Free 1988 Mercedes-Benz 260 VIN Decoder

How to decode a 1988 Mercedes-Benz 260 VIN

Characters 1-3 of a 1988 Mercedes-Benz 260 VIN

A World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) is the initial string of characters in a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), signaling the vehicle’s manufacturer, the type of vehicle it is, and the country of manufacture. For a 1988 Mercedes-Benz 260, the WMI is “WDB,” which indicates it was produced by Mercedes-Benz Cars, specifically in Stuttgart, within the Baden-Württemberg state of Germany. This segment of the VIN is pivotal for accurately identifying the make and origin of a vehicle, crucial for registration, insurance, and historical research purposes. As applied to the 1988 Mercedes-Benz 260, the WMI confirms its lineage as a passenger car crafted with the renowned precision and engineering expertise synonymous with its German heritage.

List of WMI Codes for a 1988 Mercedes-Benz 260

WMI: WDB

• Model Years Covered: 1987-1989
• Example VIN: WDBEA26DXJA683697
• 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 1988 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 1988 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 1988 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 1988 Mercedes-Benz 260 VIN — Year Code

11th Character in the 1988 Mercedes-Benz 260 VIN — Plant Code(s)

Known 1988 Mercedes-Benz 260 Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)

VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 1988 Mercedes-Benz 260

The final 6 characters in a 1988 Mercedes-Benz 260’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.

Check your Mercedes-Benz 260’s VIN below:

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What info can a 1988 Mercedes-Benz 260 VIN reveal?

• Model Year: The VIN can disclose the model year of a vehicle, as seen with a 1988 model, providing insights into the age and potential market value of the vehicle.
• Manufacturing Location: The VIN may indicate where a vehicle was manufactured, such as in Sindelfingen, Baden-Württemberg, Germany, providing possible insights into the vehicle’s origin and manufacturing process.
• Vehicle Specifications: Specifics about the vehicle, including that it is a Sedan/Saloon with a 2.6-liter engine displacement and a manual seat belt type, can be derived from the VIN, offering detailed insights into the vehicle’s design and specifications.
• Body Type and Size: From the VIN, you can identify the body class of the vehicle as a Sedan/Saloon, providing insights into both design and size, helping understand the vehicle’s structure and potential interior space.
• Safety Features: The VIN can provide details on safety features, highlighting that this model includes front and knee airbags located at the driver seat only, along with information about the restraint system, offering insights into the safety capabilities of the vehicle.
• Engine Specifications: The engine displacement details such as 2600.0 CC or 2.6 L can be obtained from the VIN, indicating the size and capacity of the vehicle’s engine, providing insights into its power and performance potential.
• Vehicle Type and Series: The VIN reveals the vehicle’s type as a Passenger Car and specifies the series as 260E, offering more granular identification beyond just the make and model, potentially offering more detailed information about the vehicle’s specific version or trim.

Sample VIN Decode Report for a 1988 Mercedes-Benz 260