Power Wheels Magazine A Notch Above
After the COVID-19 pandemic hit the whole world in 2020, most businesses catering to the publication and entertainment industries suffered a sharp decline in their earnings. Our company was not immune to the worldwide economic slowdown. One of the initial measures we took to save our dwindling precious resources was to temporarily mothball our project cars, including our Mercedes-Benz W126. While it was gathering dust as it sits idle, we decided to take a closer look at its Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) and the stamped metal Trim Plate that’s screwed on top of the radiator support frame.
We ran our car’s numbers through two online VIN decoding websites – Mercedes-Benz Decoder (mbdecoder.com) and Last VIN Decoder (lastvin.com) – and found out more facts about our 500SE. Astute readers might notice that we changed the model-year of our W126 from “1986”, which was indicated in our car’s Land Transportation Office (LTO) Certificate of Registration (CR) and Official Receipts (OR), to “1983” because we learned through the decoding sites that its production date was March 10, 1983, which confirms that it is officially a 1983 Mercedes-Benz 500SE. Its Production Number 3416883 also confirms that it was made in 1983.
We found out that our 500SE was ordered through the Mercedes-Benz Regensburg Branch under Order Number 0220301944 finished in Lapis Blue metallic paint (Paint Code 932U) with mushroom-colored leather interior (Code 255). We found traces of the original paint under the gas filler flap as well as some Japanese stickers, which would indicate that our car was exported from Germany to Japan before it was imported into the Philippines. We can also guess that the color change from blue to black was done in Japan because of the quality of the work.
Fuel filler flap door hinge showed traces of the original Lapis Blue color while Japanese sticker shows where it stayed before it came to our shores.
Our 500SE came out of the Daimler-Benz factory in Sindelfingen, Germany with Lapis Blue metallic paint in 1983.
The mushroom-colored leather interior (trim code 255) of our 500SE is still intact but needs a little TLC.
Looking at all the 3-digit numbers stamped from the middle until the right side of the Trim Plate, we were able to confirm the original equipment that were installed in our 500SE as it moved along the production line at the Daimler-Benz factory in Sindelfingen, Germany in March 1983. We were not surprised to find that our car was equipped with a limited-slip rear differential (256), which explains the tenacious grip under hand acceleration. We bought a Hirchmann power antenna to replace the inoperative one that came with the car (532) when we bought it in 2013. However, trim code 354 indicated that our W126 also came with a roof-mounted antenna for a Becker stereo or Tekade car phone. Interestingly, code 682 says that a fire extinguisher must always be on board.
We bought a Hirchmann power antenna and kept it in the truck along with an original 3rd brake light assembly, authentic European license plate, and other parts.
We decided to decode the 3-digit trim code numbers just to see if our 500SE kept most of its original equipment and here’s what we found:
222 RIGHT FRONT SEAT, ELECTRICALLY ADJUSTABLE
At first, we found it unusual that the driver didn’t have a power seat but now we know that it was ordered this way by the first owner, who must’ve always ridden in the front passenger seat.
404 AHRERLEHNE ORTHOPAEDISCH LINKS (LEFT FRONT SEAT, MULTI CONTOUR)
Multi-contoured driver’s seat features a rubber bulb pump to inflate or deflate the lumbar support.
410 ELECTRIC SLIDING ROOF
The metal sunroof still works but its rails are beginning to rust and the rubber seal needs to be replaced.
442 AIRBAG IN STEERING WHEEL
Mercedes-Benz was one of the pioneers in airbag technology. However, we just don’t know if the almost-40-year-old SRS system of our car still works.
452 CODE VORLAEUFIG UNGUELTIG (TWO-TONE HORN)
Our 500SE came with PIAA horns when we first got it but we installed Bosch horns immediately after.
470 ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS)
Compared to those found in late model cars, the ABS actuator assembly of the W126 occupies a lot of real estate under the hood…
… while the warning light on the dash indicates that we should have the ABS system checked.
504 OUTSIDE REAR VIEW MIRROR, RIGHT, ELECTRICALLY ADJUSTABLE
The yellow arrow points to the little joystick in the center console that adjusts the right side power mirror.
570 FOLDING ARMREST, FRONT
The folding armrest is mounted on the driver’s seat.
583 FENSTERHEBER ELEKTRISCH 2-FACH (ELECTRIC WINDOW LIFTERS, FRONT DOORS)
The power window switches for the driver’s side and front passenger’s windows are located in the center console.
Backseat passengers need to manually crank the rear windows to open or close them.
590 GREEN HEAT-INSULATING GLASS, ALL-AROUND, HEATED REAR WINDOW PANE
We removed the super dark window tint that our 500SE came with because all the glass were already heat-insulated.
611 COURTESY LAMPS IN DOORS
Those nifty courtesy lights are quite helpful, especially when you don’t know what you’re stepping out into.
640 LIGHT ALLOY WHEELS
We found one of the original Bundt 14-inch light alloy wheels in the trunk but gave it to a friend for his 300TD W123 and replaced it with a 15-inch Benz-2 with 215/60R15 Yokohama tires to match the other wheels.
673 HIGH-CAPACITY BATTERY
We replaced the battery in 2019. We guess it’s due for another replacement sometime this year.
812 REAR-MOUNTED LOUDSPEAKERS
Our W126 came with speakers subtly mounted at the rear parcel shelf…
… with a fader/volume control wheel located at the center console. Ah, the good old ’80’s audio technology!
870 / 871 ELECTRIC SEAT HEATER FOR LEFT FRONT SEAT / ELECTRIC SEAT HEATER FOR RIGHT FRONT SEAT
The heated seats, with their corresponding switches in the center console, indicates that our 500SE was initially bound for cold climates.
It made us wonder – Did we leave the car parked under the sun for too long or did we switch the seat heaters on?
After knowing all the original equipment that came with our W126 when it left the factory in 1983, a couple of questions now beg to be answered: Should we restore it back to its original color of Lapis Blue and fit it with Bundt wheels or will we leave it as it is, black with Benz-2 wheels? Should we maintain it as documented or should we add other equipment such as electric lifts for the rear windows, headlight wiper/washer, and a more modern audio head unit with CD player and USB/Bluetooth connectivity? Or should we take a great big plunge and turn it into a replica of the late former Beatles George Harrison‘s 500SEL AMG? The state of post-pandemic business developments will determine our next step. Watch for it soon!
Should we refurbish our 1983 Mercedes-Benz 500SE like when we got it in 2013…
… or should we restore it to how it left the factory in 1983…
… or should we go all out and turn it into a replica of George Harrison’s AMG?
Can you please HELP us decide?