Mercedes-Benz W124
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Mercedes-Benz W124 | |
---|---|
Manufacturer | Daimler-Benz |
Production | 1986–1995 |
Predecessor | Mercedes-Benz W123 |
Successor | Mercedes-Benz W210 |
Class | Mid-size luxury car / Executive car (UK) |
Body style | 4-door sedan 5-door station wagon 2-door coupe 2-door convertible |
Engine | 2.3 L M102 I4 3.0 L M103 I6 3.0 L M104 I6(1990-1992 300CE) 3.2 L M104 I6 4.2 L M119 V8 5.0 L M119 V8 OM601 Diesel I4 OM602 Diesel I5 OM603 Diesel I6 OM606 Diesel I6 |
Wheelbase | 110.2 in (2800 mm) |
Length | 187.2 in (4755 mm) |
Width | 70.7 in (1796 mm) |
Height | 56.3 in (1430 mm) |
Curb weight | 3927 lb (500E) 3826 lb (400E) |
Similar | Acura Legend Audi 100 BMW 5-Series Volvo 700 |
W124 was the internal chassis-designation for the 1986 to 1995 version of the Mercedes-Benz E-Class. The W124 models replaced the W123 models after 1985 and were superseded by the W210 E-Class after 1995.
Contents |
[edit] History
The W124 was a substantial, mid-sized luxury vehicle platform, the last in a long line of "money-no-object" Mercedes saloons and was the result of extensive development. Estate cars (and optionally, saloons) had self-levelling rear suspension very similar to that of a Citroën BX; with gas-pressurised spheres, levelling suspension struts and an underbonnet pressurising pump. Unlike Citroën, Mercedes used rear springs as well as struts. Front suspension was more conventional.
It represented the pinnacle of road-going automotive technology at its introduction, incorporating innovations that were praised by the entire motoring press. It had one of the lowest coefficient of drag (CD) of any vehicle of the time (0.30) due to its aerodynamic body (and set off a styling trend that was consequently copied by the entire industry) including plastic molding for the undercarriage to streamline airflow beneath the car, reducing fuel consumption and wind noise. It had a single windscreen wiper that extended and contracted in a synchronized manner to cover more surface area (by means of a mechanism at its base). It even had rear headrests that would fold down at the touch of a button on the dash to improve rearward visibility when appropriate. Fuel injection was standard, and the engines incorporated various other features that resulted in the performance of some models rivalling that of certain sports cars of the time (within reason). It set the benchmark for passenger vehicles for the next decade or so.
The estate cars came in 5- or 7-seat models, the 7-seater having a rear-facing bench seat that folded flush into the floor. Both models had a split rear seat which folded flat to give almost 2 metres of load space and a retractable luggage compartment cover and retractable cargo net. The W124 estate continued in production alongside the new W210 until the W210 estate launched more than a year later.
SsangYong Motor Company of Korea licensed the W124 design and continues to produce a stretched version of the W124 as the Chairman, with a Ssangyong badge. It has a 2.9 m wheelbase and 3.2 L Mercedes straight-6 engine.
[edit] 500E
Mercedes also included a sport version of the W124, the 500E, created in close cooperation with Porsche. Each 500E was hand-built by Porsche, being transported back and forth between the Mercedes plant and Porsche's Rossle-Bau plant in Zuffenhausen during assembly---taking a full 18 days to complete each model. Between 1991 and 1995, Mercedes/Porsche built a total of 10479 500E's. Of these, 1505 of the "super" sports sedans were imported into the USA between 1992-1994, or roughly 500 cars per year of importation. Called the 500E through model year 1993, in 1994 it was face-lifted along with the rest of the range and renamed the E500.
The 500E had a 32-valve V8 engine delivering 322 hp (240 kW) and 354 ft·lbf (480 N·m), with the engine being derived from the R129 500SL roadster. Sports car braking performance also came from SL components: front SL500 300mm disks with 4-piston calipers came installed on the 1992 and early 1993 cars. The later 1993, and all 1994 cars came with the upgraded 320mm set taken from the 600SL. Rear brakes on all years were 277mm brakes from the 500SL. In the USA, the 500E came fully-loaded, with the only options available to the buyer being a dealer-installed CD changer and an integrated telephone. The 500E was only available as a four-seater, with the four leather seats supplied by Recaro (the fronts heated).
