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Mercedes Build Sheet by VIN: Option Codes and
Data Card

Enter a Mercedes-Benz VIN for a free decoded build summary. We don't have a source for original Mercedes window stickers, so this page explains the data card and how to get the real option list.

 

Or try an example:

2025 Ford F-150 2021 Jeep Wrangler
Where do I find my VIN?

On a Mercedes-Benz, read it through the lower windshield on the driver's side or from the label on the driver's door jamb or B-pillar.

Scan the VIN barcode

Point the camera at the barcode on the driver door jamb.

Mercedes options live on the factory data card, which we can't supply, so expect the free decode and recall count here. Brand by brand

Mercedes-Benz at a glance

Option codes look like
SA codes (Sonderausstattung), mostly three characters, such as 001 or 219
Factory build record
The data card (Datenkarte), kept on file by Mercedes-Benz for the VIN
Paint code example
197, Obsidian Black Metallic, sometimes written 9197 or DB 197
Paint label location
Driver's door jamb or B-pillar on most modern models; near the radiator support on older cars
Classic data card copies
Mercedes-Benz Classic Center, for a fee and with proof of ownership
Sticker source
No original Mercedes-Benz sticker source on our site

Coverage: Free NHTSA decode for all model years; no original-sticker source

What is a Mercedes-Benz data card?

Mercedes owners usually mean one of three documents when they say “build sheet”:

  • The data card. In German it’s the Datenkarte. It’s Mercedes-Benz’s own factory record of how the car was built. It lists the paint and upholstery codes and a long run of option codes. On classic cars it also records the engine, transmission and axle numbers, the key numbers, the order number and the delivery details. This is the closest thing Mercedes has to a true build sheet.
  • The window sticker (Monroney label). For a US car, it lists the model, packages and options with prices, and the total MSRP. We don’t have a source for it.
  • The dealer invoice. Mercedes-Benz doesn’t publish it by VIN, and we don’t have a copy.

On some classic models, the data card is the only place the interior trim code is recorded. It isn’t printed anywhere on the car.

What our decode can tell you about a Mercedes

We have no original-sticker source for Mercedes-Benz. Mercedes doesn’t publish stickers by VIN, and we don’t claim to have them.

What you do get, free for every Mercedes VIN:

  • The NHTSA decode: year, make, model, trim or series where reported, body, engine, drivetrain, fuel type and assembly plant where reported. It’s labelled “decoded data, not the original sticker”.
  • How many NHTSA recall campaigns cover that Mercedes model and year, plus a nhtsa.gov link to check open recalls on the exact VIN.

The decode helps confirm the basics, such as an E 350 versus an E 450, or 4MATIC versus rear-drive. It can’t list packages or individual options.

How to read Mercedes option codes

Mercedes calls its option codes SA codes, from Sonderausstattung (special equipment). Each code stands for one item of factory equipment. On a data card they appear as a list:

  • Most codes are three characters, often all digits (for example 001 or 219). Some mix in letters.
  • Paint has its own code. 197 is Obsidian Black Metallic, and 149 has been used for Polar White. You’ll sometimes see a 9 added in front (9197), which is the same colour in a longer format.
  • Older paint codes were often written with a DB prefix, such as DB 197.

The same SA code can mean different things on different model series or years, and the free code lists online don’t always agree. Decode against the right model and year, and confirm anything important with a dealer.

Where are the paint and option codes on a Mercedes?

  • Paint code: on most modern Mercedes models, it’s on a label in the driver’s door jamb or on the B-pillar. On older cars, check under the hood near the radiator support. See our paint code guide for more help.
  • Option codes: don’t expect to find the full option list printed on the car. The reliable copy is the data card, which Mercedes-Benz keeps on file for the VIN.

What do 4MATIC, AMG and AMG Line mean?

Mercedes names models by class and a number rather than trim words:

  • The letters give the class (C, E, S, GLC, GLE, GLS and so on).
  • The number (C 300, E 450) shows the model’s place in the range. It doesn’t always match engine size on newer cars.
  • 4MATIC means all-wheel drive.
  • AMG models are the performance versions. The AMG Line appearance package is a different thing and can be fitted to a non-AMG car.

Packages and individual options don’t show in the VIN. Two GLE 350s can be built very differently, so check the option list before you pay a premium for “fully loaded”. The trim lookup page covers what a VIN decode can’t tell you.

How to get a real Mercedes build sheet

  1. Ask the seller or selling dealer for the original window sticker or a printout of the factory options.
  2. Ask any Mercedes-Benz dealer to look up the options from the VIN.
  3. Call Mercedes-Benz USA Customer Care at 1-800-367-6372 (1-800-FOR-MERCEDES).
  4. For older cars, ask about a data card copy from the Mercedes-Benz Classic Center. Expect a fee, and expect to show proof of ownership.

Comparing German brands? See the BMW build sheet and Porsche build sheet guides.

Sources

Last updated November 5, 2026.

Rows of cars on a dealership lot in Chattanooga, Tennessee

Other brands

Original window sticker
Build details

Frequently asked questions

What is a Mercedes data card?

It's Mercedes-Benz's factory build record for one car. It lists the paint and interior codes, the option codes and, on older cars, details such as engine, transmission and key numbers.

Can StickerByVIN show my Mercedes window sticker?

No. We have no original-sticker source for Mercedes-Benz. You get the free NHTSA decode and recall count, and this page explains where the real option list is kept.

What do Mercedes option codes look like?

They're called SA codes, and most are three characters, often all digits. The meaning of a code can depend on the model and year, so decode against the right car.

Where is the paint code on a Mercedes?

On most modern models it's on a label in the driver's door jamb or on the B-pillar. Older cars often have it under the hood. Obsidian Black, for example, is code 197.

How do I get a copy of the data card?

Ask a Mercedes-Benz dealer with the VIN, or call Mercedes-Benz USA Customer Care at 1-800-367-6372. For older cars, the Mercedes-Benz Classic Center has supplied data card copies to owners for a fee.