How many manual-transmission cars were built in 280SEL and 350SEL?
Even though Mercedes noted on the build sheet and/or data card that the car was a standard shift or not, I don't think that they kept up with how many were standard shift....or automatic, for that matter. Then again, they may have and we just don't know it.
According to http://wiki.mercedes-benz-classic.com/index.php/Kategorie:W116/en manual transmission was the standard on 280/350 SE/SEL, until about 1977, when auto became the default. I have seen very few manuals for sale in European markets, and I scour the web regularly to keep track. I'd say they're as rare as the column shift auto versions.
I've asked folks in the MB Museum and the Classic Centre if they kept any records on detailed model breakdown, and the answer was along the lines of "not beyond model designation", and that data is already public.
p.s.: Here's a sample from AutoScout24: http://goo.gl/6XKufz
If standard shift was the standard transmission up until 1977, then how is it rare? That means that over 50% of the 473,035 W116 chassis that were made came out of the factory with a standard transmission. Rare in the automotive world is considered as being plus or minus 500 units having originally been made and/or that still exist. I find it hard to believe that there are less than 500 W116 standard transmissions left in the world. Just my two cents worth.
I think he was saying Wiki has strange data to add to this matter..
Quote from: UTn_boy on 20 January 2016, 06:58 PM
If standard shift was the standard transmission up until 1977, then how is it rare? That means that over 50% of the 473,035 W116 chassis that were made came out of the factory with a standard transmission. Rare in the automotive world is considered as being plus or minus 500 units having originally been made and/or that still exist. I find it hard to believe that there are less than 500 W116 standard transmissions left in the world. Just my two cents worth.
Manual was only ever offered on the 280 and 350 models, never on 450s, the 6.9 or 300SD.
So that's only 335839 units in total. I don't think 50% of those would have been manual at any rate. Based on current market supply, there's simply no support for it being such a large proportion.
Since there's no breakdown data, we'll never really know if it was 500, 5000 or 250000. I'd love to know though :)
Well, statistically speaking, we would be able to get to a final percentage with a tiny margin of error, if we had a poll in the forum, with 250-500 partakers. We would already have achieved essential data, with a margin of error of 4-5%.
Nobody should add data of "people I know" or "cars I have seen", nor "Cars previously owned" Those are polluting stats.
Only "cars presently owned" by members should be listed, then it would work.
This would be me:
Manual 0
Auto 3
Quote from: ptashek on 20 January 2016, 08:08 PM
Quote from: UTn_boy on 20 January 2016, 06:58 PM
If standard shift was the standard transmission up until 1977, then how is it rare? That means that over 50% of the 473,035 W116 chassis that were made came out of the factory with a standard transmission. Rare in the automotive world is considered as being plus or minus 500 units having originally been made and/or that still exist. I find it hard to believe that there are less than 500 W116 standard transmissions left in the world. Just my two cents worth.
Manual was only ever offered on the 280 and 350 models, never on 450s, the 6.9 or 300SD.
So that's only 335839 units in total.
And the 280 and 350 models were the most plentiful. Therefore, There are probably still many of them out there. Just be cautious of how the word "rare" is used. Ironically, I've seen more standard shift W116 cars here in the U.S. than I've seen anywhere else.
A 4.5% margin of error isn't a bad margin of error at all. Of the three that I currently own, two of them are automatics, and the parts car, a 280sel, is standard shift.
That would now be
Manual 1
Auto 5
come on all of you fellas! Chime in! Doesn't matter if the car is a trailer queen or a parts car. we need some numbers!
Hi Stan
I think it would be more helpful to post a picture of the data build plate (for those who don't know, it's the plate on the front slam panel with raised numbers painted in body colour). This way we can see how many manuals vs automatics, how may LHD vs RHD, what colours were the most popular, what options were popular etcetera, and a whole load of other information besides.
Not sure if your poll is only for types 280 and 350, as we already know types 300, 450 and 6.9 were only available with auto transmission.
hi all
not scientific in any way but an observation from years of looking at auto sites, the manual trans appeared to be popular in Italy.
often times when i see one on mobile.de from Italy its a manual 280, i wonder what they are like to drive?
john
There's only a few dozen or so regular posters here so I don't think you'll get anywhere near enough numbers but for what it's worth my car is an automatic.
