John

Hi Sunday Driver. Sorry but I keep getting messages from the email postmaster that my messages to you are not getting through. Could you please just confirm you got this - thanks John Thanks very much for your quick reply! The VIN is WDB1400282A182728 and that is the number on the VIN plate. The engine number is 10494422003379   However, that is the number according to the UK registration Certificate but I have not been able to find any number attached to the engine. The owner's handbook indicates that the engine number is located at the front right side of the engine but there is nothing there nor is there any indication that there ever has been a number there. The engine certainly appears to be the original and is complete with all of the various plastic covers etc. The car was first registered on 08/03/1994 It is in very good condition with hardly a blemish - which is why I bought it. I actually got it in August last year but have only just completed the registration process. I was out of France from Nov through to April when the car was garaged but have done a lot of kilometers already this year (south of Spain and back plus other journeys) I am reasonably sure that the car has always been an S280. If neccessary I can contact the previous owner who has always been very helpful with other questions I asked - but he knows nothing about puissance etc. Thanks again, John

I recently imported a 1994 Mercedes S280 from the UK and have gone through the relatively complicated requirements for registering it here in France. However, it has been rated at 21cv (puissance fiscale) by D.R.I.R.E. yet the normal cv in France for the same vehicle is only 16cv. (14cv for a manual gearbox and 16cv for an automatic). Unfortunately, this means that the insurance payment is almost double that of a car rated at 16cv. When I questioned this I was informed that the cv rating is determined by the identification plate number which was in the original log-book and which is, of course, stamped on the vehicle identification plate. The local Mercedes dealer informed me that it should be 16cv and I have looked at various internet sites which indicate that it should be 16cv. I understand a formula based on the power and the CO2 emmissions was introduced in 1998 to determine the cv but I also understand that cars first registered before that date are subject to a different formula. I cannot find any information about that.  I intend to visit D.R.I.R.E. (which is quite a long journey) but want as much information as possible to back up my claim that they should rate my car at 16cv. Can anyone help please?