How to confirm if my S65 is legit and not just a kit and badged up?
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 38
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From: Dubai
White 2007 S65 AMG - black and white designo interior
How to confirm if my S65 is legit and not just a kit and badged up?
I have just purchased a 2007/8 S65 AMG with 40 000km on the mileage. I have no idea to tell if its a different model with just a "kit" and badges - how can I check if its legit?
What are the check points?
Car has no paperwork as it was a Japanese import so cant read it anyways....have the VIN Number is all. Car is mint barring some seat wear on the driver and passenger seats.
Goes fairly fast so that's a good sign....
Any help or advice appreciated
Price was really cheap ($30 000) so I am a little concerned as they say there is no such thing as a free lunch!
What are the check points?
Car has no paperwork as it was a Japanese import so cant read it anyways....have the VIN Number is all. Car is mint barring some seat wear on the driver and passenger seats.
Goes fairly fast so that's a good sign....
Any help or advice appreciated
Price was really cheap ($30 000) so I am a little concerned as they say there is no such thing as a free lunch!
Last edited by S65 Arabia; Dec 2, 2015 at 11:21 AM. Reason: froget
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 38
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From: Dubai
White 2007 S65 AMG - black and white designo interior
I checked it out as best I could......
Got letter from dealer stating it is a S65 (so he is legally bound by the information), had my service garage check it out (they couldn't show me whether it was or wasn't), local Mercedes dealership wouldn't help as it is an import (!!!) so went ahead anyways as the price was very good.
Got letter from dealer stating it is a S65 (so he is legally bound by the information), had my service garage check it out (they couldn't show me whether it was or wasn't), local Mercedes dealership wouldn't help as it is an import (!!!) so went ahead anyways as the price was very good.
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Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 38
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From: Dubai
White 2007 S65 AMG - black and white designo interior
Thanks, good to know!
The next issue, I am trying to resolve is which year it is. Its registered here as a 2008 but I think its a 2006/7. This is what made me wonder if its legit as the VIN numbers has come up with all sorts of weird things. This is what made me wonder if its legit....
The car was manufactured in Germany and shipped to Japan where it was sold eventually and then came to Dubai where I bought it.
A VIN check from various sources has shown many different dates ranging from 2002 to 2007 (?)
Can anyone advise on how to accurately check the VIN number?
The next issue, I am trying to resolve is which year it is. Its registered here as a 2008 but I think its a 2006/7. This is what made me wonder if its legit as the VIN numbers has come up with all sorts of weird things. This is what made me wonder if its legit....
The car was manufactured in Germany and shipped to Japan where it was sold eventually and then came to Dubai where I bought it.
A VIN check from various sources has shown many different dates ranging from 2002 to 2007 (?)
Can anyone advise on how to accurately check the VIN number?
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 347
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From: Tennessee
2005 S55, 2002 E430, 2007 CLK350, 2006 SL55, 2003 SL55
The pics look all correct to me...are the logos on the seats, etc? Instrument cluster, seats, all will have "AMG" on them...even the ABC struts will all have "AMG" on them (at least my 2005 model does)...if all of those check out id say its an actual AMG...no worries.
Mike
Mike
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 38
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From: Dubai
White 2007 S65 AMG - black and white designo interior
The pics look all correct to me...are the logos on the seats, etc? Instrument cluster, seats, all will have "AMG" on them...even the ABC struts will all have "AMG" on them (at least my 2005 model does)...if all of those check out id say its an actual AMG...no worries.
Mike
Mike
This is what I thought but the seats say "designo" on them. Struts had the name of the manufacturer on them as far as I saw. AMG is on the gauge cluster as an option that you scroll with from the steering wheel. No AMG on start up as some other models have (maybe this is a later addition?).
I would expect the car to be "amg" badged everywhere but its not really....
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2015
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From: Dubai
White 2007 S65 AMG - black and white designo interior
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2003
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From: Windermere, Sunny FLA
CLK55, CL500, Q45
Does the car have rear seat adjustments or alcantara headliner?
I am surprised it doesn't have wood wheel, distronic, or pano roof.
I think those are standard on 65's here in the US.
I am surprised it doesn't have wood wheel, distronic, or pano roof.
I think those are standard on 65's here in the US.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 38
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From: Dubai
White 2007 S65 AMG - black and white designo interior
Since joining the forum., I have been able to check quite a few things thanks to the members here.
