Mercedes Benz Part Numbering System

Digging through my collection of stuff that probably needs to go, I came across my MB training stuff for parts advisers. Given that part numbers get chucked around a bit, perhaps some history and some logic to the system. I invite any additional information such as the complete break out of Main and Sub Group charts as I seem to have lost mine.

It is important to also know that MB has through the years overhauled their number system and this data refers to parts as you would look them up and reference them now. Some older numbers that have been out of production for a long time may still be referenced by their older numbers and have never been updated.

The MB part number system is based around the design group concept. The core of the design group concept is the ability to work in either direction if you have a part number or a chassis number. This system allows you to identify the component you need based on what function it serves in the vehicle or differentiate between a group of seemingly identical parts based on application. It also allows rapid acquisition of the correct plate in the parts film as the parts film is follow the same numbering and organization scheme.

The number is a 10 digit sequence consisting of the Main Group & Sub Group, Part Number, Type Number and Modification Number.

The Main Group numbers denote which major component of the vehicle the part belongs to:

01-23 -Engine
24-58 -Chassis
60-97 -Body
98-99 -Hardware or part common to all groups

The Sub Group numbers denote which major assembly of the Main Group the parts belong to.

The Part Number identifies the part specifically when used with the Main and Sub Group Numbers. Each chassis type has a master sequential part listing, this number refers to its position on this list.

The Type Number references the chassis type for which the part was originally designed or used. It is very common to see older type numbers carried forward onto newer chassis

The Modification Number refers to any variation within the part such as a left or right hand application or the number of times the component has be updated.

A sample number would be 104(Type) 180(Main & Sub) 01(Modification) 09(Part Number)

18 refers to the engine lubrication main group, 0 refers to the assemblies sub group

09 identifies it as an oil filter

104 identifies it as originating on the W104 chassis type (W refers to wagen or vehicle)

01 refers to is modification status which in this case would denote it is an updated filter type

Part prefix numbers typically indicate that the item is special production or procurement. The most common prefixes encountered are A & WA. A refers to a part being a standard normal Mercedes part where as WA references parts either supplied by or supplied to AMG for use in AMG prepared vehicles. Other prefixes are used to denote parts designed for controlled purchase such as by authorized Mercedes Benz Motorsports purchasers or as an alternatively source item that may or may not become permanent.

Part suffix numbers are used to denote either the disposition of a component or it's trim code for items that are trim/body related.

-70 indicates the item has core credit associated to it
-80/-88 indicates the item is re-manufactured/refurbished
-8J77 indicates a trim or option package code. these numbers are almost always 4 digits.

000/900 Type numbers are components that have not been designed for a specific model and may see broad use across a few or all models. The 900 series are components that have been assigned a Mercedes Benz Part Number by Mercedes Benz USA and refer to almost exclusively to components sourced by MB USA as opposed to MB Worldwide.

Repair kits from Mercedes Benz are identified typically by group number 586 for older vehicles with newer vehicles using their standard group number.

Mercedes Benz Special Tools use a 12 digit part numbering system consisting of the Type Number, Group 589, Consecutive Number, Special Tool Type and Completeness Number. The Special Tool Type would refer to the tool being an extractor etc. The Consecutive Number refers to total number of kits thus issued or a series component of any said kit. The Completeness Number would refer to the kit either being a complete kit -00 or a component of a kit -05. Examples of this are such things as the master security lug kit or the specific lug keys within.

Mercedes Benz Hardware also use a 12 digit numbering system to designate either a DIN or NORM component, broken into two groups of 6 digits.

For DIN hardware the first digit, 0, identifies the component as a piece of DIN specific hardware. The second through sixth digits refer to the specific DIN classification. Seventh through ninth digits call out the basic dimensions and tenth through twelfth call out specific information such as length or coatings etc. An example number would look like 000933-005007 which is refers to DIN standard 933 (M1.9-M52 hex head full thread bolts) and a basic dimension of 5mm. For NORM hardware the first digit is 9. The NORM classification indicated that the hardware has been manufactured specifically to meet industry specific standards that may be greater or more restrictive than basic DIN hardware