Plate specialist needed - spotted on German Autobahn

[Monatsende]

Hey there,

today on my way to work I spotted an older S-Class E-Class model (W210) with a plate I never saw before.
Does anybody know what it is?

My first guess was that it`s a military sign (4 stars general on board). Hmmm, makes it easy for attacks...

It`s not a standard Bundeswehr plate which starts with a Y

but it shows "BW" for "Bundeswehr"? Also, colour is what we call "Natogrün" in Germany.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

In Germany there are different general ranks like

General (4 stars)
Generalleutnant (3 stars)
Generalmajor (2 stars)
Brigadegeneral (1 star)

I guess there are not many 4 stars generals in office. A quite rare find? Or something totally different?

 

[Dean]

Well, I'm not sure why there's stars on the car, but looking up the plate, gave me Aichach (AIC, in Bundesland Bayern) and Bundes-Wasser- und Schifffahrtsverwaltung (BW). I hope it helps you 👍.

 

[Punknoodle]

That plate means he has a 4 star wanted level. Surprised you didn't see the SWAT teams trying to ram him off the road.

 

[Monatsende]

Well, I'm not sure why there's stars on the car, but looking up the plate, gave me Aichach (AIC, in Bundesland Bayern) and Bundes-Wasser- und Schifffahrtsverwaltung (BW). I hope it helps you 👍.

Thanks for your help.

AIC = Aichach is correct. But "BW" for Bundes-Wasser- und Schifffahrtsverwaltung looks this way:

Analog(ue) to "Y" for Bundeswehr...

Second part of a standard German plate is a random letter combination from A to ZZ {with some exceptions (forbidden: HJ, KZ, NS, SA and SS) due to Nazi regime}. But you can chose a vanity plate if the combination is free and some might be reserved by/for companies and organisations.

That plate means he has a 4 star wanted level. Surprised you didn't see the SWAT teams trying to ram him off the road.

Feels like you have played too much GrandTheftAuto.

 

[Luminis]

Hm, it's different from any of the special plates that I know. It's not military stuff, doesn't belong to an embassy or embassador or any agency. Actually, special plates should be forgoing the second letter combination...

So all I can think of is that's some random military enthusiast who's decorated his car a bit.

 

[Monatsende]

Hm, it's different from any of the special plates that I know. It's not military stuff, doesn't belong to an embassy or embassador or any agency. Actually, special plates should be forgoing the second letter combination...

So all I can think of is that's some random military enthusiast who's decorated his car a bit.

Oh, really? Buying or painting a S-Class Mercedes-Benz in Natogrün? Quite heavy enthusiast he must be.

 

[Rotary Junkie]

That is an E-Class.

 

[Monatsende]

That is an E-Class.

Hahaha, right you are. OP fixed. 👍

 

[Dean]

I just noticed the top badge, on the plate. It does look like this;

right?

I'm pretty sure you call it "Grüne Kennzeichen" in Germany. And a Wikipedia search later, I got this:

[...] grüner Schrift auf weißem Grund und ansonsten identisch mit normalen Kennzeiche.

([...] green letters on a white background, but otherwise identical to normal plates.)

Please correct my translation, if it's wrong in any way. I'm not the best, when it comes to German .

I'm not sure, if this type of plates is common, in Germany. I can ask a German friend of mine, as he might know more than me, - if you like .

 

[Monatsende]

I just noticed the top badge, on the plate. It does look like this;

right?

I'm pretty sure you call it "Grüne Kennzeichen" in Germany. And a Wikipedia search later, I got this:

Please correct my translation, if it's wrong in any way. I'm not the best, when it comes to German .

I'm not sure, if this type of plates is common, in Germany. I can ask a German friend of mine, as he might know more than me, - if you like .

Couldn`t see if letters were green. (Green = taxfree, often for trailer used for agriculture.)
But your post reminded me of a company that is called "BwFuhrparkService GmbH" which is a service company for German Bundeswehr. Cars have standard plates with standard letter combinations - often/always "BW" in the middle.
I guess that`s the key for the car`s plate. But what about the 4 stars...?

 

[kikie]

I asked my oncle and he is almost 100% sure that this is a car of a general (probably retired).

My oncle use to be a high ranked officer and was stationed for years in Germany.

 

[Luminis]

Oh, really? Buying or painting a S-Class Mercedes-Benz in Natogrün? Quite heavy enthusiast he must be.

My dad had one of these years ago - bought the E-Class for about 5 grand, I think

Anyways, if it is a genera'l car, I'd assume that it actually is his private car, not something owned by the military itself. Would be newer and have a different license.