A/C Dealer vs Factory

[kampala]

Based on many posting and reading the tech manual, I have "believed" that A/C was ONLY a dealer installed item.   


Would a dealer installed item show up on the DATA PLATE of the car?   I did not think so, but maybe others can comment.

This is not my car.  I was trolling BAT and this Pagoda shows a Data plate with Code 582 (air conditioning) and the car does have the A/C. 

So - data plate shows A/C, our tech manual says code 582 is A/C and yet our Tech Manual says that A/C was only Dealer Installed. 

from tech manual:

Definition
Mercedes-Benz Air Conditioners were a dealer installed item. This was to ensure that the owner would have an air conditioner with good availability of spare parts in the local area and to be have technicians familar with the limited number of authorized AC brands used in these cars.

As with other dealer installed items, AC units often do not appear on Data Cards. AC's were a more popular option in the USA than in Europe and became more numerous in the later cars.

Probably the AC brand found most often in US W113's is Frigiking. Other brands included Kuhlmeister, Behr, and Thermoking."

Here is link to Car on BAT:

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1971-mercedes-benz-280sl-14/

And here is photo of data plate from selling website.     No Data CARD shown on site.  I guess someone could have made a new data plate?

Can anyone help clarify? 

[Shvegel]

In the technical manual it shows factory installed AC from January 4, 1970 on to the end of production.   The data plate shows options that require body modifications before paint(delivery market for marker lights etc, radio antenna, power steering etc etc.) so if it is indeed a factory AC install they would punch the holes before painting the car so code 582 makes sense. 

Lots of odd stuff in the photos of that car.  I think it may not be as pristine as it is presented.  The trunk photos show fairly heavy seam sealer on the seams and the left side where it usually rusts out is covered by a custom side panel.  Notice the floor mat running uo the side panel?

[Tyler S]

Also, if the car was a special order then most likely it would have shown up on the data card. Even though it was installed post production.

[TheEngineer]

"Lots of odd stuff in the photos of that car."
The engine compartment and the underside of the hood should be body colored. The vacuum line to the brake booster should be clear plastic

[Jonny B]

I have had the A/C factory discussion with a couple of members, and in checking the late advertising brochures they do state that A/C was available near the end of production. And this is quite a late car.

[wwheeler]

I was looking at the data plate itself. It has an odd finish to it almost like a silver crinkle paint. Too heavy for just plain orange peel. It should be body color (white).

[TheEngineer]

It is really too bad: One should not modify? (bastardize) these wonderful cars but properly restore them to the original. Keep the paint color and do repairs properly. But I myself considered for a long time to replace the automatic with a newer one because it shifted rough. Thanks to a fellow at my local stealer who assured me it would shift very smooth if I just adjusted it right, I tried. Took me 10 years and now it shifts wonderful. He was right, but the dealership has been sold and I lost track of him. Too bad - I would have liked to have him drive the car now.

[kampala]

Interesting thoughts.  I did not realize that a special order car may have items that are dealer installed and still show up on data plate.   

Would be nice to know if anyone else with a very late 280 has A/C code on there data card or data plate.


To clarify, I was not interested in buying the car. Just found the A/C item interesting when I saw the code on the plate.

Yes, lots of mods on this car including a full color change from brown to white.