Decoding Vehicle Data Plates
 

I would like to get my data plate option codes explained. Mostly, I need to find the data code for the transmission on my 5 speed 300E to settle the issue. While searching the Internet, I was able to locate the page http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/Speedway/5350/mbcodes.htm which seems to decode quite a few of the options. Of course, I can't confirm the page's validity. Perhaps others can.

Another page, http://www.mbcoupes.com/datacard/datacard.htm has more codes. This has far fewer codes and is mainly for coupes.

Any help would be appreciated. (Thank-you Longston for suggesting a call to MB in a post some time back, I'll do that.)

vrsmith,

Did you see my response to this in the 5 Speed roll call thread? I THOUGHT that the data plate code for the 5 Speed is 430. According to the list, 428 should be the 5 Speed code. I am at the office, but will try to remember to check mine tonight to see if there is a 428 on the data plate.

That was a great job of research finding the code lists.

Have a great day,

I have already sent Larry a private message hoping to identify the code I'm looking for. Specifically, the code for the 5-speed which is indicated as 428. My plate does not list 428 so I am still looking. At this point, I have yet to decode numbers 446, 491 and 506. As well, there are a few numbers on the left side of the plate which are nearly undecipherable. I do see 124030, which happens to be my chassis number. Under that is 275, the leather color code. The paint code is on the bottom left. While my 560 has 473-Champagne my 300E has 806 and 873 which I cannot translate.

codes...
 

Hi Vaughn,
Here's a site with many MB codes:
http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/Speedway/5350/mbcodes.htm

806 says "change of modelyear last figure shows new modelyear"; I'm not sure exactly how to interpret that.

873 appears to be for heated front seats; it doesn't list the W124 with that code, however, since I know you have heated front seats, it must apply.

(just noticed that you've already been to the 'code' site)

vrsmith,

Sorry, but there was no 428 on the data plate. Keep researching and maybe we can work through it by process of elimination.

Would it help if I wrote down ALL the codes on the plate for you?

Also, do you have the maintenance record booklet that came with the car? In the back is a detailed section regarding equipment and subcomponent serial numbers.

Have a nice weekend,

Larry,
I do not have the maintenance manual for my car. If it weren't for the previous owner, (Glen), keeping a web page, I wouldn't know anything at all about the past service history.

I found an interesting site in Australia that includes more on data codes: http://www.mbspares.com.au/datacardsexplained.html

vrsmith,

To make sure you got my message, I found two of the three codes you asked about on my data plate. The 506 was NOT on the plate.

Good luck,

I know this thread is pretty old but i was figuring out th eoptions on my car (1989 300e and 1987 300e) and I believe 446 is codes 441 and 442 (443 refers to 440 and 441) so i think 446 is 441 (elec. adj. sterring column) and 442 (airbag in sterring wheel) which i think was pretty much standard in every w124 sedan.

Most of the codes on the plate correspond with the codes on the vehicle data card. The Amcon site explains all these codes.

Cheers!

I have checked many sites (all that have been posted on this site) and 446 is not on any of them which is why I came to the conclusion that 446 was a combo of 441 and 442.

A thought. Have you considered the direct approach? Write to Mercedes Canada or Mercedes USA, wherever the car was delevered to its first owner, and ask for a copy of the sticker (MSRP, etc) that was attached to the car when it was delivered, including all the standard equipment and extras. Transmission will be listed in simple termsm i.e. 4-speed, 5 speed. At least you will learn what price the car fetched.

As an answer to an 18-year old thread and to cure any suspicions of those who have stumbled across this page as I have:

On the data placard under the hood, there will be the model designation towards the top left. In my case, this is 124030. Next to it, there will be two digits. Mine has a 10. The 1 means the vehicle is left-hand drive and the 0 means it has a manual transmission. This is how you verify your car was a factory 5-speed.

12 is most likely the most common one, this means it is left-hand drive and automatic transmission.