switching out engines-Vin #

[tmaheras]

I'm buying a used 560sl 1989 engine from a salvage yard and the yard says it it's an 89 with 70k miles on it. Is there anyway to confirm this without having the vin # or is the vin # on the engine somewhere? The yard doesn't have the vin #.

Tim

The engine will have its own serial number (should start 117...), but in this state at least, a salvage yard MUST keep a record of the VIN of the car where each major part came from, when and from whom they received it, etc. - it's the law. At the very least, make sure it's not a 560SEL engine or a 380SL engine, unless those are what you want.

[suginami]

Try this:

[Darrell Woods]

Tmaheras, it should be easy to locate the engine number with it out of the vehicle. Assuming they didn't change over the years, hear's where I found mine. If you follow the valve cover (driver's side) all the way back to where the firewall would be, you will be close. Look where the head mates to the block (look below the valve cover) and there should be a tab sticking out, probably covered with grease. It will have the engine number stamped into the tab. The engine number will not match the VIN number. Two different animals with a Benz. If you know the VIN the engine came from, e-mail MBUSA with the VIN and ask for a data card. They'll send you one and it will tell you the engine number that was originally installed.

[tmaheras]

The yard that sold me the engine said it came from a sl but after receiving it, my mechanic said it was from a SEL and he had to switch out the oil pan a long with all the other bolt ons. Is this the same engine? The car runs great, except the a/c doesn't work now. Is there anyway to match the engine number with the VIN# if you don't have the VIN?

Tim

Tim