PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum - View Single Post

Jim B. · #5 09-05-2006, 11:57 PM

Reconstructing the history can be hard. You can start by calling 1-800-FOR-MERCEDES and with your auto registration/title/proof of wonership in hand, with that evidence of ownership they can send you a copy of the car's original window sticker, which should reveal the selling dealership's name and city.

Then as stated, you can try to obtain a Vehicle Master Inquiry (VMI) on the car, which will reveal the dates and mileage of warranty claim visits to the dealer. You'll need a friend in the Dealer service department to decode the dealer code, and the dcomp codes, which gives an quick shorthand idea of the nature of the warranty claims. Unfortunately the VMI does not include ordinary service information, but DOES record roadside assistance calls.

It would be worth a call to the dealer who serviced the car, or the independent shops, to get an idea of what was done to the car. However this is viewed as proprietary information by most dealers and it won't be released, but you could ask anyway.

If you still have the maintenance booklet with the car, and it was stamped by dealers or independents, you should call them up and ask if you could have photostats of work done to the car.

The best way would be to actually visit the shops and dealers and ask, or throw in a $20 bill with the letter requesting the records-can't hurt to try.

Using these methods, I was actually able to contact the previous owner of a couple of the cars I had bought, visit the shops and reconstruct the entire service history of two cars I'd purchased, one of them even to mile zero.

It was very satisfying, and no one felt their privacy was violated, and I came away well pleased, both times, once even with extra touch up paint and keys, that a prior owner had for the car and even conversed at length with the previous owners, and technicians who'd worked on the cars and remembered them.

It was worth the effort (even the effort to actually visit the shops and dealers.)

This was about 10 years ago, so now it might be harder for you, especially with a repossessed car, but definately would be worth a try.

A quick CARFAX request might help with an idea of the mileage and location of the car, but they are not 100% accurate with entry of the data every time, but do give good general clues as to the car's history.