S-Class (W220) 1999-2006: S 320 CDI, S 320, S430, S 500, S 600

Facelifted 2002 (December) s320cdi NEWBIE questions

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Old Feb 25, 2018 | 11:14 AM
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Facelifted 2002 (December) s320cdi NEWBIE questions

Hey. So I recently purchased an 02 (December) facelifted s320cdi. I'm confused as to whether my car is technically an 03 since it's facelifted and made in December 2002 or if it still falls under the 2002 category?? Also, it came with 17 inch wheels. I'm wondering if I fit 18-19 inch alloys, would the ride quality dramatically change? If I kept the same tyre size?
I also see everywhere that the facelifted 03 w220 has an aux jack in the glovebox.. mine doesn't? I'm really confused. It definitely is facelifted. Widescreen stereo, new tail lights, clear xenons, interior, dash buttons, etc; everything is different from a normal 02. The confusion is real! Lol. Thank you
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Old Feb 25, 2018 | 11:31 AM
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2003 S500 2007 GL450
The standards may vary from country to country.

In the USA, yep, it's a 2003. The model year is what the manufacturer says it is, and is indicated/controlled by the year code in the VIN. Next-year models often go on sale here six months early. This helps with the parts supply chain - 2002 parts fit a 2002, 2003 parts fit a 2003, regardless of the date of manufacture or sale (of course, there are always "running changes" throughout the model year). It also simplifies the legal element - for example, new pollution requirements go into effect with a certain model year, not on a certain date.

I think that things used to be different in the Olde Country, perhaps with the date of registration being the deciding factor. However, the USA is a major market for many manufacturers, and the VIN year code system is a firm requirement for vehicles sold here, regardless of what the country of origin uses at home.
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Old Feb 25, 2018 | 11:48 AM
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Originally Posted by wallyp
The standards may vary from country to country.

In the USA, yep, it's a 2003. The model year is what the manufacturer says it is, and is indicated/controlled by the year code in the VIN. Next-year models often go on sale here six months early. This helps with the parts supply chain - 2002 parts fit a 2002, 2003 parts fit a 2003, regardless of the date of manufacture or sale (of course, there are always "running changes" throughout the model year). It also simplifies the legal element - for example, new pollution requirements go into effect with a certain model year, not on a certain date.

I think that things used to be different in the Olde Country, perhaps with the date of registration being the deciding factor. However, the USA is a major market for many manufacturers, and the VIN year code system is a firm requirement for vehicles sold here, regardless of what the country of origin uses at home.
Thanks for your reply pal. That would make sense. I'm from Canada but the car is from the United Kingdom. It's a RHD. It was the only example that was in showroom condition and less than 10k km. Planing to get it rebuilt to LHD soon. But yes, that helped a lot. I can't read anything from the vin, just had a look & I can't see anything that would indicate 2002 or 2003.

Do you know anytning about the airmatic ride quality with 18-19s?
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Old Feb 25, 2018 | 11:47 PM
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From: Ball Ground, GA (N of Atlanta)
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This might help...
http://www.mbscottsdale.com/blog/mer...vin-breakdown/

Eighteens will ride rougher than the seventeens, and nineteens will be even rougher. The reason is that it is important to keep somewhere close to the over-all wheel/tire diameter (a significant change upsets the computer, changes the over-all gear ratio, etc.). To use larger diameter wheels requires lower-profile tires, Nineteens have very low-profile tires, which means that the tire sidewalls are very short and very stiff. Hitting sharp-edged potholes or curbs will often damage the wheels.
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Old Feb 27, 2018 | 10:36 PM
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Originally Posted by Thedonno

Thanks for your reply pal. That would make sense. I'm from Canada but the car is from the United Kingdom. It's a RHD. It was the only example that was in showroom condition and less than 10k km. Planing to get it rebuilt to LHD soon. But yes, that helped a lot. I can't read anything from the vin, just had a look & I can't see anything that would indicate 2002 or 2003.

Do you know anytning about the airmatic ride quality with 18-19s?
you bought a rhd car and are going to convert it to lhd? Are you going to do this yourself or pay a shop to do it ? Isn't the cost of conversion be more than $30,000?
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