Is a 250 SL engine in a Euro 230 SL stock?

[Jeannine]

My 65 230 SL Euro was looked at by a gentleman visiting from Germany who said that the 250 SL engine I have was not stock for that year. I have owned my car for 17 years and was surprised to hear my 230 SL didn't have a 230 engine and indeed 250 is embossed on the engine. Another German friend who lived in Germany when the 1965  230 SL came out said that "No, when the 1965 230 SL came out it was stock with a 250 engine." How do I find out which version is correct? Thanks, Jeannine

[Cees Klumper]

All 230 SL's had 230 engines, and all 250's had 250 engines. So the engine is your car is indeed not stock (original). If you order the data card (see elsewhere on this forum) then you can see what engine number your car had originally. The 250 engine is a bit larger in displacement, and has more main bearings. Additionally, prices for parts, should you ever need them, tend to be lower than for 230 engines. If the car runs well, I would leave it alone; there are many Pagodas that have non-original engines; the 280 sedan injection engine is a popular replacement for non-repairable original engines.

[al_lieffring]

Another possibility is that only the cylinder head was replaced with one from a 250 engine, they are similar enough to be interchangeable.
the number stamped in the top edge of the cylinder block at the left rear of the motor (below the rear spark plug) will have the first 3 digits, 127 if it is a 230 motor, or 129 if it is a 250 motor.

Lots of things could have happened in the 26 years before you got this car. Either way, replaced head or entire motor, I would consider to be an upgrade.