Engine Tag

[Harry]

The tag on my engine is virtually unreadable due to the beach environment this car spent most of its life in.  In addition, it is located behind the FI Pump so trying to read it even in its deteriorated condition is almost impossible.

Does anyone know how to get a replacement?  I was hoping maybe the Classic Center could provide one based on the VIN.  Any experience with this kind of thing?

Thanks very much,
Harry

[Harry]

I also notice that there is a number on the block (just below the head) towards the front of the car from the engine tag.  This number is cast into the block (raised lettering actually).

I don't find that number described in the forum manual.  Can someone assist in identifying what this number is?

Thanks,
Harry

[Rolf-Dieter ✝︎]

Harry,

Just below Spark Plug Position 5 and 6 you find the raised Number as part of the upper head casting (in my case it is 280) for my 280SL just below the raised 280 on the lower engine block machined surface the Factory stamped (I assume with a low stress stamp) your engine number.

The engine number should be the same as on your Data Card if it is the original engine. If it is a replacement engine I believe there will be no engine number stamped on the lower machined engine block mating surface. I stand to be corrected on the later statement (I seam to recall someone mentioned this here in the forum in the past).

I attach a photo, however, I have not shown my engine number in the photo for I don't like to advertise this.

Hope this helps,

Best

Dieter

[Pawel66]

Let me throw in my 2 cents here.
Harry, you are writing about a tag on your engine. To the best of my knowledge there were no tags on the engine - unless it is a "Tauschaggregat" (replacement device) tag. This tag means it is a replacement engine replaced by MB. If it is so, maybe Clasic Centre can help determine what was on the tag and engine number, etc. What I know from, I think the Tech Manual, is that the US dealers often stamped the engine number on the block after this kind of replacement.

But what came to my mind is that when the European car was brought to America, it must have probably been re-done for emissions control so that you could drive it in America. That change might have involved even pistons (that's what i judge from EPC), camshaft and other components. Maybe after such work the "Tuaschaggregat" tag might also have been placed on the block.

Could this be correct?

My car is an Euro car bought in Dortmund. Some time after that it travelled to the US. Then it was brought back from the US to Poland and I bought it. It has the "Tauschaggregat" tag. I was sure that the engine was just replaced at some stage, but I think it might be after the emissions set up only, not necessarily a breakdown.

I am attaching the picture of the tag with engine number covered - for reference to what you may be looking for.

[Harry]

Thanks to each of you for your response.  This number is not on the head itself although it is the raised lettering style as your picture indicates.  And the Tech Manual actually does show the engine tag, riveted to the block, which is exactly what I see - but cannot read at this point.

I'll keep digging around.  Thanks again!

Harry

[ja17]

Early engines had tag plates riveted to the engine blocks. Later W113 engines had no plate, just a flat smoothly machined spot where the serial plates used to be. The engine numbers were stamped into these flat areas before leaving the factory. Raised cast numbers are simply casting numbers which may be the same on many engines. I believe that the "Tuaschaggregat" plate is used on factory rebuilt units used in exchange. I have seen these  "Tuaschaggregat" tags on Transmissions, engines, and rear diffs.

[Harry]

Thanks again.  I considered that the raised numbering might just be a casting number but I wasn't sure.  This plate is located directly behind the FI unit, making it even harder to read.

I'm planning to pull the head over the winter so maybe I can get a better look then.

Thanks again all!
Harry