German domestic market cars VS ROW

[Mish_Mish]

Perhaps this an odd question but I have to ask, is there any notable difference between 500E made and sold in Germany (besides lack of turn signals on front fenders) from say US or Japanese markets?

 

[gerryvz]

It’s been documented over the years on the forum.

The real differences are more with North American vs. ROW cars, not German market vs. ROW.

only certain markets (not Germany, but I believe the UK among some others) had turn signal repeaters mandated on the front wings.

Most markets except for North America had an oil cooler. I believe that later non-US cars also had slightly larger rear brakes.

Japanese market cars have an EXH TMP dashboard light; mid-1992 and later US cars have a CHECK ENGINE dash lamp. ROW cars did not have these.

North American and Japanese market cars tended to be extremely consistent in terms of having very high levels of options on pretty much all cars imported to these two countries. Non-North American and Japanese cars tend to have shorter (less extensive) option lists, which could be specified by the original buyer at time of purchase.

Non North American cars had the E/S switch on the gear lever gate for switching from Economy to Sport Standard?. North American cars came with “S” mode from the factory.

All of this information is here on the forum.

 

[Mish_Mish]

Thank you, I did look before asking, your help is much appreciated. Now I see why that one German market unit I looked at had a shifter switch and less build options.

 

[gerryvz]

Basically think of it that all E500Es imported into North America are going to be fairly maxed-out in terms of options. Japanese cars also had generally pretty strong option lists.

Non-North American cars will generally have fire extinguishers and warning triangles from the factory; North American cars NEVER had these from the factory.

I've actually seen "stripper" model 500Es per the data card info, with next to no options. These tended to be earlier in the production, but were always buyer-specified options (or lack thereof).

 

[gsxr]

Adding to what Gerry said, it's North American and Japan cars that had reduced "performance/functional" equipment. The 124.036 had the oil cooler deleted AND did not receive the braking system upgrade as of approximately Mar-1993, for both USA and Japan. ROW, including Germany, had the oil cooler and enhanced brake system. So it's not really German-delivery cars you want, it's anywhere outside USA/Japan, if you want all the goodies.

Similar with 124.034, USA and Japan received 2.24 granny gears with FGS, ROW had 2.65 gears and SGS.

USA and Japan have low speed limits and MB didn't think it was worth the cost to provide stuff only used at high speeds. The 2.24 gears also allowed MB to skate around a gas guzzler tax on the .034, IIRC.

 

[Mish_Mish]

Adding to what Gerry said, it's North American and Japan cars that had reduced "performance/functional" equipment. The 124.036 had the oil cooler deleted AND did not receive the braking system upgrade as of approximately Mar-1993, for both USA and Japan. ROW, including Germany, had the oil cooler and enhanced brake system. So it's not really German-delivery cars you want, it's anywhere outside USA/Japan, if you want all the goodies.

Similar with 124.034, USA and Japan received 2.24 granny gears with FGS, ROW had 2.65 gears and SGS.

USA and Japan have low speed limits and MB didn't think it was worth the cost to provide stuff only used at high speeds. The 2.24 gears also allowed MB to skate around a gas guzzler tax on the .034, IIRC.

Thank you for the info, this is exactly what I was looking for. So it seems that ROW 500E would be more a sports car, when US/Japan is a luxury cruiser that takes off with the second gear by default?

This is what I bought and will see in late January, seems like a stripped down German market car, right?:

Order Location WUERZBURG BRANCH

Approx. Build Date 1991-03
Code Description
241 FRONT SEAT LH ELECTRIC ADJUSTABLE WITH MEMORY
291 AIRBAG FOR FRONT PASSENGER
300 STORAGE BOX IN FRONT TRAY
412 ELECTRIC SLIDING ROOF WITH TILTING DEVICE
441 STEERING COLUMN, ELECTRICALLY ADJUSTABLE
540 ROLLER BLIND, ELECTRIC, FOR REAR WINDOW
551 ANTI-THEFT/ANTI-BREAK-IN WARNING SYSTEM
570 FOLDING ARMREST, FRONT
620 VEHICLES WITH CATALYST TECHNIQUE
682 FIRE EXTINGUISHER
810 SOUND SYSTEM
873 SEAT HEATER FOR LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT SEATS

 

[gsxr]

All 036's worldwide, all years, have 2.82 axle ratio and start in second gear.

