racestar

Can someone help me decode this VIN? I am concerned it may be gray market:

WDB1290761F172426

Thanks!

BJonesFL

You might try this site...free US VIN decoding-

http://www.decodethis.com/Default.aspx

s12obh

Tried to decode my VIn from Vin/Chassis/Frame no with details in V5 reg document, input 3 times in case I made a mistake. Does not work.

BJonesFL

IT WORKS. I don't know what you're talking about in the doc reference you cite, and your profile doesn't contain your location so please complete it.
The decoding service is for the US only. As such, it requires the US VIN format, 17 characters (numbers/letters). Anything else will fail.

cliffyk

That is a European ISO 3779 format VIN. It does not seem to decode properly on most VIN sites however the Russian parts site shows it as follows:



A 1998 SL600.

The ISO 3779 VIN format decodes WDB1290761F172426 as:

WDB = World Daimler-Benz
129076 = the vehicle descriptor
1F172426 = the vehicle identifier

MB-Dude

Now that the VIN has been decoded, I wouldn't be as concerned about a grey market 1998 as I would be for a grey market 1978. Things have changed dramatically over time. Also, it's possible that the 1998 was simply imported by someone who purchased the SL through a European dealership. (Not to be confused with the No. Am. version of European factory delivery.) It may simply be a legitimate Euro-sold SL that has migrated to the US.
Cheers,
Jeff

cliffyk

I just realised the initial post in this thread was from June 2011--I imagine the issue that prompted it has been resolved by now...

MB-Dude

No worries. Still good information and opinion was conveyed.
Cheers,
Jeff