chassis number question - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

rodsob · #1 11-01-2003, 06:31 AM

the haynes tells me where the chassis number is on the car. it is wdb12312310334292.

when i order parts online, it asks me what the chassis number range it belongs to. it asks if it is...
-150314
-150513

how do i read this hieroglyphics? help!

rodsob

rickjordan · #2 11-01-2003, 07:30 AM

They are asking about the last 6 numbers of your vin #. This number is actually the production number. So your car was the 334292 W123 body to be built. To figure out Vin numbers, it gets a bit confusing. Prior to 1981 MB cars were numbered starting with the actual chassis number. In your case that would be 123. The next 3 numbers would be what version of the 123 chassis. For a wagon it would 193, a 300D sedan would be 133 (I think). For model year 1981 to present. the Vin numbers changed all together. They started with WDB which meant built in Germany by Daimler-Benz. Look at a new MB and it should say WDC (Daimler-Chrysler) The numbering also changed. The actual chassis number isn't listed by it's actual chassis number. My 2 TD's chassis numbers are W123.193 and W124.193, but this is not listed in the vin number since they were built after 1981. I hope this sheds some light on your question.

sixto · #3 11-01-2003, 05:07 PM

In most models the last 6 digits of the chassis number are not the same as the last 6 digits of the US VIN. A 123.123 is a 240D which should have a US VIN like WDBAB23A1C... where AB23 is the US VIN designation for a 123.123. My guess is the last 6 digits of the VIN in the windshield pillar or DMV papers is different from the last 6 digits of the chassis number on the radiator frame.

Sixto
95 S420
91 300SE
87 300SDL
83 300SD

rodsob · #4 11-01-2003, 08:23 PM

sorry to be thickheaded about this. can you explain further? so, given the info about my car...what chassis range do i belong to?

sixto · #5 11-01-2003, 08:34 PM

Frankly, I don't know. If the VIN and chassis numbers have the same last 6 digits, you've found your answer. If they're different and both on one side of the range, you've found your answer. It only matters if they're different and on opposite sides of the range. I'm sorry I can't be of more help. Phil, on the other hand, will clear it right up. Give him a call at 1-888-333-4642.

Sixto
95 S420
91 300SE
87 300SDL
83 300SD

Gilly · #6 11-01-2003, 08:45 PM

Rod

Here's how to interpret the parts ordering info.
First, the 6 digits they give are the serial number. When something has a serial number, it means it's a vehicle in serialized production. That means the first one "may" start, for example 000001, then the next one is 000002, then 000003, and so on (although it may not start with #000001, but at least the rest follow in order, so maybe it'll start 000500, the next one damn well better be 000501, get it?
The actual "serial" number is the last 6 digits. I know there is confusing info given about the pre-1980 chassis number vs the 1980 and newer 17 digit standardized "VIN" number, but don't worry about it, no matter which way it's expressed, the last 6 are the "serial" number. MB has several types of numbers used to identify the car, for example even a new MB will have the 17 digit VIN (as of 1980), but in the plant they will refer to a different type of number which helps the factory more easily identify what type of car it is, and will be used for many references in the vehicles life, but for streamlining things, at least here in the US, the car is also identified by the 17 digit "VIN" number.
The 123.123 is a MODEL DESIGNATION, these were used in the vehicle ID number prior to 1980, but MODEL DESIGNATIONS are still used today, as I previously mentioned. The numbers Sixto mentioned are VIN identifiers for the system MB uses in the plant (the MODEL DESIGNATION).

To get to the "meat" of your question:

When you see the part number with a dash mark BEFORE the number, it means "this part number good UP TO "XXXXXX" number, so in the case you give "-150314" would mean "up to 150314". If you see a dash mark AFTER the number it means "this part number good after "XXXXXX". Usually the two numbers will be in sequence, for example one number will have the footnote "-123456", and the next one will be "123457-", so the first number will fit up to 123456, and the second one will fit from 123457 onwards, to the end of production, unless there is another footnote.
On the exact example you gave (assuming it isn't a typo): "-150314 is from 000001 to 150314.
then if the next part number really says "-150513", I'd assume it fits from 150315 up to 150513, but that's a pretty small range, I assume it was a typo on that post, plus then there would need to be a 3rd part number from 150514 onwards.

Hope this helps

Gilly