Option code guide · Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz option codes and the data card
Every Mercedes-Benz is built from a list of codes: SA- for optional equipment, PC- for packages, LU- for paint and AU- for upholstery. Here is what the data card is, how to get it, and what 42 common codes mean, each checked against Mercedes-Benz documents.
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The data card (Datenkarte)
Mercedes-Benz keeps a data card for each vehicle, keyed to its FIN (the Mercedes term for the VIN). Mercedes’ own XENTRY Parts user documentation describes it as the information needed to identify the correct parts, including footnotes, validities, codes and SAs, and says the system loads it in the background as soon as a complete FIN/VIN is entered. The same system uses the paint information stored on the data card to find the matching touch-up paint.
Mercedes-Benz Heritage, which sells data cards through its marsDaCar service, describes one as a PDF with equipment and production data for a vehicle. The data card is where a car’s option codes live. The VIN itself encodes the model, body, engine and plant, but not individual options.
Code families
Mercedes-Benz configuration documents print each item with a prefix that tells you what kind of code it is. The codes after the prefix are three letters or digits.
| Prefix | What it covers | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| SA- | Optional equipment (Sonderausstattung) | SA-416 panoramic roof, SA-443 heated steering wheel |
| PC- | Packages and lines | PC-950 AMG Line, PC-P55 Night package |
| LU- | Paint | LU-149 Polar White |
| AU- | Upholstery | AU-111 ARTICO man-made leather, black |
Prefixes as printed in Mercedes-Benz Switzerland’s configuration PDFs. Other sources may show the bare code: Mercedes-Benz USA’s parts store lists touch-up paint as “197”, for example.
How to get the full data card
A Mercedes-Benz dealer. Dealers’ XENTRY Parts system shows the data card for a VIN and can download it as a PDF. Ask the parts or service desk for a printout.
Mercedes-Benz Heritage (marsDaCar). Sells data-card PDFs ordered by FIN/VIN. Its terms (March 2026) limit the service to business customers, and orders for 300 SL (W198) cars need proof of ownership.
Free decoders. Enthusiast-run decoders read the option codes by VIN. Our Mercedes-Benz build sheet page lists them with where the VIN is and the official recall lookup.
Common Mercedes-Benz option codes
Each code below is printed next to the same item in at least one Mercedes-Benz document: the current configuration PDFs for the C 400, GLC 400 and CLA 350 Shooting Brake from Mercedes-Benz Switzerland (in German), or, for paint 197, Mercedes-Benz USA’s parts store. Codes vary by model, model year and market.
42 codes
| Code | Category | Meaning | Mercedes wording | Verified in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PC-950 | Package | AMG Line | AMG Line | C-Class (C 400), GLC, CLA Shooting Brake |
| PC-956 | Package | AMG Line Plus | AMG Line Plus | GLC, CLA Shooting Brake |
| PC-949 | Package | AMG Line sport seat package | AMG Line Sportsitz-Paket | C-Class (C 400), GLC, CLA Shooting Brake |
| PC-P55 | Package | Night package | Night-Paket | C-Class (C 400), GLC, CLA Shooting Brake |
| PC-P49 | Package | Mirror package | Spiegel-Paket | C-Class (C 400), GLC, CLA Shooting Brake |
| PC-PAV | Package | Winter package | Winter-Paket | C-Class (C 400), GLC, CLA Shooting Brake |
| PC-PDD | Package | Premium Plus package (with digital extras) | Premium-Plus-Paket mit Digitalen Extras | C-Class (C 400), CLA Shooting Brake |
| PC-PAD | Package | Agility & Comfort package | Agility & Comfort Paket | C-Class (C 400), GLC |
| PC-P53 | Package | ENERGIZING AIR CONTROL | ENERGIZING AIR CONTROL | C-Class (C 400), GLC |
