Hey, I have been posting on other forums and hoping to get some info here, no one seems to want to help me anywhere else.

I bought my first mercedes, a 1981 500sel, so far I understand that it is a grey market car, that its w126 and thats about it.

I have checked the vin and it comes up with different years on different decoders. 1978, 1990 and the mvd here in az thinks its a 2001 for some reason,
VIN wdb12603712008508
I cant find a manual for it anywhere.

Is there an american model equivalent that i can use for parts.

anyone know anything about this model? there are some minor issues I want to fix. sunroof and one door window doesnt work, some interior lights out, nothing major but I cant find enough info to get look for parts or manuals.

please give a fella a hand. any info gets me moving forward

 

u can ask mercedes dealer

 

Your MB dealer should be able to run the VIN to determine the year in question, etc.
I believe the 1981 SEL is similar in many ways to the SD (I owned an 81 in 1983). Obviously, one is gas and the SD is diesel but the body is essentially the same although I believe the rear doors are longer hence the 'L' in SEL. For example, the sunroof & lighting should be similar but the rear window would be a different size.
Also, if memory serves there was a SEL at the time with a smaller gas engine.
I am sure others with better knowledge will chime in.

 

thanks for the info, yeah i have found out that there is an 81 380sel that was the american market equivalent. Pretty much the reason that my 500sel was imported here. I still cant find a manual but I think that I can pretty much use a 380sel manual for all i need.

 

There are manuals on cd's for $20-30 as well. Ebay has them all the time. By far the best thing you can do, is keep your eyes open for factory service manuals. I picked up a 7 volume set for $150.00. Well worth the price.

 

Thanks longhauler, The trouble I am having is finding info specificallly for the 1981 500sel, I have gone to some sites looking for manuals but none have anything for the 81 500sel. Ill check ebay today.

 

Check MBUSA too for the disks. I think they are 99 or less.


You can also subscribe to startec - which is the parts for all Benzes.

http://epc.startekinfo.com/epc/login.jsp

It will require a credit card, but if you have a US address, it will not charge a dime to the card. It is for 365 days, but it is a free renewal every year.

This covers all Benzes. I believe you can look up parts for grey market cars as well.

 

oh yeah that site is the buisness. I'm part of that site and it helps. Even helped a friend out for parts and info for his 1984 190D that had the manuel tranny in it US spec.