Decode Your VIN

Enter your vehicle's VIN code to discover all technical specifications. The VIN consists of 17 alphanumeric characters.

Mercedes-Benz L1317 VIN Decoder: Free Lookup

Want to decode your Mercedes-Benz L1317 VIN? You’re in the right place, and it’s completely free. Just type the 17-character vehicle identification number from your L1317 into the box above and you’ll get the make, model variant, year, engine family, transmission, trim level, factory options and assembly-plant data in seconds. No sign-up, no email needed.

About the Mercedes-Benz L1317

The L1317 was a 13-tonne GVW Kurzhauber widely used for regional distribution and construction. It was produced from 1970s-1980s, and you’ll find it as a Medium-duty truck (Kurzhauber). Assembly happened at: Wörth (Germany), São Bernardo do Campo (Brazil).

The L1317 sits in Mercedes-Benz's Kurzhauber commercial truck range. Since most units predate the 1981 VIN standard, you'll usually identify them from the chassis number stamped on the frame rail rather than from a 17-character VIN.

A few things worth knowing about the L1317

The L1317 combined a 13-tonne GVW chassis with the 170 hp OM352, a step up in tonnage from the L1117 at the same horsepower rating. Model number breakdown: 1 (cab) / 13 (GVW tonnes) / 17 (×10 = 170 hp). The L1317 was deployed extensively in European municipal fleets through the 1970s as refuse trucks, gully-cleaners and street-sweepers, where its mid-range output suited the stop-start duty cycle of urban work. Surviving L1317 units are now collector items in the European classic-truck scene, particularly the orange-painted DDR-era examples that ran East German municipal routes until reunification.

How to decode a Mercedes-Benz L1317 VIN

Every Mercedes-Benz VIN built since 1981 follows the ISO 3779 standard. That gives you 17 alphanumeric characters split into three blocks: the World Manufacturer Identifier (positions 1 to 3), the Vehicle Descriptor Section (positions 4 to 9) and the Vehicle Identifier Section (positions 10 to 17). Here’s what each chunk tells you about your L1317.

Positions 1 to 3: World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI)

Pre-1981 models may have non-standard VINs.

Positions 4 to 8: Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS)

Model number encodes ~13-tonne GVW and 170 hp.

Position 9: Check Digit

The check digit comes from a weighted sum of the other 16 characters. Think of it as a self-validating control. If you mistype any single character on your L1317 VIN, the check digit won’t match and the VIN is flagged as invalid.

Position 10: Model Year

Position 10 tells you the model year using a rolling alphanumeric scheme. A quick Mercedes-Benz cheat sheet: S = 1995, Y = 2000, 5 = 2005, A = 2010, F = 2015, L = 2020, P = 2023, R = 2024, S = 2025, T = 2026.

Position 11: Assembly Plant

Wörth (Germany) and Brazil production were primary.

Positions 12 to 17: Production Sequence Number

The final six digits are the unique serial number stamped on your specific L1317 as it rolled off the assembly line.

Mercedes-Benz L1317 engine codes

Over the years the L1317 has been offered with the following engine families: OM352 inline-six diesel, ~170 hp. Mercedes-Benz engine codes follow a tight naming convention. The letter ‘M‘ denotes a petrol/gasoline engine (think M256, M177, M139), while ‘OM‘ (Oel-Motor) flags a diesel (OM651, OM654, OM656 and so on). Want to know exactly which engine sits under your L1317? Decode the VIN above. VDS positions 4 to 8 will give you the exact engine variant.

L1317 VIN quick reference

Here’s the at-a-glance reference for decoding any Mercedes-Benz L1317 VIN:

Production years: 1970s-1980s
Body styles: Medium-duty truck (Kurzhauber)
Primary assembly: Wörth (Germany), São Bernardo do Campo (Brazil)
WMI prefix: Pre-1981 models may have non-standard VINs.
Chassis identifier (VDS): Model number encodes ~13-tonne GVW and 170 hp.
Plant code (position 11): Wörth (Germany) and Brazil production were primary.
Engine families: OM352 inline-six diesel, ~170 hp
Trim levels offered: Cab chassis, Tipper

Mercedes-Benz L1317 trim levels and variants

Across its run the L1317 has shown up in these trim levels: Cab chassis, Tipper. Every trim leaves a fingerprint inside the VIN’s VDS section. Decoding your VIN doesn’t just confirm the trim level. It also surfaces the original factory option packages (AMG Line, Premium, Driver Assistance, Burmester audio, the lot), and that’s the stuff that really matters when you’re checking resale value.

