I have a euro engine #117.961. I want to replace the auxiliary air valve and found that the one listed at the Parts Shop and Fast Lane refers to Bosch # 0.280.140.032. The last three digits on my part is .033. I assume that there is a slight difference in specs between these two versions. Does anyone know if I can substitute the US part and not encounter any problems?

I looked the number up on my Bosch Esitronic CDs and the 032 is the only number in the system. There never was a US 500 with an aux air valve. They went to electronic control of idle for all US aluminum V8s.

I looked in my Bosch info as they do not differentiate the euro from US models and I thought I might find both numbers. Bosch used to make the same part with two different numbers. One had the MB logo on it and was only sold to MB. The other, one diget different, was the same exact part but only had Bosch logos and numbers on it. I can't say for sure as this system should normally ID either number to the same file. It does not show the 033 number at all.

The history of the 032 part shows a number of cars US and otherwise that it fits and the 117.961 fits up to some date in 1981, which also makes sense as the european versions all went to electronic idle control by 1981 sometime.

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Steve Brotherton
Continental Imports
Gainesville FL
Bosch Master, ASE Master, L1
33 years MB technician

Steve, thanks for your excellent reply. Very much appreciated.