a 1991 350 carries M in position 10.
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How to read a Mercedes-Benz 350 VIN
Every Mercedes-Benz 350 VIN follows the same 17-character layout:
| Position | Section | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|
| 1–3 | WMI | World Manufacturer Identifier — country, manufacturer and vehicle type. |
| 4–8 | VDS | Vehicle Descriptor Section — body style, engine, restraint system, series. |
| 9 | Check digit | A calculated digit that validates the whole VIN. Wrong digit = wrong VIN. |
| 10 | Model year | One character for the model year. Letters skip I, O, Q, U and Z. |
| 11 | Plant | The assembly plant that built the car. |
| 12–17 | Serial | Sequential production number of this exact vehicle. |
Model-year codes for the Mercedes-Benz 350
Position 10 carries the model year, skipping I, O, Q, U and Z. The alphabet comes round every 30 years, which the Mercedes-Benz 350 has not yet outlived: its 9 years still map one-to-one. All 9 model years of the Mercedes-Benz 350, 1983 to 1991, with the character each one carries:
| Model year | VIN character (position 10) | Same character as |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | M | — |
| 1990 | L | — |
| 1989 | K | — |
| 1988 | J | — |
| 1987 | H | — |
| 1986 | G | — |
| 1985 | F | — |
| 1984 | E | — |
| 1983 | D | — |
What a decoded Mercedes-Benz 350 VIN gets you
What a decoded VIN opens up:
| Data | For this model | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel economy | 21 mpg combined (avg) | EPA |
| Model years covered | 9 years | ForCar catalog |
Where to find the VIN on a Mercedes-Benz 350
Four places on a Mercedes-Benz 350 carry it, and all four must read the same — a mismatch is where fraud shows itself first.
| Where | How to see it | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Dashboard, driver side | Through the windshield, bottom corner | Easiest to check before you touch anything |
| Driver door jamb | Open the door, sticker on the pillar | Also lists tire pressures and build date |
| Under the hood | Firewall or strut tower plate | Survives a windshield replacement |
| Title and insurance | Paper documents | Must match the car — a mismatch means fraud or a swapped panel |
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Frequently asked questions
Is this Mercedes-Benz 350 VIN decoder free?
Yes, with no account. Besides the year, plant and build characters it shows the recalls NHTSA holds on the Mercedes-Benz 350.
What year is my 350 by its VIN?
Read position 10: a 1991 350 carries M, a 1990 350 carries L, a 1989 350 carries K.
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