The cluster is in mph but the upholstery and maybe bumpers look euro. Don't know about the lights from that year/model.

__________________
You're a daisy if you do.
__________________________________
84 Euro 240D 4spd. 220.5k sold
04 Honda Element AWD
1985 F150 XLT 4x4, 351W with 270k miles, hay hauler
1997 Suzuki Sidekick 4x4
1993 Toyota 4wd Pickup 226K and counting

Sorry, but no photo came through. A VIN would also tell a lot.

A lot of Mercedes were gray marketed during that time frame. Look around and see if you can find a sticker that say it was imported by or converted by or something to that effect.

These are the euro bumpers, almost flush with the grille.



The interior has many configurations (velour/fabric/MBTex/Leather), but if it has anything woven, it is 90% guaranteed it's a Euro:



Hope this helps!

__________________
[GONE] - 1995 Mercedes E300 Diesel - 130k miles - Smoke Silver (702) over Mushroom leather (265) - Bladder blasting, coast-to-coast work machine.

OOPSY, forgot the link

1978 Mercedes 450SEL

__________________
You're a daisy if you do.
__________________________________
84 Euro 240D 4spd. 220.5k sold
04 Honda Element AWD
1985 F150 XLT 4x4, 351W with 270k miles, hay hauler
1997 Suzuki Sidekick 4x4
1993 Toyota 4wd Pickup 226K and counting

Euro (or 1973-only U.S.) bumpers, U.S.-spec headlights. Probably brought over here and federalized.

It's DEFINATELY a euro-spec w116, not only because of the euro bumpers.

The reason I know it for 100% certain is that I used to own a 1978 US spec dealer's showroom brochure for that year of S class, and the cloth upholstery was NOT available to U.S. buyers.

The reason for this is that the marketing mavens of Mercedes benz correctly believed that most U.S. buyers of the S class believed it was not a luxury automobile unless it had leather upholstery.

That perception pretty much hold true even today.

~~~

Rust has always been a severe problem with the w116 cars, not too many survive. Virtually none remain in Europe for this reason, today.

But this one is an Arizona sun baked example - so it likely should be ok. But still, check underneath, around the glass, the jack holes along the side rocker panels, and under the bumpers anyway for the dreaded tinworm.

The clearcoat that has been ruined by the Az. sun is an ok trade-off for lack of rust, I think.

They are real gas eaters, but were space-age modern when new in 1973, and marvelous long distance cruisers. And still are today, if they have been kept up.

Good family cars because not only the room and comfort, but they are incredibly safe. The w116 sedans, In fact, are modeled very closely on the ESV (Experimental safety vehicle).

Make sure that the air conditioning blows cold, if the evap goes, it is very pricey. As a euro car, the AC will have the more reliable and simpler dual control knob AC, whereas US spec ones got the pushbutton climate control, I believe, which is more finicky and less reliable and far more complex - another plus in a '78 euro-spec 450SEL....

Parts are pricey but all are still available from the Mercedes Benz Classic Center in Irvine, CA.

If you like the car, then go for it.

Those cloth seats are actually a LOT cooler than leather would be in hot Arizona summers, too.

And while the miles are absurdly low, without documentation and receipts, because of whatever possible kms put on the car in Europe might not have been added onto the US spec speedo when it was converted, something to watch out for on Euro cars.

A car like this today is VERY rare to find in the USA today.

__________________
1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ...

1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold)

2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp

1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k

2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold)

Yes, it's likely a euro. I really dig the velour seats as in the picture way above over the cloth. Those are US spec lights.

__________________
80 300SD (129k mi) 82 240D stick (193k mi)77 240D auto - stick to be (153k mi) 85 380SL (145k mi) 89 BMW 535i 82 Diesel Rabbit Pickup (374k mi) 91 Jetta IDI Diesel (155k mi) 81 VW Rabbit Convertible Diesel 70 Triumph Spitfire Mk III (63kmi)66 Triumph TR4a IRS (90k mi)67 Ford F-100 (??)

Ad doesn't mention the AC at all, which is not encouraging. Here in AZ you ALWAYS mention the air conditioning. I don't have time to look at it till next week so it may be gone, although he's had it advertised for some time.

How bad a gas hog? 8? 12?

__________________
You're a daisy if you do.
__________________________________
84 Euro 240D 4spd. 220.5k sold
04 Honda Element AWD
1985 F150 XLT 4x4, 351W with 270k miles, hay hauler
1997 Suzuki Sidekick 4x4
1993 Toyota 4wd Pickup 226K and counting

At $4k, you don't need to be in a hurry for this gobbler.

Jim

__________________
14 E250 BlueTEC black. 45k miles
95 E320 Cabriolet Emerald green 66k miles
94 E320 Cabriolet Emerald green 152k miles
85 300TD 4 spd man, euro bumpers and lights, 15" Pentas dark blue 274k miles

If you have to ask you cant afford it

It's a euro all right. Might even be that it has no A/C. Though for a 450, even a euro I'd find that strange. I'd be extremely concerned about rust. No telling how long it has been in Europe before being brought here and Sedona is not as dry a climate as down in the valley. Remove the back seats to check under them. Pull up the carpets. Inspect the jack points and rockers very carefully. Especially the underside that you can get to for what that undercoating might be hiding.

- Peter.

__________________
2021 Chevrolet Spark
Formerly...
2000 GMC Sonoma
1981 240D 4spd stick. 347000 miles. Deceased Feb 14 2021
2002 Kia Rio. Worst crap on four wheels
1981 240D 4spd stick. 389000 miles.
1984 123 200
1979 116 280S
1972 Cadillac Sedan DeVille
1971 108 280S

Just given the condition of the cosmetics, that's a sign that the mechanical systems have likely been neglected as well.

Hand crank windows too. Definitely a Euro car. Note that 136K is the miles since it was converted, does not include the factory original kilometers.

My friend drove a U.S. spec '73 450SE in high school. It got 12MPG. All the time. City. Highway. Everywhere.

I'd look under the hood of that car to be sure there's a V8 there. Cloth upholstery with manual window winders could well be a 280SE.

Your friend may have reported it always got 12 it is assured that around town you'd be lucky to get above ten and i would expect 12 to 13 highway. it will no doubt take premium too.

__________________
[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Am I correct that only the 6.9L beast had the hydraulic suspension?

__________________
You're a daisy if you do.
__________________________________
84 Euro 240D 4spd. 220.5k sold
04 Honda Element AWD
1985 F150 XLT 4x4, 351W with 270k miles, hay hauler
1997 Suzuki Sidekick 4x4
1993 Toyota 4wd Pickup 226K and counting

Yes.

__________________
80 300SD (129k mi) 82 240D stick (193k mi)77 240D auto - stick to be (153k mi) 85 380SL (145k mi) 89 BMW 535i 82 Diesel Rabbit Pickup (374k mi) 91 Jetta IDI Diesel (155k mi) 81 VW Rabbit Convertible Diesel 70 Triumph Spitfire Mk III (63kmi)66 Triumph TR4a IRS (90k mi)67 Ford F-100 (??)