VIN Question

[DAVID LEE]

I just bought a used SL that was titled as a 1978 450SL. After doing some VIN research, it appears the car may actually be a 1971 thru 1973 350SL.

I have the the tag from the radiator mount on the front of the car, so can anyone tell what kind of car I actually have, its engine, etc.?

help, I think I have been taken.

[wbain5280]

Only if you tell us what the numbers are.

BTW, the US 350SL came here with the 4.5L engine and was rebadged as a 450SL later by the dealers. Some Euro 350SL's did make it over here, with the 3.5L engine.

[Tomguy]

IF It actually is a 350, it's MUCH rarer if it's got the 3.5. If it's a 350 with the 4.5 engine, it's got more power than the 450 from later years. What is the VIN/Chassis number?

Easy way to tell what engine it has:

If it has mechanical EFI, it's the 450SL with K-Jetronic - telltale signs are individual metal lines to each intake port running from a fuel distributor (Injector pic)
If it has a fuel rail on each side with blue/green electronic injectors, it's the 450SL with D-Jetronic (72-75) (Injector pic)
If it has a fuel rail on each side with YELLOW electronic injectors, it's a RARE 350SL with the 3.5 engine.

[Arthur Dalton]

<>

If it is a 71/73 350sl, you have lucked out rather than been taken.
Euro 350 has 116.982 engine . Check it out.
If so, it's a good collector car..

[DAVID LEE]

I've gotten 3 responses, so I'm going to try to answer all 3 with one response. BTW, thanks for the quick response. After reading the responses, I'm wondering if the car has been wrecked, and the front end of the car was replaced with a front end from another car?

anyway, here are my responses.

1. The engine has the mechanical fuel injection, no fuel rails.
2. The numbers on one of the plates are:
70 7710905 70
107043 12 00245 3
404G 404G M 6
260 420

There is also a chassis no. plate and it reads 107043 12 013161 and this same number is stamped into the frame just in front of the radiator.

3. The car has the Euro bumbers, and the Euro headlights, but I'm not sure if that means it was a Euro car, Canadian car, or just someone that ordered the car in the US with some Euro options (is this possible?).

I'm starting to do some resto, and I'd like to know what the heck I'm ordering parts for.

[Arthur Dalton]

<>

The car is a 107 chassis, model 350sl, Left Hand Drive , Automatic trans, the 13,161st one off the production line.

107 -chassis #
043- model designation
1- Left Hand Drive
2- auto trans
013161 - serial #

404 /G paint code -Milian Brown-Glasurit Paint
There are two color codes -Yours are the same [ One for Hardtop, one for Body]

Euro Version will have Metric gauges/indicators

[Tomguy]

Sounds like your chassis is a 350's, probably a euro, that someone put a later 450 engine into. It may not even be a 450 engine (3.8, 4.2, 5.0, 5.6) Look for an engine serial number. It will be on the back of the block (possibly on the bellhousing? I forget). You may need a (dental) mirror to read it, I can read my 4.5's (barely) without it, just with a strong flashlight.

[DAVID LEE]

So, what I think I'm seeing in your response, is that the car would be a '71-'73 vintage? I think that would be better than a '78 wouldn't it? What I'm reading is that the earlier vintages had more HP (230?).

Thanks a ton!!!!

[Tomguy]

Well, if it's an early 350 or 450 with the ORIGINAL engine, it would be a 230HP engine - BUT you make it sound like your engine is NOT original, it has mechanical fuel injection and not the earlier electronic injection.

[DAVID LEE]

In doing my research, I found an article on the web that gave some very interesting history of the 350sl. It stated that in '71 cars were shipped to the US with 450 engines, and were badged as 350SL's. In Oct of 1972, the 450 engine was maintained, but the badge was changed to 450SL. So.. I think I have the original engine and a 450SL badge, making this a post October 1972 model 350SL.

