After spending 2 days with my head inside the hood, I noticed a discrepancy with my car. The back of the car says "280SL / Automatic"
But there is a tag on the firewall that says "280SE/8"
I think the engine serial also has se on it.

Is this normal? what do I have?

2 seats & convertible/removable top = SL

The firewall tag likely just refers to the engine installed.

__________________
"If God had meant for us to walk, why did he give us feet that fit car pedals?" Sir Sterling Moss

Michael
2014 E63S Estate
2006 SLK55
1995 E500
1986 Porsche 944 turbo

...additionally, I would venture to guess that is an in-line 6 with mechanical injection. ...as per your 280SE/8 tag

__________________
It is a truism that almost any sect, cult, or religion will legislate its creed into law if it acquires the political power to do so. Robert A. Heinlein


09 Jetta TDI
1985 300D

What are the first 6 digits of the VIN? That will tell us which chassis and which engine you should have.

__________________
Mike Tangas
'73 280SEL 4.5 (9/72)- RIP
Only 8,173 units built from 5/71 thru 11/72

'02 CLK320 Cabriolet - wifey's mid-life crisis

2012 VW Jetta Sportwagon TDI...at least its a diesel

Non illegitemae carborundum.

here is my vin as seen on the dash/wishield area:

11304412020400


also, what kind of brake fluid should I use?

TIA

If you've got yellow fluid in there now (which perhaps has turned brown with time & water absorption), I'd suggest Ate Super Blue DOT4 fluid-completely compatable, and you know when all the old fluid's out. If you're lucky enough to have access to a power bleeder, it's neat to see the old fluid, as it runs out, go from yellow to green to a nice, fresh, windex-looking blue.

Next year, alternate either with Ate's Amber-colored product (type 400??) or MBZ amber-colored DOT4.

__________________
"If God had meant for us to walk, why did he give us feet that fit car pedals?" Sir Sterling Moss

Michael
2014 E63S Estate
2006 SLK55
1995 E500
1986 Porsche 944 turbo

whoa- I thought the only difference was between DOT3 and DOT4.

I'm assuming that you are saying I need Dot4. Does it really matter what kind of Dot 4 I use?

Isn't the only difference b/w 3 and 4 the temperature they can withstand?


TIA again

The VIN number is for a 113 280SL with automatic tranny built about August 1970. The car should have an engine number in the form 130 983 12 006678 (the last numbers after the 12 are a sequential engine number and will be different for your car...

If you look about an inch ot two below the head gasket line, on the driver's side, toward the rear of the engine (below plugs 5 and 6) you should see a number cut or stamped into the block itself (need good eyes and a good light to see this)...this is the engine number and will tell you what engine you have...

These cars are officially Typ 280SL/8 so look again to see if the "SE/8" is really a dirty "SL/8"...

If you send your VIN number with proof of ownership to the MB Classic Center in Germany, they will send you a copy of the original Data Card showing all the options, engine, paint color, radio, etc. that came with the car...no charge, takes about 6 weeks...
Richard M
1971 Mercedes 280SL Roadster: Dark Brown Exterior, Dark Brown Hard and Soft Tops; Cognac Interior; 4 Speed Manual; 77,000 miles; Optional Rear "Jump" Seat, AC, Becker Europa AM/FM radio. New York City. Can be seen at www.panix.com/~rmadison/mercedes.shtml

__________________
1971 280SL Tobacco Brown; 4 speed manual; Cognac interior; Jump Seat; 75,000 miles. Can be seen at www.panix.com/~rmadison/mercedes.shtml

hey Richard! I was surfing around and I ran into your website yesterday. I thought it was a funny when I clicked on your link and saw your same page again. I remember thinking to myself, "where did this guy get all this info from"...

Here are all the numbers I found:

Windshield VIN: 11304412020400

Tag in the engine compartment (passenger side):
(its written in german) ? = I cant make out the number

DAIMER BENZE-AG-STU...
108.01?-12-083041 *280 SE/8


On the engine itself: 280 SE
130.980-12-051761


This is the address I found for the MB center. All I need to send is VIN and some kind of proof?

DaimlerChrysler AG
Mercedes-Benz Classic Center
096/R051
70546 Stuttgart / GERMANY D


Thanks for posting

According to Frank Barrett's MB Buyer's Guide, Engine 130.980 is either from a 280SE or a 280 SEL. These were sedans built from 1967 to 1972. (An original 280SL engine has number 130.983.)

The tag with 108 could also be from a 220SE or SEL. The chassis number was 108.018.

Even a correct 280SL engine could be marked 280SE since "SL" refers to the Roadster body type (SL: Sport Light) while "SE" refers to an engine type (The "E" is for Einsprizter or fuel injection).

It looks to me (not an expert) that you have a 280SL body with an engine from a 280SE or SEL. I have been told that if a 280SL engine was seized etc the likely replacement was a virtually identical 280SE engine.

The letter I received from the Classic Center has this address:

Daimler Chrysler AG
HPC 096 / G 328
70546 Stuttgart
Germany

Richard M

__________________
1971 280SL Tobacco Brown; 4 speed manual; Cognac interior; Jump Seat; 75,000 miles. Can be seen at www.panix.com/~rmadison/mercedes.shtml

hmm... do you think this difference could be because it's a German (Euro) model?

Also, It dosent seem like the firewall tag has been tampered with. It's held down with 2 press bolts. I'm not sure what they are called, but you cant get them on or off with hand tools.

I guess I'll just write MB and see

Thanks again