Engine number

[Jeffsandoval]

I am in the process of selling my 1969 280sl. The engines has no number on it due to an engine replacement before I purchased it.The interested party lives in Honduras. He says he can’t import the car without an engine number. How would go about finding the engine number or am I and the buyer out of luck on this?

[Cees Klumper]

Best would be if you find your original engine number (Mercedes Classic Center, buy your car's data card from them).

Then, get a 0-9 number punch set off EBay, Amazon etc (I think they are 9 mm sized) and simply punch the number from the data card into the engine block.

This was presumably what the dealers should/would have done back in the day when they received replacement engines from Mercedes and why Mercedes did not just assign additional engine numbers themselves.

Another benefit of doing this is that your Honduras-based buyer will have a Pagoda with the original engine in it, truly "numbers matching".

[Jeffsandoval]

Thank you, that is a good idea.

[Jordan]

Best would be if you find your original engine number (Mercedes Classic Center, buy your car's data card from them).

Then, get a 0-9 number punch set off EBay, Amazon etc (I think they are 9 mm sized) and simply punch the number from the data card into the engine block.

This was presumably what the dealers should/would have done back in the day when they received replacement engines from Mercedes and why Mercedes did not just assign additional engine numbers themselves.

Another benefit of doing this is that your Honduras-based buyer will have a Pagoda with the original engine in it, truly "numbers matching".

I believe it is also fraud.

[mdsalemi]

I believe it is also fraud.

Sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do…especially when dealing with nonsensical pedantic rule-heavy third world country import regulations.

Is there any other reasonable solution, short of showing up at the customs office at the Honduras port of entry with a suitcase full of cash, and bribing someone? That might work but is more than 50/50 odds one might end up in a Honduras prison.

In the suggested case here one isn’t CHANGING a VIN or engine number but rather adding one where one doesn’t exist…therefore the best solution.

[Jordan]

Sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do…especially when dealing with nonsensical pedantic rule-heavy third world country import regulations.

Is there any other reasonable solution, short of showing up at the customs office at the Honduras port of entry with a suitcase full of cash, and bribing someone? That might work but is more than 50/50 odds one might end up in a Honduras prison.

In the suggested case here one isn’t CHANGING a VIN or engine number but rather adding one where one doesn’t exist…therefore the best solution.

That may be but it is still fraud.  By stamping the original engine number you are thus purporting that the car has it's original engine, which it does not.  If you want to stamp an engine number on it then stamp a number that is unlikely to exist on any other W113.

[Pawel66]

What about getting Tauschaggregatt plate and stamp number on it? It would be true.

[Jeffsandoval]

That’s true. I could do that as well.

[mdsalemi]

That’s true. I could do that as well.

...or stamp the original engine number with suffix "-R" which is a common suffix for something replaced.

If the replacement engine doesn't have ANY ID number, then any number is as good as any other. You're not trying to defraud a buyer into thinking the engine is original, you are simply trying to get the car imported. In your sales documents to the buyer, include a note that the engine has been replaced.