Both of mine, are/were auto, floor shift.
I know at least one other Irish member (Type17) has a floor shift auto 350 as well.
According to some MB brochures about automatic transmission :
61% of 1976 280S and 86% of 1976 350SE have automatic transmission.
82% of 1979 280SE have automatic transmission.
OK, whilst rudely ignoring Guillaume illusive brochures and Ptashek's acquaintance( :)), I deduct:
manual 1
auto 7
W116John, and Guillaume.. what are your cars?
BTW.. there are countless members here, that DO come out of the woodwork at times.
Maybe this is the time?
I currently own :
- 6 280SE with automatic transmission (all floorshift)
- 1 280SE orignally delivered with manual transmission but converted into automatic transmission (floorshift)
- 3 350SE with automatic transmission (2 floorshift and 1 column shift)
- 1 350SEL with automatic transmission (floorshift)
- 4 450SE with automatic transmission (3 floorshift and 1 column shift)
1 450 se 1976 column shift
Quote from: Guillaume C on 21 January 2016, 10:26 AM
I currently own :
- 6 280SE with automatic transmission (all floorshift)
- 1 280SE orignally delivered with manual transmission but converted into automatic transmission (floorshift)
- 3 350SE with automatic transmission (2 floorshift and 1 column shift)
- 1 350SEL with automatic transmission (floorshift)
- 4 450SE with automatic transmission (3 floorshift and 1 column shift)
manual 2
auto 22
No 280's or 350's, but...
2 300SD - automatic floor shift
2 450SE - automatic floor shift
2 450SEL - automatic floor shift
2 6.9 - automatic floor shift
The two column shift columns that I have came from early 450SE's, but every W116 that I have personally ever seen in a junkyard, including 280's and a couple euro imports (around 20 total) had automatic floor shift.
I think we can get to 100 cars... please keep posting!
79 280sel auto
74 280 SE Manual
Here in South Africa, only the 280S, 280SE and 350SE were supplied.
I have seen a lot of cars, and it was quite common for 280S to be manual. On the contrary, it is very unusual to see manual shift in 280SE or 350SE.
I have at the moment (including parts cars):
280S manual : x2
280S auto : x1
280SE manual : 0
280SE auto : x3
350SE manual : 0
350SE auto : x2
6.9 auto : x2
Quote from: floyd111 on 21 January 2016, 12:12 PM
manual 2
auto 22
Is this still only 280's and 350's ?
I considered that question.
When we reach 100, I will do the stats on the whole line of engines, maybe even keep going from there.
So yes, please list all cars with all transmission types.
Here's a list of owners so far. List assumes all manual cars to date are 4 speed. Also assumes floyd111 has 3 280Ses, and that UTn_boy has 2 280Ses. Is this correct?
Floyd111 (3), UTn_boy (3), gavin116 (1), ptashek(1), Guillaume (15), w116john (1), Casey (eight) , beagle2022 (1), Pieter Lötter (1), s class (10)
Yeah. I have a 280S and a 280sel.
? You were listed as having 3 cars, and your answer is "yes, 280 S and 280SEL?"
I thought Gavin was asking specifically about the 280 models I had. I do, in fact have 3. two 280 models, and a 450. My apologies on the confusion.
Gavin, I think you missed me in the tally. I have one 280SEL with a floor shift automatic.
I've got a 1978 280S with manual transmission
Hi Beastie, you're right I did miss you off the list. UTn_boy, I chalked you up for a 450SE or is it a SEL?
Floyd111 (3), UTn_boy (3), gavin116 (1), Beastie (1), ptashek(1), Guillaume (15), w116john (1), Casey (eight) , beagle2022 (1), Pieter Lötter (1), s class (10), ronw123w124 (1)
I have 2 450SELs, a 77 and a 79 both with floor mounted shifter autos. I also parted out a 78 280SE also with a floor mounted shifter auto.
Gavin, my 450 is an SEL model.
I have 3 6.9s all with floor mounted shifters.
350SE and 6.9, both floor mounted shifter.
2 6.9's floor shift
1979 280SE automatic floor shift
1973 350SE manual shift
1973 350SE automatic floor shift
Updated stats, changed UTn_boy's SE to SEL.
