How to determine your vehicle's Curb Weight, using the Gross Weight on the sticker
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 1,175
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From: NY
2010 C63 2019 GLA45
How to determine your vehicle's Curb Weight, using the Gross Weight on the sticker
I'm starting this as research into how to establish how one's car compares with other cars.
Every car has the weight sticker in the door jamb.
My opinion is that that sticker may take into consideration the options of the car. Or maybe not. First we should try to compare the GVWR on our cars, to see if the numbers differ.
If they do, this would actually determine what the car weighs with the individual options it has.
So the Gross weight GWVR, advertised in the door jamb sticker, includes all the fluids and I believe the maximum number of passengers at a regulated weight, as well as a regulated weight in the trunk.
I'm going to look at the regulation and subtract these standardized weights from the GVWR number, in order to try to get close to the Curb Weight number.
If I manage to get the same exact number advertised in magazines for Curb weight, then it means that I found Mercedes Formula for Curb Weight and all Mercedes Curb Weights can be calculated from the GVWR in the door jamb.
How heavy is the E55 AMG? all kinds of answers... But with the formula we will now know for sure.
What about the C63 W205 ? same deal.
Oh and I've tried last year to ask this question at the Private Lounge chat session. Um, I didn't really get an answer.
Every car has the weight sticker in the door jamb.
My opinion is that that sticker may take into consideration the options of the car. Or maybe not. First we should try to compare the GVWR on our cars, to see if the numbers differ.
If they do, this would actually determine what the car weighs with the individual options it has.
So the Gross weight GWVR, advertised in the door jamb sticker, includes all the fluids and I believe the maximum number of passengers at a regulated weight, as well as a regulated weight in the trunk.
I'm going to look at the regulation and subtract these standardized weights from the GVWR number, in order to try to get close to the Curb Weight number.
If I manage to get the same exact number advertised in magazines for Curb weight, then it means that I found Mercedes Formula for Curb Weight and all Mercedes Curb Weights can be calculated from the GVWR in the door jamb.
How heavy is the E55 AMG? all kinds of answers... But with the formula we will now know for sure.
What about the C63 W205 ? same deal.
Oh and I've tried last year to ask this question at the Private Lounge chat session. Um, I didn't really get an answer.
Last edited by Vladds; Feb 4, 2019 at 04:35 PM.
Super Member
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 701
Likes: 103
From: Ontario, Canada
2009 C63 AMG, 2010 C250 4Matic Sport
I found a really easy way to measure the weight of my car...it required... something that needs disposing of at the city dump where I live. There is a scale at the entrance, so I was able to find out the weight of the car with me in it rounded to the nearest 5kg. Turns out it weighs 1920kg/4233lb with me sitting in it (I'm about 81kg of that), and a 3/4 full tank of gas. My spare tire has been removed from the trunk and replaced with a 150 piece socket set
Other fun fact: My C250 4matic weighs 1880kg or 4145lb
Other fun fact: My C250 4matic weighs 1880kg or 4145lb
Last edited by Funkwagen; Feb 4, 2019 at 06:42 PM.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 1,175
Likes: 130
From: NY
2010 C63 2019 GLA45
Ok, my GWVR is 4872 lbs.
The difference between the two numbers is
1056 lbs.
This number should be composed of 5xStandard occupant weight+ 1x standard trunk weight.
The Curb weight can include one occupant rated at standard weight.
There are two governing standards for this:
-The European Standard, directive 95/48, includes one occupant @165 lb
-The American Standard #86.1832-01. This standard includes the optional equipment.
So in theory, American curb weights should be all different, based on what the cars have.
Now, as far as the GVWR, i wonder if the Europeans count 165lb x 5 + curb weight + standard trunk weight.
If this were the case, and for a curb weight of 3816 lb the standard trunk weight would be 4872-165x5-3815=229lb=103.87 Kg...
Now, if the 3816lb is the European curb weight, then it includes a 165lb occupant.
But above, we are already subtracting 5 occupants from the GVWR, so we would have to add 165lb back in.
Then the trunk standard weight is 394lb=178Kg..
394 is a high number for a trunk weight.
So probably 3816lb is the American Curb Weight.
Lets take a look at the standards now, to see what they mandate for trunk standard weight for calculation.
If they mandate 230 lb standard weight, then this is it, this is how you calculate you car's curb weight based on the sticker in the door jamb....
The difference between the two numbers is
1056 lbs.
This number should be composed of 5xStandard occupant weight+ 1x standard trunk weight.
The Curb weight can include one occupant rated at standard weight.
There are two governing standards for this:
-The European Standard, directive 95/48, includes one occupant @165 lb
-The American Standard #86.1832-01. This standard includes the optional equipment.
So in theory, American curb weights should be all different, based on what the cars have.
Now, as far as the GVWR, i wonder if the Europeans count 165lb x 5 + curb weight + standard trunk weight.
