Some one was kind enough to post a link to the Mercedes V.I.N. decoder awhile back, and I bookmarked it because it seemed like something that I would find useful in my search for a CPO SL450. Well...I just ran the V.I.N. on a 2017 SL450 that I might be interested in, and it came back with some seemingly unusual/puzzling results. Firstly, the car is listed/badged as a MY 2017 SL450, yet the "Release Date" is 2015-12-14 and the "Delivery Date" is 2016-02-11. I get confused on these date formats...is the delivery date February 11, 2016, or November 2, 2016? I ask because the decoder actually says the car is an SL400, rather than a 450. The engine code is 276825 30 328906, if that tells any of you gurus anything. Also, among the first few build codes are "003 Manual Date-Controlled Vehicle", "006 Special Test Vehicle", and "070 Major Assembly For Test Vehicle". This is the first one of these that I've run through the decoder, so I don't know if these kinds of results are typical or not. Can anyone shed some light on this for me?

 

Gosh...I'm a little surprised no one had any info on this subject. Maybe I should've thought of a sexier title for the thread?

 

Did you use datamb.com? That has been reliable for me. If you post the VIN I can run it through WIS and post the datacard.

 

Sounds to me like you probably did use datamb.com (which I think is now "lastvin.com"?), as the things you posted are more or less what I would expect to see. The datacard you get from that site is basically the "factory" (i.e., German/Euro) version of the MSRP, so a lot of things are named a bit differently than what we're used to seeing on the Monroney sticker in the U.S., which is in "U.S. marketing" parlance. So for example, a MY2017 SL450 will be listed as an SL400, as the "450" designation isn't used in Europe. Colors will also use the Euro version names (Hyacinth instead of Designo Cardinal Red Metallic, etc.). You're reading the dates correctly (manufactured Dec. 14, 2015, and delivered Feb. 11, 2016).

Why so early for a 2017? Well the first dealer-bound MY2017 SL450s hit dealers around March or April 2016, I think, so when the dates are prior to that, these are usually auto-show cars or press cars. And because 2017 was the "facelift" model year, there were more of those kinds of cars made than you would see in a typical year. Others on the site have much more experience with these kinds of cars, but we do know that some of them "sat" for a pretty long time after they did duty for auto shows and journalist reviews. So it's not uncommon to find these "early" 2017s with only 3,000 miles or less. The problem is, you don't really know where it sat. Some definitely sat in open car lots in hot places for a couple of years because they have issues with dashboard leather bubbling up, some have paint issues, etc.

So I wouldn't say this factor alone would be a dealbreaker, especially as a CPO, but I would definitely look at *everything* that was done on the CPO invoice (ask the dealer for a copy) to see if anything looks weird (evidence of console or other interior elements replaced, tires replaced with low miles, etc.).or anything else that might clue you into the car's history and whether it sat somewhere in the heat for a long time. Not necessarily "buyer beware," but definitely "buyer be really, really careful."

 

OK, this is the kind of stuff that I was looking for. I did use LastVIN. This car has almost 13k miles on it, and the 514A "Exclusive Leather - Brown" interior (advertised as "Saddle") has seats that do not look basic (the bottom cushions/backrest are tufted), yet oddly, the carpet, floor mats, and arm rests/console top are all black...which, overall, leaves a less-than-premium impression. My last fun car purchase went pretty much as you described...I bought a new '96 Corvette in mid-'97, over the phone. It was a show car that had been sitting in the sun, out on a dealer's lot, in Florida...for over a year. Somehow, it had miraculously avoided the "bubbled dash" syndrome...while C4 Corvettes were known for being susceptible to that very problem. It sounds like this SL is one that should definitely be inspected in person before purchase, which is kind of tough as it's about 300 miles away, and we're in the middle of settling into a new house that's being remodeled around us.