Free 1989 Mercedes-Benz 420 VIN Decoder

How to decode a 1989 Mercedes-Benz 420 VIN

Characters 1-3 of a 1989 Mercedes-Benz 420 VIN

A World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) is a unique three-letter code allocated to each vehicle manufacturer globally to identify their vehicles’ make and country of origin. For the 1989 Mercedes-Benz 420, the WMI “WDB” signifies that the vehicle was manufactured by Mercedes-Benz Cars in Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. This identifier is the initial segment of the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), which provides detailed information about the vehicle, including its model year, production number, and specific attributes. The WMI is crucial for vehicle registration, identification, and recall purposes, encapsulating the essence of the vehicle’s heritage and manufacturing specifics. For Mercedes-Benz enthusiasts, the WMI not only confirms the vehicle’s authenticity but also its prestigious German engineering origin.

List of WMI Codes for a 1989 Mercedes-Benz 420

WMI: WDB

• Model Years Covered: 1986-1991
• Example VIN: WDBCA35D2KA426453
• 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 1989 Mercedes-Benz 420 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 1989 Mercedes-Benz 420:

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 1989 Mercedes-Benz 420 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 1989 Mercedes-Benz 420 VIN — Year Code

11th Character in the 1989 Mercedes-Benz 420 VIN — Plant Code(s)

Known 1989 Mercedes-Benz 420 Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)

VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 1989 Mercedes-Benz 420

The final 6 characters in a 1989 Mercedes-Benz 420’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.

What info can a 1989 Mercedes-Benz 420 VIN reveal?

• Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicles model year being the year 1989, providing insights into the age and potential market value of the vehicle.
• Manufacturing Location: The VIN can indicate where a car was manufactured, pointing to cities like Sindelfingen in Germany, which may provide some indication of the vehicle’s origin and production history.
• Vehicle Specifications: The VIN provides specific information about the car, including that it’s a 420SEL model sedan/saloon with a manual seat belt type, offering detailed insights into the vehicle’s model and features.
• Safety Features: From the VIN, one can deduce safety features such as front and knee airbag locations for the driver seat and the type of restraint systems, including emergency tensioning retractors, potentially offering insights into the vehicle’s safety equipment.
• Body Class and Doors: It is possible to learn about the body class, such as sedan/saloon, and the number of doors, which in this example is 4, through the VIN, providing detailed information about the vehicle’s design and structure.
• Seat Belt Type: The kind of seat belts equipped in a vehicle, such as manual, can be identified through the VIN, offering insights into the vehicle’s safety features.
• Series and Model Details: Information about the car’s series—420SEL in this instance—along with the model name, offers an in-depth look into the vehicle’s classification and specific version.

Sample VIN Decode Report for a 1989 Mercedes-Benz 420

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