It can't be a Merc as they start WDB (German made cars) or WDC (US made cars) followed by the model number ie WDC 164 122 for the new ML 320 CDI then 2 or 1 for rhd or lhd respectively then the serial number for the car Axxxxxx
It can't be a Merc as they start WDB (German made cars) or WDC (US made cars) followed by the model number ie WDC 164 122 for the new ML 320 CDI then 2 or 1 for rhd or lhd respectively then the serial number for the car Axxxxxx
Mmmmh, ... I'm not sure BFGMercMan if what you are saying is right. Mine in a Merc ML 430 MY2000 and it's VIN starts with 4JGAB7.....
Strange, why would a muanufacturer have two VIN systems, as the code is based on a 17 digit international standard?? I don't doubt what you say but it seems strange.
If your car is a W164, how does the code break down? The code I published previously applies to all the Mercs I have had, eg my SLK was WDB 171 144 (1.8 Kompressor engine) 2 (rhd) then Axxxxxx (serial no).
This is the thing. The VIN is correct although I agree that this is rather strange. All my previous Merc's had VIN starting with WDB or WDC as you said. Is seems to me that they had to change this. But why?
4JG - US Mercedes code [WDB/WDC]
BB86E - Identifies the car [164.186]
4 - Check digit required for cars on sale in the US [part of above]
6 - Year code (1976 or 2006) [either 1or 2 for LHD/RHD]
A021503 - Serial number [the same]
The text in the square brackets is how the European VIN would list a car so you can see the differences.
I know from another internet source that yours is a new ML 350 petrol so the European VIN would be:
WDC1641861A021503 and is in the process of breing shipped to Europe from NY am I right, or am I right??? Isn't the net great!
Last edited by BFGMercMan : 08-08-2006 at 03:27 AM.
Reason: More Info
Yes, it is a good number for a ML made in the US. You can check the inventory of many Mercedes dealers in the States and find nearly identical numbers.
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