It was the .034 that had different gearing/valvebody in USA/Japan vs ROW.

The option list you show above appear to be a normally-equipped German market car, not stripped-down. The last 6 digits of the VIN would indicate if it has the late/fancy braking system. Other than possibly having manual climate control and a fire extinguisher, the equipment looks nearly the same as USA-market as far as options.

 

[Mish_Mish]

All 036's worldwide, all years, have 2.82 axle ratio and start in second gear.

It was the .034 that had different gearing/valvebody in USA/Japan vs ROW.

The option list you show above appear to be a normally-equipped German market car, not stripped-down. The last 6 digits of the VIN would indicate if it has the late/fancy braking system. Other than possibly having manual climate control and a fire extinguisher, the equipment looks nearly the same as USA-market as far as options.

Sorry, did not see 034 mentioned.
My unit does have manual E/S switch next to the shifter, so S means start in first gear, right.

 

[gsxr]

Sorry, did not see 034 mentioned.
My unit does have manual E/S switch next to the shifter, so S means start in first gear, right.

No. E/S is Economy/Standard. It adjusts the shift RPM. Economy makes it upshift early, at low RPM.

USA-spec cars do not have the E/S switch, but are always in "Standard" mode.

 

[northNH]

The 2.24 gears also allowed MB to skate around a gas guzzler tax on the .034, IIRC.

...and allow .034s to skate around getting 25mpg with 2500rpm at 75mph, yet ready to wake up at a moments notice...

 

[gerryvz]

All 500E and E500 shipped worldwide start in second gear. ALL markets.

The 400E and E420 have first-gear start (USA/Japan only). This is why the 400E420 (.034) valve bodies are in demand among some 500E owners as an "upgrade". You will find dozens of threads on the forum of these for sale over the years.

A few reference threads that discuss the first and second gear start & related characteristics:

• One
• Two
• Three
• Four
• Five
• Six

No North American W124 model of any type was imported with an E/S switch. Later chassis (W210, W203, etc.) had them, but never the W124. "S" only controls the shift point, making it hang a little longer before upshifting. "E" uses earlier shifts for "economy."

That is about an average German-market data card. Not fully loaded up, not stripped. I would say about 80% outfitted as compared to what you would see for US-imported models.

What is the FIN of this car you bought?

 

[alabbasi]

Basically think of it that all E500Es imported into North America are going to be fairly maxed-out in terms of options. Japanese cars also had generally pretty strong option lists.

Non-North American cars will generally have fire extinguishers and warning triangles from the factory; North American cars NEVER had these from the factory.

I've actually seen "stripper" model 500Es per the data card info, with next to no options. These tended to be earlier in the production, but were always buyer-specified options (or lack thereof).

Yep, back in the 80's and early 90's. Mercedes Benz (in the UK at least) only provided central locking and power steering as standard. A friend of the family was a diplomat back in the 80's in London and bought a Mercedes Benz 190 in 1987. It had a 4 speed manual, crank windows and cloth interior. It could still do 100mph on the Marylebone Rd and did many times.

 

[sheward]

All 500E and E500 shipped worldwide start in first gear. ALL markets.

The 400E and E420 have first-gear start. This is why the 400E420 (.034) valve bodies are in demand among some 500E owners as an "upgrade". You will find dozens of threads on the forum of these for sale over the years.

