C 200 vs C 250, BMW 320i vs 330i, Audi 40 TDI, TSI vs TDI, 4MATIC, xDrive and AMG Line explained, plus chassis codes like W205 and G20.
In one line: on most modern German cars the number on the boot shows how strong the engine is, not how big it is, the letters tell you the fuel and which wheels are driven, and a sporty "Line" badge is a styling pack, not a real performance model.
Checked on 29 October 2026.
Words to know
- Badge: the letters and numbers on the boot lid, like "C 200" or "330i".
- Power tier: a label for how strong the engine is, not how big.
- kW (kilowatt): the unit makers use for engine power. 100 kW is about 136 horsepower (PS).
- All-wheel drive (AWD): the engine drives all four wheels. Each brand has its own name for it.
- Chassis code: the maker's code for one generation of a model, like W205 or G20.
- VIN: the 17-character vehicle identification number. Every car has its own.
The big idea: the number is a power level now
Years ago the number on a German car was the engine size. On a 1970s BMW 320 the "20" meant 20 decilitres, so 2.0 litres (Wikipedia, citing BMW). Turbos changed that. One engine can now be tuned to several power levels, so a bigger number means a stronger car, not a bigger engine.
Mercedes-Benz's own 2026 data sheet shows this clearly. The C 200, C 250 and C 300 all use the same 1,999 cc engine. Only the power changes (Mercedes-Benz Italia technical data, updated 6 August 2026).
| Badge | Engine size | Power |
|---|---|---|
| Mercedes C 200 (2026) | 1,999 cc petrol | 130 kW |
| Mercedes C 250 (2026) | 1,999 cc petrol | 160 kW |
| Mercedes C 300 (2026) | 1,999 cc petrol | 190 kW |
| Mercedes C 200 d / C 250 d (2026) | 1,992 cc diesel | 120 / 147 kW |
| BMW 320i (G20) | 2.0 litre petrol | 135 kW |
| BMW 330i (G20) | 2.0 litre petrol | 190 kW |
The BMW figures come from BMW's 2019 technical data as listed on Wikipedia's G20 page. So a 330i is not a 3.0-litre car, although the older E90 330i (2005–2011) was.
The badge also drifts over time. Mercedes says its 2010 C 200 CGI had a 1.8-litre engine, and the 2021 C 200 used a 1.5-litre engine. Always read the engine size (cc) on the papers. It also sets your import duty: see our import duty guide.
Tap any part of a badge below to decode it.
C C-Class, one of Mercedes-Benz's five core model series (A, B, C, E, S). Mercedes says a model designation is always 1 to 3 capital letters.
In kid words: The family name. C is the middle-size Mercedes saloon.
250 Power tier inside the C-Class, not engine size. In Mercedes-Benz's own 2026 data sheet, the C 200, C 250 and C 300 petrols all use a 1,999 cc engine (130, 160 and 190 kW). The C 200 d and C 250 d diesels are both 1,992 cc (120 and 147 kW).
In kid words: A bigger number means a stronger car, not a bigger engine.
d Lower-case 'd' = diesel. This replaced the old 'BlueTEC' and 'CDI' labels in 2015. Mercedes' other lower-case letters are c = natural gas, e = electric/plug-in, f = fuel cell and h = hybrid. Petrol cars have no letter.
In kid words: d is for diesel.
4MATIC Mercedes-Benz's name for all-wheel drive. Mercedes said in 2014 that the name would stay unchanged.
In kid words: All four wheels push the car, which helps on slippery roads.
Figures are from Mercedes-Benz Italia's C-Class technical data, last updated 6 Aug 2026. Outputs differ by market and year, so check the car's own papers.
C C-Class. This is the 2010 version, a generation often seen on the Kenyan used market.
In kid words: The family name: C-Class.
200 Even in 2010 this was not engine size. Mercedes' 2010 press release gives the C 200 CGI BlueEFFICIENCY a 1.8-litre engine with 135 kW, and the C 180 CGI used the same 1.8 litres at 115 kW.
In kid words: 200 does not mean 2.0 litres. This one is really 1.8!
CGI Mercedes' petrol direct-injection engines of that era. The 2010 press release describes the CGI models as having petrol direct injection ('iniezione diretta di benzina'). Daimler material reprinted online expands CGI as 'stratified charged gasoline injection'.
