Variations between US Vs. Euro delivered SL

[doitwright]

As part of the restoration of my 1970 SL, I wish to convert to a European grade appearance.

I am aware of the engine and cam differences which I found previously discussed on these forums.

Obvious differences I am aware of are:
Headlights
No side marker lights/reflectors on Euro cars (Italy had small round side markers)
No over riders on Euro bumpers
Hard interior door pockets on Euro vs elastic on US
US has MPH speedometer

Subtle differences
Center label on heater controls - Euro “DEFROST” - US “DEFROST” with “Diagram”

Other differences?
Polished chrome trim vs. satin chrome

Please share what you know.

[Pawel66]

Some things I know and some things I do not know or I am not sure about:

Chrome vs. satin on steering wheel - that is quite certain, not aware of other pieces of chrome trim
Fehrenheit vs. Celsius
chromed bar under licence plate
I think label under headlight switch was not installed on European (not sure)
Headrests, again not sure, but I think they were compulsory in the US in 1970 while in Europe they were an option (not sure)
I am not sure if US had the high beam flash function in the steering wheel switch operational - but that was just connecting a wire that was idle in the US - in Europe it was operational.

I am not sure if you had all the "gear" related to emission control under hood (bonnet) in Europe.
You may have a bit different stickers, I suppose (language, units).
You may not have certain stickers I suppose (valve cover, oil change).

The above was discussed on the forum, sometimes, however, not fully conclusive.

I think there is a number of differences inside the engine (never verified it here, but when I browse through parts lists, I see a lot, starting from camshaft, through moving parts, etc.) - but that is less important, I guess.

I thought European did not have any label for defrost, actually, other than on the blower switch knob. If you have a picture of the European, please kindly post.

[hkollan]

I think you have covered most of the cosmetic differences.
Having done this on my 1971 SL
as part of the restoration process I can think of a few more differences.
The center instrument housing is has a different part# and markings for oil presure and temperature, psi vs bar and farenheit vs celsius. Also the respective gauges are different. As you mentioned several interior chrome pieces are different such as
moldings, horn ring, interior mirror foot etc.

Different rear end ratios.

In the engine compartment you have a few more differences in addition o the one you've mentioned, such as the FIP, throttle body
distributor, additional wiring for the emission and fuel cut off relays.
On automatic cars the switch on the firewall to ensure the car is in P or N to allow
starting the car is different and so is the connecting plug.
I am sure there is more.

Hans

[Pawel66]

I think, actually, if you manage to nail this list with certain degree of probability that it is correct - it may be worth placing it in tech Manual as it is a fairly important list.

[Taleb]

although the Europe version looks more elegance but I will keep it as its for the matching number ...good luck 

[doitwright]

Pawel,

There is a euro 71 on the Motoring Investments new site. It is the 1st car listed in light ivory. The heater label has Defrost but no diagram.

[Pawel66]

Thank you, will take a look!

[Pawel66]

Never seen those before... But I did not see a lot.

Defrost does not make sense as it is not showing anything (I see the letters disappeared from the knob, so maybe it is just a reminder that you can defrost something) and the lights switch label does not match any style you can attribute to W113.

The only caution would be to make sure it is not something added to the last lot of w113 produced in case you are not working on the car from those last lots....

[66andBlue]

...
Defrost does not make sense as it is not showing anything ....

Spot on, Pawel!
Euro cars never had a label "defrost", just an upward arrow.

[doitwright]

Spot on, Pawel!
Euro cars never had a label "defrost", just an upward arrow.

Was there any satin chrome top windshield trim on the euro?  The US had satin chrome windshield wiper arms and blades including the attachment nut and wiper shaft cover.  The US also had satin chrome on the trim across the top of the windshield frame where the hard/soft top latches. Was this polished chrome on the euro?

I found on eBay the center chrome piece that fits between the heater control levers. Surprisingly, although similar to my US version, it did not have a label, only the up arrow just like in Alfred's picture. The other difference is, the piece I acquired without the label has a beveled "return" where it mates with the lever slot openings of the 2 adjacent trim pieces. (My original US version has a square return) It will also require a little bit of grinding on the back side in order to mate flush with my existing adjacent slotted trim pieces. You would think they would be exactly the same except for the label. My original with the label also has 2 small holes to accept the mounting pins from the label.

[hkollan]

Was there any satin chrome top windshield trim on the euro?  The US had satin chrome windshield wiper arms and blades including the attachment nut and wiper shaft cover.  The US also had satin chrome on the trim across the top of the windshield frame where the hard/soft top latches. Was this polished chrome on the euro?

No, there where no satin chrome windshield trim on the euro' all trim is regular chrome. The wiper shafts and blades where also satin on euro 280’s.

Not sure why the center piece you acquired is different and needed adjustments
to fit properly, might have been a part from an earlier model. On a 280 the only differences between the US vs the Euro part are the two holes for the mounting pins and the defrost label.

Hans

[johnk]

So are you saying that the horn ring is supposed to be chrome on the euro model? The horn ring on my 68 euro appears satin and I was planning to send it out to have it replated in satin chrome.