A few reference threads that discuss the first and second gear start & related characteristics:

• One
• Two
• Three
• Four
• Five
• Six

No North American W124 model of any type was imported with an E/S switch. Later chassis (W210, W203, etc.) had them, but never the W124. "S" only controls the shift point, making it hang a little longer before upshifting. "E" uses earlier shifts for "economy."

That is about an average German-market data card. Not fully loaded up, not stripped. I would say about 80% outfitted as compared to what you would see for US-imported models.

What is the FIN of this car you bought?

I believe in your first sentence you meant to type "second gear".

drew

 

[kegmankipp]

...and allow .034s to skate around getting 25mpg with 2500rpm at 75mph, yet ready to wake up at a moments notice...

IMHO swapping gears to 2.65 is the greatest mod you can do to a 034.

It’s like letting a greyhound off it’s leash for the first time in it’s life.

I would never go back to 2.24.

Many thanks to gsxr for the tip!

The 90, 91, and 92 500SL dif bolts right in

 

[outrbnks]

OK, I did use the search function here and on Google without luck.

Sorry to ask a dumb question, I just haven't seen or paid attention to the term before.

"ROW", what does that mean? Implied are cars built for a certain market(s).

This is an interesting topic, as I'm very interested in E500E history, like many are.

It would be nice to see a comprehensive list showing the build differences between markets all on one page or one file.

If a file like that exists, does anyone have a link to it?

Thanks....O

 

[Eno]

Rest Of the World (ROW) meant that it was “outside” European countries.
I may be wrong though.

 

[Kyiv]

The 90, 91, and 92 500SL dif bolts right in

Zero modifications required? As in literally plug-and-play?

 

[gsxr]

Zero modifications required? As in literally plug-and-play?

99% plug & play, for ASR models... the R129 ASR diff has sensor wires a few inches shorter. You may need to swap the sensors from the W124 diff, but otherwise yes, it bolts straight in.

For a non-ASR diff, I don't know if the single sensor wire length is an issue. Still bolts in other than the sensor wire concern.

Either scenario requires an electronic speedometer conversion box behind the cluster, I use the YellowBox from Yellr.com.

 

[036]

I remember this cristall green dutch car....no options, not at all. Leather and tow hook added later. No el.roof, no el. steering column,no nothing.

 

[Mish_Mish]

I remember this cristall green dutch car....no options, not at all. Leather and tow hook added later. No el.roof, no el. steering column,no nothing.

What a great color!

 

[sheward]

Love that car.

drew

 

[szvook]

And that black interior is icing on the cake. Love that color combo.

 

[036]

I hope i´m not too off topic here, but i found all pics of this car. 8900 Euro, back in 2012......

 

[Mish_Mish]

I hope i´m not too off topic here, but i found all pics of this car. 8900 Euro, back in 2012......

This looks like a 94/95 model, yet it has a manual climate control (just like mine) and face lifted exterior. Was it re-dressed as a later car, or Euro cars were ahead of the US models?

 

[036]

As far as i remember it was redressed after minor crash, leather and sunshade were added. Can´t find VIN for now. It was 92 car.

 

[sheward]

The manual dual climate control was not offered for the US market. Your car must be an import?
The face lift happened at the same time for all countries.

drew

 

[steve h]

Yep, back in the 80's and early 90's. Mercedes Benz (in the UK at least) only provided central locking and power steering as standard. A friend of the family was a diplomat back in the 80's in London and bought a Mercedes Benz 190 in 1987. It had a 4 speed manual, crank windows and cloth interior. It could still do 100mph on the Marylebone Rd and did many times.

I bought a W124 300TDT in the 1980's in Germany.
The base model did not have leather/air/electric windows/sunroof/electric seats/radio etc
You basically bought a bare car & optioned it to your liking, but it was much cheaper than buying it in France/Belgium/UK

 

[Kyiv]

99% plug & play, for ASR models... the R129 ASR diff has sensor wires a few inches shorter. You may need to swap the sensors from the W124 diff, but otherwise yes, it bolts straight in.

