Question about center chrome piece and other US vs. Euro diffs?

[roymil]

I've been working on my tail lights and pulled off the rear chrome trim to replace the rubber.  When I ordered parts I noticed some 280's have a center chrome piece between the rear bumpers that I don't have.   Is this purely a difference with all US models, to allow room for larger number plates, or is it something else for different years.   

This made me wonder what else is different between US and Euro models?   Does anyone know of a complete US vs Euro list of differences?   
thanks much, Mark

[roymil]

Here's a pic in case it wasn't clear

[Pawel66]

Yes, this chrome piece was used in Euro cars and not used on the US cars because of the license plate dimensions.

The list of differences is quite long and changed in time. Starts from the engine components, e.g. FIP, camshaft, etc. and goes through cosmetic items - door upholstery, rear view mirror, steering wheel trim etc.

Numerous posts on the forum about it, if you use the search function.

[johnk]

My 280 is an Italian car and doesn’t have this chrome strip. There wasn’t any mounting holes for it either when I took it down to bare metal. I assume it was just used on some euro cars?

[dirkbalter]

Mine had the chrome strip. Its aluminum, chrome plated. I choose to leave it off since it will get a US plate. The clips to mount it are riveted into the rear panel .

https://www.sls-hh-shop.de/main/en/mercedes-230-280sl-w113-/88-b-chrome-parts-outer-body/269041-p--281

[Pawel66]

About fitting this strip: after chassis restoration work I did not have the holes for the rivets and since the fit of this strip is very tight, I decided it is beyond my skills to drill the new ones in proper spots. i used double sided adhesive tape for emblems fitting to mount this strip.

[Jordan]

I used a bracket to hold the license plate away from the chrome piece and the body (to prevent scratching) and a thin piece of rubber behind the bracket mount where it attaches to the body.

[MikeSimon]

My car is a December 1970 production German spec car. It has the strip.

[Pawel66]

Nice picture!

113042 does not have separate parts lists for World and Canada/US, the strip is there on the parts list.

For 113043 and 113044 the strip is present for World markets with no exclusions nor limitations. No notes, nothing.

For  113043 and 113044 for Canada/US markets the strip is not on the parts list.

As for 113042 I would not conclude based on parts list that it was fitted in the US cars - I would think the US/Euro parts application was done based on a different specs system, not the same parts list. But I do not know that, just supposition.

For 113043 and 113044 however, I am quite certain that for the Canada/Us it was not fitted, for other markets it was - unless there was some other market with plates similar to the US or unless there was some special request submitted by customer. But these special cases are often reflected on parts lists.