Floyd111 (3), UTn_boy (3), gavin116 (1), Beastie (1), ptashek(1), Guillaume (15), w116john (1), Casey (eight) , beagle2022 (1), Pieter Lötter (1), s class (10), ronw123w124 (1), karmann_20V (2), Jed (3), tcj (2), rumb (2), Peter (1), OneOneSix (2)
Include me in
1979 280SE Auto floor shift
We're about half way already! Forward to 100 entries! ;D
Gavin, Stan,
1977 280SEL auto floor
1979 280SE auto floor
Updated stats.
Floyd111 (3), UTn_boy (3), gavin116 (1), Beastie (1), ptashek(1), Guillaume (15), w116john (1), Casey (eight), beagle2022 (1), Pieter Lötter (1), s class (10), ronw123w124 (1), karmann_20V (2), Jed (3), tcj (2), rumb (2), Peter (1), OneOneSix (2), littlefin (1), revilla (2)
I must say, these numbers really already reflect other data about production numbers per chassis.
Forward to the next 50 posts.
77 280s manual
Did you simply bump into it, or did you specifically look for a manual?
For me, priority was mechanically sound and a good interior as spare parts can be an issue in this part. If I'd found an auto in similar condition I'd have bought that no doubt. But to answer your question, I used to prefer manuals cause they give you more control, but now I feel I've started inclining more towards autos
.
.
Bump!
Come on..there are many more of you here that can help us get to 100 entries!
I have a 1976 6.9 and a 1979 6.9, both floor shifter automatic
Thanks, mate!
1977 US spec 6.9 with floor shift auto.
Updated stats.
Floyd111 (3), UTn_boy (3), gavin116 (1), Beastie (1), ptashek (1), Guillaume (15), w116john (1), Casey (eight), beagle2022 (1), Pieter Lötter (1), s class (10), ronw123w124 (1), karmann_20V (2), Jed (3), tcj (2), rumb (2), Peter (1), OneOneSix (2), littlefin (1), revilla (2), cmanson (1), arcijack (2), daantjie (1)
Would the number till now show the column shift 280SEL (0) is the rarest one around, followed by he 350SEL column shifter (1)?
Maybe this was to be expected considering both cars are already built in the lowest numbers.
Must be sweet to own a 280SEL Column shifter, haha!
Still, the goal was to find out what the ratios are when it comes to all transmission types. Onwards to 100..
Looks like column shift get discussed every few years around here.
http://forum.w116.org/test-drive/column-shift/
check out the fender flags also!
НI! It looks like I'll be the black sheep in this list) 280S with 5 speed manual transmission
Nice one, Dima! On top of that, yours is a sweet car with lush woodwork!
Updated stats.Floyd111 (3), UTn_boy (3), gavin116 (1), Beastie (1), ptashek (1), Guillaume (15), w116john (1), Casey (eight), beagle2022 (1), Pieter Lötter (1), s class (10), ronw123w124 (1), karmann_20V (2), Jed (3), tcj (2), rumb (2), Peter (1), OneOneSix (2), littlefin (1), revilla (2), cmanson (1), arcijack (2), daantjie (1), Dima (1)
Perhaps you could add a column for total production numbers to give reference to? A manual transmission in a 280SEL is much rarer than in a 280S or SE if you take into account production numbers.
Chassis code Model Years Model Engine No. built[5]
W116.020 1973–1980 280 S sedan 2.8 L M110 I6 122,848
W116.024 1973–1980 280 SE sedan 2.8 L M110 I6 150,593
W116.025 1974–1980 280 SEL sedan 2.8 L M110 I6 7,032
W116.028 1973–1980 350 SE sedan 3.5 L M116 V8 51,100
W116.029 1973–1980 350 SEL sedan 3.5 L M116 V8 4,266
W116.032 1973–1980 450 SE sedan 4.5 L M117 V8 41,604
W116.033 1973–1980 450 SEL sedan 4.5 L M117 V8 59,578
W116.036 1975–1980 450 SEL 6.9 6.9 L M100 V8 7,380
W116.120 1978–1980 300 SD sedan 3.0 L OM617 I5 turbodiesel
(USA and Canada only) 28,634
Here we go, total production numbers included.
Guess this needed a bump!
