Data Card vs. whats installed

[Benz280]

In doing some further investigation, data card shows 415 ( No Soft-top ) , car has soft-top.
Could a few Löwenbräu's during the printing have created this error ?   
 

[Pawel66]

I think you talk about this:
https://www.sl113.org/wiki/DataCard/OptionCodes

It is not California Coupe. I think I have the same code.

[Jonny B]

Another check is to look at the plate by the secondary hood latch.

The line of numbers showing the car and hard top colors - there should be a single digit at the right, a "5" indicates hard top on the car but no soft top. A "7" indicates a California coupe.

The next line has the 113 044 12 (or 10 in your case) and then another single digit - "7" there indicates US car.

[badali]

My car has 415 and I added the soft top after I bought it.  There are probably many that were added after purchase.

[Benz280]

Yes I also have a 5, but according to the datacard the car did not come with a soft top, yet it has one and looks to be original to the car . 

[badali]

Mine looks original to the car also.  When I bought the frame the bolts were already in the well.  I bought the car in 2008 and it appeared the compartment was never opened.

[Benz280]

I hoping that someone with chime in that errors in Data cards did exist, otherwise this is very strange .
It was mentioned that when the cars where on the dealers floor and it did not have a soft-top, the dealer would order and install in order to make a sale , car dealers do what it takes to make the sale .   

[mbzse]

.../...data card shows 415 ( No Soft-top ), car has soft-top.
Could a few Löwenbräu's during the printing have created this error ?

What error?
Someone, the dealer or the first owner (or later owners) ordered and installed a soft-top frame and fabric into
the soft top compartment of your SL. [i.e  a subsequent spare-parts order]
When it left the factory, it did not have any frame or soft top. Just so.

[Pawel66]

I hoping that someone with chime in that errors in Data cards did exist, otherwise this is very strange .
It was mentioned that when the cars where on the dealers floor and it did not have a soft-top, the dealer would order and install in order to make a sale , car dealers do what it takes to make the sale .

It is not an error, it is just an option, I do not think there is anything strange or misterious about it. Soft top costed money, you could get it second hand, I am sure.

There are errors in data cards, I published mine with the wrong engine number, but option 415 is an option that makes sense, actually.

[MikeSimon]

Not that I would know, but I agree with Hans and Pawel. My reasoning is, that Germans do not make mistakes. So!

[WRe]

Hi,
it sounds strange but it's an option code and ok except people from Stuttgart and surrounding don't drink Löwenbräu but Dinkacker or Stuttgarter Hofbräu.
...WRe

[Pawel66]

Here is my datacard with mistake in engine number.

[Pawel66]

By the way: the confusion may also be between
Option 415
and
5 as the last digit in line 2 on Paint Code and Option Plate (no soft top, hard top mounted on car)

[john.mancini]

There's no doubt in my mind that all option 415 cars had the hardtop mounted with no soft top. I've seen quite a few over the years. I own an option 415 car that I purchased from the original owner. He had the MB dealer install a soft top when he bought the car new. Simple as that. I agree that many option 415 cars must have had soft tops installed by MB dealers or subsequent owners.

[MikeSimon]

I agree that many option 415 cars must have had soft tops installed by MB dealers or subsequent owners.

I wonder why. That must have been more expensive than ordering the car with a soft top from the factory.

[Pawel66]

Do not tell anybody, but today, when you by a new Mercedes and order some additional equipment, you pay more than when you order the same equipment later as a spare part. Of course you do that only when you can fit it when you get the car.

It is top secret, for your eyes only.

At certain point there also must have been a second hand soft top market.

[MikeSimon]

The actual soft-top material was available from other places than MB. I am not sure about the frame, though.

[wjsvb ✝︎]

When we owned a foreign-car wrecking yard in the 70's and 80's, there was an active trade in soft tops, hardtops, radios, power steering units, etc.  You name it, it would sell.  Remember, these cars are +/- 50 yrs old.  And in the days, rolling back odometers was common practice!  In 1972, I sold my 69 280SL, 87k, to a prominent PA MB dealer.  Happened to see the car several months later with 32k. 

[Pawel66]

When we owned a foreign-car wrecking yard in the 70's and 80's, there was an active trade in soft tops, hardtops, radios, power steering units, etc.  You name it, it would sell.  Remember, these cars are +/- 50 yrs old.  And in the days, rolling back odometers was common practice!  In 1972, I sold my 69 280SL, 87k, to a prominent PA MB dealer.  Happened to see the car several months later with 32k.

Exactly!
Such is life.