Hi I recently bought a 1987 Mercedes 300E.....I think. The title shows it as a 260E but all the vin numbers everywhere match up. The car itself shows it is a 300E. What confuses me is that 300E didn't start having 2.6L I6 until 1990 that I can find with the M103 motor. In 1987 they were only produced with the 3.0L I6. While 260E in 1987 came standard with 2.6L I6. Is this possible or are there any specific parts I can check on the car to see if it is a 260E or 300E?

Do a search for VIN decoder. ITs on a Russian MB site. IT will tell you all (and more) than you asked.

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Hanno
'79 6.9 Sold (after 27 years)
'83 280SL, 5 spd.
'94 E320 Sdn. 5 spd conversion
'02 E320 Sdn.(on loan to mom!)
'87 300E (5 spd. conversion) Sold
'05 E500 Wagon

If the title says 260E it's very likely a 260E regardless of what the badge on the trunk may say. The 6th and 7th digits of the VIN are conclusive - either "30" or "26".

Dean just beat me. That's the way to tell conclusively, either the VIN starts WDBEA26 or WDBEA30. Actually, the 2.6L model was available as early as 1987 with the 260E badge, which it kept for the first several model years, until it was re-badged to 300E 2.6.

http://www.mbclub.ru/mb/vin/?lng=eng

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1980 500SE/AMG Euro
1981 500SEL Euro
1982 380SEL
1983 300TD
1983 500SEC/AMG Euro
1984 500SEC
1984 300TD Euro
1986 190E 2.3-16
1986 190E 2.3
1987 300D
1997 C36 AMG
2003 C320T 4matic

past: 1969 280SE 4.5 | 1978 240D | 1978 300D | 1981 300SD | 1981 300SD | 1982 300CD | 1983 300CD | 1983 300SD | 1983 380SEC | 1984 300D | 1984 300D | 1984 300TD | 1984 500SEL | 1984 300SD | 1985 300D | 1986 300E | 1986 560SEL | 1986 560SEL/Carat | 1987 560SEC | 1991 300D 2.5 | 2006 R350