New week, new bump

MBCA does have their own idea of what a club should be and it really doesn't include people under 50 or so. Their idea of a car show is bone stock cars, really, who wants to go to a show and look at bone stock W124's, R129's, W126's etc. The BMW CCA on the other hand, is totally opposite. MBCA wonders why they can't boost membership, haha

On a positive note, the last MBCA show I was at, my CLK placed 3rd in the late model class, which is very suprising given what I already stated about the club. I wonder if that would of happened if I wasn't a MBCA member?

Of course, 1st place was a bone stock 300ce, go figure.

With all due respect, I wonder if this is a Euro 500E. I have one in England (bought new in 1991), so I think I know whereof I speak. The headlamps are pure US version although I will concede they could have been fitted on importation. What worries me more is the interior. In true 1991 Euro versions, there was no front central arm rest, nor was there a covered cubbyhole between the front seats. These would have been expensive 1993 modifications that I doubt would have been undertaken. Also, the paint worries me. I cannot tell what color it is exactly; is it Brilliant Silver? If so, I do not think that was offered in Euroland in 1991. As far as I know, it was only available in darker metallics, Pearl Grey being the most numerous and the lightest in tone.

P. S. No air bags in 1991 in the steering wheel.

as I mention in the post it's a late 1991 build (October) and most of the features resemble 1992 cars. Several things were done to federalize it and although I've had trouble getting a complete list from the company that did the conversion it wouldn't suprise me if a drivers airbag was required to register it as a 1993 car (which is what is stated on the title of the car), but if you look I do have a glovebox on the passenger side and not an airbag as US cars did. The headlights were changed, clearly, from euro ones for federalization purposes. This car was originally sent to Belgium, as I've mentioned earlier, and it is indeed very European, everything under the hood is still in german, along with the cruise control and gearshift markings, it has a US gauge cluster fitted as required and when you open the gas filler lid it's all in German too.
The car is brilliant silver metallic, original paint, original paint code, much of the pics come out washed out of color because of my complete ineptitude to take a proper picture in Hawaiian sunlight.
Tomorrow I'll take some pics of the previously mentioned foreign language markings and post them up.

Geez, tough crowd Brodie! ;)

Nothing too bad, I'm just rather appalled that he joined this forum just to say that?:confused:

So, before I get the pic tomorrow, this will suffice:
1: Go here: http://old.mbclub.ru/mb/vin/?lng=eng
2: Enter this (my VIN): WDB1240361B490817
3: Check the box for "FULL VERSION"
4: Click "Search"
5: And then read the details, it's all there :book:

Sorry, to ruffle the party; I just stumbled across your posting, Brodie, while I was searching for something else completely unrelated. I did not know there was a hazing period for the fraternity that had to be completed before I posted.

But your point about reading the details is a fair one; late at night, I skipped through the middle postings and missed it and went ahead with my ill-informed posting anyway. If you have that kind of paper trail, I am sure you will want to share that with your buyer. It did occur to me, however, that this was an export car that could have gone to another market such as somewhere in Asia. I think there were a few in Japan, Hong Kong and Singapore. From there, it could have come into California.

I toyed with the idea of importing my 500E into the US in 1995 and was quoted $15-20K for the Fed Cert on top of transporation +/-$5K. This, when added on to $100K new cost, seemed unappealling when dealers had new '94 E500s sitting on showroom floors for <$85K. So, your assertion of rareness in the case of your car should be well justified.

In any event, 500Es are fine cars. I just drove from New York to San Francisco via Canada north of the Great Lakes (4500 miles) in a Bentley Continental GT and I would have rather done it in a 500E.

Furthermore, I would not be surprised if the "49" in your VIN means it was for the German market as my VIN equivalent digits is "44" for Great Britain, both the international dialing codes for the respective countries.

I am sure one of the readers of this forum can confirm or refute my guess on this.

So, eating humble pie all the way, I retract my naysays of yesterday.

True USA-spec 500E's will have the VIN start with "WDBEA36".

All non-USA spec 500E's will have the VIN start with "WDB124036".

The last 7 digits of the VIN are simply sequential chassis serial numbers... they increment to B999999, then roll to C000000, C000001, and so on. The A999999-B000000 roll happened around the 1990 model year, the B-C roll happened right around the end of 1993 or beginning of 1994 model year. But there is no logic built into the serial number indicating destination country, etc. That information is kept on file by MB though. View page 10 of this PDF file for more details on the USA VIN format.

:euro:

It's cool, I didn't mean anything by it, it's not like I have a massive post count either, I'm much more of a forum lurker. I was just surprised that it was your only posts, maybe I should be more honored.

But yes as you can see it is indeed a Euro market car, if it went to any other country between leaving Europe and going to US I'd be surprised, the car has been registered in Hawaii since 1993 when it received the final conversion at G&K in California.

But here's the pics as promised: (and I realized I need to vacuum my car again hahahah)
Behind Gas Lid
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...nderGasLid.jpg

Under Gas Cap
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...CapSticker.jpg

Cruise Control Stalk
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...ruiseFront.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...opHairyLeg.jpg

Gear Change Gate (my personal favorite)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...Gearchange.jpg


Oh, and since I had some questions via email, yes, the AC has been converted, its a state law here
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...ionSticker.jpg

OK, OK, Uncle, I am convinced it started life intended for Europe.

I learned a lot in this exchange and for that I thank you all. First, I had never seen a Brilliant Silver car of this early vintage. Second, I learned that one of my cars that is officially a '99 S-Class was actually built in early 1998!

Bump it up
Tell your friends!

Open to offers guys

I hope that you mean reasonable offers