A couple of weeks ago I was driving my '80 300SD, when at a light I came up on a W123 that had the 300SD plate on the trunk lid. Also what was odd and I am sure it wasn't original either, was it's two-tone color. The body was was navy blue, but from the window line up, it was painted a creme color. Quickly it looked like a Rolls Royce with those "Ever-flex" roofs they had. I was hoping this guy would pull over at store or something so that I might ask him where exactly he bought this special edition "SD". I am sure some people may of gotten confused seeing my REAL SD drving behind a smaller "SD".

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1999 MB SL500 (110,000 mi)
2004 Volvo V70 2.5T (220,000 mi)
2014 Tesla Model S 85 (136,000 mi)
MBCA member

Sounds like the old trunk emblem switch

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The Golden Rule

1984 300SD (bought new, sold it in 1988, bought it back 13 yrs. later)

Actually it sounds like a W116.


The W116 and W123 are VERY similar in over all appearance. The only difference is the size, the W116 is more massive compared to the W123. But with out having the 2 sitting next to each other then it would be hard to tell the difference.

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2005 Audi A4 1.8T CVT -Silver/Black "Siegfried"

1982 300D - Silver/Blue "Ralph" -For Sale:
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?p=852260

1989 VW Diesel Jetta Blue/Blue "Bodo" RIP

Wait, nm. Seeing that your driving a W116 I would think you'd know the difference.

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2005 Audi A4 1.8T CVT -Silver/Black "Siegfried"

1982 300D - Silver/Blue "Ralph" -For Sale:
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?p=852260

1989 VW Diesel Jetta Blue/Blue "Bodo" RIP

Yeah, that's what made it funny, that I WAS in a REAL W116. I really wanted him to pull over so that I could ask how his mid size car qualified as a "S". I mean, you don't just accidentally place a different tag on a car.

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1999 MB SL500 (110,000 mi)
2004 Volvo V70 2.5T (220,000 mi)
2014 Tesla Model S 85 (136,000 mi)
MBCA member

LOL


I bet the guy doesn't even realize that he's driving a w123. The PO sold it to him saying it was a w116 and the guy didn't know better.

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2005 Audi A4 1.8T CVT -Silver/Black "Siegfried"

1982 300D - Silver/Blue "Ralph" -For Sale:
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?p=852260

1989 VW Diesel Jetta Blue/Blue "Bodo" RIP

The original owner may have done it in the early 80's to make people think his car was worth $15,000 more than it actually was. Like some people rebadge thier 300SE's to 560SEL's and thier S320's to S600's... I cant see that being done recently because quite frankly, nobody really cares, they are worth about the same money.

You can get away with badge switching if you're using badges from the same chassis, like 300SE, 420SEL etc. , but there is a BIG difference in size between the W123 and the W116s.

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1999 MB SL500 (110,000 mi)
2004 Volvo V70 2.5T (220,000 mi)
2014 Tesla Model S 85 (136,000 mi)
MBCA member

i saw a four door 300CD the other day, some people.....

i have however, thought many times of debadging my 300SD, but then i realize that this late in the cars life i would have to get the trunk painted. I really like the clean back end look of debadged W126's
R

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83 300SD.......sold
96 integra SE....sold
99 a4 quattro....sold
2001 IS300.......sold
2002 330i.........current.
2004 highlander limited....current.

I personally like the "turbodiesel" printed on the back of my 300D but I've also been thinking about debadging it when I get the car painted.

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2005 Audi A4 1.8T CVT -Silver/Black "Siegfried"

1982 300D - Silver/Blue "Ralph" -For Sale:
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?p=852260

1989 VW Diesel Jetta Blue/Blue "Bodo" RIP

I can see debadging a gas Benz. From the back it looks uneven with a star in the middle, then the model number to the left and nothing on the right. So I think it woud look more "elegant" with just the Star in the middle.

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1999 MB SL500 (110,000 mi)
2004 Volvo V70 2.5T (220,000 mi)
2014 Tesla Model S 85 (136,000 mi)
MBCA member

This was a common thing to do in Germany when these cars were new! They have many status issues with driving the most powerful Benz, etc...

What I thought was happening was that the emblems were just "glued" on and was simply a matter of popping them off.
I see on my 123 that there are pins.

Is the 116 different?

If it is not, then all those people had their trunks repainted? On a new car???

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Ed
1981 300CD (Benzina)
1968 250 S (Gina) 266,000 miles!
1983 Alfa Romeo GTV6 (Guido)
1976 Jaguar XJS-saved a V-12 from the chevy curse, what a great engine!
1988 Cadillac Eldorado (better car than you might think!)
1988 Yamaha Venture (better than a Wing!)
1977 Suzuki GS750B
1976 Yamaha XS 650 (sold)
1991 Suzuki GSX1100G (Shafty Gixser)
1981 Yamaha VX920RH (Euro "Virago")
Solex Moped
1975 Dodge P/U camper


"Time spent in the company of a cat, a beer, and this forum, is not time wasted!"

Remember what P.T. Barnum said.also H.L.Menken

Don't rebadge a benz. It is so easy to tell if a car is a real "S" class. Also these cars come in specific colors and different years have subtle differences in the interior. It just looks so obvious and rinky-dink. I can spot a rebadge from 100 miles away with my head up my butt and I'm sure I'm not the only one. If you want a 560, buy a 560. As far as debadging...I'm a purist and I would never buy a car that has been debaged. If it has been rebadged...see-ya!

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1982 300D Turbo "Helga"
380,000 miles

A popular car to de-badge in Germany was the 450SEL 6.9, I think that was mainly because owners liked to have a car with all the same looks as a 280SE but the power of a massive V8 lurking under the hood!

The US-spec 6.9s just had "6.9" on the trunk lid, as it was simply called the 6.9 in our market, while in Germany it was referred to as the 450SEL 6.9. I have left the "6.9" badge on my car, only because I'm willing to bet that most unsuspecting motorists don't have a clue as to what it means and since these cars are rather rare these days, I like mine to be recognized by those who remember them. Always get a thumbs up when I'm in the 6.9 versus driving any other W116.

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Regards,
Aaron