450 SEL (special protection version)

[s class]

what's this hot water tap on the firewall thing?

Its a valve to regulate engine coolant through the cabin heater core.  Its found only on non-ACCII cars I believe. 

Also - what's the white tank at the radiator on the driver's side?

Reservoir for the hydro fluid.  This car has conventional rear-end SLS, not 6.9 style full hydro suspension. 

[PzGren]

The guy who sold it to me said that it belonged to an Iranian but he had no papers to show any proof of previous diplomat ownership. Also can't get the manual sunroof to open. I tried twisting the handle in both directions but it wont budge. I don't wanna use too much force -might break something.

[Casey]

The guy who sold it to me said that it belonged to an Iranian but he had no papers to show any proof of previous diplomat ownership.

Out of sheer curiosity, are you willing to tell us how much he sold this for?

[dsantamans]

PzGren,

I'm the same guy identified as ferguson126 in benzworld,

For opening the sunroff:

1. seat at the rear.
2. turn the handle down 90º, and it shows like an anchor.
3. twist the handle 180º to liberate the secures.
4. pull the handle firnly to the front of the car.  It must slide to the front but if it hasn't been opened for year it could lake grease and operations is "hard".

You will not broke anything, ..., it's a manual sunroof. ;-)

[Squiggle Dog]

That is amazing and very interesting!

[KenM]

Not necessarily an ex diplomatic car, companies like Armalite and OHE did conversions for many private people also who had need of such things. The rear sunroof is a standard safety feature too, it's there so the occupant can

escape the vehicle that way if the need arises, this is why the sunroof is usually a manual operation so it can still be opened if the car is disabled. You might find that the reason it's hard to open is simply due to the weight, as   

dsantamans says, give it a yank it won't break. These older armoured cars with the windows that don't wind down are very claustrophobic, lucky the a/c works because it will heat up pretty quick without and become

unbearable. Enjoy the fuel consumption...

[Casey]

Not necessarily an ex diplomatic car, companies like Armalite and OHE did conversions for many private people also who had need of such things.

But what sort of private person has need of flagpole holders?

[KenM]

Yeah good point Casey, thought of that myself but not till after my last of course, never mind. It would seem likely that flag holders signify some sort of official function, I dunno, have seen a few cars here over the years where

the owner is obviously extremely important and has felt the need to have their own emblem in place of the car's original one but having one's own flag fitted is really going a bit far.

[Big_Richard]

I'm sure some pretentious individual could of owned it with a winking headshot with thumbs up of him self flapping on the flagpoles as he got driven around the suburbs 

[1980sdga]

Would've been better as a diesel, less flammable fuel.

Fast getaways could be problematic though    Hell, getting it rolling with a diesel could be problematic 

[PzGren]

  Are you planning on restoring the vehicle?

Don't know yet. I don't know if I should keep it or sell it. If I sold it I would probably never seen another one again within the United States. I still need to weigh out the pros and cons. It's a though one.

[dsantamans]

Is this car being parted on Ebay??
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649&item=280680845768&viewitem=&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWAX%3AIT&vxp=mtr

[s class]

I think it must be.  That is very sad. 

I'm scratching my head now about getting my brother in New York to try buy the whole car.  But he has NO parking or storage space. 

[calvin streeting]

Are you sure they are the same car.. as one in post has pennet flag fittings (so want them ). But the one on ebay dosnt...

[Casey]

Are you sure they are the same car.. as one in post has pennet flag fittings (so want them ). But the one on ebay dosnt...

The one on eBay is a two-year different model as well.