Finding build date of a car

[Valleyboy]

I've just acquired a Mercedes C180 RHD to re-register in France, and shall probably need to change the headlights. The original regiostration date was 31/01/1997, but it seems that there was a model update in Sept 1996, and while I can find plenty of reasonably priced units on Ebay, I need to establish the build date of the car to be sure of getting the right ones. Can anybody help?

Thanks in anticipation!

[Sunday Driver]

I bought a new C-Class in August 1997 - it was the facelift model which had been introduced earlier that year.  Recognisable by clear front indicators, dark rear lamp clusters, small aero-lip on the boot lid and lower side body moulding in the base colour rather than grey plastic.  As far as I recall, there was no change to the actual headlamp units.

Easiest way to confirm this is to contact a Mercedes Benz dealer with the vehicle VIN number and they'll give you the build date.  They can also check the before/after part numbers for any change to the headlights.

 

 

[Valleyboy]

Thanks SD, definitive as always!

[Beemer1150]

The build date appeared on my Certificate of Conformity needed for registration here - it was quite a while before the first UK registration!

[Valleyboy]

Thanks, Beemer. I'm waiting for the attestation from the DRIRE - that may help.

[Mr_Kumar]

Check your certificates, build date must be there.

[Valleyboy]

Mr Kumar

I don't have any certificates, only the VC5; there is no correlation between the date of first registration and the build date.