Author Topic: Data Card vs. whats installed  (Read 2770 times)

Benz280

  • Full Member
  • Senior
  • ***
  • USA, NJ, Jersey City
  • Posts: 207
Data Card vs. whats installed
« on: March 28, 2020, 21:22:13 »
In doing some further investigation, data card shows 415 ( No Soft-top ) , car has soft-top.
Could a few Löwenbräu's during the printing have created this error ?   
 

1971 280SL 4 Speed
1995 E320 Cab
1965 Shelby GT350

Pawel66

  • Full Member
  • Platinum
  • ******
  • Poland, Mazowieckie, Konstancin-Jeziorna
  • Posts: 5154
Re: Data Card vs. whats installed
« Reply #1 on: March 28, 2020, 21:31:17 »
I think you talk about this:
https://www.sl113.org/wiki/DataCard/OptionCodes

It is not California Coupe. I think I have the same code.
Pawel

280SL 1970 automatic 180G Silver
W128 220SE
W121 190SL
G-class

Jonny B

  • Pagoda SL Board
  • Platinum
  • ******
  • USA, CA, San Marcos
  • Posts: 4108
Re: Data Card vs. whats installed
« Reply #2 on: March 29, 2020, 14:18:32 »
Another check is to look at the plate by the secondary hood latch.

The line of numbers showing the car and hard top colors - there should be a single digit at the right, a "5" indicates hard top on the car but no soft top. A "7" indicates a California coupe.

The next line has the 113 044 12 (or 10 in your case) and then another single digit - "7" there indicates US car.
Jonny B
1967 250 SL Auto, DB 568
1970 280 SL Auto, DB 904
1966 Morris Mini Minor

badali

  • Full Member
  • Platinum
  • ******
  • USA, Pa, Butler
  • Posts: 1007
  • 1966 230SL
Re: Data Card vs. whats installed
« Reply #3 on: March 29, 2020, 15:04:39 »
My car has 415 and I added the soft top after I bought it.  There are probably many that were added after purchase.
Brad

1961 220 Sb
1966 230 SL
2019 E 450 4 Matic
2022 GLC 300 4 Matic

Benz280

  • Full Member
  • Senior
  • ***
  • USA, NJ, Jersey City
  • Posts: 207
Re: Data Card vs. whats installed
« Reply #4 on: March 29, 2020, 15:07:33 »
Yes I also have a 5, but according to the datacard the car did not come with a soft top, yet it has one and looks to be original to the car . 
1971 280SL 4 Speed
1995 E320 Cab
1965 Shelby GT350

badali

  • Full Member
  • Platinum
  • ******
  • USA, Pa, Butler
  • Posts: 1007
  • 1966 230SL
Re: Data Card vs. whats installed
« Reply #5 on: March 29, 2020, 15:10:19 »
Mine looks original to the car also.  When I bought the frame the bolts were already in the well.  I bought the car in 2008 and it appeared the compartment was never opened.
Brad

1961 220 Sb
1966 230 SL
2019 E 450 4 Matic
2022 GLC 300 4 Matic

Benz280

  • Full Member
  • Senior
  • ***
  • USA, NJ, Jersey City
  • Posts: 207
Re: Data Card vs. whats installed
« Reply #6 on: March 29, 2020, 15:18:30 »
I hoping that someone with chime in that errors in Data cards did exist, otherwise this is very strange .
It was mentioned that when the cars where on the dealers floor and it did not have a soft-top, the dealer would order and install in order to make a sale , car dealers do what it takes to make the sale .   
1971 280SL 4 Speed
1995 E320 Cab
1965 Shelby GT350

mbzse

  • Full Member
  • Platinum
  • ******
  • Sweden, Stockholm, Stockholm
  • Posts: 1748
Re: Data Card vs. whats installed
« Reply #7 on: March 29, 2020, 16:11:30 »
Quote from: Benz280
.../...data card shows 415 ( No Soft-top ), car has soft-top.
Could a few Löwenbräu's during the printing have created this error ?
What error? :)
Someone, the dealer or the first owner (or later owners) ordered and installed a soft-top frame and fabric into
the soft top compartment of your SL. [i.e  a subsequent spare-parts order]
When it left the factory, it did not have any frame or soft top. Just so.
« Last Edit: March 29, 2020, 18:53:36 by mbzse »
/Hans S

Pawel66

  • Full Member
  • Platinum
  • ******
  • Poland, Mazowieckie, Konstancin-Jeziorna
  • Posts: 5154
Re: Data Card vs. whats installed
« Reply #8 on: March 29, 2020, 16:38:35 »
I hoping that someone with chime in that errors in Data cards did exist, otherwise this is very strange .
It was mentioned that when the cars where on the dealers floor and it did not have a soft-top, the dealer would order and install in order to make a sale , car dealers do what it takes to make the sale .

It is not an error, it is just an option, I do not think there is anything strange or misterious about it. Soft top costed money, you could get it second hand, I am sure.

