UNDERSTANDING THE MERCEDES-BENZ BODY CODES: W123 – W223 AND BEYOND

Unlike other manufacturers, Mercedes-Benz does not identify cars by generation – it has created a convention to utilize body codes like W204, W211, or X167 to refer to the particular generation of the vehicle. These body codes provide more than nomenclature; they help identify parts, identify changes in platforms, and even evaluate collector cars.

Below is a complete breakdown of all of the model offering in North America shown by Years | Model | Body Code(s).

Mercedes-Benz Body Codes (North America)

C-Class

Years	Model	Body Code
1994–2000	C-Class	W202
2001–2007	C-Class	W203
2008–2014	C-Class	W204
2015–2021	C-Class	W205
2022–present	C-Class	W206
2017–2023	C-Class Coupe	C205
2024–present	C-Class Coupe	C206

E-Class

Years	Model	Body Code
1986–1995	E-Class	W124
1996–2002	E-Class	W210
2003–2009	E-Class	W211
2010–2016	E-Class	W212
2017–2023	E-Class	W213
2024–present	E-Class	W214
2010–2016	E-Class Coupe	C207
2017–2023	E-Class Coupe	C238

S-Class

Years	Model	Body Code
1972–1980	S-Class	W116
1981–1991	S-Class	W126
1992–1999	S-Class	W140
2000–2006	S-Class	W220
2007–2013	S-Class	W221
2014–2020	S-Class	W222
2021–present	S-Class	W223
2015–2021	S-Class Coupe	C217

GLK / GLC

Years	Model	Body Code
2010–2015	GLK	X204
2016–2022	GLC	X253
2023–present	GLC	X254

ML / GLE

Years	Model	Body Code
1998–2005	ML-Class	W163
2006–2011	ML-Class	W164
2012–2015	ML-Class	W166
2016–2019	GLE	W166 (rebranded)
2020–present	GLE	V167

GL / GLS

Years	Model	Body Code
2006–2012	GL-Class	X164
2013–2019	GL-Class / GLS	X166
2020–present	GLS	X167

GLA

Years	Model	Body Code
2014–2019	GLA	X156
2020–present	GLA	H247

GLB

Years	Model	Body Code
2020–present	GLB	X247

G-Class

Years	Model	Body Code
1990–2018	G-Class	W463
2019–present	G-Class	W464

SL / SLK / SLC

Years	Model	Body Code
1989–2002	SL-Class	R129
2003–2011	SL-Class	R230
2012–2020	SL-Class	R231
2022–present	SL-Class	R232
1998–2004	SLK	R170
2005–2010	SLK	R171
2011–2020	SLK / SLC	R172

EQ Electric Lineup

Years	Model	Body Code
2022–present	EQS Sedan	V297
2023–present	EQS SUV	X296
2023–present	EQE Sedan	V295
2023–present	EQE SUV	X294
2022–present	EQB	X243
2022–present	EQA	H243

Conclusion

From W123 legends to X254 contemporary technology, Mercedes-Benz body codes are essential for identifying specific models and generations. Knowing your chassis code provides the assurance that you’ll get the right parts, services that are accurate, and better tuning recommendations.

We at our shop work on all of the Mercedes platforms, from analog classics to current-day electrics. Book a service now and let us speak your Benz language.