COMING VERY SOON: US 500E & E500 VIN database + analytics

[gerryvz]

More work done on the global (non-North America) VIN Datalist list, including most interior and exterior colors.

Created another "Non-NA" Summary tab that will provide details on the numbers of interior/exterior combos and such for these cars, similarly to the US/Canada Summary tab. We will also have a per-country table, detailing the exact numbers of cars imported to each country. This information already resides in the Wiki here, but it will be much easier to find, more digestible and more visually attractive in the VIN Database format.

This expansion is turning this into a HUGE project, quite quickly.

 

[gerryvz]

After a HUGE amount of work over the three-day weekend, we finally have the numbers crunched for the entire cohort of all 500E and E500 models produced GLOBALLY. You can find this information in the "Global Summary" tab of the VIN Database.

This tab provides a definitive breakdown and a TON of data, including:

• Table of number of cars imported into every country
• Percentage of overall production imported to each country
• A comprehensive table that details:
  • Global numbers of each interior color produced
  • Global numbers of each exterior color produced
  • Global number of each interior+exterior color combo produced
  • Breakdown of leather and cloth production
  • Breakdown of how many leather and cloth upholstery combos were produced

This table makes it VERY easy to see how many cars of any given color (interior and exterior) were produced, globally. If you want to drill down into the US numbers, then this information for the US and Canada is available on the US Summary tab. The US Summary tab is a subset of the Global tab.

A comprehensive table of all VINs EXCLUDING the US and Canada, is available in the "Non-US 500E/E500" tab. All of my private notes and forum notes on non-US cars will eventually land in this tab.

Enjoy browsing.

This table will make it very easy to debunk any future "unicorn" (one of one) type of claims.

Cheers
Gerry

A few views:

Overview of the new "Global Summary" tab:



Table of import numbers, by country:




Table of all interior and exterior color and upholstery material combinations. This table is a crown jewel of the VIN Database.



Pie chart detailing 500E / E500 production, by country.

 

[gerryvz]

As of this morning, all E60 AMG and E500 Limiteds (codes 957 and/or 958) are now indicated in the notes in the new "Non-US 500E / E500" tab.

Also, all cars with "Special Paintwork" from the factory, are also flagged in the notes tab.

Separately, enhancements continue to be made on the "Global Summary" tab, with additional clarity instruments in the table. We are working on finishing up the exterior color combinations with approximations (as best as can be made) with the real-world color hues. This was already done on the US / Canada Summary tab, but there were MANY more colors shipped globally than to the US and Canada, so there is work that has to be done to re-create these non-North American colors as closely as possible.

More polish will be put on the "Global Summary" tab in the near future, and it will become the first tab that people see. The current "US / Canada Summary" tab will become the second tab, as it is a sub-set of the "Global Summary" tab.

From what I could see, there is only ONE example of a color combo (exterior+interior) that was exclusive to North America. All other color combos that came to the US and Canada, were also found in various numbers shipped to countries elsewhere in the world.

Lastly, we will be putting some "Fast Facts About 500E & E500 Production" either on the Global Summary tab, or in a separate tab. This should provide some interesting insight into various facets of the cars produced.

With all of this work, I am working to continue to stimulate global interest in these cars over time, through greater transparency and a more visually interesting presentation of the data. This will continue to be a work in progress as errors and anomalies are spotted / called out / commented on and then resolved with the data available.


12:01PM EDT - Tuesday 20-Jan

We have added two new reference tables to the "Global Summary" tab -- one table detailing all exterior colors and their corresponding MB color codes; and another table detailing all interior upholstery materials, colors, and corresponding codes.

 

[gerryvz]

Per the update above, here are examples of the two new tables, detailing MB color codes specifically pertaining to the 500E / E500, globally.

 

[gerryvz]

This weekend, we will be transferring forum notes + threads to the "non-US" cars, as well as beginning to transfer notes from my personal database to non-US cars.

 

[gerryvz]

As I go through the FOR SALE threads to find non-US/Canadian cars, I am finding that many of the LastVIN.com links posted for cars starting about 2-2.5 years ago, are now either dead links, or pointing to non-E500E cars.

I HIGHLY RECOMMEND in the future, per the process that I have always done, that when someone looks up a VIN on LastVIN, that they ALSO download a PDF of the data card (there's a link at the top right to do this) and attach the PDF downloaded, to the FOR SALE post. NOT just add a link and not attach a PDF.

