I'm not sure that the VIN for a 180E will help you. The 180E really is a 190E-1.8 re-badged with the uniquely Australian "180E" badge. All 8-valve M102 versions of the 190E were sold in Australia however they were expensive due to a luxury car tax that applied at the time. From memory, even the 190E-1.8 was around AUD $60k and therefore sales were slow. By selling a very basic version with no options and basic standard equipment, the price came down to $45k (below the luxury car tax threshold). To distinguish this model from the better optioned 190E models, the "180E" model designation was introduced around 1991.

I owned a 1992 5-speed manual 180E for a short period about 8 years ago and my brother still owns that car. Unlike other MB models sold in Australia, manual transmissions did account for a reasonable percentage of sales of the 180E although automatics were still more common. Checking the VIN on the MB Club of Russia website http://www.mbclub.ru/mb/vin/index.html?lng=eng reveals the information below (I have removed the last 3 digits of some numbers to protect the identity of the vehicle). Note that it is designated a 190E1.8 and that option codes 260 and 261 specify elimination of model designation (badge). I believe the "180E" badge was fitted when the cars arrived in Australia. I doubt that the 180E badge would be available outside of Australia and I also suspect they may have become difficult to obtain here as I have seen several 180E models recently with either no badge or with a 190E badge.

VIN WDB2010182F955***
Plant 67
Model 190 E 1.8
Chassis 2010182F955***
Engine 102910 20 093***
Transmission 717412 06 063***
Tyres
Primary CONTINENTAL
Order 0 1 901 11899
Lights BOSCH
Wiper BOSCH
Delivery date 03.02.92
Dealer Australia (901)
Interior cloth grey (068)
Paint
904 midnight (dark) blue (T) (с 01.01.1968)
Options
260 elimination of model designation on rear lid (с 01.05.1968)

261 elimination of model designation V12 (с 01.11.1973)

340 additional 3rd stop lamp (с 01.10.1989)

341 additional lamp (с 01.09.1982)

428 manual five-speed transmission (с 01.01.1970)

466 central locking system (с 01.04.1970 по 31.10.1993)

524 paintcoat preservation (с 01.01.1964)

580 air conditioner/Tempmatic (с 01.11.1982)

598 heat-insulating glass for side window panes and heated rear window pane (esg), untited windshield
green heat-insulating glass for side and rear windows, heated rear window (single pane safety glass) windscreen clear glass
green heat-insul. glass, side and rear window panes, windshield clear (с 01.07.1989)

613 lamp unit, asymmetrical, l.h. traffic (с 01.02.1963)

625 version for Australia (с 01.08.1966)

664 10 liters of fuel and mode of packing VE III (с 01.01.1979 по 30.06.1993)

802 Change of year of model, last figure shows new model year

865 Unknown code
916 Unknown code

__________________
107.023: 350SLC, 3-speed auto, icon gold, parchment MBtex (sold 2012 after 29 years ownership).
107.026: 500SLC, 4-speed auto, thistle green, green velour.
124.090: 300TE, 4-speed auto, arctic white, cream-beige MBtex.
201.028: 190E 2.3 Sportline, 5-speed manual, arctic white, blue leather.
201.028: 190E 2.3, 4-speed auto, blue-black, grey MBtex.
201.034: 190E 2.3-16, 5-speed manual, blue-black, black leather.