Why the rebadging on US models?
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S213
Why the rebadging on US models?
I didnt realize this until I last year visited the plant in Stuttgart Germany, I saw a white SL (230 model) with US side markers badged with "SL 550" on the lid
I asked why it said 550 on the trunk because I knew it was the regular OM273 (500) engine in it.
The person I asked said that some US-models are "rebadged" to make the appearance of a larger engine
Same thing with the W204 with the EU spec C280 engine (OM272), in the US this is called C300.
What is the reason for doing this?
I asked why it said 550 on the trunk because I knew it was the regular OM273 (500) engine in it.
The person I asked said that some US-models are "rebadged" to make the appearance of a larger engine
Same thing with the W204 with the EU spec C280 engine (OM272), in the US this is called C300.
What is the reason for doing this?
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Not sure about all MB models but the US spec C300 is a 3.0 liter engine. From what I understood, the European C280 is a 3.0 as well.
Last edited by C300Sport; Mar 15, 2009 at 06:07 PM.
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Its very simple, the U.S. models are badged to reflect the true size of the engine. All 550 models use a 5.5L V8 and are thus named 550 here in the U.S. The C and SLK models are all accurate also in their badges also. SLK300, C300, C350 etc reflect the real size of their V6 engines.
The only place where Mercedes isn't quite accurate is with the GL450 (really a 4.7L V8) and the 600 model (really a 5.5L V12). Also the "63" AMG cars really use a 6.2L V8 and lastly the "65" AMG cars really use a 6.0L V12. At least thats all I can think of right now.
I can't believe someone from the factory would tell you something like that, they were either joking or shockingly clueless.
M
The only place where Mercedes isn't quite accurate is with the GL450 (really a 4.7L V8) and the 600 model (really a 5.5L V12). Also the "63" AMG cars really use a 6.2L V8 and lastly the "65" AMG cars really use a 6.0L V12. At least thats all I can think of right now.
I can't believe someone from the factory would tell you something like that, they were either joking or shockingly clueless.
M
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Could be similar to the reason some European cars are debadged all together, some people hate people that have nicer cars than them. Or maybe is has a physiological reason if people think it has a smaller engine since they pay taxes based on size of the engine? 
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Its very simple, the U.S. models are badged to reflect the true size of the engine. All 550 models use a 5.5L V8 and are thus named 550 here in the U.S. The C and SLK models are all accurate also in their badges also. SLK300, C300, C350 etc reflect the real size of their V6 engines.
The only place where Mercedes isn't quite accurate is with the GL450 (really a 4.7L V8) and the 600 model (really a 5.5L V12). Also the "63" AMG cars really use a 6.2L V8 and lastly the "65" AMG cars really use a 6.0L V12. At least thats all I can think of right now.
I can't believe someone from the factory would tell you something like that, they were either joking or shockingly clueless.
M
The only place where Mercedes isn't quite accurate is with the GL450 (really a 4.7L V8) and the 600 model (really a 5.5L V12). Also the "63" AMG cars really use a 6.2L V8 and lastly the "65" AMG cars really use a 6.0L V12. At least thats all I can think of right now.
I can't believe someone from the factory would tell you something like that, they were either joking or shockingly clueless.
M
C230k with the M271 was a 1.8L, C230 with the M272 is a 2.5L, C240 was a 2.6L, etc.
truth of the matter is MBUSA or Canada badge their cars according to what's most recognized and how they sound compare to competition or compare with previous generations.
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I didnt realize this until I last year visited the plant in Stuttgart Germany, I saw a white SL (230 model) with US side markers badged with "SL 550" on the lid. I asked why it said 550 on the trunk because I knew it was the regular OM273 (500) engine in it.
The person I asked said that some US-models are "rebadged" to make the appearance of a larger engine Same thing with the W204 with the EU spec C280 engine (OM272), in the US this is called C300.
What is the reason for doing this?
The person I asked said that some US-models are "rebadged" to make the appearance of a larger engine
Same thing with the W204 with the EU spec C280 engine (OM272), in the US this is called C300.What is the reason for doing this?
Your engine descriptions are also wrong. First, you mention OM 272 and OM273. OM means Oel motor which is diesel. All MB diesels are OM this and that.
And the engine used in the Euro C280 and the North American C300 are the same 3-liter engines, thus C300 is correct. MB has decided that the number should match the displacement like it used to.
Remember, the W201 C240 used a 2.6 engine which made no sense at all.
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there's not entirely true. lol
C230k with the M271 was a 1.8L, C230 with the M272 is a 2.5L, C240 was a 2.6L, etc.
truth of the matter is MBUSA or Canada badge their cars according to what's most recognized and how they sound compare to competition or compare with previous generations.
C230k with the M271 was a 1.8L, C230 with the M272 is a 2.5L, C240 was a 2.6L, etc.
truth of the matter is MBUSA or Canada badge their cars according to what's most recognized and how they sound compare to competition or compare with previous generations.