In kid words: The fuel squirts straight into the engine to save petrol.
BlueEFFICIENCY Mercedes' label (late 2000s to mid-2010s) for a model-specific package of fuel-saving measures. The 2010 C-Class release names ECO start/stop, claiming up to 10% lower fuel use and CO2. Other Daimler material lists lower weight, low-rolling-resistance tyres and aerodynamic tweaks.
In kid words: Extra tricks to use less fuel.
Badges like CGI, Kompressor (supercharged) and BlueEFFICIENCY are from older Mercedes models. Newer cars use the 2015 scheme (d, e and so on).
3 The model series (3 Series). The first digit is the series, and a higher number usually means a bigger, plusher car.
In kid words: The family number: 3 Series.
30 Power tier, not displacement. On older BMWs these digits were the engine size in decilitres (a 1970s 320 = 2.0 L). The current (G20) 330i has a 2.0-litre four-cylinder (B48) making 190 kW, not 3.0 litres.
In kid words: It used to mean engine size. Now it means 'how strong'.
i Originally 'injection' (petrol). From the 2024 1 Series (badged '120', 'M135 xDrive'), BMW began dropping the trailing 'i' from petrol cars and keeping a leading 'i' for fully electric models (i4, iX).
In kid words: On older BMWs, i means petrol. On new ones, an i at the front means electric.
xDrive BMW's all-wheel-drive name, used in badges since 2009. 'sDrive' is the two-wheel-drive version. Electric BMWs with one driven axle say 'eDrive'.
In kid words: xDrive = all four wheels drive.
In the current (G20) 3 Series, the 330i is a 2.0-litre turbo petrol: the 30 is a power level, not 3.0 litres.
X BMW's SUV family. Z is used for two-seat roadsters such as the Z4.
In kid words: X means a BMW SUV.
5 Size within the X range: the X5 sits between the X3 and the X7.
In kid words: Bigger number, bigger car.
xDrive All-wheel drive (see 330i xDrive).
In kid words: All four wheels drive.
40 Power tier. BMW technical data for the X5 xDrive40i lists a 2,998 cc straight-six with 250 kW, so '40' is not 4.0 litres.
In kid words: 40 means 'quite strong', not '4 litres'.
i Petrol, under BMW's older naming.
In kid words: Runs on petrol.
M Sport An equipment and styling package (bumpers, wheels, steering wheel and often sports suspension). It does not make the car a full BMW M model. BMW M Performance models put the M in the name (M340i, X5 M60i), and full M cars are badged M3, M5, X5 M and so on.
In kid words: Sporty clothes for the car. A real 'M' car is the super-fast one.
The X5 xDrive40i uses a 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo petrol. Check the exact power on the car's own spec, as it changed over the years.
Q Audi's SUV line (Q2, Q3, Q5, Q7, Q8). A is used for saloons, hatchbacks and estates. S and RS are the sporty and top-performance versions.
In kid words: Q means an Audi SUV.
5 Size and position in the range: higher means bigger.
In kid words: Bigger number, bigger car.
40 Audi's power band from its 23 Aug 2017 scheme: 40 = 125-150 kW. The full table is 30 = 81-96, 35 = 110-120, 40 = 125-150, 45 = 169-185, 50 = 210-230, 55 = 245-275, 60 = 320-340 and 70 = over 400 kW. S, RS and R8 models were left out of the scheme.
In kid words: 40 is a power level, like a game level, not engine size.
TDI Turbocharged Direct Injection, the Volkswagen Group's name for its diesel engines. The petrol equivalent at Audi is TFSI, and 'TFSI e' is a plug-in hybrid.
In kid words: TDI means a turbo diesel.
quattro Audi's name for all-wheel drive ('quattro' is Italian for four).
In kid words: Four-wheel grip.
Since 2024 Audi has been taking the two-digit numbers off the boot lids of new models (Q6 e-tron first). Most 2017-2023 Audis on Kenyan roads still carry them. Unconfirmed: one outlet gives the 30 band as 81-91 kW rather than 81-96, and the original Audi press page now returns 404.
Tiguan The model name (VW names its models rather than numbering them).