For a non-ASR diff, I don't know if the single sensor wire length is an issue. Still bolts in other than the sensor wire concern.

Either scenario requires an electronic speedometer conversion box behind the cluster, I use the YellowBox from Yellr.com.

Dave, were there SL's from 90-92 without ASR?

 

[kegmankipp]

Dave, were there SL's from 90-92 without ASR?

They came both ways. One sensor is for no asr, two sensors for asr. The scrappers in Nor Cal sell them for $100 either way and they pull them from the donor car for you. Worth every penny.

 

[036]

The manual dual climate control was not offered for the US market. Your car must be an import?
The face lift happened at the same time for all countries.

drew

As said- original dutch order, no options.
Found some infos:

7/1991
256 - Kristallgrün met.
071 - Stoff \"Karo\" schwarz
553 - Holland
S.A.:
570 - Armlehne klappbar vorn
592 - WD-Glas rundum mit Bandfilter, Heckscheibe Verbundglas
620 - KAT-ausf. (Abgasreinigungsanlage)
756 - Becker Mexico 2000

 

[036]

140 in same colour

Forum - MB-Baureihen.de Community

www.nast-sonderfahrzeuge.de

And well, looking for cristal green i found another dutch 036.. Pic are also from 2012.

 

[036]

Dave, were there SL's from 90-92 without ASR?

Sure.

 

[gsxr]

Dave, were there SL's from 90-92 without ASR?

Yup, as mentioned by Kegman and 036, the 129.066 had optional ASR. If shopping for a diff, you must get the VIN of the donor car, or better yet a photo of the actual differential BEFORE they ship it. Very easy to tell the difference based on the sensor location & quantity.

At this point you might consider springing for the 5.0L engine too and making a narrow-body 500E!!

 

[kegmankipp]

Yup, as mentioned by Kegman and 036, the 129.066 had optional ASR. If shopping for a diff, you must get the VIN of the donor car, or better yet a photo of the actual differential BEFORE they ship it. Very easy to tell the difference based on the sensor location & quantity.

At this point you might consider springing for the 5.0L engine too and making a narrow-body 500E!!

Yeah, lol I’m on the prowl for a clean 5L engine

The yard I went to pulled two diffs that were supposed to be the right one before they got it right on the third

I’d recommend you specifically ask the yard to disconnect the sensors from the car before pulling the diff so they are still useable as the place I went just cut the wiring on the sensors

 

[gerryvz]

I believe in your first sentence you meant to type "second gear".

drew

I did mis-type, and will correct it. Thanks for flagging that.

 

[gerryvz]

ROW = Rest of World. I generally use that in the context of non-North American, but it is equally valid as a term for non-European in a European car.

 

[Mish_Mish]

Check out this one fellow I found, speaking of no options, no roof!

Code Description
241 FRONT SEAT LH ELECTRIC ADJUSTABLE WITH MEMORY
242 FRONT SEAT RH ELECTRIC ADJUSTABLE WITH MEMORY
291 AIRBAG FOR FRONT PASSENGER
300 STORAGE BOX IN FRONT TRAY
341 ADDITIONAL BLINKER LAMPS
441 STEERING COLUMN, ELECTRICALLY ADJUSTABLE
524 PAINTWORK - PRESERVATION
570 FOLDING ARMREST, FRONT
581 AUTOMATIC CLIMATE CONTROL
592 HEAT-INSULATING GLASS, ALL-AROUND, HEATED REAR WINDOW PANE, BAND FILTER
613 HEADLAMP LEFT-HAND TRAFFIC
664 20 LITERS OF FUEL AND MODE OF PACKING VE III
758 RADIO BECKER MEXICO 2000
802 CHANGE OF MODEL YEAR, THE LAST FIGURE SHOWING THE NEW MODEL YEAR
818 CD CHANGER IN THE TRUNK
873 SEAT HEATER FOR LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT SEATS