How do you spot a euro model? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

jester69 · #1 03-27-2006, 10:40 AM

Hi all,

I was just wondering how one might spot a euro model? Is there a VIN engine or body number that is different, or is it just a preponderance of non US features.

thanks,

Steve

MattBelliveau · #2 03-27-2006, 10:46 AM

One sure way is the VIN. The format is different for euros than NA. I'm not sure how, but its something like a different number of characters. Search, and you shall find.

t walgamuth · #3 03-27-2006, 11:35 AM

include, cloth interior, never offered here afik, crank windows on 123 and later cars except 240, small bumpers after 73, no air is a clue, not hard but a clue, and on 123 and later cars there are some euro aluminum wheels never offered here.

on gas cars, no cat.

tom w

Tomguy · #4 03-27-2006, 12:05 PM

Headlights is a big one. Until probably 1992 or so, most MBs that were US-Spec had different headlights than their euro counterparts. For example, 1-piece "Jewel" lights on older body styles (111, 108, 109) opposed to US double vertical rounds. One piece horizontal lights on euro 116's as opposed to double horizontal rounds.

Arthur Dalton · #5 03-27-2006, 12:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tomguy

Headlights is a big one. Until probably 1992 or so, most MBs that were US-Spec had different headlights than their euro counterparts. For example, 1-piece "Jewel" lights on older body styles (111, 108, 109) opposed to US double vertical rounds. One piece horizontal lights on euro 116's as opposed to double horizontal rounds.

..and look at the dash instumentations.. they will be metric and Celsius

Jay Wieler · #6 03-28-2006, 01:26 AM

I just purchased one last Saturday. A 1979 300D with 98,000 miles. The biggest clue was the four speed manual!

Mark DiSilvestro · #7 03-28-2006, 07:27 AM

I just spotted a Euro-W123 280E yesterday in Virginia Beach. Small bumpers and Euro-lights in bright metallic lime green. I'm going back today for another look to see if it's a stick or automatic.
Would love to have one with a 5-speed if there wasn't any emissions or insurance hassles.

Happy Motoring, Mark

Tristar1959 · #8 03-28-2006, 11:25 AM

Hey, Mark -
Best feature, for my money, would be three knobs and a couple of levers on the heater/A-C console!!!!!! (unless it's a later monovalve ACC - naw, still) But remembering it's also likely high-compression, right? Drinks only 93 octane?
Stan

alabbasi · #9 03-28-2006, 12:26 PM

They generally are moving a like faster then the US cars.

Seriously:

When we describe cars as Euro's, we are talking about the gray market cars that came in to the US prior to the 90's as the law changed in the mid to late 80's that made it almost impossible to import a car into the US privatly.

Here are some indicators on the older models.
Headlamps
Bumpers
No cats
Cloth interior
Fewer options (crank up windows etc)
Manual A/C controls
High compression engines
Manual transmissions on the bigger model cars.
5 speed!

Thats all I can think of right now.

Mark DiSilvestro · #10 03-29-2006, 01:08 AM

I stopped to take a closer look at that 280E today. It's actually metallic pea-soup green. I didn't notice the climate controls, but it has vinyl and velour seats, manual windows, and unfortunately, automatic.
Sadly, I'm now a bit leery about grey-market cars, since some on these forums have reported serious problems with registering and insuring them. Especially the insurance! One owner of a grey-market 230CE reported his insurer threatened to cancel all his auto policies if he didn't get rid of the car. Another posted a sad tale of a grey-market owner whose insurer issued a policy on the car but then cried "fraud" and refused to cover him after a serious accident, leaving him liable for hundreds of thousands in liability claims! At least in the case of Mercedes, there are still decent pre-EPA/DOT USA models availible for purchase.

Happy Motoring, Mark

t walgamuth · #11 03-29-2006, 06:55 AM

had no problem with my euro.

but i would definately check with them before buying. i just gave them the serial number and didnt call it to their attention that it was a euro. i think that they may have scratched their heads a bit cause a 280e 1984 was not in their rate books. i told them it was just like the 300d except for a gas engine and they said "oh, ok".

and check the title. i would also find a sympathetic policeman and question about the titling etc.

the long time police chief here was a hot rodder so i always used to call him with these oddball questions. he recommended a chrome plating place in indy once but after realizing i didn t carry a service revolver like he did said maybe it wasnt for me. ( rough neighborhood).

tom w

Mark DiSilvestro · #12 03-29-2006, 08:13 AM

I don't trust insurance companies. My experience is that they will use every loophole they can to deny coverage when you make a claim. Not mentioning that the car is a Euro gives them that loophole. I'd hate to have gone through whatever hassles were required to obtain, register and insure a grey-market car, only to have my policy canceled or claim denied when my carrier discoverd it wasn't a US-legal version.

Happy Motoring, Mark

300SDog · #13 03-29-2006, 10:23 AM

No problem registering and insuring my grey market 116 a couple of years ago - fabric seats, manual heat, 4-spd tranny and 3.60 final drive ratio. I just went through the process same as normal even though Euro serial number didnt have as many numbers as the typical American serial #.

Interestingly the Conn. Dept of Motor Vehicles where I was living at the time *****ed about discrepency in the serial number more than a month later, but I just put the onus on them - telling em how the car had previously been registered and insured for more than 20 yrs, albeit first in Florida and then New York. Basically asking them over the phone if they honored their own paper work, being the title and registration that Conn had already issued to me. They backed down and left me alone.

The insurance company (Progressive) never complained or said a word. Assuming that any European car has been previously registered in the USA, petty bureaucratic paper pushers are the last thing in the world I'd be worried about. I think to ask permission is to beg denial. How in the world can they refuse a car thats been previously registered and insured?

Mark DiSilvestro · #14 03-30-2006, 07:07 AM

Unfortunately these days, unless you're a lawyer, a VIP, or know someone in high places, your life can be made very complicated by 'petty bureaucratic paper pushers'!

You may be able to get an insurance policy by not mentioning the car is a grey-market model, but failure to disclose that provides your insurer with a loophole and you risk cancellation, or more seriously, refusal to cover a major liability claim.

Check out the thread, 'Insuring a Euro Mercedes Benz...has anyone else tried?', posted by Lietuvial, 10-10-2004, on this Forum.

Happy Motoring, Mark

halman2228 · #15 03-30-2006, 11:17 PM

...binoculars. they go too fast to use a telescope

Since we've hijacked the thread though to the 'ole insurance problem; it's not a problem here in Texas but not all insurers can deal with it (euro vins/specs).

Let them know what you have SPECIFICALLY (V8 engine, double Canooten valves, etc.) and give them a reference to the most similar NA model (vis-a-vis, engine size). What they really want to know is their liabilty exposure (forget about them knowing the 'street value") and the only real measure they have for that is HP and engine displacement.

One of my "regular" carriers even asked me to place the value on it (a euro) so they had a number they could use when/if they had to deal with a comp claim (I also have "Classic" insurance on some of the girls listed below)

Got the T-Shirt...
Kevin