| PC-P17 | Package | KEYLESS-GO Comfort package | KEYLESS-GO Komfort-Paket | C-Class (C 400), CLA Shooting Brake |
| PC-P20 | Package | MB.DRIVE ASSIST (driver assistance, digital extra) | MB.DRIVE ASSIST | C-Class (C 400), GLC, CLA Shooting Brake |
| PC-PBM | Package | MB.DRIVE Standard (digital extra) | MB.DRIVE Standard | C-Class (C 400), GLC, CLA Shooting Brake |
| SA-772 | Exterior | AMG styling | AMG Styling | C-Class (C 400), GLC, CLA Shooting Brake |
| SA-416 | Exterior | Panoramic roof | Panoramadach | C-Class (C 400), GLC, CLA Shooting Brake |
| SA-398 | Exterior | SKY CONTROL panoramic roof | SKY CONTROL Panoramadach | C-Class (C 400), GLC |
| SA-500 | Exterior | Power-folding exterior mirrors | Außenspiegel elektrisch anklappbar | C-Class (C 400), GLC |
| SA-840 | Exterior | Heat-insulating dark-tinted glass | Wärmedämmend dunkel getöntes Glas | C-Class (C 400), GLC, CLA Shooting Brake |
| SA-345 | Exterior | Rain-sensing windshield wipers | Scheibenwischer mit Regensensor | C-Class (C 400), GLC |
| SA-550 | Exterior | Trailer hitch with ESP trailer stabilization | Anhängevorrichtung mit ESP® Anhängerstabilisierung | C-Class (C 400), GLC, CLA Shooting Brake |
| SA-580 | Comfort | THERMATIC automatic climate control | Klimatisierungsautomatik THERMATIC | C-Class (C 400), GLC |
| SA-443 | Comfort | Heated steering wheel | Lenkradheizung | C-Class (C 400), GLC, CLA Shooting Brake |
| SA-873 | Comfort | Heated seats, driver and front passenger | Sitzheizung für Fahrer und Beifahrer | GLC, CLA Shooting Brake |
| SA-275 | Comfort | Memory package | Memory-Paket | C-Class (C 400), GLC, CLA Shooting Brake |
| SA-871 | Comfort | HANDS-FREE ACCESS | HANDS-FREE ACCESS | C-Class (C 400), GLC, CLA Shooting Brake |
| SA-252 | Comfort | Auto-dimming rear-view mirror | Innenspiegel automatisch abblendend | C-Class (C 400), GLC |
| SA-241 | Comfort | Power-adjustable driver seat | Vordersitz links elektrisch einstellbar | C-Class (C 400), GLC |
| SA-489 | Chassis | AIRMATIC air suspension with adaptive damping | AIRMATIC mit intelligenter Fahrwerksregelung | C-Class (C 400), GLC |
| SA-201 | Chassis | Rear-axle steering | Hinterachslenkung | C-Class (C 400), GLC |
| SA-B59 | Chassis | DYNAMIC SELECT drive programs | DYNAMIC SELECT | C-Class (C 400), GLC |
| SA-530 | Multimedia | MBUX multimedia system | MBUX Multimediasystem | C-Class (C 400), GLC, CLA Shooting Brake |
| SA-16U | Multimedia | Apple CarPlay | Apple CarPlay | C-Class (C 400), GLC, CLA Shooting Brake |
| SA-17U | Multimedia | Android Auto | Android Auto | C-Class (C 400), GLC, CLA Shooting Brake |
| SA-K62 | Assistance | Rear-view camera | Rückfahrkamera | C-Class (C 400), GLC, CLA Shooting Brake |
| SA-K50 | Assistance | DISTRONIC distance assist (digital extra) | Abstands-Assistent DISTRONIC | C-Class (C 400), GLC, CLA Shooting Brake |
| SA-475 | Assistance | Tire pressure monitoring | Reifendruckkontrolle | C-Class (C 400), GLC, CLA Shooting Brake |
| LU-149 | Paint | Polar White (non-metallic) | Unilack polarweiß | CLA Shooting Brake |
| 197 | Paint | Obsidian Black metallic | Obsidian Black Metallic | MBUSA parts |
| LU-885 | Paint | MANUFAKTUR Opalite White bright | MANUFAKTUR opalithweiß bright | C-Class (C 400) |
| LU-993 | Paint | MANUFAKTUR Patagonia Red metallic | MANUFAKTUR patagonienrot metallic | GLC |
| AU-111 | Upholstery | ARTICO man-made leather, black | Ledernachbildung ARTICO schwarz | C-Class (C 400) |
| AU-231 | Upholstery | Leather, black with red contrast stitching | Leder schwarz mit Kontrastziernaht in Rot | GLC |
| AU-651 | Upholstery | ARTICO man-made leather / MICROCUT microfiber, black | Ledernachbildung ARTICO Nappaoptik / Mikrofaser MICROCUT schwarz | CLA Shooting Brake |
Some packages carry the name of a digital extra or an assistance system that is sold differently by market. We left out codes we could not match to a Mercedes-Benz document.
