Tracing Mercedes history, best place to start?
Discussion
Morning all,
I recently purchased a W126 300se with very light history. Standard story, owner passed away and I bought the car from the son. He hasn't seen any paperwork but is looking through their house for me. All I have is a purchase receipt from 1998 buying the car from the Mandeville hotel in London.
Where do you think would be the best place to start? I'd imagine Mercedes would hold records but not sure of where/who to even start contacting them! I've emailed the hotel but hold little hope that they know anything about a car they sold nearly 20 years ago!
I recently purchased a W126 300se with very light history. Standard story, owner passed away and I bought the car from the son. He hasn't seen any paperwork but is looking through their house for me. All I have is a purchase receipt from 1998 buying the car from the Mandeville hotel in London.
Where do you think would be the best place to start? I'd imagine Mercedes would hold records but not sure of where/who to even start contacting them! I've emailed the hotel but hold little hope that they know anything about a car they sold nearly 20 years ago!
How long had the son/father owned the car for?
How long was it off the road?
If on the road for the last 10 years, you can start with the online MOT history.
You can also apply to DVLA to get the previous owner history and then try the previous owners.
Only problem with that is that some previous owners would also be deceased.
Also try main dealers in the areas of previous owner history.
Will be difficult finding someone interested in helping as the info will be difficult to find.
How long was it off the road?
If on the road for the last 10 years, you can start with the online MOT history.
You can also apply to DVLA to get the previous owner history and then try the previous owners.
Only problem with that is that some previous owners would also be deceased.
Also try main dealers in the areas of previous owner history.
Will be difficult finding someone interested in helping as the info will be difficult to find.
They had it since 1998, Previous to that it was owned by the hotel. I've emailed the hotel and they said they would ask around the older staff. Could you walk into a dealer and ask them to check some sort of database?
I can get the MOT history but its not THAT good and only goes back to 2011 iirc?
I can get the MOT history but its not THAT good and only goes back to 2011 iirc?
I have a 1981 W126 - 500 SEL that I bought for a song a couple of years ago. I bought it from a dealer who was selling on behalf of a very wealthy client. The dealer had cars in there worth more than my house, I thought I was in the wrong place when I arrived.
Anyway it also had very little history with it, (hence paying £1300 rather than the £2000 asking price)
I used the MOT site as mentioned already and contacted the DVLA which resulted in a sheaf of paperwork coming back to me. Not massively helpful it turned out, but nice to have to add to what I have accumulated paperwork wise.
I did try and contact the previous owner, but unfortunately had no response, I suspect because I beat him down way below where he had planned to sell at.
Good luck
Anyway it also had very little history with it, (hence paying £1300 rather than the £2000 asking price)
I used the MOT site as mentioned already and contacted the DVLA which resulted in a sheaf of paperwork coming back to me. Not massively helpful it turned out, but nice to have to add to what I have accumulated paperwork wise.
I did try and contact the previous owner, but unfortunately had no response, I suspect because I beat him down way below where he had planned to sell at.
Good luck
Have you tried calling an MB main dealer to see if they can print off any main dealer service history from their computer system? Don't main dealers share this kind of information so you can move between them and they'll have some access? That would give you dealer names for each service, then contact them to see if they'll give you copies of what was done or whether they'll just shout "Data Protection" and slam the phone done.
A long Long time ago (well about 20+ years) I worked for a rather large MB Dealer. We had at the time the latest in MB Parts software installed and it had access to nearly every car ever made - all we needed was the chassis number and it would give the factory build sheet for that actual car - for instance, it was impossible for me to order a left handed mangle worzle for a right hand drive car.
We used to have alot of police forces use the system to find the history of the car and where if anywhere it had been serviced, colour, etc. Believe alot of these were the stolen cars found at portside.
However we did also do a couple of much older cars for a couple of very well know restorers who used the MB system to get to the original spec.
Its been a few years, and Im sure that system is probably black and white now - so first place Id go to would be a big main dealer, ask for the service manager, or parts manager and see how you get on. If that fails, the guys at MB UK head office (in Milton Keynes) in the Press office were always a friendly helpful bunch so hopefully they still are.
Good luck on the research.
We used to have alot of police forces use the system to find the history of the car and where if anywhere it had been serviced, colour, etc. Believe alot of these were the stolen cars found at portside.
However we did also do a couple of much older cars for a couple of very well know restorers who used the MB system to get to the original spec.
Its been a few years, and Im sure that system is probably black and white now - so first place Id go to would be a big main dealer, ask for the service manager, or parts manager and see how you get on. If that fails, the guys at MB UK head office (in Milton Keynes) in the Press office were always a friendly helpful bunch so hopefully they still are.
Good luck on the research.
As stated above, original spec and main dealer service history should be logged on Merc's global vehicle system.
However, you will probably have to take your V5 to a dealer to prove ownership before they will release any data. If it is anything like Volkswagen systems the original spec and options are listed along with all service, repair and warranty events. They should also be able to tell you if there are any outstanding recalls applicable to your car too, which might be useful to know.
If you approach Mercedes directly you might still be required to take your V5 to your nearest dealer to prove ownership. It could be worth the effort though if you currently have no history with the car.
However, you will probably have to take your V5 to a dealer to prove ownership before they will release any data. If it is anything like Volkswagen systems the original spec and options are listed along with all service, repair and warranty events. They should also be able to tell you if there are any outstanding recalls applicable to your car too, which might be useful to know.
If you approach Mercedes directly you might still be required to take your V5 to your nearest dealer to prove ownership. It could be worth the effort though if you currently have no history with the car.
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