Mercedes-Benz Data Card (Datenkarte): Every Option Code Explained
The data card is Mercedes-Benz's factory record of exactly how your car was built: every equipment code, plus the paint. Here's how to read it, which codes to check when you buy, and how to get the full list for your car from its VIN.
- The data card (Datenkarte) is the factory record of one Mercedes-Benz, tied to its VIN.
- It lists the car's equipment as short codes, often called SA codes:
889is KEYLESS-GO,501the 360° camera. - It also records the factory paint, for example
197, Obsidian black metallic. - On their own the codes are hard to read. Your BuildVIN report lists every code with Mercedes-Benz's own description, in minutes.
What is a Mercedes-Benz data card?
Every Mercedes-Benz has a data card, in German Datenkarte. It is the factory record of how that one car was built: the equipment codes it carries and its paint. Because it belongs to a single VIN, it describes your car, not the model in general.
The equipment codes are often called SA codes, after Sonderausstattung, German for optional equipment. The list is not split into standard and optional equipment: it shows the codes the car was built with, so it gives you the full picture of the car.
How to read the codes
- Most codes are three characters, letters and digits, such as
889,P31or14U. - A code generally stands for the same equipment across the range:
413is the panoramic sliding sunroof and489the AIRMATIC air suspension. - Codes beginning with P are often packages that bundle several features:
P31Exterior AMG Line,P47Parking package,P20Driving Assistance package. - The paint has its own three-digit code, such as
197Obsidian black metallic or149Polar white.
The most common codes on real Mercedes-Benz data cards
How often each option appears in the Mercedes-Benz reports we have delivered. The text is Mercedes-Benz's own, and the code is the one your report lists next to it.
| Option | Code | Cars with it |
|---|---|---|
| Chassis and performance | ||
| AIRMATIC DC / SEMI-ACTIVE AIR SUSPENSION | 489 | 25% |
| Packages and lines | ||
| AMG STYLING - FRONT SPOILER, SIDE SKIRTS | 772 | 58% |
| PARKING PACKAGE HIGH | P47 | 38% |
| EXTERIOR AMG LINE / EXTERIOR AMG SPORT PACKAGE | P31 | 30% |
| Sound | ||
| PREMIUM SOUND SYSTEM | 810 | 45% |
| Lights | ||
| AUTOMATIC HIGH BEAM CONTROL PLUS (IHC+) | 628 | 34% |
| PREMIUM AMBIANCE ILLUMINATION | 891 | 32% |
| AUTOMATIC HIGH BEAM CONTROL (IHC) | 608 | 31% |
| Driver assistance | ||
| ACTIVE PARKING ASSIST | 235 | 71% |
| ROAD SIGN RECOGNITION SYSTEM | 513 | 47% |
| 360° CAMERA | 501 | 45% |
| Infotainment and displays | ||
| SMARTPHONE INTEGRATION PACKAGE | 14U | 61% |
| APPLE CARPLAY SMARTPHONE INTEGRATION | 16U | 60% |
| ANDROID AUTO SMARTPHONE INTEGRATION | 17U | 59% |
| Comfort | ||
| KEYLESS-GO | 889 | 59% |
| MEMORY PACKAGE (DRIVER'S SEAT, STEERING COLUMN AND MIRRORS) | 275 | 57% |
| FRONT LUMBAR SUPPORT ADJUSTMENT | U22 | 56% |
| Interior | ||
| SUPERSPORT STEERING WHEEL - LEATHER DEEP-EMBOSSED | L5C | 26% |
Paint codes: the most common Mercedes-Benz colours
The paint code is on the data card too, so you can see which colour the car was ordered in. Special-order colours, such as MANUFAKTUR paints, can appear as their own code, sometimes without a full colour name.
| Colour | Paint code | Cars with it |
|---|---|---|
| Obsidian black - Metallic finish | 197 | 16% |
| Polar white - Standard finish | 149 | 10% |
| Black - Standard finish | 040 | 6% |
| Selenite gray - Metallic finish | 992 | 5% |
| Iridium silver - Metallic finish | 775 | 4% |
| Graphite gray - Metallic finish | 831 | 4% |
Is it a factory AMG Line?
AMG badges, wheels and bumpers can be fitted after the car was built, so the look alone proves nothing. The data card shows what the car had when it left the factory. These are the codes to look for:
P31Exterior AMG Line: the AMG exterior package.P29Interior AMG Line: the AMG interior package.950AMG Line.772AMG styling: front spoiler and side skirts.
If an advert says AMG Line, check which of these codes the car actually carries.
What to check on a used Mercedes-Benz before you buy
Sellers often list equipment from memory, and some options are expensive to add later. These are worth confirming on the data card. The share shows how many of the Mercedes-Benz cars in our reports have them.
| Equipment | Code | Cars with it |
|---|---|---|
| Air suspension (AIRMATIC) | 489 | 25% |
| 360° camera | 501 | 45% |
| Panoramic sliding sunroof | 413 | 46% |
| Adaptive cruise control (DISTRONIC PLUS) | 233 | 34% |
| Adaptive cruise control (DISTRONIC PRO) | 239 | 10% |
| Head-up display | 463 | 14% |
| Premium sound system | 810 | 45% |
| Memory package (seat, steering column and mirrors) | 275 | 57% |
| Heated steering wheel | 443 | 25% |
| Trailer coupling | 550 | 22% |
| All-wheel drive (4MATIC) | M005 | 37% |
| Night package | P55 | 24% |
If a feature in the advert is not on the data card, ask the seller about it before you pay.
What you get in your BuildVIN report
Get your Mercedes-Benz data card in 3 steps
- Enter the 17-character VIN in the form at the top of this page. You find it on the registration document and at the bottom of the windscreen. On most Mercedes-Benz cars it starts with W1K, W1N, WDD or WDC, and on US-built SUVs with 4JG.
- Pay securely by card, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Klarna or Revolut Pay.
- Get your report by email in minutes, ready to read on screen or to print.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Mercedes-Benz data card (Datenkarte)?
It is the factory record Mercedes-Benz keeps for each VIN: every equipment code the car was built with, and its paint code. Your BuildVIN report delivers it as a clear equipment list, each code with Mercedes-Benz's own description.
What are Mercedes-Benz SA codes?
SA stands for Sonderausstattung, German for optional equipment. Each SA code, usually three characters such as 772 (AMG styling) or 501 (360° camera), stands for one item of equipment. Your report lists every one of them.
How do I get the data card for my Mercedes-Benz?
Enter the VIN in the form at the top of this page. Your report lists every code on your car's data card with Mercedes-Benz's own description, all OEM data straight from the source, as two PDFs by email in minutes.
Does the data card show if a Mercedes-Benz has a factory AMG Line?
Yes. A factory AMG Line has its own code, such as P31 (Exterior AMG Line), P29 (Interior AMG Line) or 950 (AMG Line). Badges and body parts fitted later are not on the data card.
Is the paint code on the data card?
Yes. The data card records the paint as a code, for example 197 for Obsidian black metallic or 149 for Polar white. Special-order colours can appear as their own code, sometimes without a full colour name.
What if my car can't be found?
Then you get your money back. If we can't find your car's factory data, we refund the whole payment.
Mercedes-Benz models we decode most
Each model page shows the options, colours and model years found in our reports for that model.