Under the hood, on the support member just in front of the radiator and just to the right of center, is a metal plate with a bunch of numbers stamped in it. It should look like the picture below.



See the code 274 in the middle of the left side? That's my interior code. It means Leather Palamino. 174 would be MB-Tex Palamino. I happen to have the upholstry guide for the 1988 model year. Since your's is an '88, let me know the code and I can tell you the official color. The two 040 codes at the bottom left are the paint codes. 040 is black.

I haven't decoded all of the numbers yet, but the two sets of three-digit codes on the right are "option" codes.

262 is Parktronic-system delete (for USA)
442 is driver's airbag
519 is the radio (Becker Grand Prix)
551 is anti-theft warning system
581 is automatic climate control
808 apparently indicates 1988

I don't know what the 491 indicates.

In the left column, 107048 is the model designation (560SL). I don't think I've identified the other numbers on the left, but I don't have my cheat sheet in front of me at the moment.

[IMG]file://C:/Documents and Settings/mheath/My Documents/My Pictures/Mercedes/Radiator Plate.jpg[/IMG]

__________________
Mike Heath
1988 560SL Black/Palomino
1988 300SEL Black Pearl/Burgandy
1984 500SEC Anthracite Grey/Palomino