In kid words: The car's name.
1.4 Unlike most German brands, VW mostly still puts real engine size on the badge: 1.4 = about 1.4 litres. Check the logbook to confirm.
In kid words: Here the number really is the engine size.
TSI 'Turbocharged Stratified Injection', VW's turbo petrol direct-injection engines (introduced 2006). TDI is the diesel equivalent (Turbocharged Direct Injection).
In kid words: A turbo petrol engine.
4MOTION VW's trademarked all-wheel-drive name, which evolved from its earlier Syncro system.
In kid words: All four wheels drive.
R-Line A sporty styling and equipment line inspired by VW's high-performance R models. It is not itself an R performance car.
In kid words: It looks sporty but isn't the super-fast 'R'.
Other VW badges: GTI = 'Grand Tourer Injection' (VW Australia) or 'Grand Touring Injection' (VW South Africa), the hot hatch since 1976. R = VW's top performance models (descended from the early-2000s Golf R32). Trendline, Comfortline and Highline are the entry, mid and top equipment levels.
Mercedes-Benz: C 200, C 250 d, 4MATIC
- Capital letters = the family. Mercedes' 2014 naming release names five core families: A, B, C, E and S. SUVs start with GL plus the family they match: GLA, GLC (which replaced the GLK), GLE (which replaced the ML) and GLS.
- Small letters = fuel. No letter means petrol. d is diesel (it replaced the old CDI and BlueTEC labels). e is electric drive, which on a car with an engine means a plug-in hybrid such as the C 300 e. h is hybrid.
- 4MATIC is Mercedes' name for all-wheel drive.
- Older badges: CGI (petrol direct injection), Kompressor (supercharged) and BlueEFFICIENCY (fuel-saving tweaks such as stop-start).
BMW: 320i, 330i, xDrive, sDrive
- First digit = series. A bigger number usually means a bigger, plusher car. X is the SUV range.
- The next two digits = power tier, as the table shows.
- The letter after the number = fuel. i is petrol, d is diesel and e is plug-in hybrid (330e). An i in front of the name (i4, iX) means fully electric. From the 2024 1 Series, BMW began dropping the "i" from petrol cars, so a new "120" is a petrol car (BMWBLOG).
- xDrive is all-wheel drive. sDrive is two-wheel drive.
Audi: 40 TDI, TFSI, quattro
- A is Audi's cars (A3, A4, A6) and Q is its SUVs (Q3, Q5, Q7).
- The two-digit number is a power band in kW, a system Audi started in August 2017: 30 = 81–96 kW, 35 = 110–120 kW, 40 = 125–150 kW, 45 = 169–185 kW, 50 = 210–230 kW (Motoring Research and Autosprint, reproducing Audi's release). Treat it as a class: a few cars sit just outside their band. S, RS and R8 models never used it, and since 2024 new Audis have been dropping the number from the boot.
- TFSI is a turbo petrol, TFSI e a plug-in hybrid and TDI a turbo diesel.
- quattro is Audi's all-wheel drive.
Volkswagen: 1.4 TSI, TDI, 4MOTION
VW is the easy one: the number is still usually the real engine size, so a 1.4 TSI has about 1.4 litres. VW South Africa's badge glossary explains the rest:
- TSI, "Turbocharged Stratified Injection": a turbo petrol.
- TDI, "Turbocharged Direct Injection": a turbo diesel. So TSI vs TDI is simply petrol vs diesel.
- DSG: VW's dual-clutch automatic gearbox.
- 4MOTION: VW's all-wheel drive.
4MATIC, xDrive, quattro and 4MOTION all mean all-wheel drive. Here is how that differs from front-, rear- and four-wheel drive:
Front-wheel drive: the engine pulls the car with the front wheels. Light, roomy and good on fuel. Most small cars and many crossovers.
Rear-wheel drive: a shaft takes power to the back wheels, which push the car. Balanced and sporty, used in BMWs, Mercedes saloons and pickups.
All-wheel drive: the car sends power to all four wheels when it needs grip, usually automatically. Safer in rain and on murram. Subaru, Audi quattro, VW 4MOTION, Toyota RAV4 AWD.
