1993 300 SL Merc Vin number

[LilJ]

Can anyone help please.

I went to look at a 1993 300 SL Kreg at a local dealer today.
I noticed that there was no vin number in the windscreen even though there was gap for it in the windscreen., when I asked the dealer he said he thought this may have been an import and was waiting for the paper work to come in as he had just taken it in on px.

Should it have a VIN plate in the windscreen?
Are imports worth less than UK cars?

Please help

 

[television]

Can anyone help please.

I went to look at a 1993 300 SL Kreg at a local dealer today.
I noticed that there was no vin number in the windscreen even though there was gap for it in the windscreen., when I asked the dealer he said he thought this may have been an import and was waiting for the paper work to come in as he had just taken it in on px.

Should it have a VIN plate in the windscreen?
Are imports worth less than UK cars?

Please help

The VIN number on screen is not for all countries, there is a VIN number on the car. get the VIN number and put all 17 figures hare and you can see the original order and spec

http://www.mbclub.ru/mb/vin/?lng=eng

The value of the car at this point in time does not alter its value,most imports came with most of the extras.

Malcolm

 

[mioba]

my w220 has no vin in the windscreen, remeber this is only a printed peice of paper, betwen the screen and dash - and its an import,
if you really want the vin in the windscreen, if you look at the link malcolm sent you can actually find the part number for the vin paper that goes in the windscreen (you need to tell the dealers the vin number, so they can get it ordered), but i think you need to remove the windscreen to get it in (maybe someone else can advise on this point)

nevertheless the vin number is stampted at other parts of the car, ie door pillar, on a fuse box at back.

W.R.T imports, there has been alot said about this, IMHO this is just an issue dealers make, why i think its sour grapes becuase they possibly lost money on selling a UK car. At the end of the day all the cars are imports and come from the same factories.
the only real diffrence is Uk cars have an an additional one year warranty, in this case it dosnt apply to yourself
The fact that a car comes from another country - tell me how can that effect its value, side by side a UK car, although both cars were "born" in the same place.

Yes import cars have a much higher spec than the UK cars, per malcolm

 

[stats007]

Most imported R129 SLs I have seen have been low spec to be honest - possibly to keep price down as these were tax loopholes for early cars. They will always command a lower price due to higher insurance - most are LHD as well - though obviously not the case here. Personally I see no reason to buy an imported SL - there are so many early cars to choose from it makes no sense. Buy a lemon and you will pay for it in the long run.

 

[LilJ]

Thanks guys been real helpful

 

[kth286]

That's right, UK cars are the highest spec cars in the world next to States.

German's do not see their cars as 'prestige' like we do, and until recently were often quite happy to have wind-up windows on Mercs etc.

So imported cars often do not have all the 'fittings' which we want as standard.

 

[television]

That's right, UK cars are the highest spec cars in the world next to States.


So imported cars often do not have all the 'fittings' which we want as standard.

What foundation is your statemnet based on, we are talking RHD something that was bought overseas where the cars are cheaper.

When serching for my SL of the 137 SL's that MB had for sale, only 3 had any worthwhile extras,only 1 of those fully loaded was an import. as for the others for sale in Auto Trader very few had any extras at all other than a glass roof, two that I saw and drove were imports from Holland. the reason that the imports are loaded is the pricebuy it £8k off and you can afford the goodies. My V70R was a Dutch import, a fully loaded car, my friend who bought it new saved £11k bringing the price down to £30k.

Ok I would not buy a car from Danmark or Sweden as the specs are very basic, apart from the fact that the steering wheel would be on the wrong side. 129 SL's that went to Japan (RHD) have a spec beyond what has ever been seen here

When I lived in Sweden I imported my 300TE from Germany as I could not find one with a high enough spec.
I for one only ever have cars with everything, otherwise I would always be wishing that I had this or that.
I do not see why car lower down in the range should be any different, the saving when it was around was more often used for the goodies, sadly those days are gone now.

Malcolm

 

[stats007]

The Japanese import LHD cars for the 'ultimate' in prestige status.