560SL Battery location
 

Hi folks, Im a newbie to the forum and to MB's and I could do with a little advise please.

I have purchased what I believe to be as a 1985/86 560SL, I am told it originated from Japan. The limited paperwork I have confirms this, however according to the info I have read the battery on a 560 should be in the boot, but the one on mine is in the engine bay, so what have I bought?

Now you probably think, what is this idiot doing why has be bought a car without knowing what it is!!

I live in the Middle East and I bought the car on its condition, its very very tidy. The previous owner lovingly cared for the car however didn't look into its history, I have tracked it back to originating in Japan and coming to the UAE in 1990 after being imported by a wealthy Arab.

Its all very nice and shiny but the burning question is......what is it?

Many thanks for any advice...Andy

Vin number
 

Post the Vin number and someone will run it for you.
If you look at the panel where the drivers door closes it should have the year of manufacture. It has all the body pieces of a Euro 560 but I did not think they made the 560 in Euro trim.

What ever it is it looks real clean. Enjoy!

VIN Number
 

Thanks for the reply, the Chassis number I have is WDB1070461A037700 and the engine number is 11796412000932.

Any help identifying this would be greatly appreciated.

500SL
Outside Temperature Indication
262 Parktronic System - Elimination (usa)
460 Vehicles For Canada, Additional Parts
491 Version Usa
531 Automatic Antenna
543 Sun Visor With Make-up Mirror L. And R., Be-
551 Theft Warning System
570 Folding Armrest, Front
581 Automatic Climate Control
592 All-round Wd-green Glass,heated Rear Window-vsg
639 La 5 Spoke Design 17" With Mixed Tires
744 Folding Top Fabric 5010, Dark Blue
806 Year Of Modification
873 Seat Heating Front Seats Lh And Rhsanums
(коды изменений каталога)

Ok so it looks like this is a 500 not a 560 then does it? Weird, paperwork I have is all 560 time to dig a bit deeper and find out when it got changed over........ I reckon it must have been changed back in Japan.

Thanks for the input.....anyone got any 500SL badges for sale!!!

StarTek shows it as an 85 500sl.
Is it an auto trans or manual?
You have the 560 wheels so leave the badge.
I think the spoiler would look better if it matched the car.
I wonder what code 639 wheels looked like. Thats a new one on me.
I saw a 450sl tonight that had 5 spoke crome wheels with a Benz Star center cap.
They looked aftermarket but maybe they were code 639.

You got the Euro bumpers what head lights do you have?

Love the color combo.
But I am biased because my US 560sl is the same.:D

The spare tire might still have the original wheel.

Japan is right hand drive.

Ok, finally got to sit with someone in my local MB dealer who has any interest in older cars and not just wanting to sell me a new AMG!!! (Ah the joys of the Middle East).

Apparently my car is an 85 560SL, however because it was one of the very first made for the Australian market (not Japan as I was led to believe!!) there was no 560SL model code on the Aussie vehicle registration system, so it was registered as a 500SL!!

The headlights are the euro ones and the spare wheel matches the other four.

I am on the hunt for a new exhaust from the downpipes back as the one thats on it has been botched and welded together, it has a cat on it that isnt doing anything and it looks like the engine has been retuned to run without it anyhow (Cats arent needed over here anyway) and I want to change the shocks as they are very soft (any recommendations would be appreciated). At present she is in the shop having the A/C overhauled as its about as effective as a mouse blowing a candle!!

Great looking car Andy. Enjoy.

117.964 engine code relates to a 5.0 engine. A 5.6 engined 560 would have the code 117.967 and chassis 107.048.
An Australian car would have also been right hand drive.
My money is on that its a US spec car because of the automatic climate control. The bumpers and the lights could have easily been swapped for their none US counterparts.

Not a chance. The 117.964, a 5.0, as you pointed out was never ok'd for US production. ACC was available to buyers of euro spec cars as an option, albeit an expensive choice. This a pic, borrowed from a member, of an '85 500SL euro, equipped with ACC, and plenty of AMG goodies....:D


http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h1...AMGs/Both4.jpg



That Russian VIN decoder is not the last word in VIN accuracy. I'd like to see what the Classic Center has to say, andydunn2. You can email them with proof of ownership for an MB decode of the VIN.

http://www.mbusa.com/heritage/classic-center-california.do

Fair enough, but what country would have had cats then? Thats why I suggested its a US car. I'm sure if it was a euro, the original purchaser wouldn't have ordered it with cats if they weren't needed.
I think Japan and Australia version cars had cats then, but they are both RHD. Maybe its a version for Switzerland?

The auto AC shows up on maybe half of the gray market 500SLs I've seen for sale in the US, though the non-auto system was standard and the auto an option. The spoiler is that of the 500SL and was always black, not painted, as it's a rubber material. The small bumpers and Euro headlights fit a non-US history. I do seem to recall reading somewhere that the 560SL was sold in Australia as well as the US, but of course not a US-spec car.

Hi Very Very Nice. I Notice that there is no Air Bag on the steering Wheel. Just another item to deal with. It is fun to do the investigation. You will eventually find out and who and where it was first delivered to. MB will find out. Jack