The LastVIN links are proving unreliable long-term, which also is why I AM NOT using them as links for the VIN Database. Rather, I am downloading each data card from LastVIN and then linking to it individually on the 500Eboard server. I have created a special area of the site for VIN datacards. Fortunately, ChatGPT is helping automate the creation of these links, and Google Scripting is automating the process of adding these links to each corresponding car in the VIN Database.

Just wish I could automate the downloading of data cards from the LastVIN site, but sadly they have a CAPTCHA in place that thwarts this.....

If anyone has any ideas, let me know.

 

[JwashE]

The VIN database resource IS NOW LIVE !!

You can access it from the top of your screen using the "VIN DATABASE" button, or via the VIN Database sub-forum on the main screen.

If you have any comments, you have the ability to add comments to specific cells or entries, and the admins will be alerted. Any helpful information you can add to a specific car that you have knowledge of, would be very welcomed and will be added to the car's entry in the database.

Happy exploring everyone !!

This is a colossal body of work! Thank you, @gerryvz ! Beyond awesome!

 

[Otrebla49]

This weekend, we will be transferring forum notes + threads to the "non-US" cars, as well as beginning to transfer notes from my personal database to non-US cars

That's awesome, Gerry.. thanks so much for putting your work and efforts in that amount!

Rather, I am downloading each data card from LastVIN and then linking to it individually on the 500Eboard server. I have created a special area of the site for VIN datacards.

So, this is really the best solution, in my opinion too.. one question, what did you exactly mean by creating "a special area of the site for VIN datacards"?

Is it like a 'button' or thread/post on the forum (which I couldn't find by using the search function), or a new tab on the actual sheet for 'VIN database' (where I haven't looked for/up in the last 24h), or some place where only you (and admins too) have access to?

If needed I could provide a few (dozens, but maybe 70-80% of those are in German!) of PDF files with datacards to you, but by what means/way.. (?)

For example, I'm attaching to this post a couple of recent ones I've downloaded from LastVIN (and saved locally today when browsing the forum and Internet today).

Please advice and let us/me know how thess PDF files can be sent to you (on the forum/database/sheet, or private message..) for your better use.

Thanks again,

Alberto

 

[gerryvz]

I have a separate directory and sub-directory structure set up on the 500Eboard server with the data cards. And then the “LINK” for each car in the VIN database will be linked to that car’s PDF in that directory.

So far I have about the first 50% of US model year 1992 uploaded and linked. I do 20 or 30 data cards a day.

In the Non-US database, any car in there that has an existing link in the 500Eboard URL column, I have downloaded the data cards for, and uploaded the PDF data cards, but I have not yet created the links for them yet. Hoping to do that today. Just need to set up a few scripts to create the URLs, and then to populate the database with those URLs.

 

[Otrebla49]

And then the “LINK” for each car in the VIN database will be linked to that car’s PDF in that directory

Yes, I have seen that the (now blue) 'LINK' is active on the VIN database - thank you again for this insight!

any car in there that has an existing link in the 500Eboard URL column, I have downloaded the data cards for, and uploaded the PDF data cards,

Gerry, this is an enormous accomplishment that you're carrying on - your progressively path of completing work for us all members is very much appreciated!

And well, I guess most of the datacards I mentioned, are from VINs that nevertheless were already looked up by me - after seeing those VINs on various threads/posts here on the board.

So you pretty much have got a larger source of VINs than what I have downloaded - which is going to make linking some of the non-US cars to their corresponding datacards possible for you, without anyone else additionally sending you a couple (maybe 25-50, but not more) of them.

But, just in case I'm wrong with my assumption, you can always contact me if you want to ask for the ones I have locally.

Alberto

 

[gerryvz]

All of the forum's old "FOR SALE" threads for non-North American cars that included VIN numbers have been indexed into the VIN Database. This weekend, I'll be adding my personal database notes into the VIN Database for the non-US cars.

It's amazing that almost none of the cars listed here for sale back in the 2010-2014 time frame had VIN numbers included with the listings and posts here. Since that time, a majority have VINs, and in recent years, nearly every car (whether in North America or ROW) has the VIN included here. Thus, we have A LOT more entries in recent years where the thread URL here can be associated with a particular VIN.