If this were the case, and for a curb weight of 3816 lb the standard trunk weight would be 4872-165x5-3815=229lb=103.87 Kg...
Now, if the 3816lb is the European curb weight, then it includes a 165lb occupant.
But above, we are already subtracting 5 occupants from the GVWR, so we would have to add 165lb back in.
Then the trunk standard weight is 394lb=178Kg..
394 is a high number for a trunk weight.
So probably 3816lb is the American Curb Weight.
Lets take a look at the standards now, to see what they mandate for trunk standard weight for calculation.
If they mandate 230 lb standard weight, then this is it, this is how you calculate you car's curb weight based on the sticker in the door jamb....
Last edited by Vladds; Feb 5, 2019 at 07:31 AM.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 1,175
Likes: 130
From: NY
2010 C63 2019 GLA45
So the European directive is very complicated.
all seating positions must be occupied, the weight for each occupant is 68 kg + 7 kg of personal luggage = 75kg each. Driver gets 7 kg too.
Then they go into details about how reclined the seat must be for measurement of weight.
They have their terminology, of course:
Mass of conventional load = 75kg x number of occupants
Mass of load in excess = Technically Permissible Maximum Laden Mass- (Mass In Running Order + Mass of Conventional Load)
The Mass In Running Order includes: coolant, oils, fuel, tools, spare wheel and driver.
Sounds a lot like :
Trunk Weight= GVWR - (Curb Weight+ Standard occupants weight)
However, they seem to bury in this Mass of load in excess the weight of all options. If this is the case, then the curb weight (mass in running order) can remain identical for all cars of the same model.
But this will make it impossible for me to tie the GVWR to the Curb Weight. Unless i know the standard load for the trunk.
There's an annex to this with the formulas, that I can't find yet.
all seating positions must be occupied, the weight for each occupant is 68 kg + 7 kg of personal luggage = 75kg each. Driver gets 7 kg too.
Then they go into details about how reclined the seat must be for measurement of weight.
They have their terminology, of course:
Mass of conventional load = 75kg x number of occupants
Mass of load in excess = Technically Permissible Maximum Laden Mass- (Mass In Running Order + Mass of Conventional Load)
The Mass In Running Order includes: coolant, oils, fuel, tools, spare wheel and driver.
Sounds a lot like :
Trunk Weight= GVWR - (Curb Weight+ Standard occupants weight)
However, they seem to bury in this Mass of load in excess the weight of all options. If this is the case, then the curb weight (mass in running order) can remain identical for all cars of the same model.
But this will make it impossible for me to tie the GVWR to the Curb Weight. Unless i know the standard load for the trunk.
There's an annex to this with the formulas, that I can't find yet.
Last edited by Vladds; Feb 5, 2019 at 07:54 AM.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 1,175
Likes: 130
From: NY
2010 C63 2019 GLA45
The American Standard,
40 CFR 86.1803-01
Curb Weight is
Curb weight means the actual or the manufacturer's estimated weight of the vehicle in operational status with all standard equipment, and weight of fuel at nominal tank capacity, and the weight of optional equipment computed in accordance with § 86.1832-01; incomplete light-duty trucksshall have the curb weight specified by the manufacturer.
Gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) means the value specified by the manufacturer as the maximum design loaded weight of a single vehicle, consistent with good engineering judgment.
86.1832-01 Optional equipment:
If more than 33% of the cars have an option, it needs to be included in the curb weight
Mutually exclusive options, the heaviest is included in curb weight
Options under 3 lb are not counted
Determining whether the A/C should be included in the weight seems to be an ordeal.
No mention of a standard driver's weight.
In conclusion, European Curb Weight includes a Standard driver, but no weight of options. US does not include driver, but includes weight of some options.
No wonder that the reported curb weights are so... allover the place, especially for imported cars.
40 CFR 86.1803-01
Curb Weight is
Curb weight means the actual or the manufacturer's estimated weight of the vehicle in operational status with all standard equipment, and weight of fuel at nominal tank capacity, and the weight of optional equipment computed in accordance with § 86.1832-01; incomplete light-duty trucksshall have the curb weight specified by the manufacturer.
Gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) means the value specified by the manufacturer as the maximum design loaded weight of a single vehicle, consistent with good engineering judgment.
86.1832-01 Optional equipment:
If more than 33% of the cars have an option, it needs to be included in the curb weight
Mutually exclusive options, the heaviest is included in curb weight
Options under 3 lb are not counted
Determining whether the A/C should be included in the weight seems to be an ordeal.
No mention of a standard driver's weight.
In conclusion, European Curb Weight includes a Standard driver, but no weight of options. US does not include driver, but includes weight of some options.
No wonder that the reported curb weights are so... allover the place, especially for imported cars.
Last edited by Vladds; Feb 5, 2019 at 08:20 AM.