Maybe I should have said currently because MBUSA certainly does badge their cars according to actual engine size except for the exceptions I listed earlier: GL450, 600s, and the AMG 63 and 65 cars. A GL470 would be too similar to the Lexus GX470 so Mercedes opted for GL450.
You're talking about the previous C-Class, not the current one.
M
Last edited by Germancar1; Mar 15, 2009 at 10:17 PM.
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SL 230? There is no such model. That would be a 2.3 liter four cylinder. There may be an SLK 230 but it doesn't come here.
Your engine descriptions are also wrong. First, you mention OM 272 and OM273. OM means Oel motor which is diesel. All MB diesels are OM this and that.
And the engine used in the Euro C280 and the North American C300 are the same 3-liter engines, thus C300 is correct. MB has decided that the number should match the displacement like it used to.
Remember, the W201 C240 used a 2.6 engine which made no sense at all.
Your engine descriptions are also wrong. First, you mention OM 272 and OM273. OM means Oel motor which is diesel. All MB diesels are OM this and that.
And the engine used in the Euro C280 and the North American C300 are the same 3-liter engines, thus C300 is correct. MB has decided that the number should match the displacement like it used to.
Remember, the W201 C240 used a 2.6 engine which made no sense at all.
He meant the internal chassis designation for the current SL, which is R230.
M
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S213
SL 230? There is no such model. That would be a 2.3 liter four cylinder. There may be an SLK 230 but it doesn't come here.
Your engine descriptions are also wrong. First, you mention OM 272 and OM273. OM means Oel motor which is diesel. All MB diesels are OM this and that.
And the engine used in the Euro C280 and the North American C300 are the same 3-liter engines, thus C300 is correct. MB has decided that the number should match the displacement like it used to.
Remember, the W201 C240 used a 2.6 engine which made no sense at all.
Your engine descriptions are also wrong. First, you mention OM 272 and OM273. OM means Oel motor which is diesel. All MB diesels are OM this and that.
And the engine used in the Euro C280 and the North American C300 are the same 3-liter engines, thus C300 is correct. MB has decided that the number should match the displacement like it used to.
Remember, the W201 C240 used a 2.6 engine which made no sense at all.
Exactly, as Germancar1 was saying I was reffering to the "baumuster" (build designation) of that model, the pre 230 SL is called 129
And regarding the engines, OM means Otto Motor, and no, the diesel engines always have a model designation number beginning with a 6.
The model designations according to the engine displacement is now more off than ever,
the new Blue Efficiency 250 CDI engine is 2.1 litres
The new Blue efficiecy 180 Kompressor is 1.6 litres , the older 200 Kompressor is 1.8L ,
the V6 enginge in the W204 C 230 is 2.5L and so on..
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Not sure why Mercedes is doing that over there, but MBUSA has decided to call it what it is, except for the few exceptions noted in my earlier post.
M
M
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Exactly, as Germancar1 was saying I was reffering to the "baumuster" (build designation) of that model, the pre 230 SL is called 129
And regarding the engines, OM means Otto Motor, and no, the diesel engines always have a model designation number beginning with a 6.
The model designations according to the engine displacement is now more off than ever,
the new Blue Efficiency 250 CDI engine is 2.1 litres
The new Blue efficiecy 180 Kompressor is 1.6 litres , the older 200 Kompressor is 1.8L ,
the V6 enginge in the W204 C 230 is 2.5L and so on..
And regarding the engines, OM means Otto Motor, and no, the diesel engines always have a model designation number beginning with a 6.
The model designations according to the engine displacement is now more off than ever,
the new Blue Efficiency 250 CDI engine is 2.1 litres
The new Blue efficiecy 180 Kompressor is 1.6 litres , the older 200 Kompressor is 1.8L ,
the V6 enginge in the W204 C 230 is 2.5L and so on..
„OM“ steht für „Oel-Motor“ - Always has & always will in MB speak i.e. Diesel.
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S213
Ok, this is news for me, I stand corrected
But the question remains, why are the US and to some extent Japan models renamed whilst the rest of the world has the same model designations?
Last edited by vic viper; Mar 16, 2009 at 06:30 AM.
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It's purely a Marketing thing as FrankW states. They use designations that have the best name recognition in that market. It's like SA sells the C280 which is 2996cc. The name recognition goes right back to the W114 280 & 280E Compact & W108/109 280S & SE. Australia also change the names of a lot of vehicles sold there.
Last edited by Glyn M Ruck; Mar 16, 2009 at 07:00 AM.
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S213
While still on the subject, sometimes now and then we receive a US-imported vehicle and when a US and EU spec of the same model are standing next to each other its easy to notice the differences.
For example, the auto shift lever indicator has lights next to the selected gear on the US.
The US has some kind of soft padding below the steering wheel, knee protection?