- It has the S65 inserts in the seats
- its say AMG on the screen upon start-up
- Alcantara on the roof
- Not woood steering wheel - the whole interior has a black material finish (including the steering wheel ) where the wood should be
- Not sure about distronic (my manual is in Japanese so not sure how to operate it!)
What originally made me worry was the dealer was a little sketchy and my fears turned out to be right. I had the vehicle appraised and its turns out its a 2007 and not a 2008 as the dealer sold to me.
Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 84
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S65 GL320CDI GLS63 80 Series Landcruiser
Nice looking car!
Really no huge difference between '07 and '08 S65 except diamond stitching in '08 not on the '07 and here in the US the '08 models had more standard features that were optional in the '07. So when looking at '07 models you need to check for the additional options if you care about them like the rear seat package. Also, on the '07 to the right of the headlight switch there is a switch to activate the headlamp washers that went away starting in '08. Some early '07 S Class have the trunk mounted antenna for sat radio that became integrated with the nav antenna on the roof at some point during the '07 model year. Wood steering wheel was standard I believe in US in '08. Distro and pano roof were standard. I think the only thing not standard in '08 was the aux cord in the glove box to hook up iPads (of course designo was an option though). Weird thing though in my 2000 MY S Class the rear view mirror adjusted with the seat memory which my S65 doesn't and I hate the lack of one touch close for the sunroof in the S65 which my 2000 had! Oh well the extra 300+ HP makes up for it!
Really no huge difference between '07 and '08 S65 except diamond stitching in '08 not on the '07 and here in the US the '08 models had more standard features that were optional in the '07. So when looking at '07 models you need to check for the additional options if you care about them like the rear seat package. Also, on the '07 to the right of the headlight switch there is a switch to activate the headlamp washers that went away starting in '08. Some early '07 S Class have the trunk mounted antenna for sat radio that became integrated with the nav antenna on the roof at some point during the '07 model year. Wood steering wheel was standard I believe in US in '08. Distro and pano roof were standard. I think the only thing not standard in '08 was the aux cord in the glove box to hook up iPads (of course designo was an option though). Weird thing though in my 2000 MY S Class the rear view mirror adjusted with the seat memory which my S65 doesn't and I hate the lack of one touch close for the sunroof in the S65 which my 2000 had! Oh well the extra 300+ HP makes up for it!
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 38
Likes: 0
From: Dubai
White 2007 S65 AMG - black and white designo interior
Nice looking car!
Really no huge difference between '07 and '08 S65 except diamond stitching in '08 not on the '07 and here in the US the '08 models had more standard features that were optional in the '07. So when looking at '07 models you need to check for the additional options if you care about them like the rear seat package. Also, on the '07 to the right of the headlight switch there is a switch to activate the headlamp washers that went away starting in '08. Some early '07 S Class have the trunk mounted antenna for sat radio that became integrated with the nav antenna on the roof at some point during the '07 model year. Wood steering wheel was standard I believe in US in '08. Distro and pano roof were standard. I think the only thing not standard in '08 was the aux cord in the glove box to hook up iPads (of course designo was an option though). Weird thing though in my 2000 MY S Class the rear view mirror adjusted with the seat memory which my S65 doesn't and I hate the lack of one touch close for the sunroof in the S65 which my 2000 had! Oh well the extra 300+ HP makes up for it!
Really no huge difference between '07 and '08 S65 except diamond stitching in '08 not on the '07 and here in the US the '08 models had more standard features that were optional in the '07. So when looking at '07 models you need to check for the additional options if you care about them like the rear seat package. Also, on the '07 to the right of the headlight switch there is a switch to activate the headlamp washers that went away starting in '08. Some early '07 S Class have the trunk mounted antenna for sat radio that became integrated with the nav antenna on the roof at some point during the '07 model year. Wood steering wheel was standard I believe in US in '08. Distro and pano roof were standard. I think the only thing not standard in '08 was the aux cord in the glove box to hook up iPads (of course designo was an option though). Weird thing though in my 2000 MY S Class the rear view mirror adjusted with the seat memory which my S65 doesn't and I hate the lack of one touch close for the sunroof in the S65 which my 2000 had! Oh well the extra 300+ HP makes up for it!
Thanks for the feedback. One question I wondered was if the 07 had the glove bock aux cord/inlet. I cant find anywhere to add my ipod in and cds are a pain in the ****!
