Need to Understand W numbers

[toots]

Hi, just got a 2002 CLK 320 this week and as it is the first Mercedes I have owned I am still trying to work out all the functions etc. I only joined this forum this week and find it full of amazing down to earth and bizarre and obscure facts!
However to try and resolve a few of my initial queries regarding telephone cradle / type of Nokia phone which I can use with the pre wired kit, can the electric mirrors be configured to fold in automatically when the car is locked etc. I need to understand how the Mercedes W numbers relate the different derivatives of vehicle.
Can anybody advise me of the W No. for this car.

 

[PJH]

Welcome to the forum.
W numbers is a frequently asked question, these sites should help.
http://mercedes.pp.ru/mgeng.shtml
more here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Mercedes-Benz_vehicles

 

[DC_insider]

Hi, just got a 2002 CLK 320 this week and as it is the first Mercedes I have owned I am still trying to work out all the functions etc. I only joined this forum this week and find it full of amazing down to earth and bizarre and obscure facts!
However to try and resolve a few of my initial queries regarding telephone cradle / type of Nokia phone which I can use with the pre wired kit, can the electric mirrors be configured to fold in automatically when the car is locked etc. I need to understand how the Mercedes W numbers relate the different derivatives of vehicle.
Can anybody advise me of the W No. for this car.

CLKs don't have a 'W' number - they are either 'C' for coupes or 'A' for cabriolets.

The old model was C/A208. The new model is C/A209.


List of current and recent models:

C169 A-Class 3 door
W169 A-Class 5 door
T245 B-Class
W203 C-Class Saloon
S203 C-Class Estate
CL203 C-Class Sport Coupe
C209 CLK Coupe
A209 CLK Cabriolet
R171 SLK
W211 E-Class Saloon
S211 E-Class Estate
C219 CLS
W220 old S-Class
V220 old S-Class LWB
W221 new S-Class
V221 new S-Class LWB
C215 CL
R230 SL
W240 Maybach 57
V240 Maybach 62
C199 SLR
W163 old M-Class
W164 new M-Class
X164 new GL-Class
W251 new R-Class SWB
V251 new R-Class LWB

 

[stats007]

They do have a W number - all Mercedes have a W number - it's their primary code. Secondary codes are for body types - so a W208 could be a C208 or an A208. Things may change as DC are reworking all sorts of identification numbers - most annoyingly parts.

 

[DC_insider]

Trust me, I work for DaimlerChrysler and use these codes on a daily basis they never, ever, refer to CLKs as W208 or W209.

The primary identifier for a Mercedes-Benz is the series number. In this case Series 208 (which is how each series is officially identified). The different variants, Coupe and Cabriolet, are distinguised by their respective baureihe numbers, C208 and A208.

http://mbclub.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=22679

In this thread there is a cut-and-paste of a dealer bulletin I obtained for another poster to identify the specification of the Final Edition Series 208 CLK Cabriolet. The model is, as always, identified by the correct model number - in this case A208.

It is a complete misconception that all models have a W number.

By your logic if all Mercedes-Benz models have a W number then both the current M-Class and the recently unveiled GL-Class would be model number W164 when they are actually W164 and X164 respectively.

The misconception comes from 2 main reasons:

1. Mercedes-Benz traditionally only made saloon cars and saloons are given W numbers. Thus, historically, all Mercedes-Benz would have had W numbers. However, these days MB offer several variants of a series and each version is given a unique reference. For example the current Series 203 C-Class has 3 variants. W203 Saloon, S203 Estate and CL203 Sport Coupe.

2. The first letter of the VIN number is a W. In fact this W is the first digit of the 3 digit World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI). The WMI identifies the manufacturer of a vehicle and the country in which the manufacturer is based. W is traditionally used by all German based manufacturers. MB, BMW, Audi, VW & Porsche all have WMI codes that start with W and therefore all of their VIN numbers begin with a W.


Edit: Spelling

 

[MangoMan]

So you could say my 300ce is a CL124 as it's not a 'saloon'?

 

[DC_insider]

So you could say my 300ce is a CL124 as it's not a 'saloon'?

124s are before my time but I imagine that it would be C124 rather than CL124. The only 'CL' I know of is the CL203 C-Class Sport Coupe and I have no idea why they decided to use CL203 rather than the more logical C203.