I own a '80 300sd automatic, floor shift
We can also add that manual shift 1973 350SE from Poland, introduced yesterday.
We have a 1975 280S with column shift automatic, and a 1975 450SEL 6.9 with floor shift automatic.
And here is a '78 450SEL with A/T on the floor.
1980 300SD automatic floor shift.
I am still confident we'll get to 100 entries, with some patience! ;D
1978 300SD automatic floor shift
1977 280SE auto floor shift
Greg,
Pretoria South Africa
Thank you, Greg!
Hello Fellows,
I have 1973 350 SE with 4 speed manual gearbox
I have found a small mistake in your statistics:
W116.028 1973–1980 350 SE sedan 3.5 L M116 V8 51,100
Model 350 SE started to be produced and sold in 1972 !!! and production amount of 51 100 is covering period of 1972 - 1980.
I have 2 others MB from that period but not W116 of course. All are the same solid and fantastic. For daily driving I have my star No. 4 so 560 SEC - but she is only 26 years old :-) but many elements and technical solutions are from W116 - so many spare parts are the same.
Greetings Rafal
He Gavin, where are we now? ::)
W116033120526636
1976 450SEL. Centre Console Auto.
Astral Silver over blue leather.
Updated stats: Floyd111 (3), UTn_boy (3), gavin116 (1), Beastie (1), ptashek (1), Guillaume (15), w116john (1), Casey (eight), beagle2022 (1), Pieter Lötter (1), s class (10), ronw123w124 (1), karmann_20V (2), Jed (3), tcj (2), rumb (2), Peter (1), OneOneSix (2), littlefin (1), revilla (2), cmanson (1), arcijack (2), daantjie (1), Dima (1), Patrick (1), unknown Polish (1), Max-NL (2), Zaxxon (1), Squiggle Dog (1), Alec300SD (1), Greg (1), Zahus (1), 76116 (1).
I own a 1980 300SD automatic floor shift and a 1979 300SD automatic floor shift.
Goodness, I didn't even know this thread existed and got requested to post.
Mine is a 1980 300SD automatic with the console shifter.
And it's appreciated!
Onwards!
450 SEL automatic on thefloor
Not a personal car but the guy that I got my euro bumpers from had a 350se 4-speed among his collection of ~10 w116 project and parts cars. Not sure of the year. I can get exact info on all of his cars when I am at his place next time if you would like.
To keep the data pure and somewhat scientific, rules state that only cars that are presently owned by .org members can be included in the poll.
1978 450SEL 6.9 auto 3 on the floor!
1978 280SE Automatic, floor shift
Quote from: floyd111 on 29 March 2016, 07:36 PM
To keep the data pure and somewhat scientific, rules state that only cars that are presently owned by .org members can be included in the poll.
Stan, any W116 counts. The odds of there being a conversion are slim. Furthermore, any and all types of prejudices/segregations are prohibited; even for scientific reasons, and even for non .org members. Just because a W116 doesn't belong to a .org member doesn't mean it can't count. This isn't the type of research that has to have such rules, and using non .org input won't make the data any less pure or less scientific to any measureable degree. In the end, the results will only reflecet the input, and the input will produce a very large margin of error due to the fact that so many W116 cars are either missing, rusted away and crushed, or forgotten about somewhere. However, Anything that anybody reports is of significance, and very welcomed. It'll be nice to know what is still out there. It's all for fun and furthering our knowledge. Have fun with it!
No offense, but within that scope, we would have had 500 entries already. "I saw this, in that street", "I have a friend that.."
Sounds acceptable, but it's a slippery slope, all the way down to "I heard that he has a car that"
We kept it clean and tidy till now, no data pollution anyone can accuse us of, except the crazy odds that a -listed- privately owned car was indeed modified from manual to automatic. That's what allows us to keep a minimally, acceptable margin of error.
Let's keep it that way.
OK, but don't come crying when someone gets offended, or when a moderator deletes the thread altogether. Fair warning....
Pretty sure that's a rather unlikely risk. This is a polite forum, and there's no reason anyone would take offense taking part in a (wannabe-) scientific poll.
Are we going to find the last 24 entries?
450SE auto floor - is that it?