Four-wheel drive: a transfer box splits power to both axles, often with a low-range gear for steep, muddy or rocky tracks. Land Cruiser, Prado, Hilux and Defender. Part-time 4WD you switch on; full-time 4WD is always on.
Sporty "Line" badges vs the real performance cars
Each brand sells a sporty-looking pack for ordinary cars and a separate, much faster performance model:
- Mercedes: AMG Line is a styling and equipment pack (bumpers, wheels, often firmer suspension). A real Mercedes-AMG is badged C 43, C 63 and so on, and Mercedes calls AMG a performance sub-brand.
- BMW: M Sport is a styling pack, and the car is still badged 320i or 330i. M Performance models put the M in the name (M340i). Full M cars are the M3, M5 and X5 M.
- Audi: S line is a sporty equipment line. The performance models are S (S3, S4) and RS (RS 3, RS 6).
- VW: R-Line is a styling line inspired by the R models. The Golf R is the performance car (VW).
A real performance model has a stronger engine, bigger brakes and costlier parts, and should cost far more to buy and insure. An AMG Line C 200 is still a C 200.
Chassis codes: W205, F30, G20
A chassis code names one generation of a model. Mercedes uses three digits for the model series, with a letter that usually shows the body: W205 is the C-Class saloon from 2014 to 2021, S205 the estate, and W206 the C-Class from 2021. BMW uses codes like E90 (3 Series saloon, 2005–2011), F30 (2012–2019) and G20 (from late 2018).
Why buyers should care:
- Parts: spare parts are listed by chassis code and VIN, not by "C 200". Give the garage both, or you may get a part for the wrong generation.
- Spec checks: a 2010 and a 2022 "C 200" are different generations, with 1.8- and 1.5-litre engines. The chassis code tells you which one you have.
- Japanese papers: a German car bought in Japan also gets a Japanese-format code on its export papers. Exporters' listings show a 2019 C-Class as "205014": the 205 is its Mercedes series. Our Japanese codes guide explains the rest.
Things buyers often miss
A badge can be swapped
Badges are stuck on, and autoTRADER.ca warns that fake C 63s with badges bought online are "not unheard of". Others remove badges. Match the VIN or chassis number on the car with the logbook or export papers, and ask an official dealer or a brand specialist to look up the factory record from the VIN. It shows the model and engine the car left the factory with.
Japanese-market German cars and steering side
Japan drives on the left, like Kenya, but some German cars were sold there in left-hand drive, which a Japanese exporter notes can hold its value better there. Kenya's standard KS 1515 prohibits the import and registration of left-hand-drive vehicles, apart from special-purpose cases (The Kenya Times, on a KEBS notice, June 2025). Confirm the steering side, and check the age under the 8-year rule.
Servicing and spares in Kenya
CFAO Mobility Kenya describes itself as the distributor and service provider for Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen. Business Daily reported that Inchcape took over the BMW franchise from Simba Corporation in January 2019. Franchises change, so confirm who holds each brand today. Before you buy, ask a dealer or independent specialist to price a few common parts (brake pads, filters) for that exact chassis code, and find a garage with the right diagnostic equipment for the brand.
At MNM our own mechanic inspects every car, and you can bring your own mechanic before you pay. Browse cars in stock, or see the car loans guide if you are financing.
Questions buyers ask
What is the difference between a C 200 and a C 250?
Power. On the 2026 C-Class both have the same 1,999 cc engine; the C 250 makes 160 kW and the C 200 130 kW. On older cars, check the papers.
BMW 320i vs 330i: which is bigger?
On the current G20 3 Series, neither. Both are 2.0-litre petrols; the 330i has 190 kW against the 320i's 135 kW.
What do 4MATIC, xDrive, quattro and 4MOTION mean?
All-wheel drive, in Mercedes, BMW, Audi and VW language. A BMW sDrive drives two wheels.
Is an AMG Line car a real AMG?
No. It is a styling pack on a normal Mercedes. Real Mercedes-AMG models are badged C 43, C 63 and so on.
Does the badge prove what engine the car has?
No. Badges can be added or removed, and one badge has meant different engines over the years. The logbook and a VIN check are the proof.
Can I register a left-hand-drive German car in Kenya?
Generally no. KS 1515 prohibits importing and registering left-hand-drive vehicles, except special-purpose cases.
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