[doitwright]

So are you saying that the horn ring is supposed to be chrome on the euro model? The horn ring on my 68 euro appears satin and I was planning to send it out to have it replated in satin chrome.

The picture above is from a 71 that Pawel took from Motoring investments website. Horn ring is chrome.

[Pawel66]

Yes, that is where I took them from. I have not seen those labels anywhere else.
I have read in many places and I think it is quite certain that the horn ring for the US is satin and for Europe shiny chrome.

[johnk]

Thank you. I will finish mine in chrome then. I'm pretty sure that is what my mirrors are.

[doitwright]

Today I see a 1970 280SL on ebay (the one with the $225,000 asking price) that was described as being originally delivered in California and restored in Germany. They converted the headlights to European, removed the over riders on the bumpers, changed the speedometer to KPH and changed elastic door pockets to hard pockets. They left the defrost label on the heater controls found on US cars and did not add the chrome trim piece below the rear license plate.

Look now at the engine compartment. I do not see any pollution control stuff. You would not expect to see pollution control on a eurpoean delivered car in 1970, but the question is, can you remove it from a US delivered car and still make it run properly? What other modifications to the engine would have been needed?

[Pawel66]

Hopefully they removed the side markers as well.... This is a clearly seen one, other than 10 or 15 details described above that you did not mention.

Not sure about the modifications for the engine to run properly - in my 280SL there is just TTS, relay for CSV, CSV, zero coils on FIP, CSS (automatic) - this is it, I think. Different harness.

Other things:
Camshaft? Should be 02, I guess. Not seen, but some say better. Cut-off switch? (not sure there if it was not used for Euro). Stickers? Celsius grades?

[kampala]

You would not expect to see pollution control on a eurpoean delivered car in 1970, but the question is, can you remove it from a US delivered car and still make it run properly?

You can by-pass the pollution control and have it run right:

 - You can either swap the throttle body (air intake) for a euro version, so vacuum is not supplied "all the time" or you can modify the existing throttle body by plugging the vacuum nipple and drilling a tiny vacuum port under the throttle body to match the euro / older USA version.  Don't do this unless you fully understand it. 

 - Change the Distributor to a 1-2-3 unit and set to run on option that matches an 051 dizzy (program 8 I think). Or install an 051 Bosch Dizzy.

[sandcrab59]

As Alfred stated.
On my 1971 280SL Euro, it has an arrow pointing upwards.
On my 250SL USA, it has the word Defrost and below the defrost word
it has a diagram that shows the position of the levers.

In the diagram in the middle, there is a circle that has an arrow turning clockwise.

It shows the position of the levers.
The top row has both levers sliding to the left.
The second row has the left lever sliding to the left, and the right lever sliding to the right.

It is easier with a picture, but I do not know how to post it on the website.
It is easy for me to take pictures because both of these controls are out of the car.
Tom

[Jonny B]

US cars as of 1 January 1969 would have a tag with the VIN mounted on the windshield post on the drivers side. This was US law to allow law enforcement (or anyone else for that matter) to see the VIN number from outside the car.
From the list of changes in Pagoda Notes would have come at VIN ending in 7114 - reference US 49 CFR (Code of Federal Regulations) 565

[doitwright]

- You can either swap the throttle body (air intake) for a euro version, so vacuum is not supplied "all the time" or you can modify the existing throttle body by plugging the vacuum nipple and drilling a tiny vacuum port under the throttle body to match the euro / older USA version.

Are you saying a 1970 SL or 1971 SE USA car would have the correct throttle body to use if omitting the pollution components?

[neelyrc]

It is easier with a picture, but I do not know how to post it on the website.

Picture attached below.

[Mike Hughes]

"In the diagram in the middle, there is a circle that has an arrow turning clockwise."

For maximum defrosting one should turn the fan switch all the way to the right to obtain the highest fan speed.

"The top row has both levers sliding to the left."

Top left lever to the left:  maximum fresh air.  Top right lever to the left: all fan forced air directed to the defroster vents.

"The second row has the left lever sliding to the left, and the right lever sliding to the right."

Both left and right side vents to receive heated air from the heater core only.

[kampala]

Are you saying a 1970 SL or 1971 SE USA car would have the correct throttle body to use if omitting the pollution components?

The USA (70, 71) throttle body would need to modified or replaced with a euro or older usa unit.  You cannot use it as is if removing the pollution control. 

I modified my vacuum port on the 71 280sl to match the vacuum port on my 250sl.   Again, only do this if you fully know what you are doing.  If you want to play it safe, find a euro throttle body or an older USA unit with vacuum coming from below and match to the correct distributor - either an original Bosch 051 or a 1-2-3 unit and set the program for a 051 distributor.   

You could also send your throttle body to Gernold ( in Maine) who has modified for others.


This said, you will read that one or two folks claim their systems work fine without the pollution control and no change to the throttle body but adding a 1-2-3 unit.  Mine did not work right until I made my throttle body modification.   

[doitwright]

The USA (70, 71) throttle body would need to modified or replaced with a euro or older usa unit.

If my brain were comprehending what you said earlier I would realize that older means before 1970.  Thanks for the clarification. Now I understand what should be done if that is the route I choose to go.