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Garage => Test Drive => Topic started by: Ryan1980 on 02 October 2007, 12:20 AM

Title: how to tell what year my 280SE is
Post by: Ryan1980 on 02 October 2007, 12:20 AM
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
Title: Re: how to tell what year my 280SE is
Post by: 13B on 02 October 2007, 12:32 AM
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.
Title: Re: how to tell what year my 280SE is
Post by: 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.
Title: Re: how to tell what year my 280SE is
Post by: 116Benz on 02 October 2007, 02:06 AM
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.
Title: Re: how to tell what year my 280SE is
Post by: CraigS on 02 October 2007, 02:11 AM
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.
Title: Re: how to tell what year my 280SE is
Post by: John Hubertz on 03 October 2007, 02:41 PM
You could always cut the oil pan off near the bottom and count the rings!   :)
Title: Re: how to tell what year my 280SE is
Post by: Sensh on 31 August 2022, 07:52 AM
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.
Title: Re: how to tell what year my 280SE is
Post by: johnnyw116 on 31 August 2022, 12:58 PM
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/
Title: Re: how to tell what year my 280SE is
Post by: Jan S on 31 August 2022, 01:23 PM
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.
Title: Re: how to tell what year my 280SE is
Post by: Jan S on 31 August 2022, 01:24 PM
The pic
Title: Re: how to tell what year my 280SE is
Post by: rumb on 31 August 2022, 01:37 PM
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)
Title: Re: how to tell what year my 280SE is
Post by: gurrier on 31 August 2022, 02:57 PM
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
Title: Re: how to tell what year my 280SE is
Post by: Sensh on 01 September 2022, 02:46 AM
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.
Title: Re: how to tell what year my 280SE is
Post by: Sensh on 01 September 2022, 02:56 AM
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.
Title: Re: how to tell what year my 280SE is
Post by: rumb on 01 September 2022, 08:45 AM
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?

Title: Re: how to tell what year my 280SE is
Post by: Sensh on 01 September 2022, 10:19 AM
Quote from: rumb on 01 September 2022, 08:45 AMYour VIN is 099289 , what is the the Chassis Number?

Forgive my ignorance here, regarding the difference between VIN and chassis number.  I always used those terms interchangeably.  But my full VIN is 116 024 12 099289

My chassis plate reads like this:

      1E 7503552 10
116024 12 18695   5
      861H      M-0
    220 420 466 593

Any help is hugely appreciated.

Title: Re: how to tell what year my 280SE is
Post by: johnnyw116 on 01 September 2022, 03:52 PM
Cool mine is also 861H silver green , it indeed looks like your 280SE is from 1977
Title: Re: how to tell what year my 280SE is
Post by: rumb on 01 September 2022, 04:25 PM
Quote from: Sensh on 01 September 2022, 10:19 AM
Quote from: rumb on 01 September 2022, 08:45 AMYour VIN is 099289 , what is the the Chassis Number?
Forgive my ignorance here, regarding the difference between VIN and chassis number.  I always used those terms interchangeably.  But my full VIN is 116 024 12 099289

My chassis plate reads like this:

      1E 7503552 10
116024 12 18695   5
      861H      M-0
    220 420 466 593



The chassis# is the actual body of the car. It was built with specific features for the desired option. The option codes on the radiator tag are those that require something specific in the metal work or other of the car prior to delivery to the final assembly production line. The rest of the option codes are on the Build Card.

The VIN is the mfg/govt ID of the car.

So if I can get this right:
7503552 is production order# 7 mean built 1977
10 is country code
116024 = W116 280se  12 = left hand drive auto trans 18695 = chassis number
861H = paint code SILVER GREEN METALLIC
220 = REAR DOOR CONTACTS
420  = " AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, FLOOR SHIFT"
466 = CENTRAL LOCKING SYSTEM
593 = GREEN HEAT-INSULATING GLASS ALL ROUND, HEATED REAR WINDOW, SINGLE PANE SAFETY GLASS - TINTED STRIP"