Engine numbers, even odd numbers...

[pfraud]

Since the day I have my car (230SL 1965), I've got a big trouble in my mind just because the ID number of the engine.
In this forum I found where to find it (left side of the engine on a small metallic plate) and on an other website, what it should be like : starting by 127 981….
And mine is 127 010 4100____80 …
I asked the question at many people including Mercedes dealer and I had always the same answer : it is a Pagode engine ! but no ascertain explanation about this strange number.
Yesterday one specialist gave me the following explanation and I would like to know if some of you could confirm it or on the contrary bring some new answer even if it is bad news for me.
He said that Mercedes has replaced the lower part of the engine, I dont know the english words for it but it is the part on which the number should be engraved, and only that one.
On the lower part of the metallic plate is this : « Agregat 58 84 44
And this would be the Mercedes approvement or authentic sign for that replacement.

All that made me feeling better about my engine but I’m still not sure…
The very positive point is that this engine runs so good that I love it and I take my car for frequent drives without any doubt.
Thanks to you all for your feedback about these odd numbers.

230 SL-White-1965
280 CE 1972
CLK 230 Kompressor 1998

[Klaus]

127 010 41 00 is not a serial number, but a part number.
It is the correct part number for a 230 SL engine. The suffix 80 indicates that it was not the original engine in the car, but that the engine was built as an exchange unit with a special price. The separate Aggregat-Number you mention is its quasi serial number.
The original engine would have a serial number of 127 981 -xx- xxxxxx, as you mentioned, but it is obviously no longer in the car, having been replaced by a correct substitute.

Klaus
1969 280 SL