Hello,

I'd avoid those grey import Mercedes-Benz because of dubious or poor
compliance to meet the US regulations. In the 1980s, Mercedes-Benz
refused to sell certain parts necessary for compliance so the "cottage
industry" must either fabricate those parts or slip in the fake
photographs in the compliance documentations. Sometimes, the compliance
work wasn't properly done. They can be messy to sort out.

Some of them did not carry out the correct engineering work on the motor
and emission control system. Hence, leaking and fires are common amongst
the grey import Mercedes-Benz.

In the 1980s, the compliance requires the side impact beams in the doors
(they were never fitted to European SL), different headlamps (to DOT
sealed beam round headlamps), different turn signal relay (to blink
faster if one bulb burnt out), different bumpers (5mph collison without
damage), raising or lowering the vehicle to meet the bumper height
standard, different windscreen (if it's not laminated), side running
lamps and reflective markers (amber front and red rear), different
speedometer (to denote mph), centrally mounted third brake light (if
1986 or later), closed loop fuel system with charcoal canister (to
prevent evaporation into the atmosphere), catalysator, rerouting the
fuel lines away from catalysator, ad nauseam.

Regards,
Oliver
(Speaking from experience of importing the Mercedes-Benz to USA in the
1980s).