Mines a 76 280se automatic
this past weekend i purchased my first w116
73 450SEL Column shifter automatic
(unfortunately someone converted it to a floor shifter, i intend to make it original if i can find the parts, has the column, but shift lever is gone, and i'm sure some linkage as well)
I have a '77 280SE with automatic/floor shifter and a '79 280SE Euro model parts car with same...
Just a little bump, hoping the latest members here may add their car to this poll. We're nearly there!
All my 3 W116 are 4 speed MANUAL transmission.
1977 280se
1977 280se
1978 280s
Do u need the VINs?
No need for VIN's, be it that you are a Disturbance in the (statistical)Force, haha, with your -clearly- highly selective preference for 4-speed manuals.
Still, being able to track down and buy 3 of those manuals is remarkable, and should still count, I'd say!
Lol...re disturbance in the statistical force...
W116
280S
1979
Auto trans
M110 engine
1979 US 450SEL floor automatic, Engine 117.986
Just read this post so here's my "contribution", 8)
1975 280 se (M110 motor) 4 speed floorshift auto
& count this one or not.......the 1973 280s Floorshift auto that I bought and sold on recently ( to a friend)
Thanks so much!
Now.. anybody knows where Gavin has gone?
He was doing such a lovely job with his oversights..
I have a 74' 450SE US Spec with a column shifter, a 75' euro spec 450SE with a floor shifter, and a 77' 6.9 Euro spec with a floor shifter.
Hi, I have a UK version 450SEL, auto with shifter on the floor
97 entries already.
Who's gonna make it 100?
Updated stats: Floyd111 (3), UTn_boy (3), gavin116 (1), Beastie (1), ptashek (1), Guillaume (15), w116john (1), Casey (eight), beagle2022 (1), Pieter Lötter (1), s class (10), ronw123w124 (1), karmann_20V (2), Jed (3), tcj (2), rumb (2), Peter (1), OneOneSix (2), littlefin (1), revilla (2), cmanson (1), arcijack (2), daantjie (1), Dima (1), Patrick (1), unknown Polish (1), Max-NL (2), Zaxxon (1), Squiggle Dog (1), Alec300SD (1), Greg (1), Zahus (1), 76116 (1), orientrot (2), pmark3100 (1), nostat (1), robparker (1), ZCarFan (1), marku (1), gf (1), mottati (1), midnitemerc (2), Malaysian (3), Panzerwagen (1), markb (1), mrkozzy (1), spoonified (3), will (1).
Nice to hear from you again, Gavin. Thanks for the update!
In the context of stats, there's an ad on eBay for a '93 "Oldtimer Markt" edition with a few pages of W116 "buyers guide", which has an inset with the number of W116s registered in Germany at the time:
Total: 49883
- 280S: 10958
- 280SE/SEL: 26960
- 350 SE/SEL: 6844
- 450 SE/SEL: 4643
- 450 SEL 6.9: 478
That's ~10% of the entire production run. Not bad for a then, at least, 13 year old luxury limousine.
so, in 1993, 10% of all W116 ever produced were on the road in Germany?
Quote from: floyd111 on 11 September 2016, 05:56 PM
so, in 1993, 10% of all W116 ever produced were on the road in Germany?
Registered for sure, but if on the road that's another story.
Another 2 entries.. my own cars, recently purchased:
450 6.9, floor-automatic
280SEL, floor automatic
That makes 99.
Can we have 1 more entry?
I'm working on a customers 1974 450se at the moment. (he is the owner) It's a column shift automatic.
Oops, double post.
::)
See below.
Quote from: gavin116 on 01 October 2016, 04:26 PM
Updated stats: Floyd111 (3), UTn_boy (3), gavin116 (1), Beastie (1), ptashek (1), Guillaume (15), w116john (1), Casey (eight), beagle2022 (1), Pieter Lötter (1), s class (10), ronw123w124 (1), karmann_20V (2), Jed (3), tcj (2), rumb (2), Peter (1), OneOneSix (2), littlefin (1), revilla (2), cmanson (1), arcijack (2), daantjie (1), Dima (1), Patrick (1), unknown Polish (1), Max-NL (2), Zaxxon (1), Squiggle Dog (1), Alec300SD (1), Greg (1), Zahus (1), 76116 (1), orientrot (2), pmark3100 (1), nostat (1), robparker (1), ZCarFan (1), marku (1), gf (1), mottati (1), midnitemerc (2), Malaysian (3), Panzerwagen (1), markb (1), mrkozzy (1), spoonified (3), will (1), Floyd111 (2 additional), UTn_boy ( customer's car).
so i've got the only column shift 450sel in the survey!
