What the heck is an anniversary edition W123?
 

I keep finding all kinds of odd things in my obsessive car search.

I've never heard of an "anniversary edition" W123, and could not find much information on it.

I am not sure how I feel about it, but I think it's a bit too bling for my taste. Check out the chrome above the wheel wells--I thought that only ever came on the coupes. And what's up with the sunroof? What is that bubble thing?

This is only the second turbodiesel I've found with matching hubbies. Maybe this was one of the anniversary options? ;)

I've never heard of it. the bubble thing on the sun roof and the chrome wheel arches are both after-market equipment. I'm guessing the "anniversary edition" lettering is also an after market touch... that being said, looking at the car in the ebay link, it looks very clean, maybe the all the extras were added by the dealer?

I found a source for a "Limited Edition" kit.

http://s7d5.scene7.com/is/image/Hard...id=200&hei=200

http://www.hardwareandtools.com/Limited-Edition-Emblem-98058-by-Custom-Accessories-u126787.html

There's no such thing as an anniversary edition W123. Those are all owner added accessories.

Here's what I think
 

If you look around a P & P long enough, you will eventually find some piece of domestic auto, most likely GM, that was all gussied up as an "Anniversary Model". Could be Ford or Chrysler too. There you will find inside the car, probably inside both front doors, those little plastic strips. Guaranteed Mercedes Benz would never put something like that straight little strip in a curved piece of trim, Never happen!

Holy crap, Chad! I never would have guessed something like that existed. Now that I look at the lettering on the plaque, though, it kind of looks like something you'd see on an 1980s American luxury car.

Talk about gilding the lily. If they did add all that aftermarket stuff, they went one step way over the line with the plaque. The sunroof "guard thing" looks too sporty as well. I wonder if it has any function other than looks?

I guess bling truly knows no bounds!

I've seen plenty of those sunroof air dams with the MB logo. I guess they were a dealer option. They decrease wind noise with the sunroof.

The wheel arches are a good trap for moisture and dier which = Rust under them. I also think the rust starts from where the holes were driled into the sheet metal for the screws. once a hole is drilled, bare metal is exposed for rust to start.

I think the plastic bubble at the sun roof is more of a wind deflector when the roof is open.

Anniversary Addition? :eek: Yikes!!! that is a very rare model, I think they only made one. grab it quick. surprised the guy isn`t asking $18,000 for it. Hurry before the price goes up :D

Charlie

I do not believe hubcaps wheels were an option for the w123 300D turbo's- so they are not original. Looks like a sellers being tricky trying to get more money with bullsh&^ add-ons.

I'm pretty sure Karl founded his business in 1881 with Gottleid starting his business in 1890.

The only significant thing that happened in 1885 was the creation of the grandfather clock engine, but Wikipedia has "citation needed" marks all around it so I doubt it.

This guy is a fool.

no, being a retard knows no bounds. bling is just a symptom...

Anniversary of what? Is where I went with it too.

Dealers added all kinds of things to make them stand out and sell in the '80s, I've even seen dealer-installed vinyl tops.

Could have been anyone added this badge.

could be worse, they could have glued the badge "Custom Deluxe" on there as well.

That is a really poor place for the labeling though, that stuff is usually on like 25th year mustangs or impalas or what not, and the label is usually tastefully done down on the door or lower fender.

I have checked dealer records in two countries, and both have told me they have never heard of/seen/sold/serviced an anniversary edition Mercedes.

Does this guy have some kind of documentation? I'd like to see that!

you know, the more I look at that, the more and more I think thats actually an interior glove door or passenger dash trim badge out of a towncar or crown vic.

I feel strongly like those are ford lettering, and something long and low like that would be what you would find on the wood trim of a big 4 door sedan like that.

That looks like they glued a cheap piece of plastic to the car....

Asian Mercedes Benz dealers were known to accessorize new vehicles with script like that during the last model year of a series, I have seen pictures of W124 models that had them, (for example).

Just a gimmick to pump up sales.

I don't think Mercedes had any sort of special editions until the late 1990s with the S500 Grand Edition. There have been a few here and there since then but not too many. (I've seen ML Special Editions, the SL500 Silver Arrow Edition, and the Saks 5th Avenue launch models)

(A sportline W124 would be considered an option correct?)

The Anniversary bit is just pure:bsflag:

"Guaranteed Mercedes Benz would never put something like that straight little strip in a curved piece of trim, Never happen! "

you'd be surprised

http://img541.imageshack.us/img541/8...094803avan.jpg

depends on what you mean by 'special edition', and whether or not a la carte amg options count as a car being that. [/QUOTE]

it was an option package that included many things including upgraded interior trim, suspension, steering, etc. so yes it can be considered a special edition in that sense. of course the 190e 2.3-16v had many of those same features as the sportline, but it wasn't badged with a plastic badge (unless you consider the sport evolution which did have the plastic badge)

I've seen one in person which was a very nice shade of blue but i'm not sure what made it any different from other MLs (Which are my least favorite Mercedes so I don't know too much about them to begin with) I think the hood is different but i'm not sure....

