Need help verifying model year on w109
 

I know I've run across this on the web, but I cannot find the link now. I'm looking at what is advertised as a 1970 300SEL. The car has a 2.8L six which from what I've read is the M130 engine. Not exactly the most desirable w109, but it might make a practical driver.

Not that it makes a huge difference, but would vin# 10901612002511 be a 1969 or 1970 model.

Thanks.

Not that model year matters on these... but the acutal date (month/year) of manufacture is on the driver's side doorjamb. There may also be a plate on the radiator support saying "This vehicle conforms to emissions regulations for all 19xx model vehicles".

Nitske says that the 1967-1970 300SEL came with the M189 2778cc six as did the 1965-1967 run.

There were
37 built in 1967
1325 built in 1968
1137 built in 1969
20 built in 1970
2519 total units.

Yours is the 2511th built, nearly the last one! It can be billed as a very rare car, one of 20 made:rolleyes:

Michael

The model year is 1970 and the engine is a 130.981.

That is correct .
109 chassis with the 189 engine is a 109.015 chassis , not a .016.
Nitske has more errors than Carter has pills....

Tis good to know!
I've noticed that he doesn't give the .xxx but rather, in this case, 109 E28. I figured that means the 109 with injected 2.8L engine but why not follow the convention?

Michael

Yeah, they are just not correct ....
What the hell do they think Benz uses chassis sub numbers for ...
A 109 E 28....unreal.....

Thanks for the info guys.
 

I'm in Oregon, and I found the car down in Lodi, California. I've been leary of moving forward on this car as it has been sitting a long time, seven years I'm told.

The owner is supposed to be sending me some better photos. All I've seen so far are a couple pictures of the driver's side. The car is an unusual color of blue metallic. I suspect a repaint as the color looks more like a chevy or ford color to me than one from MB. He said it hasn't been painted in the 30 years it's been in his family, so who knows.

I know rust is an issue with these cars, but fortunately this one has been in the Sacramento valley all it's life so hopefully it should be pretty good that way.

I suppose that it would be kind of a dog off the line with the small engine, but that might be a good thing for me :)

nothing like all the hard work for air suspension with a little motor.
I've been looking for that motor for a while, rather than the whole car.
If nothing else, to figure out how to adapt air suspension to a smaller straight 6. The issue is the supply and drain of oil for the compressor.

-CTH

For what its worth my '73 is metallic blue which is color code 5387, I know this is the original color and was available from the mid 60's until the mid-70's in Europe. This may be the same color you're referring to ?
The paint code should be available on the VIN plate or similar if the owner can locate it.

Adequate and sensible daily driver
 

That 130.981 specs at 180hp, (vs the old 300's 189's at 195) - plenty to get it around quite handily, and expertise and parts to work on the M130 much more available than the 189, nowadays.
If ya want horsies, the 3.5 (M116) and good ol' US detuned 4.5 (M117) V-8's will give you 230, but what the hay - get a 6.3 (M100) for a nice round 300...

For the paint code, try looking for a stencil-stamped metal plate up on the upper radiator mount, looking for a four-character code in one of the upper lines, and dealers or some of these forum folks oughtta be able to translate it into a chip or photo, somewhere...

As for the latter 300SE's - I bought a spare M189 years ago, and the seller told me it came out of an iron-springed, vs airbagger, 109.

Could this be so? And are the latter 2.8's airbaggers, or springies?

Ahh the craigslist car. Although I didn't get a chance to go look at it, I did see some pictures.. Odd blue. Honestly, unless you're ready to dedicate 1-3 years to getting this thing daily driveable, I'd be leary of it. A 108 in this condition would not raise my eyebrow, but a 109...Wow.

Anywho, not to be a downer, but if you do get it, PM me and I'll meet ya down there to help move it. and/or if you want me to do an inspection by cell phone... I always love to help other vintage MB nuts...

Brad please email me.
 

Brad,

It would be very helpful to have someone that is familar with potential problems take a look first hand.

I found someone to transport the car for a reasonable price, but I don't want to go further if the car's a basket case. There's no way to tell from the photos if animals have been living in it, or if there's major damage, etc.

The seller really knows nothing about the car.

Thanks,
Dean