How to get the paint code from the vin#?

[alabbasi]

All, my car is in pieces right now with the plate in one of the boxes (hopefully) as it was dismantled by the restorer that I sent it to and had to get back. Is there any way to get the color code from the vin #? Thanks

[dirkbalter]

If you don't find your plate, you can get a data card from MB based on your vin # which will also tell you the color. The vin # itself is not enough.
Is it a difficult color to identify just by looking at it?

[mdsalemi]

...my car is in pieces right now with the plate in one of the boxes (hopefully) as it was dismantled by the restorer...

If your car was ever re-painted, the color it is now may not be an MB color. Since the car has been dismantled, look in places that generally don't get repainted (places hidden) to see if the original paint and thus color, is there. A qualified restorer may be able to give you a solid guess without having to dig up the plate or for you to purchase the data card from MB.

[dirkbalter]

A qualified restorer may be able to give you a solid guess without having to dig up the plate or for you to purchase the data card from MB.

If he has a restorer do the work on his car, $100 or whatever it is now for a proper data card is likely nothing of concern. I would think he eventually wants it anyway for all kinds of reasons. 

[mdsalemi]

If he has a restorer do the work on his car, $100 or whatever it is now for a proper data card is likely nothing of concern. I would think he eventually wants it anyway for all kinds of reasons.

Maybe. I had my car restored over 20 years ago. It took two years and a LOT of money. I did not then and would not now, pay $100 for a data card when there were any number of hard items needing those precious dollars. Any restorer might very well be able to offer a good if not spot-on guess. When my car was restored, anyone familiar with the model would have told you it was 050. Anyone looking at the restored car today, again with knowledge, will tell you it's 568. But if you don't know the model and marque, they are just white and red.

I have no idea of the needs of alabbasi, but just gave him a suggestion to get a quick answer.

[dirkbalter]

Mine was free at the time too. But for the sake of arguing, advising someone that is willing (I assume) to spend anywhere from 75-250K for a restauration, to save a few bucks on a data card that is essential to the history (or birth) of his card and shows all the options, colors ...... does not make sense to me. Also, should one ever want to sell their car, its probably the first thing a potential buyer is looking for. 

(Yes, if you are familiar with the MB colors, you can probably guess the correct color code on some hidden panel)

[GM]

You ask about the VIN plate, but do you have access to the build plate?

[john.mancini]

Get the data card. It's nice to have and if you ever sell the car the data card is a nice piece of documentation. It will probably pay for itself.

[alabbasi]

Thanks all, it's silver but not astral silver (DB735). Here's some before pictures:



The car has been thoroughly dismantled, sand blasted and repaired (properly since being returned). It's now a bare shell in primer.

I don't have any recent pictures but here's one of the front structure going in


I suspect the color is DB181 which paintscratch shows as the only silver available in 1970. What do you all think?

[johnk]

Inside the dash is a good place to look. It’s not a place that is typically blasted when the car is stripped.

[BobH]

Thanks all, it's silver but not astral silver (DB735). Here's some before pictures:



The car has been thoroughly dismantled, sand blasted and repaired (properly since being returned). It's now a bare shell in primer.

I don't have any recent pictures but here's one of the front structure going in


I suspect the color is DB181 which paintscratch shows as the only silver available in 1970. What do you all think?

Hello, 181 is a solid colour, beige, not silver.  180 is the only silver available for W113's

The colours are in the tech manual, see link below, but you'll need to be a full member to access the link, registering would be well worth it if you're starting the restoration, i can't see how you could manage it without the valuable information in the manual

https://www.sl113.org/wiki/DataCard/PaintCodes

[alabbasi]

Thank you. I fat fingered the response. I meant DB180 which appears to be the only silver available at the time. I owned a Mercedes Benz 6.3 that was the same color for a while.

I found a picture of it in the current state. I don't think there's any paint on it anywhere that's not primer.

[zak]

This looks like a great project and will have great continuing interest for all members so keep us posted.
There are experts here to help you.
We are all cheering for you.

jz

[rwmastel]

Do you have access to the shell?  Is the options code plate still on the inner fender?  That has paint codes.

[alabbasi]

I have the shell but it was stripped and sand blasted. I need to go through the boxes and see if the plate is there. Although I'm pretty certain it's DB180 as that was the color on the car. I just bought a gallon of the stuff so that's what's going on!