Hey, I'm looking online at parts stores for a new compressor...just scouting around. Every site asks "what engine group does it belong to" and has some numbers. Those numbers are not the same as my vin number. I know my engine number is supposedly 103.942...but those numbers are not in the list either. How can I tell what I'm supposed to type in for that question?????
My chevy is so much easier to buy parts for. Is there a number on the engine itself that I can find? if so, where is it?

wait till you find the part you need for what you hope is your engine only to find out there is a further split on the range your engine or chassis belongs to. For example, I own a 92 300E that is a 103.983 engine (apparently) and it sits on a 124.030 chassis (apparently). This is what the "FastLane" list shows and I would tend to believe them. Lets say I want to buy some struts, now I have to know which split my 124.030 belongs to. Does it belong to the group up to and including A873916 or is it in the group above A873916? I go for the picture at this point and hope for the best....

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88 TOY 4x4 putt putt w370k still putt'n...
92 300e old but clean
02 C320 sweet...

the engine code you gave is used in the 190e 2.6 from 1986 to 1991

the compressor is the same but it might need the pully changing which is a simple swap over

In my mercedes parts book, it shows an arrow pointing somewhere under the hood for the engine code, but I've looked high and low under there and for the life of me I can't find it.
I can get a compressor on ebay for pretty cheap....but will it fit??? I have a couple friends at the Dealership...I'll check with them to see if they can tell me where to find my engine group number...apparently it's more than just 103.942