Called the "Velvet Hammer" by Mercedes, and a "Wolf in Sheep's Clothing" by the press, performance tests of the day yielded impressive results: 0-60 mph (97 km/h) times of 5.5 seconds and accelerateration through the quarter-mile (0.4 km) in 14.1 seconds at 101 mph (163 km/h). Top speed was electronically limited to 155 mph (251 km/h). It was rated at 14 mpg (16.8 L/100 km) in the city and 17 mpg (13.8 L/100 km) on the highway.
With its aggressive stance: 1.5 inches wider track, 0.9 inch lower profile, flared fenders, side skirts, front air-dam and wide tires, the 500E is easily distinguished from its lesser brethren. Because of its look, limited numbers, hand-built construction, and unique pedigree, the 500E is already considered a "classic," even within Mercedes-Benz.
A small number of E500 sedans were outfitted with a 6.0L V8 engine by tuner AMG. These models were called "E60 AMG" and produced up to 400 hp (298 kW).
[edit] Models
Chassis code | Years | Model | Engine | Body style |
---|---|---|---|---|
124.026 | 1987–1989 | 260E | 2.6 L M103 I6 | sedan |
1990–1992 | 300E 2.6 | sedan | ||
124.028 | 1993 | 300E 2.8 | 2.8 L M104 I6 | sedan |
124.023 | 1984-1992 | 230E 2.3 | 2.3 L M102 I4 | sedan |
124.023 | 1984-1992 | 230CE 2.3 | 2.3 L M102 I4 | coupé |
124.030 | 1986–1992 | 300E | 3.0 L M103 I6 | sedan |
124.032 | 1993–1995 | 300E | 3.2 L M104 I6 | sedan |
1993–1995 | E320 | sedan | ||
124.034 | 1992–1995 | 400E | 4.2 L M119 V8 | sedan |
1992–1995 | E420 | sedan | ||
124.036 | 1992–1993 | 500E | 5.0 L M119 V8 | sedan |
1994–1995 | E500 | sedan | ||
124.050 | 1988–1989 | 300CE | 3.0 L M103 I6 | coupé |
124.051 | 1990–1993 | 300CE | 3.2 L M104 I6 | coupé |
124.052 | 1994–1995 | 300CE/E320 | coupé | |
124.066 | 1993–1995 | 300CE/E320 | coupé | |
124.090 | 1988–1989 | 300TE | 3.0 L M103 I6 | station wagon |
124.091 | 1992 | 300TE-24V | 3.0 L M104 I6 | station wagon |
124.092 | 1993 | 300TE/E320 | 3.2 L M104 I6 | station wagon |
124.120 | 1986–1989 | 200D | 2.0 L OM601 Diesel I4 | sedan |
124.128 | 1990–1993 | 300D 2.5 | 2.5 L OM602 Diesel I5 | sedan |
124.131 | 1994-1995 | E300 Diesel | 3.0 L OM606 Diesel I6 | sedan |
124.133 | 1987 | 300D | 3.0 L OM603 turbo/NA Diesel I6 | sedan |
124.193 | 1987 | 300TD | station wagon | |
124.230 | 1990–1993 | 300E 4MATIC | 3.0 L M103 I6 | sedan |
124.290 | 1990–1993 | 300TE 4MATIC | station wagon |
[edit] Engines
- M102 I4
- M111 . 111.960 I4
- M103 I6
- M104 I6
- M119 V8
- OM601 Diesel I4
- OM602 Diesel I5
- OM603 Diesel I6
- OM605 Diesel I5
- OM606 Diesel I6
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- Arthur St. Antoine. "Magnum Force". Car and Driver (April 1992): 47–56.
<- Previous | Mercedes-Benz road car timeline, 1980s-present | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Type | Class | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | ||
Supermini | A | W168 | W169 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Entry-level | C | W201 (190) | W202 | W203 | W204 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Mid-size | E | W123 | W124 | W210 | W211 | W212 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
CLS | W219 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Full-size | S | W126 | W140 | W220 | W221 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Maybach | W240 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Roadster | SLK | R170 | R171 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
SL | R107 | R129 | R230 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Coupé | CLK | W208 | W209 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
CL | W126 | W140 | W215 | C216 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Supercar | SLR | C199 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
SUV | G | W460/W461 | W463 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Crossover | GLK | X204 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
M | W163 | W164 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
GL | X164 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
MPVs | B | W245 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
R | W251 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Vaneo | Vaneo | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sprinter | Sprinter |