- What you'll get from Mercedes-Benz 600 VIN check?
- Mercedes-Benz 600 Vehicle History Risk Factors
- Characters 1-3 of a Mercedes-Benz 600 VIN
- List of WMI Codes for a Mercedes-Benz 600
- Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a Mercedes-Benz 600 VIN
- Character 9 is the "check digit" in a Mercedes-Benz 600 VIN.
- 10th Character in the Mercedes-Benz 600 VIN — Year Code
- 11th Character in the Mercedes-Benz 600 VIN — Plant Code(s)
- Known Mercedes-Benz 600 Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)
- VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a Mercedes-Benz 600
- How to find a Mercedes-Benz 600's VIN?
- Sample VIN Decode Report for a Mercedes-Benz 600
What you’ll get from Mercedes-Benz 600 VIN check?
- Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicles model year being the year 1992, providing insights into the age and potential historical value of the vehicle.
- Engine Specifications: The VIN includes comprehensive engine details, such as a V-shaped engine configuration with 12 cylinders, manufactured by Mercedes-Benz, exhibiting a displacement of 6000 CC or 6 L, capable of producing 402 horsepower.
- Fuel Type: The vehicle is designed to run on gasoline, indicating its fuel system preferences and potentially its fuel efficiency characteristics.
- Safety Features: The VIN indicates the presence of essential safety features like front and knee airbags for the 1st row (Driver and Passenger), alongside detailed restraint system information, which includes 3-point belts and supplemental airbags.
- Body Class and Doors: The VIN reveals the vehicle as a Sedan/Saloon with a total of 4 doors, providing insights into the vehicle’s design and structural layout.
- Manufacturing Information: Mention of the plant’s location in Sindelfingen, Germany, without a specific company name but tied to the state of Baden-Württemberg, sheds light on the geographical origin of the vehicle’s assembly.
- Vehicle Type and Series: The VIN classifies the vehicle as a Passenger Car under the 600SEL series, providing a clue on both the model designation and its positioning within the manufacturer’s lineup.
Mercedes-Benz 600 Vehicle History Risk Factors
Mercedes-Benz vehicles are sophisticated and expensive to maintain, and the used market includes a wide range of cars from meticulous single-owner buyers to high-mileage examples that have been through multiple owners and deferred maintenance. A Bumper history check on a used Mercedes addresses several high-frequency concerns.
Balance shaft and timing chain failures on M272/M273 V6 and V8 engines (2005–2011 C, E, S, ML, GL Class). Mercedes’ M272 V6 and M273 V8 engines had a documented balance shaft gear wear issue that, if left unaddressed, could cause catastrophic engine failure. Repair costs can exceed $5,000. Service records showing balance shaft replacement or inspection are critical on any Mercedes from this engine generation.
Air suspension failures on E, S, and GL Class. Mercedes’ AIRMATIC air suspension — standard on S-Class and optional on several other models — is expensive to repair when components fail ($1,500–$3,000 per corner). A sagging ride height in photos or listing descriptions is a warning sign that air suspension work is pending.
Transmission conductor plate issues on 7G-Tronic (722.9). Mercedes’ seven-speed automatic had a documented conductor plate failure mode that causes erratic shifting and transmission fault codes. Replacement conductor plates are a known maintenance item on high-mileage examples.
Salvage and rebuilt title AMG and S-Class vehicles. High-value Mercedes models — particularly AMG variants and S-Class sedans — are disproportionately represented in salvage title databases due to their high replacement values. Verify title history carefully on any Mercedes priced significantly below market value.
A Bumper VIN check shows accident history, title brands, flood damage, and odometer records for this specific vehicle.
How to decode a Mercedes-Benz 600 VIN
Characters 1-3 of a Mercedes-Benz 600 VIN
A World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) is the first three characters of a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), uniquely identifying the manufacturer of the vehicle. For Mercedes-Benz 600 series vehicles produced in the early 1990s, the WMI is WDB, indicating that these luxurious passenger cars were manufactured by Mercedes-Benz Cars. This particular series of vehicles was assembled in Stuttgart, located in the Baden-Württemberg region of Germany, known for its quality engineering and automotive excellence. These initial characters provide crucial information about the vehicle’s origins, showcasing a blend of sophisticated German engineering and high-end luxury. The WMI is an essential tool in automotive identification, providing insights into the vehicle’s manufacture location and the company behind its creation.
List of WMI Codes for a Mercedes-Benz 600
WMI: WDB
- Model Years Covered: 1992-1993
- Example VIN: WDBGA57E1NA071038
- Manufacturer Name: Mercedes-Benz Cars
- Vehicle Type: Passenger Car
- City: Stuttgart
- State or Province: Baden-Württemberg
- Country: Germany
Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a Mercedes-Benz 600 VIN
These characters correspond to components like:
- Engine type
- Transmission
- Model or trim
- Body style
- Gross vehicle weight range
Mercedes-Benz uses a structured VDS encoding system that reflects its vehicle class hierarchy — C-Class, E-Class, S-Class, GLE, GLC, and others each have distinct VDS patterns that encode body style, engine variant, and trim configuration. The engine character within the VDS is particularly meaningful on Mercedes vehicles, where the same model nameplate can house dramatically different powertrains — a C300 may have a 2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder while a C43 AMG has a biturbo V6 — with correspondingly different maintenance costs and reliability profiles. For AMG models, the VDS encodes performance variant designation separately from the base model, making it possible to confirm authenticity before a pre-purchase inspection.
