VIN decoding help - 72 250SE 4.5
 

We've searched here & via Google, and haven't found a decoder that will help us understand Gustav's VIN: 10806712000183

Any assistance that you experts can provide?

TIA,
Jim & Meridythe

It's the 183rd right hand drive gas engined 108.067 ever built.

Err... LEFT hand drive


Michael

Not quite.


It is a 1971 280SE/4.5 The 183rd LHD w/auto trans and 117.984 V8 engine ever built.

It's not a VIN, it's a chassis number. This chassis number came before VINs which start with WDBC.

These older cars chassis numbers really read like this:

108.067-12-000183 and there is no way to tell anything about the car as opposed to a VIN which has more info in it. You need to get any info on the car from MB which, in typical German fashion, has a boatload of info on the car.

You can also get info, options and the paint code for instance, about the car from several plates affixed to the radiator support cross member. Take a pic of the plates and post it here and we can help you.

The Classic Center will have that info. [ Or ,better yet , look around in the paper work for the DATA CARD.]
But to answer your decoding request of the info available from the chassis # you posted,it goes like this:

108-- this is the chassis type
067 - this is the chassis version type
1 - this is LHD [ a 2 here would be a RHD]
2 - this is auto trans [ a 0 here would be standard/manual trans.]
000183 is the serial # of that particular chassis

108.067-12-000183

Give that # to the Classic Center and they will have that chassis particulars on file and send it to you.

http://www.mbusa.com/heritage/contact-classic-center.do

Thanks all for the input! We're just back today from Gustav's shake down cruise: two round trips between San Diego and Hollywood, plus fair bit of crusing around Tinsel Town whilst we were there. No issues at all!

We'll get some pictures of the plates near the radiator (and some beauty shots of Gustav as well) posted up in the next couple days. Also plan to contact the Classic Center - any advantage one way or the other - phone vs. email?

From the link Arthur provided, I contacted MB classic center via email last night. Here's what was sent back the next morning re my car. A JPEG of the data card was also included!

chassis number: 108 018 12 060315
engine number: 130 980 12 045730
transmission number: 011482
exterior color code: 396 - medium blue
interior color code: 255 - pergament leather
option codes:
401 single seats
426 power steering / automatic transmission, floorshift
461 instruments in English
491 USA version
503 outside side view mirror, left
513 Becker Europa, stereo, USA
524 paintcoat preservation
540 seat adapter between front seats
570 front folding armrest
589 air conditioner / electric windows
598 heat insulated glass / heated rear window
630 radial ply tires
641 white wall tires
669 mode of packing VE II

Vehicle was retailed from an Arizona dealership on November 18, 1970.

Now, if I can find the darn seat adapter that's missing (floor shift model, AKA middle cushion, AKA mittlekissen) get it back to the right color and slap some white walls on it, I'll have a pretty swanky little 108! Some nitwit painted it burgundy, over a blue leather interior. Go figure. Ugh.

I think they messed up. Check your chassis number against the one you got back. Also, you have a 4.5 L V8 M117 not a 6 cyl M130.

Warren: he's (shab) got a 108 018 - definetly the m130. 108 067/068 was the 4.5.

The original thread poster has a 280SE 4.5.

Different Poster/Different Chassis #

Ja, mein Auto, clylinder 6

:rolleyes:

Sorry, I obviously didn't pick up on the different owner. DUH!

Thanks for pointing that out.

Been There , Done That . :) :)

Myself, I'm just a big dumb animal. Can barely get my socks on in the morning at this point. Don't feel bad.

Finally getting around to posting an update!

First off, pictures as promised:

http://amex101.com/albums/album153/DSC_7266.jpg

http://amex101.com/albums/album153/DSC_7250.jpg

http://amex101.com/albums/album151/DSC_7039.jpg

Next, info about Gustav received from the Classic Center:


chassis number: 108 067 12 000183
engine number: 117 984 12 000198
transmission number: 0280
exterior color code: 904 - dark blue
interior color code: 142 - beige MBTex
option codes:
401 single seats
466 central locking
491 USA version
503 outside side vie mirror, left
515 Becker radio, am/fm, USA
524 paintcoat preservation
540 seat adapter between front seats
570 front folding armrest
589 air conditioner / electric windows
595 heat insulated glass
641 white wall tires
669 mode of packing VE III
246 heat absorbing glass / heated rear window


Finally, the rest of the automotive stable, and the reason they're shiny (my amazing fiance):

http://amex101.com/albums/album153/DSC_7257.jpg

http://amex101.com/albums/album153/DSC_7346.jpg