Has anyone every had a problem with the VIN on their Euro models?

Just moved states and the state says that my VIN needs to be checked by the fuzz because my title transfer was rejected. I had a deal a couple of years ago where my insurance company sent me a letter stating that my VIN didn't match their records. Are Euro VIN's different that the US versions? My VIN on my 240D is on a metal tab that comes out of the drivers side window brace.

My car has been titled in two other states and has been VIN checked in one of them once before with no problems. Just curious.

Insurance co. and State questioned the VIN but when I told them it was originally sold in europe they made it work. The car was previously registered in the same state (AL) for 21 years, to the same owner, that probably helped. I also have the import paperwork if I ever need it.

When I got my Euro 240D, I had no problem with the title, however I have had to take a picture of the VIN number plate to the insurance company (State Farm) 3 times in 10 months. I fully expect to have to do it again 5 months from now when the insurance comes due again. For some reason it comes up in their system as a 2002 model even though the vin number system is not the same as current models.

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Palangi

2004 C240 Wagon 203.261 Baby Benz
2008 ML320 CDI Highway Cruiser
2006 Toyota Prius, Saving the Planet @ 48 mpg
2000 F-150, Destroying the Planet @ 20 mpg



TRUMP .......... WHITEHOUSE
HILLARY .........JAILHOUSE
BERNIE .......... NUTHOUSE
0BAMA .......... OUTHOUSE

VIN identified the car as a 240D on the AL registration system. They had to override the system to make it show up as a 300D.

my 300SD was delivered from Germany to Wisconsin originally...then titled in Wyoming and finally here in AZ. Unfortunately, the insurance company didn't think the VIN was valid...I drove the car to them to validate it :-)

the smog inspection also went a bit wierd when they insisted my car was a 1980...it's not...it's 1979!

My AAA insurance people couldn't find the VIN for my 1980 300TD until they looked in a separate "gray market" list.

I just went thru this mess in april when I bought my 80 300d.
AAA, kept sending me paperwork for an 1981, and I took the car to them twice and showed them the car and vin#. Everytime they entered my vin# into the AAA computer, it always came back as an 81.
They had an agent that actually owned an old benz and knew what the problem was. It has nothing to do with being a euro model, mine is not.

The problem is that until I think it was 1981, it was not mandatory for imported cars to follow the standard 17 digit vin numbering system.
Most manufacturers followed the standardized vin, but MB did not.

MB vin's prior to about 81 have to be entered manually into computer systems otherwise the model years will not be correct.
To find out what the correct vin# is on old MB's, start with the last digit on the right, and count to the left 17 digits, forget any of the digits after the 17th. Do not count from the left to the right, that is what causes the problems, too many digits.

I don't know where my car came from. I doubt it is a gray market Euro car, but the searches for it's delivery all come up empty. I think it was a Canadian import as it's a 1981 but was never registered in the States until about 1998. Is there any way to find out? Ironically it has an american flag grille badge that looks about the same age as the car.

Some Insurance companys allow less for claims for gray market cars.

I've got a 1984 300D (Non Turbo). Purchased in Europe, shipped to Guam, and then to CA. The CA DMV computer didn't recognize the vin number and either did my insurance company, but I didn't have too much hastle registering it or insuring it. I bough the car about three years ago and haven't had any major problem with it so far. Just have to buy body and electrical parts for an 84 Turbo and engine components for an 80 Non-Turbo.

Keep The Euros Going!

300D "THE GUAM BOMB"

I had similar issues with my 230CE. My insurance broker had trouble with the vin# as well. The vin check came up as a 2002 model. Finally when the vin issues were straightened out, the insurance company that I was with sent me a letter that they don't insure grey market cars. They would insure it for the time being but then said they would not renew my policy if I kept the car on their policy. My broker gave me a list of other insurance companies that would insure it but none would give me full coverage.

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DJ


84 300D Turbodiesel 190K with 4 speed manual sold in 03/2012