As others have already said, the W124/OM603 Turbo was sold in the USA as a 1987 model only. It was sold in Europe as a 1986; it's also possible that a few came over here as Euro-delivery cars. Many (including mine) were made in 1986, as shown on the VIN plate. The seller could have seen that and been mistaken. So there are a number of ways that a 1986 model could be over here. It will have a few small differences but will be fundamentally the same as the 1987 model.

I don't think that any of the few 1986 W123/OM617 models were officially imported into the US of A. Such a thing would have to have been brought in by an owner moving from Europe or Asia to the US. Possible but unlikely.

__________________

"Buster" in the '95

Our all-Diesel family
1996 E300D (W210) . .338,000 miles Wife's car
2005 E320 CDI . . 113,000 miles My car
Santa Rosa population 176,762 (2022)
Total. . . . . . . . . . . . 627,762
"Oh lord won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz."
-- Janis Joplin, October 1, 1970