The "return button" on the 204 next to the selector knob between the seats says "back" on US, on the EU vehicles there is an arrow.
I may be boring you, but I find it pretty interesting how some vehicles are adapted to its market.
For example, the auto shift lever indicator has lights next to the selected gear on the US.
The US has some kind of soft padding below the steering wheel, knee protection?
The "return button" on the 204 next to the selector knob between the seats says "back" on US, on the EU vehicles there is an arrow.
I may be boring you, but I find it pretty interesting how some vehicles are adapted to its market.
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Oh! absolutely - and the US vehicles have those awful orange repeater lights on the front fenders - US gas caps have warnings all over them. SA gas caps have nothing on them, Most US cars don't have full leather & it goes on & on.
US gas cap:
US gas cap:
Last edited by Glyn M Ruck; Mar 16, 2009 at 08:05 AM.
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I already answered the question. MBUSA has decided to name the cars as close to actual engine size as possible with the exceptions noted above. The 550, 350, 300, etc models in the U.S. all correct when it comes to engine size.
500 is still used in Europe on V8 models because "500" carries more weight than 550. Just like with the V12 cars, "600" carries more weight/prestige all over the world no matter what size the V12 actually is.
The current U.S. model designations are true and accurate except for GL450, the 600, 63 and 65 cars.
M
Last edited by Germancar1; Mar 16, 2009 at 08:32 PM.
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LOL...why are you still stuck on "going by actual engine size" theory.
R171 SLK280 is still here just last year. facelifted = change in model badging -> SLK300.
It's all about marketing for the American market which is known for "when there's an update or facelift to the car we must change the badging so dumb people will know they're new." It doesn't bother the European market at all because they don't have a "my gun's bigger than your's" mentality.
it's like this thread on benzworld that one guy who knows nothing about MBs thinks someone was selling a FAKE 2001 S55 AMG because it didn't look like the newer S55 with the quad exhaust and M113K. LMAO.
doesn't matter where it is. they're all about marketing.
R171 SLK280 is still here just last year. facelifted = change in model badging -> SLK300.
It's all about marketing for the American market which is known for "when there's an update or facelift to the car we must change the badging so dumb people will know they're new." It doesn't bother the European market at all because they don't have a "my gun's bigger than your's" mentality.
it's like this thread on benzworld that one guy who knows nothing about MBs thinks someone was selling a FAKE 2001 S55 AMG because it didn't look like the newer S55 with the quad exhaust and M113K. LMAO.
doesn't matter where it is. they're all about marketing.
Last edited by FrankW; Mar 16, 2009 at 09:45 PM.
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LOL...why are you still stuck on "going by actual engine size" theory.
Traditionally a Mercedes was almost always designated by its engine size so that is MBUSA is trying to back too. If anything Europeans are the one being "marketed" to by calling what is really a S550, a S500 in Europe because it sounds better or is more well known.
M
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Because it was mentioned in an interview with the head of MBUSA. He went on to say how they would be correcting this because the designations didn't make any sense anymore. It isn't just marketing if the badge actually matches the real engine size. You got it backwards. It is marketing in Europe by calling a S550 the S500 because "500" is more "prestigious". The U.S. market actually gets the correct badge.
Traditionally a Mercedes was almost always designated by its engine size so that is MBUSA is trying to back too. If anything Europeans are the one being "marketed" to by calling what is really a S550, a S500 in Europe because it sounds better or is more well known.
M
Traditionally a Mercedes was almost always designated by its engine size so that is MBUSA is trying to back too. If anything Europeans are the one being "marketed" to by calling what is really a S550, a S500 in Europe because it sounds better or is more well known.
M
you are right about Mercedes through company history has always reflected upon the engine sizes for badge numbers. however in recent years...people don't care anymore not even Mercedes-Benz themselves. hense the 5.5L V12 in the 600, 6.2L in the 63 and 5.4L in the 55.
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Because it was mentioned in an interview with the head of MBUSA. He went on to say how they would be correcting this because the designations didn't make any sense anymore. It isn't just marketing if the badge actually matches the real engine size. You got it backwards. It is marketing in Europe by calling a S550 the S500 because "500" is more "prestigious". The U.S. market actually gets the correct badge.
Traditionally a Mercedes was almost always designated by its engine size so that is MBUSA is trying to back too. If anything Europeans are the one being "marketed" to by calling what is really a S550, a S500 in Europe because it sounds better or is more well known.
M
Traditionally a Mercedes was almost always designated by its engine size so that is MBUSA is trying to back too. If anything Europeans are the one being "marketed" to by calling what is really a S550, a S500 in Europe because it sounds better or is more well known.
M
He's hardly going to say that "Our marketing research shows us that in a country where 90% of people can't set the clock on their VCR, Tivo or whatever & oneupmanship rules we decided it prudent ----"
Get real - of course it's marketing driven.
