Mercedes-Benz tools & data

By CarWhere Research · Updated

CarWhere’s Mercedes-Benz hub collects free tools for owners, shoppers and clubs: specs for 238 US-market trims by chassis code, 59 chassis codes explained, 24 engine codes, 80 known issues and recalls by generation, a VIN decoder, paint and option codes, and a printable car show window card. Each data page lists its sources.

Mercedes-Benz owners talk in codes. A W205 is the 2015–2021 C-Class sedan, an M276 is the V6 in many 2012-on models, and every car leaves the factory with a data card of three-digit option codes that defines it. These pages explain how to read those codes, what each generation of 15 model lines offered, and what to check on a particular chassis before you buy one.

Decode a Mercedes-Benz

Start from the VIN, the data card or the codes on the car.

Mercedes-Benz data card by VINWhat the factory data card is, how to read its three-digit option codes, and how to get one decoded for a specific car.Free Mercedes-Benz VIN decoderYear, model, body, engine and plant from any 17-character Mercedes VIN.Mercedes-Benz option codesWhat the codes on a Mercedes data card and build sheet mean, by category.Mercedes-Benz paint codesFactory colors with their three-digit codes and swatches.Mercedes-Benz options by VINHow to see the factory options a specific Mercedes was built with.Mercedes-Benz window sticker by VINWhere to find the original Monroney label and what it shows.Mercedes-Benz build sheetThe factory build record for a Mercedes VIN, model by model.Mercedes chassis codes explainedNewW, C, A, S, X, V, H and R codes — 59 codes with model, body style and US years.Mercedes engine codesNewM272, M276, M274, M264, M256, M177, M139, OM642 and more: output, years, models and weak points.

Mercedes-Benz specs & comparisons

Reference tables compiled from Mercedes-Benz USA press material and other cited sources.

Mercedes-Benz specs by chassis codeNewHorsepower, torque, 0–60, weight and launch MSRP for 238 US-market trims.Mercedes-Benz C-Class specsNewW203, W204, W205 and W206 generations, trim by trim, AMG included.Mercedes-Benz E-Class specsNewW211, W212, W213 and W214 sedans, wagons, coupes and cabriolets.Mercedes-Benz GLE & M-Class specsNewW164 and W166 M-Class through the V167 GLE.Mercedes-Benz G-Class specsNewW463 and W463A G 550, G 63 and the electric G 580.Compare Mercedes-Benz trimsNewSide-by-side specs for any two Mercedes trims, any generation.

Buying a used Mercedes-Benz

What to check, which years drew complaints, and how values hold up.

Mercedes-Benz known issues by chassisNew80 documented problems and recalls — M272 balance shafts, Airmatic, 7G-Tronic conductor plates and more.Mercedes-Benz C 300 years to avoidC 300 model years ranked by NHTSA complaint and service-bulletin volume.Mercedes-Benz E350 years to avoidWhich E350 years drew the most owner complaints.Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 years to avoidGLC 300 reliability by model year.Mercedes-Benz GLE 350 years to avoidGLE 350 reliability by model year.Best Mercedes-Benz C 300 yearsThe strongest C 300 model years to buy used.How long do Mercedes-Benz cars last?Share of used Mercedes past 150,000 and 200,000 miles, by model.Mercedes-Benz C-Class depreciationMedian asking price by model year vs new.Mercedes-Benz GLE depreciationHow fast a GLE loses value, year by year.Mercedes-Benz S-Class depreciationUsed S-Class value by model year.Find a Mercedes-Benz for saleSearch live Mercedes-Benz listings from dealers nationwide.

For owners & clubs

Free tools for car shows, Cars & Coffee and club events.

Mercedes-Benz car show window cardFree toolMake a printable display card with your car’s year, chassis code, color, options and story.

Mercedes-Benz specs and known issues by model

Mercedes-Benz model lines with links to their spec tables, known issues and build sheets
ModelChassis codesKnown issuesBuild sheet
Mercedes-Benz C-Class specsW203, W204, W205, W206C-Class problemsMercedes C-Class build sheet
Mercedes-Benz E-Class specsW211, W212, W213, W214E-Class problemsMercedes E-Class build sheet
Mercedes-Benz S-Class specsW221, W222, W223S-Class problemsMercedes S-Class build sheet
Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class specsC117, C118CLA-Class problemsMercedes CLA build sheet
Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class specsX156, H247GLA-Class problems—
Mercedes-Benz GLB-Class specsX247GLB-Class problems—
Mercedes-Benz GLC specsX253, X254GLC problemsMercedes GLC build sheet
Mercedes-Benz GLE specsW164, W166, V167GLE problemsMercedes GLE build sheet
Mercedes-Benz GLS specsX164, X166, X167GLS problemsMercedes GLS build sheet
Mercedes-Benz G-Class specsW463, W463AG-Class problemsMercedes G-Class build sheet
Mercedes-AMG GT specsC190, X290, C192AMG GT problemsMercedes AMG GT build sheet
Mercedes-Benz SL specsR230, R231, R232SL problems—
Mercedes-Benz EQB specsX243EQB problems—
Mercedes-Benz EQE specsV295EQE problems—
Mercedes-Benz EQS specsV297EQS problems—

Know exactly how your Mercedes-Benz left the factory.

The Mercedes-Benz data card is the factory record of how a car was built — its option codes, paint and upholstery. CarWhere decodes it from the VIN: free availability check, $9.99 only if build data exists for that car.

Mercedes-Benz data card by VIN

Frequently asked questions

What is a Mercedes-Benz data card?

A data card is Mercedes-Benz’s factory record of how a specific car was built: the model designation, paint and upholstery codes and a list of three-digit option codes. It is tied to the VIN, so it can be decoded for a single car rather than the model in general.

Can I decode a Mercedes-Benz VIN for free?

Yes. The free CarWhere Mercedes-Benz VIN decoder returns the model year, model, body style, engine and assembly plant from the public NHTSA VIN database. Factory options and paint are not encoded in the VIN itself; they are on the data card.

What is my Mercedes-Benz chassis code?

The chassis code is Mercedes-Benz’s internal name for a generation and body, such as W204, W205 or W206 for the C-Class sedan. The letter shows the body type — W for sedan, C for coupe, A for cabriolet, S for wagon, X or V for many SUVs — and the CarWhere chassis code table lists every code with its years.

Which Mercedes-Benz engines have the most known problems?

Well-documented examples include balance shaft and idler sprocket wear on early M272 V6 and M273 V8 engines, camshaft adjuster and timing chain issues on early M276 V6s, oil cooler seal leaks on the OM642 diesel, and Airmatic air suspension wear on older SUVs and sedans. Each is listed by chassis and engine with sources.

What is a Mercedes-Benz car show window card?

A window card is a printed display sheet placed on the dash or windshield at car shows. It tells spectators the car’s year, model, chassis code, color, notable options and history. The free CarWhere window card maker builds one from your details and prints it on a standard page.

Sources

Each linked page lists its own detailed sources. The hub's figures come from these datasets and references.

  1. CarWhere Mercedes-Benz specs dataset (238 trims, per-generation sources) — CarWhere
  2. CarWhere Mercedes-Benz known-issues dataset (80 issues) — CarWhere
  3. Mercedes-Benz USA media newsroom — Mercedes-Benz USA
  4. NHTSA recalls and vPIC VIN decoding — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Independent reference published by CarWhere — not affiliated with or endorsed by Mercedes-Benz Group AG or Mercedes-Benz USA. Mercedes-Benz, AMG, Maybach and the model names are trademarks of their owner.