So, while updating and checking my catalog of R230 SL65s, which includes the Black Series cars, thanks to VRV000's help again, we identified an additional 8 cars that were manufactured with the P99 option code, i.e. that were Black Series cars. That brings the total identified worldwide to 400, 175 to US and 225 to the ROW. If there are any skeptics out there I am happy to send you list of FIN #s and you can check for yourselves that these are all P99 cars.

For those interested here is the breakdown by exterior color (they of course all had black interiors):

Code Color #
040U Black 99
197U Obsidian Black Metallic 86
792U Palladium Silver Metallic 69
799U Diamond White 55
775U Iridium Silver Metallic 48
755U Tenorite Grey Metallic 20
590U Fire Opal Red 12
Z98 Paint to Sample 4
550U Matt Yellow Orange 3
051U Designo Magno Platinum Matt 1
352U Linartie Blue 1
723U Cubanite Silver Metallic 1
777U Silver Arrow Metallic 1

 

My database shows a total of 402 BS vehicles. See attached report for years.

 

Here's the paint counts by year. I don't think totals match yours exactly, but they're close:

Model_Year Code Description Count
2008 775U IRIDIUM SILVER - METALLIC FINISH 4
2009 000U SPECIAL PAINTWORK 1
2009 040U BLACK 93
2009 197U OBSIDIAN BLACK 39
2009 550U MAT YELLOW ORANGE 2
2009 590U FIRE OPAL RED - UNILAC 8
2009 755U TENORITE GRAY METALLIC PAINT 15
2009 775U IRIDIUM SILVER - METALLIC FINISH 31
2009 777U SILVER ARROW - METALLIC PAINT 1
2009 792U PALLADIUM SILVER METALLIC PAINT 30
2009 799U DIAMOND WHITE - METALLIC PAINT 45
2010 000U SPECIAL PAINTWORK 3
2010 040U BLACK 4
2010 051U DESIGNO MAGNO PLATINUM MATT FINISH 1
2010 197U OBSIDIAN BLACK 47
2010 352U LINARITE BLUE - METALLIC PAINT 1
2010 590U FIRE OPAL RED - UNILAC 4
2010 723U CUBANITE SILVER - METALIC 1
2010 755U TENORITE GRAY METALLIC PAINT 9
2010 775U IRIDIUM SILVER - METALLIC FINISH 13
2010 792U PALLADIUM SILVER METALLIC PAINT 40
2010 799U DIAMOND WHITE - METALLIC PAINT 10

Code Z98 appears to always be used in conjunction with an 'xxxU" paint code, so it wouldn't specify a paint color.

 

Zach,

What info do you need from me to get more detail on production numbers for 2009 SL65.

Thanks

Tom

 

Just provide me an off forum email and I'll send you the database. or email me at jefeklein1@gmail.com

 

Zachmac, this is Gratefulmas from BAT. I just purchased a 2013 SL65, 68k miles. It’s Diamond White/Red. It’s my understanding there were 15 in this combo produced in 2013? Is that for North American or NA & international markets? Carbon pkg as well. Thank you

 

2013? that's not even a black series then...

 

@Grateful4 I'm sorry but I only cataloged the R230 series 65s. I don't have any info on your generation.

 

no worries, i was able to find the data i was looking for. thank you.

 

you reply was most helpful...i almost thought i was driving a black series.....yeah, wasn't asking about black. LOL

 

My data shows 15 shipped worldwide for 2013 with 799U (DIAMOND WHITE - METALLIC PAINT) and 507A (EXCLUSIVE LEATHER - RED). If you give me your VIN I can give you a more specific report on it.

Attached is a report on that combo for all years. That specific combo was first offered in 2013 with the R231. Report also shows the country destinations, only 7 went to the US.

 

@Zachmac To continue our discussion from BaT....

LastVin.com will take a FIN. I've not had a problem entering FINs, which is necessary of course because not all MB vehicles have VINs. They supplied most of my data.

I've spent a great deal of time with the model year issue. It's clear cut for VIN vehicles because it's coded into the VIN. The digit before the 'F' (Bremen) factory code designates model year. Not sure about older vehicles, but vehicles since 2000 use that coding: '0'=2000 ... '9'=2009, 'A'=2010, 'B'=2011, etc., except they skip 'I'. Haven't looked into it beyond 2019, but I think it just cycles around again.

For FIN vehicles I've found that production dates are typically in the year prior to the model year. My initial take on model year was that vehicles produced in May or later in a year are designated as models belonging to the following year. That's mostly correct, but not always. My system will favor the '8xx' code, if it's present. On R231 vehicles MB has continued to use the '8xx' coding, but it has cycled around. My 2014 SL65 has an '804' code.

You mention the '809' code as proof all BS are 2009 vehicles, but the build data shows that later BS vehicles don't have an '809' code, they have an '800' code. I take that to mean the code has cycled around so '800' is MY2010. All BS vehicles I have designated as 2010 have the '800' code except for two that have '809'. But those vehicles are VIN vehicles with the 'A' year code. In my system the VIN year code always has highest priority in deciding model year. There are 14 BS vehicles with VINs showing 2010 model year.

And back to the topic of this discussion. I now have data for a total of 403 Black Series vehicles. Here's the updated report with corrected model years.

 

Here's a report showing Country of delivery for all SL65 Black Series:

 

@Zachmac Send me your list of FINs, or an address where I can download?

I'll send you back FINs in my database that aren't in your list.