W1K
Mercedes-Benz passenger cars built in Germany (current)
Decode any Mercedes-Benz VIN free — C-Class, E-Class, GLC, GLE, Sprinter, and more — for the factory build, engine, plant, and open recalls.
Factory build data from manufacturer and government sources
The first three characters (the WMI) identify the manufacturer and where the vehicle was built. Common Mercedes-Benz prefixes:
Mercedes-Benz passenger cars built in Germany (current)
Mercedes-Benz passenger cars built in Germany (recent)
Mercedes-Benz vehicles — the classic German prefix
Mercedes-Benz SUVs built in Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Mercedes has rotated car prefixes over the years — WDB, WDD, and now W1K — so the prefix alone roughly dates the car before you even reach the year character.
GLE and GLS SUVs sold worldwide are built in Tuscaloosa, Alabama and carry the 4JG prefix.
Driver-side dashboard, visible through the windshield
Driver-side door pillar label
Radiator support bar plate (also near the three-digit paint code)
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Type or paste the 17-character VIN from the dashboard, door jamb, frame, or title.
Year, model, trim, engine, plant, and factory equipment from manufacturer and government records.
No account, no credit card. Add a CARFAX or VinAudit history report later only if you want one.
The most reliable spots: Driver-side dashboard, visible through the windshield; Driver-side door pillar label; Radiator support bar plate (also near the three-digit paint code). All show the same 17-character VIN — if they disagree with the title, do not buy the vehicle.
A three-digit code — 149 Polar White, 197 Obsidian Black — on the radiator support plate or driver-side door pillar. The VIN decode confirms the factory color name to check against the plate before ordering touch-up paint.
If it is a GLE or GLS, almost certainly not — they are built in Tuscaloosa, Alabama (4JG prefix). Sedans and the GLC generally come from Germany. The first three VIN characters settle it instantly.
Yes. The full Mercedes-Benz decode — year, model, trim, engine, factory equipment, and open recalls — is free with no account or credit card. Paid CARFAX or VinAudit reports are optional and add accident, title, and ownership history.
Free decode of the factory build — trim, engine, equipment, and open recalls.