Check the VIN too
The data card shows how the car left the factory, not what happened to it since. Before you buy, decode the VIN, run the free recall check, and consider a history report.
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Other brands: BMW option codes and GM RPO codes.
FAQ
What is a Mercedes-Benz data card?
The data card (Datenkarte) is Mercedes-Benz’s record of how a vehicle was built, stored against its FIN/VIN. Mercedes’ XENTRY Parts documentation says the data card holds the codes and SAs (optional equipment) used to identify the right parts, and the paint information used to pick touch-up paint.
How do I get the data card for my Mercedes?
Ask a Mercedes-Benz dealer: their XENTRY Parts system loads the data card from the VIN and can download it as a PDF. Mercedes-Benz Heritage also sells data-card PDFs by FIN/VIN through marsDaCar, but its terms limit that service to business customers. Free enthusiast decoders that read the codes by VIN are listed on our Mercedes-Benz build sheet page.
What does SA mean on a Mercedes option code?
SA is short for Sonderausstattung, German for optional equipment. Mercedes-Benz configuration documents print each option with its code, for example “Panoramadach (SA-416)”, and use PC- for packages, LU- for paint and AU- for upholstery.
Is a Mercedes option code the same on every model?
Often, but not always. In Mercedes-Benz Switzerland’s 2026 configuration documents, sport seats are SA-7U4 on the C 400 and SA-7U3 on the GLC 400. Codes vary by model, model year and market, so check codes against your own car’s data card.
What is Mercedes paint code 197?
Obsidian Black metallic. Mercedes-Benz USA’s parts store sells the matching touch-up spray can as “Obsidian Black Metallic Spray Paint Can 197”.
Sources
- Mercedes-Benz Schweiz: C 400 4MATIC (electric) configuration PDF, Aug 2026 (German)
- Mercedes-Benz Schweiz: GLC 400 4MATIC with EQ Technology configuration PDF, Apr 2026 (German)
- Mercedes-Benz Schweiz: CLA 350 4MATIC Shooting Brake configuration PDF (German)
- Mercedes-Benz USA parts store: Obsidian Black Metallic spray paint can 197 (000-986-30-50-09-9197)
- Mercedes-Benz: XENTRY Parts Information user documentation, 05/2025 (German), the data card by FIN/VIN with codes and paint
- Mercedes-Benz Heritage GmbH: terms for ordering a vehicle data card (marsDaCar), 03/2026
Published 2026-10-25. Car Codebook is independent and not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer. This guide is general information, not legal advice. Spotted an error? Email hello@carcodebook.com.
Related
- BMW option codes (SA codes) explainedWhat BMW’s three-character SA codes are, where to find yours, and a searchable table of common package, equipment and paint codes.
- GM RPO codes: how to read the SPID labelWhat the three-character codes on a Chevrolet, GMC, Cadillac or Buick mean, where the SPID label is, and a searchable table of common codes.
- How to read a VIN: what each of the 17 characters meansThe three VIN sections, the check digit math, the model-year letter table and what a VIN can’t tell you.