There are errors in data cards, I published mine with the wrong engine number, but option 415 is an option that makes sense, actually.
Pawel

280SL 1970 automatic 180G Silver
W128 220SE
W121 190SL
G-class

MikeSimon

  • Full Member
  • Platinum
  • ******
  • USA, OH, North Royalton
  • Posts: 2392
Re: Data Card vs. whats installed
« Reply #9 on: March 29, 2020, 17:35:46 »
Not that I would know, but I agree with Hans and Pawel. My reasoning is, that Germans do not make mistakes. So! 8)
1970/71 280SL Automatic
Sandy Beige
Parchment Leather
Power Steering
Automatic
Hardtop
Heated Tinted Rear Window
German specs
3rd owner

WRe

  • Full Member
  • Platinum
  • ******
  • Germany, Hessen, Seeheim-Jugenheim
  • Posts: 1367
Re: Data Card vs. whats installed
« Reply #10 on: March 29, 2020, 17:55:26 »
Hi,
it sounds strange but it's an option code and ok except people from Stuttgart and surrounding don't drink Löwenbräu but Dinkacker or Stuttgarter Hofbräu.
...WRe

Pawel66

  • Full Member
  • Platinum
  • ******
  • Poland, Mazowieckie, Konstancin-Jeziorna
  • Posts: 5154
Re: Data Card vs. whats installed
« Reply #11 on: March 29, 2020, 18:00:13 »
Here is my datacard with mistake in engine number.
Pawel

280SL 1970 automatic 180G Silver
W128 220SE
W121 190SL
G-class

Pawel66

  • Full Member
  • Platinum
  • ******
  • Poland, Mazowieckie, Konstancin-Jeziorna
  • Posts: 5154
Re: Data Card vs. whats installed
« Reply #12 on: March 29, 2020, 18:59:34 »
By the way: the confusion may also be between
Option 415
and
5 as the last digit in line 2 on Paint Code and Option Plate (no soft top, hard top mounted on car)
Pawel

280SL 1970 automatic 180G Silver
W128 220SE
W121 190SL
G-class

john.mancini

  • Full Member
  • Gold
  • *****
  • USA: Nokomis, FL and Chatham, MA
  • Posts: 619
Re: Data Card vs. whats installed
« Reply #13 on: April 13, 2020, 01:47:22 »
There's no doubt in my mind that all option 415 cars had the hardtop mounted with no soft top. I've seen quite a few over the years. I own an option 415 car that I purchased from the original owner. He had the MB dealer install a soft top when he bought the car new. Simple as that. I agree that many option 415 cars must have had soft tops installed by MB dealers or subsequent owners.
John
68 280SL 906 Blue 4-sp
69 280SL 906 Blue
70 280SL 904 Blue
70 280SL 571 Red
70 280SL 040 Black 4-sp
66 230SL 162 Blue/Grey 
68 280SL 568 Red 4-sp
69 280SL 304 Horizon Blue
65 230SL 519 Red 4-sp
83 911SC
98 911 cab
56 Ford F100
08 RS60
62 Corvette Fuelie
66 GT350H
67 GT350
70 LT1 conv

MikeSimon

  • Full Member
  • Platinum
  • ******
  • USA, OH, North Royalton
  • Posts: 2392
Re: Data Card vs. whats installed
« Reply #14 on: April 13, 2020, 11:29:48 »
I agree that many option 415 cars must have had soft tops installed by MB dealers or subsequent owners.

I wonder why. That must have been more expensive than ordering the car with a soft top from the factory.
1970/71 280SL Automatic
Sandy Beige
Parchment Leather
Power Steering
Automatic
Hardtop
Heated Tinted Rear Window
German specs
3rd owner

Pawel66

  • Full Member
  • Platinum
  • ******
  • Poland, Mazowieckie, Konstancin-Jeziorna
  • Posts: 5154
Re: Data Card vs. whats installed
« Reply #15 on: April 13, 2020, 12:55:45 »
Do not tell anybody, but today, when you by a new Mercedes and order some additional equipment, you pay more than when you order the same equipment later as a spare part. Of course you do that only when you can fit it when you get the car.

It is top secret, for your eyes only.

At certain point there also must have been a second hand soft top market.
Pawel

280SL 1970 automatic 180G Silver
W128 220SE
W121 190SL
G-class

MikeSimon

  • Full Member
  • Platinum
  • ******
  • USA, OH, North Royalton
  • Posts: 2392
Re: Data Card vs. whats installed
« Reply #16 on: April 14, 2020, 12:45:57 »
The actual soft-top material was available from other places than MB. I am not sure about the frame, though.
1970/71 280SL Automatic
Sandy Beige
Parchment Leather
Power Steering
Automatic
Hardtop
Heated Tinted Rear Window
German specs
3rd owner

wjsvb

  • Associate Member
  • Silver
  • ****
  • USA, VA, Virginia Beach
  • Posts: 255
Re: Data Card vs. whats installed
« Reply #17 on: April 14, 2020, 15:16:26 »
When we owned a foreign-car wrecking yard in the 70's and 80's, there was an active trade in soft tops, hardtops, radios, power steering units, etc.  You name it, it would sell.  Remember, these cars are +/- 50 yrs old.  And in the days, rolling back odometers was common practice!  In 1972, I sold my 69 280SL, 87k, to a prominent PA MB dealer.  Happened to see the car several months later with 32k. 
jon

67 250SL early
12 Jeep GC (gone but not missed)
69 300SEL 6.3 Euro project (gone but not forgotten)
81 280SL Euro 4spd

Pawel66

  • Full Member
  • Platinum
  • ******
  • Poland, Mazowieckie, Konstancin-Jeziorna
  • Posts: 5154
Re: Data Card vs. whats installed
« Reply #18 on: April 14, 2020, 18:23:22 »
When we owned a foreign-car wrecking yard in the 70's and 80's, there was an active trade in soft tops, hardtops, radios, power steering units, etc.  You name it, it would sell.  Remember, these cars are +/- 50 yrs old.  And in the days, rolling back odometers was common practice!  In 1972, I sold my 69 280SL, 87k, to a prominent PA MB dealer.  Happened to see the car several months later with 32k.
Exactly!
Such is life.
Pawel

280SL 1970 automatic 180G Silver
W128 220SE
W121 190SL
G-class