strange vin number, grey market car? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

odie · #1 10-02-2007, 05:29 PM

Is this a grey market or european model?

WDB1260221A093722

I can't get any info from this VIN other than it lists as a Mercedes. No info about year, model, engine, etc. Nothing comes back from any VIN search.

Any help please. I'm not asking for a car fax or anything, just what is this car?

Thanks guys

fz500sel · #2 10-02-2007, 05:37 PM

From what I remember from my Euro '84 500sel, you have a W126 chassis grey market vehicle. If I remember correctly what State Farm told me was that the 11th character in that VIN would be a number rather than a letter if it was a US VIN. Couldn't tell you what 126 chassis it was or what year, sorry.

Adenauer · #3 10-02-2007, 05:44 PM

VINWDB1260221A093722
Model280 SE
Chassis1260221A093722
Engine110989 12 071396
Transmission722300 02 542655
Order0 3 217 04295
Approx. year1983
DealerFrankfurt branch (217)
Interiorcloth anthracite (051)
Paint172anthracite grey metallic (с 01.01.1963)

Options
257Becker radio Europa Kurier LW/MW/SW/USW (с 01.08.1975 по 30.11.1990)
260elimination of model designation on rear lid (с 01.05.1968)
410electric sliding roof (с 01.03.1965 по 29.02.1988)
420automatic transmission, floor shift (с 01.01.1963)
590heat-insulating glass, all-around, heated rear window pane (laminated glass), Germany
green heat-insulating glass all round, heated rear window, laminated safety glass - Germany (с 01.01.1972)
940odometer calibrated (с 01.11.1968)

odie · #4 10-02-2007, 05:53 PM

I tried that Russian site someone just posted. Came up the same. I was kinda hoping for a late 80's diesel or something.

The car is listed on a police auction as a 1985. I have not seen the car other than a pic and it looks early 90's from the headlights, not 1985 ish.

truckinik · #5 10-02-2007, 05:56 PM

Who has a pic..., Can I see one please?

odie · #6 10-02-2007, 06:02 PM

Adenauer · #7 10-02-2007, 06:10 PM

Those are E-code headlights; original equipment on euro-spec vehicles.

Short bumpers, too. It's an '85.

Jim B. · #8 10-02-2007, 07:01 PM

Those Gen. I W126 280SE euros are actually pretty damn quick for what they are. I have driven one, they are impressive. They are surprisingly nimble on that SE short wheelbase for a big sedan.

A few of them actually came with manual transmissions. The slowest gasser of all of them would have been the W126 260SE euro. I have only ever seen one of those (at the SF airport once)

Really good pickup on the W126 280SE in city traffic. Probably they have a good rear axle ratio.

Definately a Euro. But with the body on that one, and "police auction" provenance, it would only be worth it if you got it for a several hundred dollars, and and had keys - and it ran. It's a way to get into a W126 really cheap. there must be a story there - abandoned, towed away for tickets, confiscated for a being used in some crime or a hit and run accident, usually these ones are just one step from the junkyard. It could be a goner already.

The 1987 Ford Taurus that is just behind it with the racing stripes

is a pretty good idea of a typical car you would find at a Police auction.

Superb photo by the way.

odie · #9 10-02-2007, 07:05 PM

gang task-force siezure I think.

It's interesting but I'm a diesel fan. If it was manual trans and 2-door it would been more interesting.

Jim B. · #10 10-02-2007, 07:08 PM

Gangsters don't drive diesels lol

There were no W126 two door manuals or diesels either.

Adenauer · #11 10-02-2007, 07:12 PM

Geeze, if you could snag it for close to nothing as Jim B. mentioned, you could part the car out and possibly make a bit of a return. There are enough owners of mid-'80s euro-spec 126s around (and on this forum in the "Tech Help" section) that if you had the space and some extra time to dismantle, it may be something to consider. But, alas, one thing leads to another and pretty soon you've become "Odie's M-B Salvage."

jkoebel · #12 10-02-2007, 07:33 PM

Serious, if char 11 is a letter, it's grey-market?
I'v got an '83 that I thought was US, and it's got a B for char 11.

fz500sel · #13 10-03-2007, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jkoebel

Serious, if char 11 is a letter, it's grey-market?
I'v got an '83 that I thought was US, and it's got a B for char 11.

I'm pretty sure that is what they had said. Check out your US vehicle VIN and see what the 11th character is.

fz500sel · #14 10-03-2007, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jkoebel

Serious, if char 11 is a letter, it's grey-market?
I'v got an '83 that I thought was US, and it's got a B for char 11.

MY bad....

it was the 10th character should be a letter NOT a number. That is what she had said. sorry.

Hatterasguy · #15 10-03-2007, 06:48 PM

Those lights are nice. Thats the only good part I see on the car.

Its pretty much the same as a 300SD, someone with an SD should pick it up as a parts car.