I am looking at a 1994 S V-12. What year did it become the S600? If I am not mistaken this is when the lower body panels were painted the same color as the rest of the car. Earlier models badged 600SEL had a contrasting lower body color, am I correct? The car in question is listed as a 1994 S600 and has the monochromatic paint scheme. The wheels have also been updated. I am a little skeptical about the car and plan to run the VIN through carfax. Any help would be greatly appreciated as this is a large purchase (physically and monetarily).

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90 300GE 5sp
95 740iL
86 944 Turbo

Not sure the year of the nomenclature change. The MBUSA.COM site has a page that profiles all their models for the past 15 years. I just now tried to get the link but the server seems to be down. Just go to the main MB site and look around. Let me know if you can't find it. Also, once you have the VIN, CARFAX will tell you what it is. I bought a 1992 600 SEL two months ago and am very happy with it. I see lots of discussion re: the 500E/E500, but the power to weight ratio on the 600 is virtually the same. I'm sure the E500 handles better, but my family and I took a 500-mile trip last weekend, and I can tell you interstate travel in the S600 vs. a regular car is the difference between flying in a private jet vs. coach in a commercial airliner. Check E-BAY for competitive pricing....

As you are interested in S600, I will concentrate on S600 ONLY, as there are some differences between all W140 models.

Name changed in 1994. 1992-1993 is called 600SEL, and 1994 model year on is called S600....All W140 model gets Monotone paint job from 1997 and on....anything before that has 2-tone paint job. The same goes to all other models except C-Class and 1996 E-Class, which has mono-paint job at the first place.

1995 and on S600 has 2-tone full leather interior(Black/grey, Grey/light, and Parchment/light parchment). 1995 and on gets minor facelift with updated front headlights, taillights, different bumper, side mountings. Minor update in interior with new cluster, head unit(radio), and new shift gate/shift knobs. Inside centre mirror no longer power operate after mid-1995, but has auto dim feature. And ASR can be switched off with console button. 1996 model year S600s no longer has parking guides that extended from rear fenders when in reverse, new A/C control in mid-to-late 1996 models and new side-mirrors, all 1996+ S600 has 5-speed auto tranny. 1997 and on W140 gets monotone paint, 6-spoke wheel, updated taillights(orange turn signals became clear with orage bulbs). Rain-sensor and ESP standard on 1997+ S600s. Parktronic became optional, and Xenon light became optional in late 1997.

Also, HP rate has decreased a little(not a big deal)from late 1993 on. 1992 models has 408hp, 1993 to mid-1993 has 402hp, and 1994 on has 389hp.

Run through the history of the car, make sure there are no major damage done to the car. Also check the service history and see what components have been changed. It might save you big bucks later on...

Andy Kuo

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• 1992 Mercedes-Benz 400SE
  
• Pearl Grey/Black Leather
  

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Mercedes Owners ICQ ActiveList ID#61730549
Mercedes S-Class Page
http://akry.homestead.com


[This message has been edited by akry (edited 05-23-2000).]

[This message has been edited by akry (edited 05-23-2000).]

[This message has been edited by akry (edited 05-24-2000).]