Are they that rare? (i'd never seen one before i bought mine)
Yes, that seems to be the case. All column shifters are rare, for that matter, even more so in a 280SEL.
One thing has me a bit worried though, when it comes to this list.
I check the German sites daily, and for quite some time now, the percentage of 350SE's that are offered for sale is quite staggering, with many of them in manual shift.
Now, either 350" parts are hard to come by and people are dumping them in higher numbers then other models, or Germany has always had a particular preference for 350's in manual.
Third option.. our Forum members are not equally spread globally and for some reason the 450's were shipped to the America's in much greater numbers.
The majority of W116 cars were shipped to North America, at least the 450 models. I think Europeans have always drifted towards favoring standard shifts because the automatic option was more expensive to the Europeans than it was for the North Americans. That's what the price lists state, anyway. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
sure, plus it's a cultural thing. Automatics were never a European choice for the masses.
May also have something to do with the fact those only work properly in large, heavy cars.
But all of this leaves the question why it's raining 350's on the German second hand market for about a year now.
This was ebay Klein, (not even a special car selling site) from the 24th till today:
https://www.ebay-kleinanzeigen.de/s-anzeige/mercedes-benz-350-se-w116-rostfrei-1-hand-schaltgetr-/563246637-216-7581
https://www.ebay-kleinanzeigen.de/s-anzeige/mercedes-benz-350-se-w116-h-kenzeichen/562704261-216-2575
https://www.ebay-kleinanzeigen.de/s-anzeige/schlachte-w116-350se-v8-schlachtfest-schlachtung-motor-getriebe/562362470-223-1461
https://www.ebay-kleinanzeigen.de/s-anzeige/mb-350-sel-w-116-1-hand-scheckheft-h-kennz-original-brief/560549394-216-3811
The same week there was 1x450" and 3x280" Odd, isn't it?
I dunno, Stan. Your guess is as good as mine. Maybe people are realizing that their W116 that they got such a good deal on is nearly impossible to restore without deep pockets and/or a slew of NOS parts, or maybe people are getting tired of Mercedes Benz's price gouging on parts? May they're being taxed so badly to operate one that it's not worth keeping? Just guessing here.
Maybe it's the lower end of the market, with fat chance of getting the historical registration (H-zulassung) and therefore getting banned from driving in increasingly larger areas because of emissions?
Or the bubble is about to burst and people are dumping their "awesome investment" to cut losses?
Maybe Thomas has an idea?
I could imagine that, with the famous Autobahn in Germany being off-limits to anyone slower than 200KM/h (unless with a death-wish), maybe the 280" never sold well there? Did the bulk of the 350's ever sold go to the German clientele, in order for them to be able to switch lanes without life insurance?
LOL, you can drive the Autobahn safely well below 200km/h. Actually the suggested speed is 130km/h, anything above that and your guilt is asserted in any incident, regardless if that's actually the case. Also, it seems the number of derestricted sections has been dropping in recent years.
Also, driving a W116 at top speed gets expensive quick. At 220km/h (GPS confirmed) Goldie was sucking fuel like a thirsty camel... somewhere around 35l/100km.
ooooh my! 1 in 3!! :o
Mind you, fuel is cheap these days, haha!
I grew up on the German border, so I have been doing those autobahns most of my life.
I wasn't kidding when I said that a regular family hatchback will get you killed way too easily.
Some of the highway entries are so terribly short, you'll need to be at 130-140 in a whiff, or something might slam into your back on the slow lane when you show up there.
I was still in the little league back then, with my 732i BMW driving at full force..
1978 450 sel automatic on the floor
There have been quite a few new members since the last time this post was updated.
You guys care to add your cars here?
What's your engine, and what type of transmission does it have?
280se auto'77
1980 280SE auto floor shift
ah, we have a NAS fan.!
