Specialized Terminology and Abbreviations
/8: "slash eight" = Mercedes-Benz W115/W114 series (1968-1976)
ADAC: General German Automobile Club
A: Allgemeiner = General, accessible for every car owner
D: Deutscher = German
A: Automobil
C: Club
Adenauer: Mercedes-Benz W186/W188/W189 series (1951-1962)
Chassis number: Factory code to identify a particular model. See also: "W"
Compression ratio: The expression for the difference between the enclosed volume left above the piston when it has reached its lowest position of travel, and the volume of the combustion chamber when the piston has arrived at its highest position.
Data Card: The vehicle's "Data Card" is the original build specification sheet (written in German) which lists the date of manufacture, as well as all standard and optional equipment installed at the factory. The data includes the interior & exterior colors, tire manufacturer, engine number, radio, and much more.
DBAG: Daimler-Benz, A.G. / A.G. is an abbreviation for the word Aktiengesellschaft meaning a publicly traded company as opposed to a private company.
Diesel engine: Termed a compression-ignition engine, it depends upon the heat generated by compression to fire the fuel, which in this case is diesel oil. Also known as an oel motor (oil motor). DBAG abbreviates this as OM.
DIN: German Institute for Standardization / abbreviation for Deutsche Institute für Normung eV
Dr.-Ing. = Doctor (PhD) of Engineering
Einspritzen: Fuel-Injection – the "E" of the Type 220SE stands for Einspritzen
Fahrgestell: Chassis (may be unfinished body sent to independent, specialized coach builders such as Binz or Miesen).
Fahrschemel: Sub-frame
Fintail: See Heckflosse
Früh: Advance (distributor adjustment)
GmbH: Abbreviation for Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung which means a "limited liability company"
Heckflosse: Mercedes-Benz W110/W111/W112 series (1959-1968)
Hydrak: A synchronized, column-shifted, four-speed transmission with an automatic clutch
International Ponton Owners Group (IPOG): An association of Ponton owners connected through an internet mailing list
ISBN: International Standard Book Number. A 10-digit, internationally recognized "identity" for books, pamphlets, educational kits, microforms, CD-ROM and Braille publications. The length of the ISBN number changed from 10 to 13 digits – effective January 1, 2007.
Karosserie: Body
Kraftfahrzeugbrief: An official (legal) booklet issued with all new cars in Germany between 1936 and 2004. It is a log of the names, addresses, birthdates, and occupations of the people who register the vehicle. It had the potential to document decades of ownership. The Kraftfahrzeugbrief is now a part of history. Beginning June 1, 2004 a different log book which conforms to EU (European Union) standards is issued with each new car in Germany. The old "K-brief" held enough spaces for six owners. The new EU document only contains enough space for two owners and will thus make it more challenging to chronicle the history of the vehicle.
LKW: Lastkraftwagen, German for "truck"
MSRP: Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price – often considered negotiable
N/A: Not Applicable / Not Available
NLA: No Longer Available
New Generation: See /8
NOS: New Old Stock = New part with no usage since being manufactured
OBO: Or Best Offer
OEM: Original Equipment Manufacturer / The original manufacturer or supplier of parts, equipment or appointments
Oel: German spelling for the word "oil." Diesel engines are abbreviated OM (oel motor / i.e. diesel oil motor).
Phenolic: A plastic polymer offering unique favorable properties for being used as gaskets in certain automotive applications. In the Mercedes-Benz Pontons, there is a thick phenolic gasket between the engine block and the oil filter housing.
PKW: Personenkraftwagen (German for "car")
Ponton: Mercedes-Benz W105/W120/W121/W180/W128 series (1953-1962)
Pontonkarosserie: Ponton body
Pontonkarosserie Interessengemeinschaft: A Special interest group for Ponton body owners
S.A.E.: Society of Automotive Engineers
Spät: Retard (distributor adjustment)
Several Different Torque Conversion Factors
1 mkg (kilogram-meter) =7.233 ft-lbs
Ft-lbs x 1.355818 = Nm
Nm x 7.375621211 = Ft-lb
1 mkp (kilopond-meter) = 9.8 Nm ("mkp" is used in certain Mercedes-Benz manuals)
Ulonite 105: Pontons destined for certain regions were required to have small red reflectors mounted inboard of each tail light and above the rear bumper. These are known as the Ulonite 105 reflectors.
UNIMOG: Universal Motorized Implement. A post-WWII all-terrain utility vehicle built by Daimler-Benz. Used as military vehicles in many European countries today.
Variant: Special body styles including: pick-up / wagon / ambulance / hearse
W: The "W" that sometimes precedes the chassis number prefix denotes the "Werksbezeichnung." This is an internal factory code that identifies any model built upon a particular chassis platform. For example, a Type W120 would identify any of the following four-cylinder sedan models: 180/180a/180D/180b/180Db/180c/180Dc.
Zündfolge: Firing Order – The cylinder firing order is stamped on the valve cover. For example, "Zündfolge 1 3 4 2"