Anyone with a gray-market import help with a VIN question?

[lonewolftek]

I'm currently doing some VIN research for a friend, and the info from the seller seems all wrong. VIN positions 1-3 check out (manufacturer), 4 doesn't (model). Fuel type seems to be wrong, and the check digit doesn't match up. Some other oddness too, it's got a plant code I've never seen before (Rastatt?).

I'm thinking this may be a gray-market import, and thus the VIN code is radically different, or there's some serious fraud going on here.

Could anyone who has a Euro model year 83-85 W123 coupe, sedan, or wagon post or PM the first 11 digits for comparison? Or at least tell me if they decode the same way as the US versions, i.e.:

Positions 1-3, World Manufacturer Identifier:

• WDB Daimler-Benz (Daimler-Chrysler after 1999)

Position 4, model or series:

• A W123
• B W102
• D W201
• C W126 S-Class
• E W124 E-Class
• F R129 SL-Class
• K R170 SLK-Class
• G W140 S-Class
• H W202 C-Class
• J W210 E-Class
• N W220 S-Class
• P W215 CL-Class
• R W203 C-Class
• S R230 SL-Class
• U W211 E-Class
• W R171 SLK-Class

Position 5, engine type:

• A = gasoline
• B = diesel

Positions 6-7, model within the series:
Position 8, safety restraint system:

• D seat belt + emergency pretensioners, driver front air bags
• E seat belt + emergency pretensioners, driver and passenger front air bags
• F seat belt + emergency pretensioners, driver and passenger front and side air bags

Position 9, check digit
Position 10, model year:

• Model Year Encoding

Position 11, production plant:

• A-E Sindelfingen
• F-H Bremen
• J Rastatt

Positions 12-17, chassis number