vin help please

[HOTWHEELBILL]

My family member has a 1965 230sl he wants to sell. Parked 20 yrs ago when his wife could not hold the baby bottle and shift gears!!
The Car survived a house fire that totaled the house 2yrs ago. Told that the engine is from a 250. So engine valve cover 153624.  Tag # 11304212-011563. Thank you for any info.

[JamesL]

113 - chassis type
042  -230
1  - LHDrive
2 - suggests an auto transmission... (0 would be a manual)
011563 - June 65 (this is A unique identifier of the car)

The valve cover number is not going to help - engine number from the block would be needed.
There should be a data plate in the engine bay - along the top of the driver's side front fender in the bay - that will give you/us more info, there's another on the front of the driver's door jamb between the hinges

[HOTWHEELBILL]

Where is the block number located?

[JamesL]

No, really, you're welcome

[BobH]

Hello, i think James is alluding to the fact that it's only polite, for anyone asking questions, to acknowledge when another member answers them, just a simple thank you, and then, could you explain more about.......

Please don't forget that the forum is made up of owners, vendors, restorers, all giving their advice free of charge due to their love of these cars and enthusiasm to help other owners

In answer to your question about the engine number, please see below:

"The engine number is located on the flat machined area below the spark plugs towards the rear of the engine on the driver’s side (not sure if this correct, i'm sure it's always on the same side regardless of LHD or RHD). If the machined area is there, but no numbers are stamped on it, this means you have a factory replacement engine. There may also be a small metal plate riveted onto this spot, with the words “Mercedes-Benz”, “Original Tauschaggregat” and the engine number included. Replacement engines were sometimes stamped by the Mercedes dealer with the original engine number using an appropriate die punch numbers set."

Function
The 14-digit engine number consists of the following elements:

First three digits: Engine model

127 M127 II 2.3 Liter for the 230 SL
129 M129 III 2.5 Liter for the 250 SL
130 M130 2.8 Liter for the 280 SL
The next three digits describe the engine version. For example,

127.981 is the engine for the 230 SL (W113)
127.980 and 127.983 are engine versions for 220SE (W128, 2.2 liter)
127.982 is the engine for the 220SEb Sedan (W111, 2.2 liter)
127.984 is the engine for the 220SEb Coupe/Cabriolet (W111/3, 2.2 liter)

129.982 is the engine for the 250 SL (W113)

The number on the valve cover 153624 is simply the ignition firing order

If you're looking for information to assist in describing the car for a sale, use the search function above left, there's volumes of information on these cars.  Also look in the Technical Manual, again above left, this has even more information, but some is restricted to full members.  A Data Card is always useful, if you don't have this a copy can be ordered, again details are on here if you search

Good luck

[HOTWHEELBILL]

Thank Both of you.