve the right to be wrong about any of the above.

Tom

I've always been told the Euros have the chassis model number after the WDB.

I think this might not be correct.

The VIN on the SD is: WDBCB20A2EA008421

The VIN on the SDL is: WDBCB25D7GA279366

Be unlikely that these vehicles are Euro versions.

That was right for a while. It's gone all over the chart now.

An 03 E320 is a WDBUF65.

An 05 SLK350 is a WDBWK56.

An 06 CLS500 is a WDDDJ75.

Sixto
95 S420
87 300SDL