That said, the VIN database contains forum URL entries or other data for roughly 350-400 cars out of around 8860. My database notes should hopefully add at least 100 or so more cars to this total, but having 500 cars documented out of 8,860 non-North American cars means that there ARE A LOT of cars out there yet to document......

This is in addition to ~902 out of 1,528 US cars (59%) being documented here on this forum.

 

[gerryvz]

Personal notes for all ~1993 model year cars are now input into the VIN Database. Only have the ~1991/1992 cars yet to go as far as carrying over personal notes.

 

[Surf Blau]

Stellar job, perfect for all us nerds to pass the time in between eBay, mobile.de and other parts- and car sources!

Which I did, checking out the cars listed with its order location as Norway. I've heard tales saying that only 1 or 2 cars were ever sold new here, which sounds very plausible considering the astronomical price of cars in Norway back when they were new. However, in these lists (and on LastVIN) I find 11 cars - but interestingly only 2 of them can be found in the DMV database, indicating that they were indeed sold and delivered elsewhere, possibly by people working elsewhere with the intention to bring their new car "back home" at some point. Cars sold in Norway had some (minor) differences in regards to their lights as well as some standard options due to our colder climate. Back then there was also a lot of "talk" about cars unsuitable for use in Norway due to specs for warmer weather, which I think only surfaced due to an increase of importation of used cars and thus lower sale of new cars.

Of the 2 cars I found in "our" database, only 1 appears to have a clean list of owners from new, with the second one registered to an insurance company since the mid nineties - and even though it is not listed as crushed, I presume this is a glitch in the system somehow. It could also have been one of many 036s which were used as donors to "chassis swaps", a common practice in Norway when rebuilding a totalled car - and also the reason why so many 500s here don't have their original VIN.

I found a car #3 in the Norwegian DMV database which had Norway as its original order location though, but this was imported and first registered here in 1998 and thus possibly a case of the above mentioned theory. But, throughout the nineties the import of used cars skyrocketed, so it could also just be a coincidence

Anyway, what I wanted to say was; Great work @gerryvz !

 

[gerryvz]

For the next phase of the VIN Database, I will be creating a pivot-table, which will allow one to select a single country, and the pivot-table will provide a list of all vehicles specific to that country (full records + interior/exterior colors, engine and transmission numbers, etc.).

This will build on the "country delivery numbers" table that we already have, but will provide details on the specific vehicles for that country. In the prototyping stage for this now, but should have it available in the next week or two.

I am going to try to add the function to the existing "Global Summary" tab of the VIN Database. I will also try to include the US and Canada cars in this pivot-table.

The main hurdle is that there is a fair amount of code that I have to create (scripting code) to pull all of the data together (from several sources), then reconcile it into a single / consistent format, and then it's relatively easy to create the pivot-table.

 

[gerryvz]

Delving through the data, in conjunction with @WDB748372, we seem to have a couple of small discrepancies.

The "635" number of total 1992 US cars imported (this includes the European Delivery cars) is appearing to actually be 633 cars. We seem to have counted one too many cars for the pearl black color, and the brilliant silver color. So we are delving into this.

Separately, for the 1994 model year, we seem to have one more car counted than the data supports. So, we will have to chase down which exterior+interior color combo is over-counted here, as well.

Bottom line, is that the data is appearing to show that only a total of 1,525 cars were brought into the US in total, not the 1528 as long believed (i.e. the 1505 number from MBUSA + the 23 European Delivery cars that we have data for). This means that the MBUSA data is likely incorrect, and has been for many years.

We are trying to get this all correct and exact. We are close, but double-checking and verifying before making any final adjustments.

 

[gsxr]

I've got 635, 500, and 393 for 1528 total.

I'm curious where the discrepancy is coming from for the other 3.

Keep in mind there is some overlap sequentially at the 93-94 USA model year changes. USA model years are keyed from the 11th digit (alpha), regardless of chassis number. N=92, P=93, R=94. The last few 93's get messy with the first few 94's. There's a clean break between 92 and 93, no overlap.

For 1992, my data shows 392 Pearl Black and 83 Brilliant Silvers. And, only one Euro Delivery (code 707).

 

[gerryvz]

Delving through the data, in conjunction with @WDB748372, we seem to have a couple of small discrepancies.