Recall and safety information for the Mercedes-Benz L1317

Open and historic recalls on the L1317 are tracked by NHTSA in the USA, by the European Commission’s RAPEX system in the EU, and by individual national transport authorities elsewhere. Once you’ve decoded your L1317 VIN above, copy the 17 characters into any of these databases to check for outstanding safety actions. On modern Mercedes-Benz cars the usual suspects are airbag inflators, fuel-system seals, electric power steering and occupant-classification software.

Why use VinDecoderPlus for your L1317?

You’ll get a free instant decode of any Mercedes-Benz L1317 VIN with VinDecoderPlus. No sign-up, no email, no credit card. The data comes from NHTSA’s vPIC database (the official US government VIN registry) and is cross-referenced with manufacturer specifications. If you want to dig deeper into ownership records, accident reports, title brands or odometer history, you can upgrade to a full vehicle history report directly from the results page.

Frequently asked questions

How do I decode my Mercedes-Benz L1317 VIN?

Type the 17-character VIN from your L1317’s windshield, driver-side door jamb, or vehicle title into the VinDecoderPlus tool above. Because the L1317 was produced from 1970s-1980s as a medium-duty truck (kurzhauber), the decoder returns model-year-appropriate data, including the engine variant from the OM352 inline-six diesel family. The information comes straight from NHTSA’s vPIC database and Mercedes-Benz build records.

Where is the VIN located on a Mercedes-Benz L1317?

On a L1317 you’ll find the VIN in four places. First, on the lower-left corner of the windshield, where it’s visible from outside the car. Second, on a sticker inside the driver’s-side door jamb. Third, stamped into the engine firewall or chassis rail (this is typical for medium-duty truck (kurzhauber) bodies). And fourth, printed on the vehicle title, registration and insurance card. On the L1317, the door-jamb sticker is also where you’ll see the original tire and load specification.

What engines were offered in the Mercedes-Benz L1317?

The Mercedes-Benz L1317 has been offered with these engine families: OM352 inline-six diesel, ~170 hp. The specific engine installed in your particular L1317 is encoded in VDS positions 4 to 8 of the VIN. You can confirm the exact displacement, output and aspiration once you decode the VIN above.

Where was the Mercedes-Benz L1317 built?

The L1317 is mainly assembled at: Wörth (Germany), São Bernardo do Campo (Brazil). Wörth (Germany) and Brazil production were primary. Why does it matter where your car was built? Parts compatibility. European-spec and North-American-spec L1317 variants sometimes differ in lighting, emissions equipment and OBD-II reporting standards, even when they share the same chassis code.

How can I check open recalls on my Mercedes-Benz L1317?

Once you’ve decoded your L1317 VIN above, copy the 17 characters into the NHTSA recall database (USA), the EU RAPEX system, or the Mercedes-Benz owner portal. Since the L1317 was produced from 1970s-1980s, you may also bump into historic technical service bulletins (TSBs). Those aren’t safety recalls, but they do give you useful maintenance guidance for your specific chassis code.

What trim levels are available for the Mercedes-Benz L1317?

Across its run, the L1317 has been offered in: Cab chassis, Tipper. Each trim leaves its fingerprint inside the VIN’s VDS section. The L1317 combined a 13-tonne GVW chassis with the 170 hp OM352, a step up in tonnage from the L1117 at the same horsepower rating.

Is the Mercedes-Benz L1317 VIN decoder really free?

Yes. VinDecoderPlus is a completely free decoder for every Mercedes-Benz L1317 VIN. No sign-up, no credit card, no usage limit. If you want the deeper stuff (ownership records, accident history, title brand) for the L1317, full vehicle history reports are available as an optional paid upgrade from the results page.

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Mercedes-Benz L1317 VIN Decoder