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ML350-SPECIAL-EDITION-ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE-320-NON-SMOKER_W0QQitemZ140396680951QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUS_Cars_Trucks?hash=item20b04b56f7

i think what you mean by special edition is the same thing mercedes used to mean by sport or sportline. yeah, just an appearance and handling package. they used to call them sportline, then it changed to avantgarde vs. elegance, and then back to sport, and there have been several 'editions' since then which have meant different things.

the coolest one by far is the sl black edition

give the guy a break! he states he has no idea what the anniversary stickers signify, and poses a guess as to possibly an 100th anniversary or something.
he truthfully states the car gets 28+ MPG and the car is realistically priced at 6750 buy it now...
I'm impressed.
maybe imagines is on here, and can go look at it for us.
the wheels are not stock, unless it's a euro...
I sent her a PM...

That car looks like a Royale with cheese.

I just clicked on the Anniversary Edition link in post# 1. didn`t do before, just looked at the thumbnails.

Not a bad looking 123, some one liked hub caps and changed the wheels. Bundts did come on that yr. Don`t think this is a Euro model looking at the pictures. looks pretty clean, and if that is the correct milage, the price isnt far out of line. try buying one of the same yr that has been deglected, and dump a bunch of money into it getting it up to speed.

Iam not fond of gold painted cars, though it does look nicer than my pealy clear coat :rolleyes:.

Charlie

That was my first thought too. MB wouldn't do that. It's aftermarket stick on stuff.

if you re-read this thread, you'll see i didn't make that statement but i did refute it. i put that comment in quotes instead of quoting the original poster

Well *SOMETHING* is odd about it:

VIN WDBAB33C0FA268764
Model
Chassis 1231331A268764
Engine 617952 12 110995
Transmission 722315 02 657707
Order 0 5 705 50532
Approx. year not defined
Dealer United States (USA) (705)
Interior mb-tex java (154)
Paint
473 champagne metallic (с 01.01.1978 по 31.12.1988, с 1994)
54 Unknown code
Options

Vin decoder usually does well on newer cars...

Define 'newer cars'.....

Proper vin numbers, not serial numbers.

Not anything like what was posted earlier. That's a arrow pointed trim- not curved. My vote says it's not a refute, and the car in question is still a "fake", and suspect.

The decoder doesn't work for my 85's vin. It gives me what you just saw. :P

i never said the car was an anniversary edition--there is no such thing on a w123. i just made the point that mercedes has put similar emblems on curved peices of trim. my point had nothing to do with the thread but with that comment only.

Anniversary edition W123
 

I just purchased the 85 W123 in question. I didn't buy because it was reportedly an anniversary edition. I bought because the price looked okay and it appeared to be in good condition. The seller met me at the airport in Denver, the car appeared to be as advertised. I looked it over quickley and departed for my destination, some 1500 miles away. The car performed great and gave me absolutely no problems on my trip home. I got 28+ miles per gallon.
Now on to the topic, Anniversary Edition. I also have my doubts about such an animal, but there are definately some differences about this particular vehicle compared to other 85's I have. Obviously the wheels. I don't believe they were changed by any of the previos owners. Even the spare is the steel wheel and has had little road time on it. Another oddity is the instrument panel. It is the panel as one would find in a 76-81. It has the large clock and no tach. If this is an annversary edition, it would probably be the 10th anniversary of the W123 and perhaps modified by the dealer. I'm still searching to find out the true story.
Everything on this car works as it should and doesn't look as though it has the 139300 miles on it the the odometer states. That is to say, it looks better. It is immaculate!:)
This car was purchesed originally from a dealer in Denver. If anyone out there has any additional info, I would be eager to hear it. I'm hear to tell you, I think I made a great purchase at a very reasonable price.:D

Bob

When I was selling new Mercedes, in the '80s, dealers dolled up cars like this all of the time to try and set them apart from the other dealers' cars. Special Edition et al cars were abundant, as were custom vinyl tops, sunroofs, body kits, wheels, and lots of polished chrome. Even more common were the "decal race-car" modifications.

This badging is NOT the type nor style that Mercedes-Benz would apply on a car, straight-line plastic badging on curved trim? Not even GM did anything that tacky in '85.

It was added, whether by a dealer or an owner, doesn't matter nor add to its value. It will detract from its value in the eyes of most of those who buy 123s, most. Get out the heat gun and save that car from its leisure-suite grade badges.

heat gun

+1