The "635" number of total 1992 US cars imported (this includes the European Delivery cars) is appearing to actually be 633 cars. We seem to have counted one too many cars for the pearl black color, and the brilliant silver color. So we are delving into this.

Separately, for the 1994 model year, we seem to have one more car counted than the data supports. So, we will have to chase down which exterior+interior color combo is over-counted here, as well.

Bottom line, is that the data is appearing to show that only a total of 1,525 cars were brought into the US in total, not the 1528 as long believed (i.e. the 1505 number from MBUSA + the 23 European Delivery cars that we have data for). This means that the MBUSA data is likely incorrect, and has been for many years.

We are trying to get this all correct and exact. We are close, but double-checking and verifying before making any final adjustments.

I found a mis-configuration of one car in the 1994 tab, which was actually a pearl black car but not listed as such. This brought the DB199 cars for 1994 up to the correct number of 187.

However, the table / totals are reporting 23 DB040 (black) cars, when the data is showing only 22 black cars.

Thus, the 1994 cars are over-counted by one car, so we will be adjusting the total. The total US imports for 1994 will now be 392 cars, not the formerly reported 393.

 

[gsxr]

I still believe there are 393 1994 cars. I have 393 unique VIN's.

 

[gerryvz]

I've got 635, 500, and 393 for 1528 total.

I'm curious where the discrepancy is coming from for the other 3.

Keep in mind there is some overlap sequentially at the 93-94 USA model year changes. USA model years are keyed from the 11th digit (alpha), regardless of chassis number. N=92, P=93, R=94. The last few 93's get messy with the first few 94's. There's a clean break between 92 and 93, no overlap.

For 1992, my data shows 392 Pearl Black and 83 Brilliant Silvers. And, only one Euro Delivery (code 707).

For 1992, I have 391 Pearl Black cars, confirmed. @WDB748372 has the same. Also, 82 Brilliant Silver cars, not the 83 you have. There is only one Brilliant Silver car with blue leather interior, whereas the total table is showing two. That's not supported by the data.

 

[gerryvz]

I still believe there are 393 1994 cars. I have 393 unique VIN's.

The best thing to do would be to copy the Column B of the US 1992 and 1994 tabs, which is the VIN numbers. Then paste them into Excel and do a comparison against your VIN list, and find where the discrepancy is.

 

[gsxr]

The best thing to do would be to copy the Column B of the US 1992 and 1994 tabs, which is the VIN numbers. Then paste them into Excel and do a comparison against your VIN list, and find where the discrepancy is.

I tried, but it won't let me.

 

[gerryvz]

I tried, but it won't let me.

View attachment 232720

Here you go. This may contain Canadian VINs too actually - so it will flag the extra Canadian VINs if you do a comparison.

 

[gerryvz]

I tried, but it won't let me.

View attachment 232720

If you go to the "1994 CANON COUNTS" tab, it will show you the totals for each color listed in the 1994 tab.

This is based off of the data that is in the 1994 tab, Column H. The only difference is an extra car in my "Tables" showing 23 DB040 black cars for 1994, when the VIN data is only showing 22 DB040 cars. All other counts are accurate. This extra black car is causing the 393 count, when it should be 392. Unless you can find an extra black car somewhere. If you want to view the groups by color, go to the temporary "1994 CANON" tab and you will see that I sorted the 1994 cars into groups by color. The "CANON COUNTS" tab is just a summary count of the number of cars in each color group.

 

[gerryvz]

I still believe there are 393 1994 cars. I have 393 unique VIN's.

I created two new temporary tabs for the 1992 cars -- one clustering all of the colors together, and another tab "1992 COUNTS" that totals up how many cars are of each color, and totals them out at 633. This again is based directly off the 1992 main VIN tab data, which I output to a TXT file above. Interested to see if you find any discrepancies.

 

[gerryvz]

I gotta shut down for the night. My head is going to explode from a marathon Javascript coding session to create all of this bullshit....

one small screen from all this shit:

 

[gsxr]

Found the missing VIN from the USA 1994 list. This needs to be added, and should bring the 1994 USA count back to 393.

WDBEA36E8RB995263

Pearl Black / Black. High miles. Possibly wrecked or parked, last seen near Sacramento CA in 2019.