 

[stats007]

You may work for DC but even they admit in print that they have ambiguous use of chassis and body numbers - some TSBs refer to W numbers only - this includes the 208 (where applicable to both A/C chassis) though I haven't checked on the 209. A 124 has always been a W124 regardless of whether it is a coupe or not.

You can ring a variety of people either at Milton Keynes or individual dealers and they will all give you different answers - seasoned Mercedes owners tend to have far more knowledge - a W113 owner will never call their car an R113 even though it only came in a roadster shape (ignoring Pinin Farinas Coupe version) - whereas W107s refer to both the W107 SLC and the R107 SL.

As mentioned - DC are phasing out a lot of the older MB terminology and identification systems - but if you were there at the time you tend to want to keep the original system.

 

[kensalriser]

'W' stand for 'werk' in German or 'work' in English and the 'werk' is the series number which might encompass one, two or more derivative body styles. For instance, the W123 was made as a saloon, a coupe and an estate.

I'm sure there is terminology that is custom and practice within the company, as with all companies and industries, but nonetheless the W is always on the VIN and that's what it means.

 

[Swiss Toni]

'W' stand for 'werk' in German or 'work' in English and the 'werk' is the series number which might encompass one, two or more derivative body styles. For instance, the W123 was made as a saloon, a coupe and an estate.

I'm sure there is terminology that is custom and practice within the company, as with all companies and industries, but nonetheless the W is always on the VIN and that's what it means.

Sorry, but the first W on the VIN IS the country identifier...

 

[Ian B Walker]

Sorry, but the first W on the VIN IS the country identifier...

I dont think it is IIRC. I think its the 8th character in the number that identifies the country of origin. It is a letter not a number.

 

[stats007]

On a 17-digit VIN the first character (can be a number or letter) is country of origin - W is Germany - D is then Mercedes for the second character (Manufacturer).

More details here.

 

[Howard]

That site should go in the Favourites .... cheers Stats

 

[Ian B Walker]

My apologies for giving wrong information.

 

[IanA2]

'W' stand for 'werk' in German or 'work' in English and the 'werk' is the series number which might encompass one, two or more derivative body styles. For instance, the W123 was made as a saloon, a coupe and an estate.

I'm sure there is terminology that is custom and practice within the company, as with all companies and industries, but nonetheless the W is always on the VIN and that's what it means.

My German is not sahr gutte, but iirc arbeit is werk

 

[stats007]

My apologies for giving wrong information.

You might be right for older VINs or those not conforming to the ISO standard.

The W stands for Wagengestell - i.e chassis.

 

[Ian B Walker]

My German is not sahr gutte, but iirc arbeit is werk

Arbeit is work as in going to work. Werk is a place where Arbeit is carried out.

 

[Fandango]

I think there may be some confusion as there are 2 W's.
The W in e.g. W210 indeed stands for Wagengestell (chassis),
the W in e.g. WDB210225xxxxxxxx is the country code meaning the car is made in Germany.

Regards
Karl

 

[IanA2]

Arbeit is work as in going to work. Werk is a place where Arbeit is carried out.

Told you my German was no good.....

 

[DC_insider]

You may work for DC but even they admit in print that they have ambiguous use of chassis and body numbers - some TSBs refer to W numbers only - this includes the 208 (where applicable to both A/C chassis) though I haven't checked on the 209. A 124 has always been a W124 regardless of whether it is a coupe or not.

I have never seen a TSB use an incorrect model number but people make mistakes - perhaps you could give us an example?

You can ring a variety of people either at Milton Keynes or individual dealers and they will all give you different answers

Perhaps some of them know what they are taking about and some don't. I work with those who need to know the correct numbers.

seasoned Mercedes owners tend to have far more knowledge

I think 'misconception' would be more appropriate than 'knowledge'.

W113 owner will never call their car an R113 even though it only came in a roadster shape (ignoring Pinin Farinas Coupe version) - whereas W107s refer to both the W107 SLC and the R107 SL.

Just because people don't like the correct model numbers does not mean they are incorrect. If the correct code for a Series 113 roadster is R113 then it is a R113. To call it a W113 would be like calling a Ford Mondeo a Ford Cortina just because that is the old convention.

the W in e.g. WDB210225xxxxxxxx is the country code meaning the car is made in Germany.

Not exactly, the W represents the country in which the manfacturer is based. It does not represent the country in which the car is manufactured. A ML manufactured in Tuscaloosa, USA should still have a VIN starting with W as it is a product of DaimlerChrysler AG based in Germany.