Actually the K with SLK and CLK is not for Kompressor nor Kabriolet, but "Kompact"(any one speaks German here??).

As for all the designations, the name change happens in late 1993, which have C, E, S...etc in the front of the numbers(displacement of the engine), rather than have letters after numbers.

Here is the general definition for designations...

C - C-Class(1993+)
E - E-Class(1993+)
S - S-Class(1993+)
TE - E-Class Wagon with Gasoline engine(pre-1993 only)
TD - E-Class Wagon with Desiel(pre-1993 only)
CE - E-Class Coupe and Convertable(pre-1993)

There are even sub-designation which usually doesn't show on brochures, but with the invoice and/or stickers(those stick on the windows when the new car is in show room).

One example would be S320 and S320L. Notice the "L" at the end of S320, which it's all shown as S320 in brochures, but S320 is a SWB(Short-Wheel-Base), and S320L is a LWB(Long-Wheel-Base).

Another example would be ML320...though all shown as ML320 in brochures, looking at invoice(or sticker), a ML320 can be either ML320, or ML320E(with Elegance package)...

Hope it clears up some questions...

Andy Kuo

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1992 Mercedes-Benz 400SE
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2002 Acura TL Type S
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