I came across a car for sale today and the owner says it's a w124 280 not 280e , just 280. He says it's a euro car that was imported to New York years ago. He has had the car for 3 years and hasn't driven it in the last two.

This is the VIN WDB1240231A081483

MB-USA says it's not in their system.

Was this a production model in 1986 for the European market?
I remember in the W124 chassis cars there was a 200e 230e 300e, but not a 280...in 1986. In the later years (90s)we saw the 280e or in the US 300 2.8

What do you guys think?

BTW the cars does not have power windows.

MBUSA won't recognize the VIN it's just the regular MB chassis number with WDB in front to make 17 characters. A 124.023 is a 230E (85-93?). The A might give the year.

Sixto
91 300SE
81 300SD

If Mercedes Benz cannot retrieve it their system.....what DO you think???

__________________
Dale, R129
W202

It's obviously an MB, just not one meant to be delivered in the US. A 300E 2.8 or 280E in some markets is a 124.028.

Sixto
91 300SE
81 300SD

I can only tell you what I'm seeing in my Euro Haynes manual for the W124 chassis. They say the following engines can be found in the W124 cars:

Petrol:
2.0 litre 4-cyl
2.3 litre 4-cyl
2.6 litre 4-cyl
2.8 litre DOHC 6-cyl
3.0 litre SOHC 6-cyl
3.0 litre DOHC 6-cyl
3.2 litre DOHC 6-cyl

Diesel:
2.0 litre 4-cyl
2.5 litre normally-aspirated 5-cyl
2.5 litre turbo 5-cyl
3.0 litre normally-aspirated 6-cyl
3.0 litre turbo 6-cyl

They indicate there was a 280-series Petrol W124. Can't tell you what years it was made or what countries had it.

The VIN Checker at www.autobaza.pl seems to indicate this is a valid VIN, and gives additional vehicle information. Take a look:
http://www.autobaza.pl/autobaza/page.cgi?lang=1

That said, I can't advise you about whether there will be any problem with title or registration. There may be an issue about proving it has been made to conform to USA DOT standards or something.

Ken300D

No matter what way this is badged it is a 280e. This is a very common model in Europe. The badge "e" may be ommitted or may have been lost.
A fair # can be found in the US, although because its an older model mileage or rust may have claimed them.
Europe also had a 200e and a 260e . A few 260s are in the US.
If legal , there should be EPA/DOT compliance or waiver documents. These would have been needed for importation and registration. This does not, however, mean that a dealer computer will recognise the VIN if it is a grey market car.

__________________
John
92 500e, 85k, silver/gray,all stock.
96 Club Wagon,Hypertech chipped( College Hauler)
97 320 SL 50k
1980 BMW e21 323 Baur conv.
1990 300GE 99k

According, to Ken's list the only 280 series available in 124 was the M104, which did not find its way into the sedans until 1993.

__________________
Ali Al-Chalabi

2001 CLK55
1999 Dodge Ram 2500 Cummins Diesel
2002 Harley-Davidson Fatboy
Merlin Extralight w/ Campy Record

Thanks everyone for the help.

I'm wondering if it is a 230e now and the owner doesn't know.
He didn't speak very much English. Spanish is his native language.


BTW , n2lw....what years are common in Europe for the 280e in a W124? I only ever saw 1992 and up.

I just called the owner of the car back and asked him if the car was a 4cyl or 6cyl and after a few minutes he understood and said 4cyl.

Then I said that the car is a 230e not a 280 and he said he has a deposit on the car and it should be gone by the morning.

Just a short while ago when I spoke to him the first time, he seemed very interested in selling the car to me and said to call him tomorrow with an offer, but now he changed very quickly.

I believe the "e" used on earlier Mercedes models referred to "einspritzen", or something like that, which means fuel injected. I could be possible that the car you were inquiring about was not fuel injected.

VIN WDB1240231A081483
Model 230 E
Chassis 1240231A081483
Engine 102982 12 012011
Transmission 722408 02 252297
Order 0 4 364 01993
Approx. year not defined
Lights HELLA
Cab 24702
Dealer S & G KHE (Schoemperlein & Gast), karlsruhe (364)
Interior fabric black+anthracite (071)
Paint
702 smoke silver metallic (с 01.01.1983)
Options
343 muffler filter for passages through water (с 01.07.1967 по 30.11.1972)
air cleaner with fill level indicator for dusty environments (с 01.02.1993)
cyclone air filter (с 01.09.1982 по 31.01.1993)
430 headrests in the rear (с 01.01.1977)
safety belts, front and rear (с 01.01.1964 по 31.05.1973)
466 central locking system (с 01.04.1970 по 31.10.1993)
461 + 464 (с 01.10.1966 по 31.12.1966)
462 + 463 (с 01.07.1968 по 31.08.1969)
504 outside rear view mirror, right, electrically adjustable (с 01.11.1978 по 29.02.1986)
outside rear view mirror, right, electrically adjustable (l.h.d.)
taxi version, f.r.g, and outside rear view mirror on the right
500 + 503 (с 01.02.1966 по 30.06.1968)
501 + 502 (с 01.08.1968 по 31.10.1974)
512 Becker radio Brescia AM (с 01.01.1963 по 31.12.1972)
radio Becker Europa cassette
Becker radio Europa cassette, full stereo, electronic LW/MW/USW (с 01.03.1985 по 30.11.1990)
Becker radio Grand Prix, stereo (с 01.01.1973 по 31.12.1974)
radio MB Special with traffic news decoder (VK), with RDS (с 01.07.1992)
531 automatic antenna (с 01.01.1963)
570 folding armrest front w202/210 stowage box front with armrest (с 01.04.1970)
front folding armrest w202 - housing at front with armrest
586 Behr air conditioner, and electric window lifters (front and rear doors) (с 01.04.1970)
593 headlamp flasher and turn signal lamps - italy (с 01.01.1963 по 31.07.1965)
headlamp flasher and turn signal lamps, front, crystal clear (с 01.08.1965 по 31.01.1967)
heat-insulating glass, rear window pane (с 01.02.1967 по 31.01.1971)
heat-insulating glass, all-around, heated rear window pane (single-sheet safety glass), band filter
green heat-insulating glass all round, heated rear window, single pane safety glass - tinted strip (с 01.01.1972)
677 avantgarde chassis (с 01.01.1997)
tropical battery (с 01.06.1965 по 30.11.1991)

Better late than never, eh, Lance

There were a couple of W124 230TEs locally that I missed out on. Both had fabric upholsetery too.

Sixto
93 300SD 3.3

I'd be leery of the whole thing, partly because of that. He could be using his "lack" of English skills as a technique to conceal something he doesn't want you to know. Sounds suspicious.

__________________
* *
-- Paul W. (The Benzadmiral)
('03 Buick Park Avenue, charcoal/cream)
Formerly:
'97 C230, smoke silver/parchment; '86 420SEL, anthracite/light grey; '84 280CE (W123), dark blue/palomino

124023 in the VIN identifies the car as a 230E.

There was not a 2.8 engine for W124 until arrival of the M104 engine, which was not available until '92-'93.

Here's the models (note there are none without "E.")

Attached Thumbnails

 

__________________
Kent Christensen
Albuquerque
'07 GL320CDI, '10 CL550. '01 Porsche Boxster
Two BMW motorcycles

Ok people this is a 2002 thread I'm sure the car is long gone