Volkswagen Option (M) Codes

This list was compiled by Michael Steinke, with translations and additions by Burt Reif, Mary Smith, David Easterwood, and Tom Brouillette.

We've made an effort to compile a list of M (Muehrausstattung) numbers denoting Bus equipment options. Whether your bus has (or once had) factory installed equipment options can be determined by the numbers on the vehicle model plate. This is located on the wall dividing the cab from the cargo/passenger area in the top right corner behind the passenger seat. The model plate was added at the end of 1958.

Every effort has been made to accurately include all known M-codes, and to translate carefully from the original German. If you know of any corrections or additions, please send them to deasterw@mindspring.com. Below are examples of model plates and their meanings.
 

Example 1 (from late 1958-1963)

7 11 8

360 176 178

U J 261 BLUE 408605

The first line is the date of manufacture, 07 November, 1958. The second line lists the option codes, 360=?, 176=Overriders for models 261-265, 178=Governor for 36hp engine. The last line contains the export destination code, U=USA, J=(Honolulu, HI), 261=LHD Single Cab w/ tool door on right side, BLUE=Dove Blue, & 408605=the chassis number.
 

Example 2 (from 1964-1967)

10 3


425 081 082 114
U B 2513 421781 1262099

The first line is the date of manufacture, 10 March, 1964. The second line lists the option codes, 425=?, 081=Walk Through Front Seats, 082=Also Walk Through?, 114=6 Popout Side Windows. The last line contains the export destination code, U=USA, B=(?port), 2513=LHD Deluxe Microbus, 7-Seater, Cargo Doors Right, LHD, 42=Turquoise Lower Paint, 17=Blue-White Upper Paint, 81=Como Green Interior, & 1262099=the chassis number.
 
 
 