Your car really built in 1980, or just sold in 1980, built in 1979?
yep, Nas fan here :)
I've got 28.02.80 on the registration papers, how can I check the build date? The VIN is 116024-12-083105.
150,593 280se's sold by 1980. Shouldn't the VIN be near 150000, rather than 083105?
Is that how it works?
1978 450 SEL auto floorshift.
Quote from: floyd111 on 31 May 2018, 08:08 AM
150,593 280se's sold by 1980. Shouldn't the VIN be near 150000, rather than 083105?
Is that how it works?
Entirely possible, the car was imported from Germany to Spain as new in March 1980 and is registered here with a manufactured date of February 1980 but who knows how long it's been sitting around at the dealer.
At the risk of talking crap (anyone, please chime in), looking by production number, your car would be a 1976/77. No way it's been sitting at the dealer's for 4 years.. Something must be up here, or am I missing something?
Intriguing and not entirely impossible! As mentioned, the only relevant doc I have is the Spanish registration where it's just the import date. How can I dig deeper, what's a good place to start?
The production date is on the build card. If you dont have yours you can get from the Classic Center.
Thanks Rumb, how can I get this from the Classic Center? Should I contact a local MB dealership here or can I do this online? It's not immediately apparent how and where to apply for a data card if I google MB Classic Center. Any advice is greatly appreciated, thanks!
You will need the Classic Center in Fellbach.
https://www.mercedes-benz.com/en/mercedes-benz/classic/classic-service-parts/mercedes-benz-classic-service-parts/
phone number and email on that page.
BTW trick question. what is incorrect about the big billboard on the building at the top of that page?
eeeh.. wild guess. The original was a LWD :P
They had to reverse the image, because the environmental board would not let them cut the tree down. with the image reversed the engine exhaust now shows. what you see as the left side of the car is really the right side.
'73 350SL column shift
I presume you mean 350SEL?
Sorry, '75 350 SE...
Where's Gavin? Would be great if he could do an updated oversight like before! :D
Updated stats: Floyd111 (3), UTn_boy (3), gavin116 (1), Beastie (1), ptashek (1), Guillaume (15), w116john (1), Casey (eight), beagle2022 (1), Pieter Lötter (1), s class (10), ronw123w124 (1), karmann_20V (2), Jed (3), tcj (2), rumb (2), Peter (1), OneOneSix (2), littlefin (1), revilla (2), cmanson (1), arcijack (2), daantjie (1), Dima (1), Patrick (1), unknown Polish (1), Max-NL (2), Zaxxon (1), Squiggle Dog (1), Alec300SD (1), Greg (1), Zahus (1), 76116 (1), orientrot (2), pmark3100 (1), nostat (1), robparker (1), ZCarFan (1), marku (1), gf (1), mottati (1), midnitemerc (2), Malaysian (3), Panzerwagen (1), markb (1), mrkozzy (1), spoonified (3), will (1), Floyd111 (2 additional), UTn_boy ( customer's car), NewGuy (1), dinizzxa (1), stigmatic (1), Pete49 (1), celberg (1), Guru (1) via a PM.
Edit: Had to redo the spreadsheet as I discovered some errors in my excel formulas.
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I'm fairly new to the forum. I have a 1979 300SD (built in 1978) with automatic on the floor.
I was just looking for the answer to a rather reasonable question, that was not answered in this poll: What type of automatic gearboxes were present, as in" 3-speed or 4 speed automatics? is it true that indeed ALL the automatic V8's were 3-speeds, including the 350? And that only the 6cyl had the option to choose 3 or 4 speed auto?
I just looked this up a few hours ago. Look at the chart near the bottom of the page.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercedes-Benz_W116
Right! I knew I had seen this chart before somewhere.. Thanks!
Latest Star Magazine just came out with article about W116 50 year anniversary. They also feature a icon gold 1972 450SEL. They state the original buyer ordered before they were even off the assy line. He ordered with column shift and they sent him a floor shift so he made them make an entire new car the way he wanted. They claim Mercedes stated back to him that his car would be the last column shift w116 they produced and that they would remove that option from the order sheets.
THEY LIED. THere are MANY 450sel models in the late 70's that have column shift transmissions.
The fellow also had a stack of correspondence 15" thick. Must of been a PITA.
The new owners must like telling that story/ fairytale.