How do you know if its a Euro?
 

In many posts I see folks use the term "Euro" regarding their MB's and I was wondering if someone could tell me just what this means. How does one tell if their 1988 300E is a Euro?

Thanks

Euro Benz
 

Mine is a Euro and it was completely assembled and manufactured in Germany. The main difference with the US model is the front headlamps. That is why you get references to Euro headlamps. Apart from this I think the differences are on the insides which have to meet the US Standards of safety/emissions and so on.

The headlights are commonly changed to Euros, so that's not a very good differentiator.

There are several things that will almost always indicate a Euro car. If you go to Europe, and pay attention to the MB's you will very quickly note the most common differences.

Most Euro cars are lesser expensive trim levels. The US cars are the large engined, top of the line trim level cars only. In Europe you will very commonly see less wood trim, cloth seats and wheel covers in lieu of Alloy wheels. You also will see lower engine size indicators in the model numbers, or no model number on the left rear of the trunk lid at all. For instance, it is rare to see a 300E in Europe. Gas is just too expensive there for them to drive cars that use more of it. So it is much more common to see 260E's, 200EE's, etc.

Hope this helps,

Euro car generally have speedometer calibrated in km/hour and the climate control calibrated in Celcius. This is also true for Canadian models.
JackD

The bumpers are indeed different on the 123 cars, but I've never seen any visible difference on the 124 cars. It could be that you could look at the actual structure behind the plastic if you know what you're looking for, but from the outside the bumpers look the same.

Good luck,

Unless it's a model that was only offered in Europe, like a 420SL, then deciphering the radiator plate is the only reliable way. People bringing euro cars into the US will replace bumpers, speedometers, etc. to the US version and people with US cars will decide that they like the Euro headlights, bumpers, etc.

About the only "Euro" features that I don't see people fawning over are the cloth seats and the km-only speedometers.

If the steering wheel is on the right side:D

for a time, the North American models did not have a rear foglamp (i believe the new ones do). On the other hand, this is standard on Euro models, I think. You can look at the fusebox cover - it will have an indicator for which market it was made.

Euro models have different types of VIN numbers, compared to US models.

Euro model VIN numbers for a W124, for example would start with: WDB124

US VIN numbers for a W124 would start with: WDBEA for gas, WDBEB for diesel.

Lots of good information here. My 300E is probably not euro as the VIN starts WDBEA30D... and the steering wheel is on the left hand side :>)

Thanks to everyone who has replied.

For the record: If there's no model nr. on the back, it usually indicates that the car is a top model!

And the 300E is not exactly rare. But yet outnumbered by the 300D.

Freestyler

Most Euros are left hand drive. Most of Western Europe is left hand drive. The UK is the only place in Western Europe that I can think of where they drive on the left side of the road.

Have a great day,