1985 280 SL with m103 engine?
 

we have an unusual car in the shop, it is listed as a 1985 280 SL WDB1070421A012161. funny thing is the data card lists it as having a M110 engine, but it clearly has a 103 engine. i have spoken to the customer and he told me that he bought it new when he was living in germany and the engine has never been modified, he is the original owner. it is odd in the fact it has srs, air bag all the typical items a later 107 chassis should have. has any one seen this before?

VIN WDB1070421A012161
Model 280 SL
Chassis 1070421A012161
Engine 110990 10 002822
Transmission 717402 00 008633
Order 0 4 291 00401
Approx. year not defined
Dealer factory sales (291)
Interior cloth anthracite (051)
Paint
735 astral silver metallic (с 01.01.1972 по 31.12.1990, с 1994)
735 astral silver metallic (с 01.01.1972 по 31.12.1990, с 1994)
Options
240 outside temperature indicator (с 01.03.1982)
second spare wheel (с 01.01.1964 по 28.02.1973)

254 Becker radio Europa Kurier cassette (с 01.06.1978 по 30.11.1990)
elimination of lettering "automatic" (с 01.11.1964 по 31.12.1972)

260 hydraulic piston pressure reservoir for countries with low temperatures (с 01.09.1964 по 31.07.1965)
elimination of model designation on rear lid (с 01.05.1968)

442 airbag in steering wheel (с 01.02.1980 по 31.10.1993)
bumper, rear, with guards (с 01.01.1963 по 30.09.1973)

470 anti-lock braking system (abs) (с 01.06.1978 по 31.10.1993)
special export version 3 (с 01.12.1966 по 28.02.1968)
fan clutch (с 01.04.1970 по 30.11.1976)

504 outside rear view mirror, right, electrically adjustable (с 01.11.1978 по 29.02.1986)
outside rear view mirror, right, electrically adjustable (l.h.d.)
taxi version, f.r.g, and outside rear view mirror on the right
500 + 503 (с 01.02.1966 по 30.06.1968)
501 + 502 (с 01.08.1968 по 31.10.1974)

531 automatic antenna (с 01.01.1963)

565 rear seats used on sl models (с 01.01.1963)

570 folding armrest front w202/210 stowage box front with armrest (с 01.04.1970)
front folding armrest w202 - housing at front with armrest

585 Behr air conditioner and electric window lifters (front doors) (с 01.04.1970)

600 headlamp wiper/washer (с 01.08.1971)
trim strips on hardtop (с 01.04.1963 по 31.07.1971)

682 fire extinguisher (с 01.04.1970)

740 folding top fabric9001 black (с 01.08.1972)

870 electric seat heater for left front seat (с 01.01.1974 по 31.07.1984)
fax system (in rear armrest) (с 01.04.1991 по 03.07.1997)

871 electric seat heater for right front seat (с 01.10.1972 по 31.07.1984)
fax system in console between rear single seats (с 01.11.1991 по 03.07.1997)

The VIN code you outlined clearly shows a M110 motor originally came with the car:

Engine 110990 10 002822

Anything's possible as to why there's a M103 in the car.

someone told me of a factory conversion? the customer definately bought it new like that he says. they want me to sell it for them, was thinking of what it might be worth, i think it will go for a bit since it is a manual box

Sounds like a stolen VIN OR the car that they bought has had the VIN plate changed!

You might have the ENGINE number checked to see what chassis number that it came from!

Nope, VIN's don't lie unless there phony. People lie all the time. Funny how he want's you to sell it. Something is seriously wrong. Personally, I'd stay far away from trying to sell it.

Odd.

Are you reading the VIN from the tag on the windshield, or the one stamped in the crossmember over the radiator?

Does the engine look original, or are there lots of spliced wires?

actually the guys wife is selling it it was her husbands car, he passed away in december, they have been out customers for many years. so there is no doubt that the car is completely fine

everything looks original. genuine as a factory install, beiing a euro ther isn't a vin on the windshield.

The VIN is definitely fishy - doesn't comply with the 17 digit ISO standard that was implemented in 1981. With WDB and 107042 it looks like an amalgamation of a 17 digit VIN and an old 14 digit VIN. In a proper 17 digit VIN the 10th digit is the year of manufacturer which for a 1985 model should be an "F". This car has a "1" in the 10th digit. Anything from the 80s should have a letter, not a number in the 10 digit. Find the real VIN on the car and you should have a good clue as to what it really is.

Is the engine stamped with the 110 designation (on the block next to the distributor)? Possibly a 103 was stamped with the wrong, 110, designation?
Had a friend who worked on a GM assembly line in the 80's and you didn't stop the line for any reason other than an accident. If the data card #'s matched you put it in.

Ya want a 1985 500SEL euro and perhaps a 560SL with higher miles in trade for it? I need to pare the fleet.
w

It was probably something like this:

That was the very last production number 280SL on the line. As they were about to put in the M110 engine the chain broke and the engine fell on the floor and smashed into a million pices. But the line was moving fast and the next engine in the que was an M103 ready to go into the first production 300SL. Hienz the line forman, not wanting stop the line and get into any trouble, quick like a bunney deciede to just install the M103. While that was that was being installed he had his buddys Rolf and Dieter, come over and install a compatible wire harness.

You might think this is not possible. I could tell you stories. What goes in the production line stays in the production line.

John Roncallo

But they would have had to been in cahoots with the guy who assigned the odd VIN number.

interesting scenario.

i have no thoughts to contribute.

if it has a valid title and the title matches the chassis i guess i wouldn't worry about it.

i guess if you have any concerns you could ask the police to check the serial number against stolen vehicle records.

but it sounds like your customer has had it since new so probably you are fine on that.

if you are a business you could have liability if somehow it turns out to be a stolen car.

tom w

Thats definitely an oddball one... If all the vins match up, I see no reason why it should be questionable.

You said he brought this over from Germany? Did something go funny in the americanization process?