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Two different VIN numbers?

Started by My74W116, 17 January 2018, 10:38 PM

My74W116

Exploring my newly attained 1974 W116 and I've noticed that the VIN on the driver door jamb is slightly different that the one on the radiator block. Is this suspect?

Door jamb 116033 12 023312     Radiator block 116033 12 858387

FYI my car title matches the door jamb VIN

Additionally, if anyone has the time with deciphering the codes it would be great.

ptashek

Quote from: My74W116 on 17 January 2018, 10:38 PM
Exploring my newly attained 1974 W116 and I've noticed that the VIN on the driver door jamb is slightly different that the one on the radiator block. Is this suspect?

Door jamb 116033 12 023312     Radiator block 116033 12 858387

FYI my car title matches the door jamb VIN

Additionally, if anyone has the time with deciphering the codes it would be great.

Any VIN mismatch sounds very suspect.
As for the details, the VIN on those cars doesn't carry much information:

116033 - 450SEL
12 - left-hand-drive, auto gearbox

The remaining numbers are the sequential production number. The 6.9 had a separate sequence, the others shared the same one if memory serves.

Given it's a 1974 car, the first VIN would be the correct one. The car likely had a body swap with a newer chassis at some point. The second VIN would point closer to production end, probably 1978 onwards.
1993 "Pearl Blue" W124 280TE
1988 "Arctic White" W124 200T
1979 "Icon Gold" W116 450SE

gavin116

#2
This may help.


P.S.: If anyone can shed some light on the unknown numbers that I have no knowledge of (those on the first line of the build plate) I would be most grateful for their insight and a link to their source if this is available.


Edit: I noticed one or two typos which I have corrected.
1979 450SE "Mrs White"
2022 Touareg-R 3.0TSi Hybrid
[url="http://forum.w116.org/test-drive/my-first-w116-here-at-last/"]http://forum.w116.org/test-drive/my-first-w116-here-at-last/[/url]
[url="http://forum.w116.org/the-org/british-near-london-meet/msg97613/#msg97613"]http://forum.w116.org/the-org/british-near-london-meet/msg97613/#msg97613[/url]

TJ 450

I'd be taking a pic of the plate on the radiator support, this might be the build / option plate which always has a different number. It is painted body colour normally.

Tim
1976 450SEL 6.9 1432
1969 300SEL 6.3 1394
2003 ML500

s class

The second number can't be a VIN, because the sequence number (last 6 digits) exceeds the number of 450SE/SEL unit built.

There were six separate sequence groups, divided into 280S, 280SE/SEL, 350SE/SEL, 450SE/SEL, 6.9 and 300SD.
Yes, the SE and SEL variants fall in the same sequence group for each engine variant.


[color=blue]'76 6.9 Euro[/color], [color=red]'78 6.9 AMG[/color], '80 280SE, [color=brown]'74 350SE[/color], [color=black]'82 500SEL euro full hydro, '83 500SEL euro full hydro [/color], '81 500SL

ptashek

Good point Tim! I keep forgetting about the options plate.

Thanks for the clarification s-class. I thought it might've been this way but wasn't sure.
1993 "Pearl Blue" W124 280TE
1988 "Arctic White" W124 200T
1979 "Icon Gold" W116 450SE

My74W116

That's it!! One is painted body color and is likely the build plate, and it's on the radiator frame and not block like I had incorrectly called it! Great info.

s class

The body coloured options plate on the radiator support contains several options codes, the paint code, and the build number, which looks similar to a VIN. 


[color=blue]'76 6.9 Euro[/color], [color=red]'78 6.9 AMG[/color], '80 280SE, [color=brown]'74 350SE[/color], [color=black]'82 500SEL euro full hydro, '83 500SEL euro full hydro [/color], '81 500SL

Max-NL

By the way if you haven't done it yet, you should go to a MB dealer and ask for a copy of your datacard. This card contains all the data relevant to your car, i.e. VIN, engine number, transmission number and the options. I think you could also ask this at the Classic Centre but I'm not sure.
1971 R107 350 SL
1972 W108 280 SEL 3.5
1975 W116 280 S
1975 W116 450 SEL 6.9 #140
1977 W123 230
1992 W124 230 CE
2001 Ducati Monster S4

marku

Got mine from an MB dealer who was also a Classic Partner. The EPC doesn't list the datacard when you put in the chassis number for the 116 so where do they keep it as it is so readily available? Also read recently that someone had found the original purchase price using it. How could that work?
1974 450SE silver green/bamboo velour/green vinyl roof

rumb

#10
AFAIK only the Classic centers can provide your build card.  Cars this old dont work in EPC to show them.

To calculate the new cost of your car use this.  pick model, price list, then options.

http://www.w123-hannover.de/html/html/translations.html

My car came out to 77936 DM = $48705 - $192,896 in 2017 dollars


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

ptashek

Quote from: marku on 21 January 2018, 11:38 AM
The EPC doesn't list the datacard when you put in the chassis number for the 116 so where do they keep it as it is so readily available? Also read recently that someone had found the original purchase price using it. How could that work?

MB keep build cards in their vast archives, but nothing else - no order sheets, no shipping info. Just the production manifest that would have accompanied the car on the assembly line. There were three copies for each car: the blue build manifest, and two smaller white data cards. Of these, one was in the document wallet, the other one was stapled under the rear bench.

As for estimating a price, either follow the link that rumb provided, or you can also use official market specific price lists for a given year. For Germany, and likely all other destinations, there were 28 in total. The site linked above has a nice feature - you can link to your specific configuration permanently. For example, here's mine: http://www.w123-hannover.de/export/1356307934_PL25_450_SE_W116.html

They also have price lists for other chassis types - 107, 126, 123, 124 and 201.
1993 "Pearl Blue" W124 280TE
1988 "Arctic White" W124 200T
1979 "Icon Gold" W116 450SE

marku

Couldn't get a more comprehensive answer than that, thanks, will have look.
1974 450SE silver green/bamboo velour/green vinyl roof

marku

Very interesting site the 450 comes out at 39732DM. Don't know what the exchange rate was then will find out.
1974 450SE silver green/bamboo velour/green vinyl roof

rumb

looks like I got mine wrong.

here is historical dm - $ or eu.

http://www.history.ucsb.edu/faculty/marcuse/projects/currency.htm


$ adjusted by year

http://www.in2013dollars.com/1977-dollars-in-2016?amount=33593

so my car was $33593 new or $99452.   roughly a little lower than a new S500 today.
'68 250S
'77 6.9 Euro
'91 300SE,
'98 SL500
'14 CLS550,
'16 AMG GTS
'21 E450 Cabrio