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93 300SE: Grey Market? Info?

Just got this 1993 Benz 300 SE (thats what the PO calls it) and it has some wierd things about it.
Ecode headlights
Euro plate mounts
Wierd interior bits
No VIN on the dash
What could this be? Grey market?

Now, the problem is, someone decided to rig the INJECTOR harness when the wires dryrotted and cracked. They thought it would be a good idea to just wrap them with electrical tape. I have pics posted below of THAT mess.

Right now, the idle is rough, and it hesitates when you step on the gas, and I have noticed lowered fuel economy. I would think that it is 99% the fault of those wires to the injectors, wouldn't you?
Where do I go to get a new wire harness for this thing? There are none in the yards here.
Can anyone give me some info on this beast? Any stuff to look out for? I hear the rear suspension can be expensive to fix, as well as the AC system.

I am also told that this is not the correct speedometer for the car.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v8...z/IMG_7403.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v8...z/IMG_7401.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v8...z/IMG_7420.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v8...z/IMG_7407.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v8...z/IMG_7409.jpg
The great idea:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v8...z/IMG_7415.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v8...z/IMG_7416.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v8...z/IMG_7405.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v8...z/IMG_7412.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v8...z/IMG_7411.jpg

Other indicators of Euro-ness are fabric seat upholstery (I've never seen or heard of a US W140 with fabric upholstery), flat face wheels (not offered on US W140s) and activated charcoal cabin filter (very infrequent option on a, please forgive me, low end S-class).

I would think a US spec 300SE harness would have very good to perfect fitment. You might have to content with a sensor or two out of place but it'll probably be an improvement over what you have now.

Let me know if you decide to switch wheels. I like how those wheels look on a W140.

Sixto
93 300SD

The headlight leveling switch is also a giveaway. Some US models have automatic leveling headlights, never a manual thumbwheel.

Sixto
93 300SD

Never seen an 8,000 rpm tach on a W140. Here is the cluster on my '95 S280 gray market:
http://fototime.com/666F0489286E640/standard.jpg

Ok, Thanks for all the info, guys. The car is now at the shop gettin rewired, and they have run into a problem. The harness to the injectors is totally dryrotted and brittle all the way to the main plug. I need the harness! does anyone have one, or know where I can get one cheaper than the 420 bucks I have been quoted?

And if you check the VIN at; http://www.mbclub.ru/mb/vin/?lng=eng
you will get;

Code:

VIN         WDB1400321A120260

Model         300 SE 3.2

Chassis         1400321A120260

Engine         104990 12 052538

Transmission         722368 03 821910

Order         0 2 221 04998

Approx. year         1992

Lights         BOSCH

Wiper         BOSCH

Cab         20888

Dealer         Koeln branch (221)

Interior         cloth black (061)

Paint

744         brilliant silver metallic (с 1991)

Options

260         elimination of model designation on rear lid (с 01.05.1968)

282         ski bag (inboard loading facility) (с 01.07.1989)

291         airbag for front passenger

airbag for driver and front passenger (с 01.07.1987 по 30.09.1993)

airbag for driver and front passenger (if driver airbag standard - then only for passenger)

306         activated charcoal filter (odor filter) (с 01.01.1990)

310         antenna with splitter for car phone net C, on left rear fender (с 01.02.1986)

antenna with splitter for car phone net C, on left rear fender; s 124, on right rear fender

404         orthopaedic front seat backrest (multiple contour backrest in model 140), left (с 01.04.1970 по 31.12.1995)

420         automatic transmission, floor shift (с 01.01.1963)

471         acceleration skid control (ASR) (с 01.07.1984)

551         anti-theft warning system (с 01.11.1978 по 31.03.1998)

581         automatic climate control (с 01.01.1977)

590         heat-insulating glass, all-around, heated rear window pane (laminated glass), Germany

green heat-insulating glass all round, heated rear window, laminated safety glass - Germany (с 01.01.1972)

682         fire extinguisher (с 01.04.1970)

750         Becker radio Europa 2000 vk (с 01.06.1990 по 31.03.1994)

857         new shift-/selector lever generation br 140 (с 01.01.1990)

873         seat heater for left and right front seats (с 01.02.1984)

So you can see that it was ordered from a dealer in Köln, Germany.
Have you checked out the ski-loading in the trunk?:wacko:

I also think that the instruments have been replaced with a later one
with digital odometer.

br,
syljua

I came back to this post to check the pics again.

Looking at the option list, what is "ski bag (inboard loading facility)?" Does it have a hole through the fuel tank for this???

Sixto
93 300SD 3.0

Should be a pass thru panel behind the rear center armrest that allows skis to be slid thru the rear seat back and into the center passenger area and allow the trunk to close.

BTW I have done a small sub woofer box install in this location for a friend and it works very well.

Well, yes but there's a fuel tank between the cabin and the trunk.

Sixto
93 300SD 3.0

Cool car. I hope you bought it very right.

(How could you not know this was grey market prior to writing the check??)

Didn't the USA get a W140 300SE??

Quote:

Originally Posted by uberwgn (Post 1423390)

Didn't the USA get a W140 300SE??

Yes.

Sixto
93 300SD 3.0

the old w126-style wheels are a dead giveaway!

I LOVE the option for:

260 elimination of model designation on rear lid (с 01.05.1968)

That's awesome. Don't believe we get that in USA....

Quote:

Originally Posted by sixto (Post 1423245)

Well, yes but there's a fuel tank between the cabin and the trunk.

Correct, and that is why a ski-loading equipped car has a 90L tank
instead of 100L. The same goes for the champagne cooler
in the back seat. If you have that, you have the 90L tank also.

http://www.pvv.org/~syljua/merc/w140...eFromTrunk.jpg

It you switch fuel tank, the cluster should be reprogrammed to
take the new capacity into consideration.

Guess it is smart with Champagne in summer and Skis in winter...:-)

Images here;
http://www.detali.ru/cat/oem_mb2.asp?TP=1&F=140032&M=104%2E990++++++994&GA=722%2E368371%2C502508%2C605&GM=717%2E454&CT=F&cat= 19B&SID=47&SGR=015&SGN=01

br,
syljua

Is that fan in the picture part of the champagne cooler?