Free 1987 Mercedes-Benz 260 VIN Decoder

How to decode a 1987 Mercedes-Benz 260 VIN

Characters 1-3 of a 1987 Mercedes-Benz 260 VIN

The World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) is a unique code that forms the first three characters of a vehicle’s Identification Number (VIN), serving to identify the manufacturer, vehicle type, and country of origin. For example, in the case of Mercedes-Benz cars manufactured in Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg, Germany, during the years 1987 to 1989, the WMI is “WDB”. This code specifically points to Mercedes-Benz passenger cars, illustrating not just the brand, but also providing insight into the vehicle’s origin and category. The WMI is a critical component of the VIN, offering a standardized method to streamline vehicle identification worldwide. This helps in ensuring each vehicle is uniquely and precisely identifiable, facilitating recalls, registration, and ownership tracking.

List of WMI Codes for a 1987 Mercedes-Benz 260

WMI: WDB

• Model Years Covered: 1987-1989
• Example VIN: WDBEA26D0HA533690
• 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 1987 Mercedes-Benz 260 VIN

These characters correspond to components like:

• Engine type
• Transmission
• Model or trim
• Body style
• Gross vehicle weight range

Below find the known vehicle descriptor codes for a 1987 Mercedes-Benz 260:

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 1987 Mercedes-Benz 260 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 1987 Mercedes-Benz 260 VIN — Year Code

11th Character in the 1987 Mercedes-Benz 260 VIN — Plant Code(s)

Known 1987 Mercedes-Benz 260 Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)

VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 1987 Mercedes-Benz 260

The final 6 characters in a 1987 Mercedes-Benz 260’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.

What info can a 1987 Mercedes-Benz 260 VIN reveal?

• Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicle’s model year, indicating the year 1987, providing insights into the age and potential market value of the vehicle.
• Plant Country: The VIN may pinpoint the country where the vehicle was manufactured, with this instance suggesting Germany as the manufacturing country.
• Body Class: The VIN can provide information about the body class, showing that this vehicle is a Sedan/Saloon, offering insights into the vehicle’s design and structure.
• Engine Specifications: Details such as the engine’s displacement in liters (2.6L), cubic centimeters (2600.0 CC), and cubic inches (158.66 CI), along with the engine brake horsepower (158 hp), can be specified, providing valuable information about the vehicle’s performance capabilities.
• Air Bag Locations: The VIN can provide insight into safety features, indicating front and knee airbag locations for the driver seat only, offering potential insights into the vehicle’s safety features.
• Seat Belt Type: It clarifies the type of seat belts used in the vehicle, revealing that for this model, manual seat belts are used, indicating potential safety features of the vehicle.
• Vehicle Type: Through the VIN, one can identify the type of vehicle, which in this case is categorized as a Passenger Car, offering insights into the vehicle’s intended use.

Sample VIN Decode Report for a 1987 Mercedes-Benz 260