Puissance Fiscale

[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?

[Will]

This site gives the formulae in use since 1978.

http://www.mopar-owners-club.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=74&Itemid=54

But working out the figure for 'K' in the Jan 78 - Jun 98 formula can be pretty complicated as you need to know how many km/hr per 1000rpm the vehicle travels in EVERY forward gear.

 

[jc]

There has been considerable correspondence on this previously.Most manufacturers produced special vehicles for sale in France using different gearboxes and final drives to the rest of Europe just to be able to get into a lower CV rating for France.

[Sunday Driver]

John

It sounds as if the CV rating you've been given is that for the W140 V12.....[:-))]

Two possibilities:

1.  The DRIRE have made an input error with the VIN

2.  Your car was originally supplied as a V12 but the engine was replaced at some time with the 2.8l version.

If you wish, you can PM me your full VIN, and I'll check it out for you.

 

[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

[Sunday Driver]

No messages received yet by PM....the server's all to pot at the minute.

That VIN relates to a brilliant silver metallic/blue cloth interior S280 supplied through Mercedes Benz UK (dealer code 537) in 1994.  The engine number matches the VIN. 

That's means the car is genuine and original, so there seems to be an input error on the part of the DRIRE. 

You could always contact Mercedes Benz France and ask them to check things and if necessary, issue an attestation d'identité themselves.

 Demande d’attestation d’identification

Pour obtenir une attestation d’identification nécessaire à l’immatriculation de votre véhicule en France, veuillez nous adresser :

• Une demande sur papier libre avec nom, adresse et numéro de téléphone

• Le formulaire de demande d’ identification dûment complété  - download it [url=http://www.mercedes-benz.fr/m_modules/M101_HOMOLOGATIONS/Formulaire_demande_identification.pdf]here[/url]
  

• Une copie recto verso du certificat d’immatriculation du pays d’origine

• Un chèque de 125 € TTC à l’ordre de DaimlerChrysler France

A l’adresse suivante :
DaimlerChrysler France
Service Homologations VP
BP 100
78153 LE CHESNAY Cedex

Le délai de traitement de votre dossier sera d’environ 2 semaines.
Lors de l’étude de votre dossier, il est possible que le Service Homologation vous contacte pour avoir des informations complémentaires.

ATTENTION !!!
Pour un véhicule en provenance d’Angleterre, fournir une attestation d’un concessionnaire ou un réparateur agréé Mercedes-Benz, attestant de la conformité au code de la route français, des optiques ainsi que l’indicateur de vitesse.