desertfox330

Hi,

Hope someone can help me with this. I am currently living in the middle east. I purchased a r230 sl500 from a friend a year ago. local paperwork shows it to be a 2004. It is also a Japanese model but with the steering wheel on the left side with headlights set for Left hand traffic. My intention is to import the car back to Canada when I move back in the next year or so. To import this car back to Canada it must be 15 years older from production date.

This and just general curiosity lead me to research the VIN number. To my surprise, running the VIN number online, leads me to believe its a much earlier number, which I don't mind as I wont have any more age restrictions for importing to Canada.


The online VIN decoders all tend to agree on the delivery date ( is that the same as production date?) but none mention the model year? My VIN number is WDB2304751F021897

Anyone have any thoughts on this? I have tried to email MB with no response. Would anyone know where at MB to contact for official details.

I have attached a front and back copy of the owners manual in Japanese

Thanks,

Markus

Anders Lindgren

According to this site your car is a 2001 model
Hope you have not paid a price for a 2004
https://www.vindecoderz.com/EN/check...2304751F021897
I belive this is a reliable site

desertfox330

Anders,

Thanks so much for your reply. I will give that VIN decoder a go as well. Its relatively low mileage and in good shape with recent work done on the top and ABC system and got it ata fair price...and its so much fun and nice to drive

Markus

Rudeney

Your data card (http://benzbits.com/datacard/WDB2304751F021897.pdf) shows the "delivery date" (the date it left the factory) as May 31, 2002. I think this is a model year 2002. Model year 2001 production would have stopped by the end of April 2001.

desertfox330

Thanks Rodney!