"It's a C-Class" narrows things down to four different cars built over twenty-five years. "It's a W205" narrows it to one, and that is the difference between a part that fits and a part that comes back. The chassis code is the manufacturer's own generation identifier, and it is the fastest way to get from a car to the right number.
Mercedes-Benz: the letter is the body style
A Mercedes code is a letter followed by the model series number. The letter denotes the body:
| Letter | Body style | Example |
|---|---|---|
| W | Saloon (Wagen) | W205 — C-Class saloon |
| S | Estate (Stationswagen) | S205 — C-Class estate |
| C | Coupé | C205 — C-Class coupé |
| A | Convertible | A205 — C-Class cabriolet |
| V | Long wheelbase | V222 — long-wheelbase S-Class |
| X | SUV | X253 — GLC |
| R | Roadster | R231 — SL |
So W205, S205 and C205 are all the same generation of C-Class in three different bodies. Suspension, brakes and engine mountings are broadly shared; doors, glass and trim are not.
BMW: the letter is the era
BMW codes work differently. The letter marks the development era and the digits mark the model and body:
- E — the older generation (E30, E46, E90). Roughly pre-2010, though the boundary is model-specific.
- F — the generation that followed (F10, F30, F25).
- G — the current generation (G20, G30).
- Last digit = body style. On the 3 Series: F30 saloon, F31 Touring, F32 coupé, F34 Gran Turismo. On the 5 Series: F10 saloon, F11 Touring.
MINI follows the same pattern with its own series numbers: R56 for the previous generation hatch, F56 for the current one.
Lookup: the generations you will actually see
| Code | Car | Approximate years |
|---|---|---|
| W204 | Mercedes-Benz C-Class saloon | 2007–2014 |
| W205 | Mercedes-Benz C-Class saloon | 2014–2021 |
| W211 | Mercedes-Benz E-Class saloon | 2002–2009 |
| W212 | Mercedes-Benz E-Class saloon | 2009–2016 |
| W213 | Mercedes-Benz E-Class saloon | 2016–2023 |
| W221 | Mercedes-Benz S-Class saloon | 2005–2013 |
| W222 | Mercedes-Benz S-Class saloon | 2013–2020 |
| W166 | Mercedes-Benz M-Class / GLE | 2011–2018 |
| W176 | Mercedes-Benz A-Class | 2012–2018 |
| W246 | Mercedes-Benz B-Class | 2011–2018 |
| E46 | BMW 3 Series saloon | 1998–2006 |
| E90 | BMW 3 Series saloon | 2005–2011 |
| F30 | BMW 3 Series saloon | 2011–2019 |
| F10 | BMW 5 Series saloon | 2010–2017 |
| G30 | BMW 5 Series saloon | 2017–2023 |
| E70 | BMW X5 | 2006–2013 |
| F25 | BMW X3 | 2010–2017 |
How to use it
Once you have the code, you can go straight to the parts we list for that generation. Browse all chassis codes, or send us the code with the part you need and we will confirm it against the VIN before dispatch.
Common questions
- Where do I find the chassis code on the car?
- On the VIN plate — usually on the driver-side door jamb, at the base of the windscreen, or in the engine bay — and on the registration document. For Mercedes-Benz cars built from the 1990s onward, characters 4 to 6 of the VIN usually carry the model series directly, so WDD205... is a 205-series car.
- Is the chassis code the same as the model name?
- No. The model name is a marketing label that changes with facelifts and market; the chassis code is the internal generation identifier and does not change. A C-Class can be a W202, W203, W204 or W205 depending on the year, and they do not share suspension or engine mount part numbers.
- Why does a BMW 3 Series have several codes for one generation?
- The last digit encodes the body style: a 3 Series saloon is F30, the Touring is F31, the coupé is F32 and the Gran Turismo is F34. They share a platform but not body, trim or glass parts.
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