So is there a way to figure out just how many grey market MB's there are in the U.S. for a specific year? One of the things I like about my 'new' pride & joy is the fact that there probably aren't a lot of them running around ('85 380SEL).

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A.S.E Tech A1,A6,A7,A8 & MVAC 609 + EPA 608

Unless stated otherwise, any question I ask is about my greymarket 1985 380SEL.

C'mon, nobody even has a semi-educated guess??

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A.S.E Tech A1,A6,A7,A8 & MVAC 609 + EPA 608

Unless stated otherwise, any question I ask is about my greymarket 1985 380SEL.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercedes-Benz_W126

In that article you will find a chart of production numbers for the W126....other model pages have their respective numbers.

It is safe to assume that there are not all that many gray market ones still around.....I've seen several at the junk yard! Import numbers were pretty low overall. For your euro '85 380SEL I'd say there was probably less than 2,500 imported that year....as there were only 27,014 produced world wide between 1980-85. And there are probably far fewer than that still around in decent shape....

Keep those timing chain guides in good shape!

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-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

No way to know because individuals brought them in, and a few were brought in for resale.

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- Brian


1989 500SEL Euro
1966 250SE Cabriolet
1958 BMW Isetta 600

Perhaps the DOT would have some kind of rough idea, they had to be certified as in compliance with DOT regs
Bill

www.mbcoupes.com has production figures of the SEC, but useful only for the years that the Euro models were not made for export as well...like my Euro 1984 500 SEC. not a US 500 SEC version until 1985. So the numbers for 1984 and prior years for the 500SEC were all Euro. Don't know when the 380 SEC was first imported, but was in Europe first too I think.

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1986 Euro 500SEC "RUF" 9:1CR, "Rose"
1985 Euro 500SEC Cabriolet AMG Widebody
1982 Euro 500SEL "Blue"
2001 Texas Heeler (Aussie/Queensland X) "Sulphie",
2012 Queensland Red Heeler "Squeak"
Best dogs I've ever had.

I'm sure if you keep searching you will get some info that will be helpful. I know when they were popular there were lots of shops doing them.
Bill