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how to tell what year my 280SE is

Started by Ryan1980, 02 October 2007, 12:20 AM

Ryan1980

hey guys just wondering if there was a way to tell what year
my car is via the vin number or some thing?

The rego papers say a 79 but im not sure. It has no electric
windows, i thought they had them by then?

Ryan

13B

#1
Compliance plate has the date on it - thats pretty accurate...

Peel off the horn cover and look under there, that also has the build date...

Whats the VIN number, you can roughly work it out from there... I think they made some 150,000 280SE cars (about 25,000 a year), so if the number
is over 125,000 then its a late car and vice-versa.

Power windows and hand crank windows were available at all years... just came down to what the initial buyer liked (and how far his bank balance would stretch...).

I.
450SEL 6.9 #5440 = V MB 690 , 450SE # 43094 = 02010 H , 190E/turbo # 31548 = AOH 68K

CraigS

Compliance date is not accurate. This can be up to 2 years in some cases from the build date. Example - the 6.9 from Adelaide that was listed recently. It is described as a 1978 model, but is in fact an early 1977. As suggested, a more reliable way is to check the horn pad. This is likely, unless it has been changed, to be within 2 months of the build date. Alternately, request a copy of the data card from Mercedes.
[url="http://s109.photobucket.com/albums/n77/Aegeanfoods/My%20Cars/"]http://s109.photobucket.com/albums/n77/Aegeanfoods/My%20Cars/[/url]

116Benz

Quote from: CraigS on 02 October 2007, 12:42 AM
Compliance date is not accurate. This can be up to 2 years in some cases from the build date. Example - the 6.9 from Adelaide that was listed recently. It is described as a 1978 model, but is in fact an early 1977. As suggested, a more reliable way is to check the horn pad. This is likely, unless it has been changed, to be within 2 months of the build date. Alternately, request a copy of the data card from Mercedes.

I'm guessing the car doesnt have log books, CraigS has the right idea though, DC can fax or email a copy of the data card to you, it's quick and effective.

CraigS

You can send an email here - Martin-Oswald.Heinzelmann@daimlerchrysler.com - Don't forget to include proof of ownership - copy of rego papers, purchase receipt, etc.
[url="http://s109.photobucket.com/albums/n77/Aegeanfoods/My%20Cars/"]http://s109.photobucket.com/albums/n77/Aegeanfoods/My%20Cars/[/url]

John Hubertz

You could always cut the oil pan off near the bottom and count the rings!   :)
John Hubertz
"When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro."
(Hunter S. Thompson) 

1977 450SEL (Max Headroom)
[img width=68 height=73][url="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f248/fullhappyfish/max.jpg"]http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f248/fullhappyfish/max.jpg[/url][/img]

Sensh

Dredging up an ancient post because I have the same problem.  I am in Spain, and Spanish documents list the "date of first registration," not the date of manufacture.  And my car was imported into Spain in 1991.

The last six digits of my 280SE's vin number are 099289, which seems to me to indicate that it was the 99,289th 280SE built.  But is there a way to determine build year from this?  For example, is there a database of the RANGE of vin numbers manufactured in any given year?

I'm in the process of getting a data card, but it's difficult.  I need to make a request through my local dealership, with the car present, but I don't have a dealer particularly close to where I am.  I'll get it, but in the meantime I would love to know which year my car is.  I'm guessing 1978?

OTHER CLUES:  The speedometer has kilometers only on it - no MPH.  The door panels are the simpler 6-cylinder style, not the V8 style.  The A/C is the old Behr manual system.

johnnyw116

check your option code plate that is under the hood and on there is also a production number and the first digit is the year that the car was build ,
 https://forum.w116.org/mechanicals/w116-datacard-and-body-plate-info/
JohnnyW116

Jan S

Quote from: Ryan1980 on 02 October 2007, 12:20 AMhey guys just wondering if there was a way to tell what year
my car is via the vin number or some thing?

The rego papers say a 79 but im not sure. It has no electric
windows, i thought they had them by then?

Ryan

I found a date on the inside of the rear left bulb holder. It's the same month and year the car left the factory.

I'm not sure if this is a standard procedure. Easy to take a look.
1975-mod W116 450 SE with 6.9 engine

Jan S

1975-mod W116 450 SE with 6.9 engine

rumb

The option plate on the radiator relates to the chassis, not the VIN.

I have seen body numbers that were >8 years older than the VIN.

The Body plate on the drivers door jamb should show the VIN date. See post #23 in the above link.

My car was started production in 1976, but came off the assy line in 1977.(2nd 6.9 built that year)
'68 250S
'77 6.9 Euro
'91 300SE,
'98 SL500
'14 CLS550,
'16 AMG GTS
'21 E450 Cabrio

gurrier

Interested to see the reference to the first digit of the Prod. Nr. said to be the year of production.  In my case there are only six digits in the Prod. Nr. box as opposed to the seven digit shown on the Data Card in Type 17 post of the 18th Jan 2012
https://forum.w116.org/mechanicals/w116-datacard-and-body-plate-info/

The first digit of my Prod. Nr. is 1
1973 350SE

Sensh

Quote from: johnnyw116 on 31 August 2022, 12:58 PMcheck your option code plate that is under the hood and on there is also a production number and the first digit is the year that the car was build ,
 https://forum.w116.org/mechanicals/w116-datacard-and-body-plate-info/

Oh, man!  THANK YOU!  Mine is a 1977, then.  I can't tell you how much I appreciate the tip.

Sensh

Quote from: rumb on 31 August 2022, 01:37 PMThe Body plate on the drivers door jamb should show the VIN date. See post #23 in the above link.

I think that's a USA thing.  I love those USA door jamb plates or decals that show the production date, but European cars didn't have them.

rumb

Well, your chassis is 1977. The govt wont care as your reg says it's a 1979. Most titles use the first date of registration as the year of the car.

Your VIN is 099289 , what is the the Chassis Number?

'68 250S
'77 6.9 Euro
'91 300SE,
'98 SL500
'14 CLS550,
'16 AMG GTS
'21 E450 Cabrio