Auto manufacturers have some discretion to decide how they want to code this section, but its contents and decoded results are generally consistent.
Character 9 is the “check digit” in a Mercedes-Benz 600 VIN.
Based on a formula developed by the US Department of Transportation, it helps reduce fraud by ensuring the validity of the VIN.
10th Character in the Mercedes-Benz 600 VIN — Year Code
| Year Code | Year |
|---|---|
| P | 1993 Mercedes-Benz 600 |
| N | 1992 Mercedes-Benz 600 |
11th Character in the Mercedes-Benz 600 VIN — Plant Code(s)
Known Mercedes-Benz 600 Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)
| Plant Code | Plant City | Plant State | Plant Country | Plant Company Name | Example VIN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Sindelfingen | Baden-Württemberg | Germany | WDBGA57E1NA071038 | |
| F | Bremen | Bremen | Germany | WDBFA76E0PF073331 |
VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a Mercedes-Benz 600
The final 6 characters in a Mercedes-Benz 600’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.
Want to unlock even more detailed info about your vehicle?
How to find a Mercedes-Benz 600’s VIN?
Locating the VIN number on your Mercedes-Benz 600 is key for identification. Here’s how to find it:
- Look at the dashboard on the driver’s side of your Mercedes-Benz 600. You can usually see the VIN through the windshield on a small plate.
- Examine the driver’s side door jamb on your Mercedes-Benz 600. The VIN might be located on a sticker or a label where the door closes.
- Review the vehicle’s insurance policy or registration documents for your Mercedes-Benz 600, as these papers always contain the VIN.
- Inspect under the hood of your Mercedes-Benz 600, as VIN numbers can sometimes be found on the engine block or on the chassis near the firewall.
Don’t have your Mercedes-Benz 600’s VIN handy? Try our license plate lookup instead!
Sample VIN Decode Report for a Mercedes-Benz 600
| Vehicle Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Body Class | Sedan/Saloon |
| Displacement (CC) | 6000 |
| Displacement (CI) | 366.1424645683 |
| Displacement (L) | 6 |
| Doors | 4 |
| Engine Brake (hp) From | 402 |
| Engine Configuration | V-Shaped |
| Engine Manufacturer | Mercedes-Benz |
| Engine Number of Cylinders | 12 |
| Front Air Bag Locations | 1st Row (Driver and Passenger) |
| Fuel Type - Primary | Gasoline |
| Knee Air Bag Locations | 1st Row (Driver and Passenger) |
| Model | 600 |
| Model Year | 1992 |
| Other Restraint System Info | Driver’s and front passenger side 3-point belt w/ETR plus supplement airbag and knee bolster at the driver’s seating position; rear , 3 -point belt outer seating position lap belt seating position. |
| Plant City | Sindelfingen |
| Plant Company Name | |
| Plant Country | Germany |
| Plant State | Baden-Württemberg |
| Seat Belt Type | Manual |
| Series | 600SEL |
| Side Air Bag Locations | Passenger Seat Only |
| Vehicle Descriptor | WDBGA57E*NA |
| Vehicle Type | Passenger Car |
| Sample VIN | WDBGA57E1NA071038 |
Specs tell you what it was built with. A VIN check tells you what's happened since.
Check any Mercedes-Benz %!s(int=600) for accident history, flood damage, salvage title, and odometer fraud.
Run a free VIN check →Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the VIN on a Mercedes-Benz 600?
On most Mercedes-Benz vehicles, the VIN is located on the driver’s side dashboard, visible through the windshield from outside the car. It’s also on a sticker inside the driver’s side door jamb, and on your insurance card, title, and registration documents.
How do I check a Mercedes-Benz 600's history for free?
Enter the Mercedes-Benz 600’s 17-digit VIN into Bumper’s free VIN check at bumper.com. The free check shows factory specs and open NHTSA recalls. For the full history including accident records, title brands, theft status, and ownership history, run a full Bumper report.
What do Mercedes-Benz 600 VIN numbers start with?
Mercedes-Benz 600 VIN's start with WDB for vehicles manufactured by Mercedes-Benz Cars in Germany. The first three characters of any VIN identify the manufacturer. The full WMI table on this page lists all known codes for the Mercedes-Benz 600.
Decode a Mercedes-Benz VIN
Look up a Mercedes-Benz 600 by license plate:
Compare this vehicle to another
Ready, Set, Bumper...
Try Bumper today and learn more about a vehicle you plan to buy or already own.
TRY Bumper Today