Always the way...no sooner had I clicked post and I remembered where it was. OK gang.....ready for the secret? Shhh.........don't let it get around, you know those Germans!
Remember a US vehicle has 17 digits. European built sometimes have 16 and you need to know where to put in a null "0" to make it equal the 17.
Digit 1,2,3 = Manufacturer
Digit 4 = Model
Digit 5 = Engine type A=Gas E?=Diesel
Digit 6,7 = Submodel
Digit 8 = Protection equipment E= belts
Digit 9 = Sum check value (internal to MB)
Digit 10 = Model year S=1995 T=1996 U=1997, etc
Digit 11 = Plant where manufactured F-H = Bremen
Digit 12-17 = 6 digit sequence/serial#
-My 95 sl 500 is:
WDBFA67E3SF1253xx
Using my super decoding ring...this describes
WDB = Mercedes
F =129
A =Gasoline
67 =SL500, nominal 322 HP,(may include option specs)
E = Seat belts and front air bag
3 = internal to Mercedes (this may be where the null goes on European VIN
S = 1995
F = Bremen
1253xx = Serial Number
I would be curious if the serial number rolled back to 100001 each year