 

[gsxr]

Gerry, is there any way you can post the 1992 text file with only the 633 USA VIN's? I have no way to remove the Canadian models from the list of 682 without manually hunting for each of the 49 Canucks.

BTW, the worksheet tab names "need updated" to show "NA" instead of "US", now that they have both USA and Canadian models mixed together.

 

[gerryvz]

Gerry, is there any way you can post the 1992 text file with only the 633 USA VIN's? I have no way to remove the Canadian models from the list of 682 without manually hunting for each of the 49 Canucks.

BTW, the worksheet tab names "need updated" to show "NA" instead of "US", now that they have both USA and Canadian models mixed together.

View attachment 232753

Yes, I can filter that out. Will post a clean file a bit later this AM.

 

[gerryvz]

Gerry, is there any way you can post the 1992 text file with only the 633 USA VIN's? I have no way to remove the Canadian models from the list of 682 without manually hunting for each of the 49 Canucks.

BTW, the worksheet tab names "need updated" to show "NA" instead of "US", now that they have both USA and Canadian models mixed together.

View attachment 232753

Please see attached for the filtered list. It is showing 633 VINs.

 

[gsxr]

Found the missing VINs from the USA 1992 list. These 2 need to be added, and should bring the 1992 USA count back to 635.

WDBEA36E9NB620864 - Pearl Black / Gray. Last emission test in Duarte, CA in 2019. No records since then.
WDBEA36E2NB621760 - Silver / Blue. Last registered in Oregon in 2022.

 

[gerryvz]

Found the missing VINs from the USA 1992 list. These 2 need to be added, and should bring the 1992 USA count back to 635.

WDBEA36E9NB620864 - Pearl Black / Gray. Last emission test in Duarte, CA in 2019. No records since then.
WDBEA36E2NB621760 - Silver / Blue. Last registered in Oregon in 2022.

View attachment 232808 View attachment 232809


View attachment 232811

B

FOR SALE Thread 'FS: 1992 500E Silver/Blue, 135,000 miles, $9000 (Bend, Oregon)'

Aug 24, 2012

Great shape, awesome car. I must sell as I downsized into a smaller house and I no longer have a garage to house it. John 503-709-7148

• Benzlover
• Replies: 11
• Forum: Cars for Sale - 500E / E500 ONLY

 

[gerryvz]

Thank you for the detective work, @gsxr.

All of the cars have been added to the VIN Database, along with comments.

The silver over blue car (one of two 1992s, one of eight US total in that combo) had a previous thread on the forum, which I pasted above and also added to its record in the VIN DB.

I really appreciate it when people here help pitch in on this. I worked for four hours last night coding and reporting on stuff, trying to find the discrepancies. I did find that for 1992 we were one silver car (over blue) and one pearl black car short, which I appreciate you finding.

I have left the final numbers intact in the summary tab, now that they are confirmed.

 

[gerryvz]

On the "Global Summary" tab of the VIN Database, we have added a comprehensive breakdown of a typical 500E / E500 factory data card.

The diagram used is attached.

 

[gerryvz]

Some modest changes coming to the VIN database:

• We have decided NOT to create a PivotTable for the data, because all relevant data that a PivotTable would help filter, has already been created in the two Summary tabs (Global Summary and US/Canada Summary)
• We will consolidate all of the US VINs (from the three US Model Year tabs) into the “Non-US VINs” tab, and create a single, “Global” listing of all data (status, colors, notes, URLs, etc.)
• All updates and comments will be made to the single “Global” VIN listing. When changes are made there, they will automatically populate into the appropriate US VIN tab for that VIN number
• We are adding a “LAST UPDATED” column to all of the tabs, and when an update is made to any “Notes” column for any VIN, the “LAST UPDATED” entry for that VIN will automatically update with the current date.
  • Past/older updates in the “Notes” column will still be preserved
  • Cars without recent updates, or with no data in the “Notes” column, will default to the approximate creation date of the VIN Database, which is 12-25-2025, in the “LAST UPDATED” column

These changes will simplify and streamline the VIN Database overall, and provide a single, unified view of all VIN numbers in a single tab.

As said, because North American cars are formally sold in “Model Year” increments, we will maintain those three “Model Year” tabs for these cars. This is so that viewers can clearly delineate which model year a particular VIN falls into.