Below the License plate "chrome" trim

[John Betsch - "SADIE"]

Is it possible to get a definitive answer about this horizontal trim piece below the license plate.  It sometimes has been a show judging criteria/issue

I have heard:  Only on 230sl's; Only 230sl's to a certain production date; Only European cars; Only European cars with "long license plates"; only as a dealer installed option etc. 

Most of these answers I have seen in print which when in written form tries to give them some legitimacy.

I did find two 113.org postings
- Polished trim strip under rear license plate August 18, 2010
- Chrome Plinth under Number Plate , September 15, 2014

but I'm still confused.  Anyone have an idea or input about this trim piece?

JB

[114015]

Is it possible to get a definitive answer about this horizontal trim piece below the license plate.  It sometimes has been a show judging criteria/issue

Hello John,

Yes of course, it is possible to get a definitive answer about the horizontal trim piece A113 698 0081:
To make a long story short:
All Pagodas had this chrome strip,
with the exception of those country versions that had a more rectangular number plate which would have interfered  with this alumin(i)um strip.
Thus, the country versions like USA or Italy (in the old days) or maybe a few more did not have this trim piece,
and all other country versions like France, England, Belgium, Deutschland, etc.
had it.
It's that easy. 
Your car is a European version/delivery as you quoted earlier, so it should have had this trim piece.

Here are the parts you need ... if you wanted to retrofit...

https://www.sls-hh-shop.de/main/en/mercedes-230-280sl-w113-88-b-chrome-parts-outer-body-c-3_97
(part no. 40)

Best,
Achim

[John Betsch - "SADIE"]

Thanks Achim; so what I have been told that it's only 280sl's that do NOT have the trim is wrong and it's really that any Pagoda has/does not have it is dependent upon country it was manufactured/delivered to.

BTW I do have the trim and to be somewhat opinionated it really highlights the German plate
  merci
JB

[114015]

...so what I have been told that it's only 280sl's that do NOT have the trim is wrong ...

Yes, that's incorrect. Rubbish! 

... and it's really that any Pagoda has/does not have it is dependent upon country it was manufactured/delivered to.

Yes, that is correct. Well..., "delivered" to. Not manufactured.
All those W113s were manufactured in Stuttgart ...

Well, there is so much false knowledge around ...
... especially among those self-appointed "semi-"experts... 

Oh well....,


Achim

[mbzse]

.../...All those W113s were manufactured in Stuttgart .../...

Yep, here we see them coming together 

[Pawel66]

If I may step in: as you have an Euro car, you will be fitting this trim. In case you do not have holes for it, you may want to consider fitting it with double sided adhesive trim tape instead of the original way of fitting it.

This trim is originally fitted with rivets and brackets (still available at MB 3 years ago, available, as stated below in SLS). I was reluctant to drill holes for the rivets and fitting all of it, I just used the tape. It holds very nicely even though there is not a lot space for it there. The fit seemed fairly difficult to me, as this trim needs to go between shaped parts of the metal sheet and not too high as you will have it very close to licence plate. Yo may also check if licence plate fits if you have a bracket/frame for it of a "Have a Nice Day" type.

It may be just me being underskilled for the job.

[stickandrudderman]

I prefer to use double-sided tape too. No point in creating rust inducing holes unnecessarily.