Quote:
Originally Posted by zcc
Why would MB send the worst specs to the US?
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HatterasGuy knows, too: he gave the short answer: Hahahaha
The longer answer isn't so funny:
Because of the US Department of Transportation (Govt. Regulators) and Industry Lobbyists -
Industry Lobbyists: Lobbied for the banning of the excellent Euro headlights, which gave a better beam pattern, were 60% brighter, safer, were nicer looking, and had thumbwheel adjusters for the dashboard, in favor of the ugly, dim, and diffuse sealed beam lights.
Thank the seade beam headlight lobby for that
Government regulators and safety nazis
Made the following Euro components "illegal" for safety or other reasons
Euro bumpers
Euro warning triangles "warndreike"
Euro first aid kits
Euro fire extinguishers
Performance strangling emissions equipment, exhaust crossovers, and catalytic converters were made mandatory on US cars
In some early W126 models ABS and airbags were not available in US spec cars
It made the Euro cars so much more desirable, and with the Deutschmark against the dollar exchange what it was prior to 1986, the Gray Market for W126 cars was born, and at its peak, was draining away up to 30% of the sales of new cars through US Mercedes dealers.
Even wealthy customers liked to save money, and the chance to buy a brand new 1984 500 SEC Euro for $40,000 in Germany, was irresistible, even after the time and expense ($10,000 and up to a 6 month wait) of a conversion to US specifications, was worth it, especially if the car went to an AMG shop, and you came out with a muscular AMG Euro coupe at your the door for a total of about $70,000
Mercedes Benz brought out the 560 engine specifically for the USA market, and with the changing exchange rate, by the end of 1986 the Gray Market was pretty much done as a threat to US Mercedes Benz dealers, and it ceased to exist as a threat to their sales...