Is it a Sportline?

[cl 600]

I am checking out a E320 cabrio (124). It is advertised as a sportline but I have my doubts. I havent seen the car yet, only pictires of it. I have checked the VIN code via the Russian site but there is no mention of Sportline. There is a code 859 Which is described as "model update ii". can anyone tell me what this means or what codes should I look out for to indicate that it is a sportline? The car has sportline badges but I think it is a bit dodgy. There is no service history either....but if the price was right?!!! Thanks in advance for all your help.

 

[Lordjellybelly]

Hello

I`ve no 859 on my Russian VIN for my Sportline. However I do have 653 "sports chassis with 8-hole light alloy rims". IMHO whatever the price if there`s no history you should walk away........there are always at least half a dozen on Auto Trader and another dozen elsewhere. ........but it`s your money......good luck!

 

[cl 600]

Thank you your lordship. Thats what I thought. I have code 652 which is the 8 hole alloy wheels but not the Suspension. These care are very rare here in Ireland. I have found 3 of them for sale and this one is literaly half the price of the other two! It cant be only half the car, or can it?

 

[74merc]

As far as I know the Sportline badges were only fitted to the pre-facelift models.

 

[malcolm E53 AMG]

Hi,
According to the brochure (I have a copy of the facelift 124 sales brochure) the sportline has:

Outside - Sports suspension 32mm lower than standard with 20% stiffer springs with more direct steering and sportsline badges

Interior - Sports seats with chequered pattern unless they are leather, leather gear lever with sportsline badge and Nappa leather steering wheel.

Hope this helps, I kept my 124 twelve years and often during that time wished I had bought the car with sportsline pack. Trouble was they were hard to find.

 

[Bolide]

Sportline comprises a number of different parts. You can have Sports Suspension (as per the Russian VIN decoder) without having a Sportline car

If the VIN decoder doesn't list Sportline then I suspect it's a car with Sportline badges. Plenty of those around...

Sports Suspension, btw, includes a lower ride height (by about 1/2"), stiffer springs, 7 x 15 rims (rather than 6.5 x 15) and 205/60 tyres (rather than 195/65)

Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

 

[Apial]

Nick,

how could you have a sportline suspension pack on a 2-door and it not be a sportline? There were no other sportline options available on the 2 door unless you count the chequered cloth option which nobody would choose over leather, and the slightly smaller steering wheel.

A sportline suspension pack is about as sportline as you get on the 2 door.

 

[Bolide]

According to the Recommended Price List for March 1990, there are the following options:

Sportline Suspension package:
* lower profile tyres (205/55 [190] 205/60 [mid-size]) and wider alloy wheels (7 x 15)
* lower, firmer suspension
* more direct steering

Sportline Suspension and Interior package (leather) includes suspension package plus:
* four individual sport seats in leather
* smaller (390 mm) leather steering wheel & gearshift

Sportline Suspension and Interior package (cloth) includes suspension package plus:
* four individual sport seats in cloth
* smaller (390 mm) leather steering wheel & gearshift

Sport Design Upholstery
For standard seats the Sport Design Upholstery is an alternative cloth upholstery with a check (sport) design

NB
[2] the full Sportline suspension and interior package is not available for Coupe models
[4] Sportline is not available for 4-Matic models
[5] the full Sportline suspension & interior package for Estate models has two front sport seats and the normal divided rear bench seat

This price list did not have details for Cabrios. The sports seats (in leather or cloth) were available separately. The Russian VIN decoder lists Sports Suspension so we can assume that this equates to Mercedes Sportline Suspension

I suspect that everything was an option if you were speaking to the right person at the right time. Perhaps the only hard & fast rule is that there is no hard & fast rule

Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

 

[kth286]

Bolide

The price list is not really relevant for later models as events overtook that options price list.

The convertible had not been launched and had the sportline interior as standard when it was launched.

The coupe were of sportline spec inside with just 4 seats anyway.

My coupe has sportline seats and smaller leather covered steering wheel and gear knob as standard though it is not a sportline model.

The later 320 convertible had slightly lower suspension and wider wheels and lower profile tyres and smaller steering wheel as standard compared to the E220 convertible.

The real differentiator for the sportline spec is the sportline suspension and wider wheels and high geared steering box. That's what makes the cars faster and tighter through the twisties.

 

[Apial]

Sportline car = standard coupe + sportline suspension option + smaller 390mm steering wheel, as far as Uk coupes were concerned. No UK coupes were originally badged "Sportline", but Australian and US market were.