Here is a link where I found this info - http://www.answers.com/topic/mercedes-benz-w107-350sl

thanks again everyone.

[DAVID LEE]

TomGuy:

Now I think I see what you are saying about the engine. So...you're saying that the mechanical FI on the 450 was NEVER available from '71 to '73? If that's so, then is there anyway to tell what the chassis "really is"? The A/C and heater controls are manual - 4 levers that go up and down, with a rotary temp control, and a rotary fan speed control.

Also, the convertible top is manual.

thanks

[Arthur Dalton]

Look at the gauges .. if metric , it is Euro and all Euros with chassis # 107.043 had the 116.982/4- 3.5 l engine. No 4.5 engine in a 107.043 Euro chassis.

If you want to know exact info on that chassis , just call the Mercedes Classic Center and they will tell you everthing about that car. From date of production to factory options/codes ,etc.
1-866-622-5277

[Tomguy]

Originally Posted by DAVID LEE

TomGuy:

Now I think I see what you are saying about the engine. So...you're saying that the mechanical FI on the 450 was NEVER available from '71 to '73? If that's so, then is there anyway to tell what the chassis "really is"? The A/C and heater controls are manual - 4 levers that go up and down, with a rotary temp control, and a rotary fan speed control.

Also, the convertible top is manual.

thanks

The CHASSIS "really is" what is stamped on the frame rails, listed on the VIN plate, and on the doorjamb (driver's door). All 3 should be IDENTICAL, and if not, the car was reconstructed at some point or possibly stolen.

The ENGINE is what is stamped on the engine. Arthur seems dead convinced you have the original engine, but you have told us it's NOT EFI D-Jetronic - and no, NO 450s from 71 to 73 had mechanical FI (K-Jet) stock, they were all D-Jet. Your VIN indicates either a US delivery 350 with a 4.5 engine according to fastlane. You can always email your VIN to MB, they will reply usually within 24 hours with the ORIGINAL DATA CARD SCAN! It is the best way to find what your chassis really is.

What you will find is that a lot of these had conversions done when someone did something like "Forget" to change the oil and ruined their original engine - or someone desired "More power" so replaced the 3.5 with a 4.5 - thinking bigger is better, when the later 450 was a sour grape compared to the early 3.5 or 4.5. To find what actual engine you have, the best bet is to read the plate off the engine itself.

When you get the data card from MB, it will tell you what your original engine's model/serial was. If yours doesn't match, you then know it was replaced at some point. Are you 100% sure you do not have EFI? Check the engine again. EFI looks like this without the air cleaner installed:
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/attachments/vintage-mercedes-forum/18506d1085103266-picture-request-dscf0124-.jpg
Note the blue color is NOT stock! But the blue rail is the fuel rail for the injectors on the left bank. You can see the blue/green tops of the injectors and their plugs. If your engine has this, with blue/green injectors, it's probably the original 4.5 engine (8.8:1 compression in the 107.043, I believe - 230HP, 280 ft/lbs of torque; much better than a later model)

Edit: Also, the throttle body is 4.5 D-Jet specific; 3.5's didn't have the hookup on the front for the idle air circuit, and K-Jet throttle bodies looked completely different.

[Engr693]

You can check the car for the original chassis number, it is on the A-pillar on the driver side of the car. Look just under the windshield glass on the driver side.

The slides on the heater control panel are for separate controls for the driver and passenger. Left two for the driver, right two for the passenger. These were available on 72 and 73 models.

You can get the data card from Mercedes Benz Classic Center which will show all the original equipment and options that came with your car. Use the chassis number you find on the A-pillar.

I own a 1973 450SL that was a 350SL build according to the data card. It has a build date of 7/72.

[Arthur Dalton]

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NO, I am certainly not convinced what engine is in this car.. I am only convinced that the car came off the production line with a 3.5 engine and that if it has metric gauges , it is certainly not a US Version.
. and , as you say..the VIN speaks for itself.. the car IS a 350sl.