M-Code Description Application
A23 SO-23 Westfalia interior
A42 SO-42 Westfalia standard equipment M 108
B42 SO-42 Westfalia standard equip plus pop-top, side tent, and roof rack M 108
C42 SO-42 Westfalia standard equip plus pop-top M 108
D42 SO-42 Westfalia standard equip plus side tent and roof rack M 108
??002?? ????
005 ???? perhaps a radio ????
010 additional dustproofing in engine compartment- bus
013 middle and rear seats in passenger area with masonite door panels - bus
015 windshield washer - bus
016 Double cab truck - bus
017 Rear brake & tail lights combined
019 with 200 watt generator (emergency vehicles only) - beetle, bus
020 MPH speedometer - export models, beetle, bus
021 outside door handles lockable from either side - export models, beetle , bus
024 sealed beam head lamps and red tail lights - bus
024 sealed beam head lamps, side turn signals, back up lights - bus
025 lap belt anchors - bus
026 activated charcoal. vapor canister - USA, Canada, Japan - beetle, bus
028 without patient carrier 271-274
029 front and rear tow hooks - bus
030 "light horn" with dash mounted idiot light - Austria - bus, beetle
030 type 21 or 23 in primer - bus
030 coupled headlight flasher and license plate light - Austria 211-274
031 type 22 or 24 in primer - bus
032 brake turn signal - Australia, Italy - bus
032 locking gas cap door - bus
033 additional rear turn signals - bus
034 side turn signals, modified emergency brake handle - bus
035 reinforced sides - bus
036 Warning light - parking light, indicators, modified handbrake lever 211-274 Italy
036 parking lights with idiot light, additional side turn signal - bus
037 no Emergency flashers - Italy, France - bus, beetle
040 speedometer with gas gauge, or gas gauge alone depending on vehicle - bus, beetle
043 preparation for Swiss license requirements - bus
046 side turnsignal lights - Denmark, Norway, Italy - bus, beetle
047 2 back up lights - bus
051 provision for second generator - bus
052 rear hatch without window (to March '55) - bus
053 rear hatch with window (to March '55) - bus
054 wide dashboard (to March '55) - bus
055 turbine roof vent - bus
056 steering/ignition lock - bus
057 separate front seats (until `55) bus
057 literally: floor mats included, but not installed. - bus
059 thermostatically controlled carb pre-heater - export model, bus
060 Eberspacher gas heater (to March '55) 261-264, 271-274
062 right side mirror - bus
064 missing side gates - bus
065 inscribed axle load limits - bus
066 rubber mat in passenger area - bus
069 same as M13, but for kombi with left-hand sliding door - bus
070 tarp and bows for single cab (not for enlarged bed version) - bus 261-264
071 second cargo hatch for single cab bus 261-264
072 vinyl headliner - bus
074 rear mudguards - bus, beetle
075 front and rear mud guards - bus
077 primered double cab - bus 265-268
078 primered single cab - bus 261-264
080 walk-thru front seats for panel or kombi (left-hand drive only) - bus 211-216, 231-238
081 walk-thru front seats for bus and Samba bus 221-228, 241-242, 251, 281-285
082 walk-thru front seats - bus
089 safety glass windshield - beetle, bus
090 safety glass windshield - bus
091 whitewall tires - bus
092 lower gearing for mountain travel - bus
093 Behr (a manufacturer) ventilator, front mount (until '55) - bus
094 locking deck lid - beetle, bus
095 Radio - Wolfsburg model
096 Radio - Braunschweig model
097 Radio - Emden model
097 rear bumper (until `55) - bus
099 tubeless snow tires - bus
100 without VW emblem - bus
101 snow tires, only with M100 - bus
102 heated rear window - bus, beetle
103 heavy duty shock absorbers - bus, beetle
105 stiffer front transmission mount - bus, beetle
106 heavy duty shock absorbers - bus
107 overriders/crash bars - bus, beetle
108 with S0 42 camper kit - bus
113 safari windshields - bus
114 6 popout side windows - bus
115 Low cargo floor (base equipment) - bus
116 without vented cargo area 271-274
118 without side gates - bus
119 Ebersbaecher BN4 gas heater (except 271-274)
121 fresh air fan - bus, beetle
123 special resister ignition - France bus, beetle
124 Yellow headlight bulbs - France
127 rear hatch without window - bus
129 34 hp motor - bus, beetle
130 type 24 without sunroof and roof windows - bus
132 safaris with safety glass - bus
137 dual circuit drum brakes - export model bus, beetle
139 sealed beam headlamps, red tail light lenses - export model, bus
140 fire engine as specified by DIN - bus Type 21F
141 heat vents in cargo area - bus
142 sliding door on both sides - bus
142 side windows of safety glass Type 221-228, 231-238, 281-285
143 side windows of safety glass Type 241-242, 251
144 side windows of safety glass Type 271-274
145 sliding door safety latch - bus
146 same as M13. seven seater (right hand cargo doors) - bus
150 ambulance per (German) DIN 75 080 specifications Type 271
151 Eberspaecher gas heater and ambulance fan Types 271-274
152 Rear panel lid with extension Types 271-274
155 Air cleaner with additional cyclone filter Types 211-274,Export markets
156 second rear view mirror (until '56) - bus
156 larger oil bath air filter Types 211-274
157 pollution control devices - bus, beetle
160 blue light and emergency signal equipment - bus
161 sliding door Types 211, 213, 214
162 sliding door on both sides Types 215, 216
163 sliding door Types 221-228
164 sliding door Types 241, 244
164 front blinkers - bus
165 same as M161 with front blinkers - bus
168 88 ampere/hour batteryup to Chassis No. 216 190 000 Types 211-274
169 sliding door Types 231-238
171 tires with increased carrying capacity - bus
172 Visible location of reservoir Types 211-271 (LHD)Benelux countries
173 engine prepared for arctic climate - bus
175 overriders all models except types 26 & 265 - bus
176 same as M175 for single and double cabs - bus
177 additional rear seat - bus
178 RPM limiter for 1200cc
180 without middle seat - bus
181 chrome hubcaps - bus
183 Divided cab partition, left hand drive - bus
184 same as M183 for right hand drive - bus
186 rear lap belts - USA, Canada
187 asymmetric (head?) light for left hand drive - beetle, bus
188 asymmetric light - bus
191 sub floor (belly pan for busses with big holes in their roofs?) - bus
192 body ready to be outfitted as a camper - bus
193 semaphore turn signals - bus
194 larger rear view mirror (?outer mirror) - bus
196 asymmetric light (left hand drive) - bus
199 swivel driver's seat - bus
200 single cab with enlarged steel bed - bus
201 single cab with enlarged wood bed - bus
203 Eberspaecher gas heater for double cab - bus 265-268
207 tarp for double cab - bus 265-268
208 trailer hitch and electrical hook-up - bus
??209?? seating for 9 people (double cargo doors) - bus
211 seating for 9 people (double sliding doors) - bus
215 1 ton payload - bus
216 1500 cc engine - bus
220 locking differential (limited slip?) - bus, beetle
221 high roof panel van with side opening for vending - bus
222 high roof panel van - bus
223 low floor without guide rails - bus
224 low floor with guide rails - bus
240 engine with dished pistons for low octane fuel - bus, beetle
303 Italian preparations, STVZO - bus
??360?? ????
361 M169,M181,M192,M199 - bus
362/025 US equipment - USA, bus
??363?? ??export country?? equipment - ??export country??, bus
367/139 361+ M20, M24,M90,M142, M175 - bus
369/139 361+ M20, M24,M113, M142, M132, M175 - bus
??372?? ??export country?? equipment - ??export country??, bus
??374?? ????
396 prepared for Great Britain, STVZ0 - bus
??424?? ????
??425?? ????
??429?? ????
430 US equipment including dual circuit brakes - bus
??475?? ????
502 masonite door panels - bus
503 masonite head liner
504 door panels for non walk-through - bus
505 door panels for walk-through - bus
510 upper divider between cab and cargo area bus 211-216
513 transmission skid plate - bus
515 high roof vehicle (not specified as panel van) - bus
520 sliding doors left and right - bus
525 safety belts - bus, USA
527 large rear hatch - bus
529 glass divider with sliding window - bus
530 automatic step to cargo area bus
531 with stiffer rear suspension - bus, beetle
535 tachometer
539 automatic step/ running board - bus
543 types 22 and 24 without seats in passenger area - bus
546 roof mounted turn signals - bus
616 back up lights - bus
620 12v system - bus
621 12v warning light relay - bus
623 12v system with resistor plug wires - bus (Police)
718 backlit red cross symbol - bus
729 tubeless Michelin X tires - bus

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