Mercedes-Benz E-Class

Mercedes-Benz E-Class
Overview
Manufacturer	Mercedes-Benz Magna Steyr (1996–2009, 4MATIC only)
Production	1993–present
Body and chassis
Class	Mid-size luxury / Executive car (E)
Layout	Front engine, rear-wheel drive/Four-wheel drive
Chronology
Predecessor	Mercedes-Benz W124 (pre-facelift models, 1984–1993)

The Mercedes-Benz E-Class is a range of executive cars manufactured by Mercedes-Benz in various engine and body configurations produced since 1993. Prior to 1993, Mercedes-Benz offered the same category of car under a non-unified naming structure. The E initially stood for Einspritzmotor (German for fuel injection engine); a new feature in volume production vehicles at the time that the E-Class first appeared, with the E as a suffix to the engine nomenclature (e.g. 230E) in the 1960s. It was not until the launch of the facelifted W124 in 1993 that the E was used as a prefix (i.e., E 220) and the model referred to officially as the E-Class (or E-Klasse). At this time all Mercedes cars used fuel injection and the company felt it was no longer necessary to add this as a distinguishing feature. Due to the E-Class's size and durability, the cars also frequently serve as taxis in European and Asian countries. Mercedes-Benz also offers special-purpose vehicles (e.g., police or ambulance modifications) from the factory.^[1]

Predecessors

W120 (1953–1962)

The first modern midsize Mercedes was the W120 'Ponton' 180 of 1953. Sharing its engineering with the R121 190 SL of 1955, the Ponton was a stylish sedan with an four-cylinder engine. A larger-engined W121 190 appeared in 1958.

W110 (1961–1968)

Mercedes added tailfins to both the big S-Class and the new W110 'Fintail' 190 of 1962. In the 1965 230 model a Straight-6 engine appeared for the first time, and the four cylinder engine grew in displacement.

W114, W115 (1968–1976)

The midsize Mercedes was redesigned in 1968 as the W114/W115 'Stroke-8'. This time, the 6-cylinder models (The W114s) were most prevalent, with the W115 line making up the bottom of the company's offerings with four – and five-cylinder power. Diesel engines joined the line-up, as did a coupé body.

W123 (1976–1986)

The popular W123 quickly became a best-seller on its launch in 1976. Especially in diesel powered 200D and 240D (later also the five-cylinder 300D) guises, the cars enhanced the company's reputation for product quality. Over 2.6 million were produced until the end of production in 1986.

Saloon/Sedan, Coupé and Estate body configurations were offered.

W124 (1984–1993)

The W124 was released in 1984 and introduces several new standards for a mid-size Mercedes, as well as the third car to inherit the company's new design theme since the late 1970s; the first two being the flagship W126 and the compact W201. When the series received a facelift in 1993, the naming structure was rationalised with new letter-first nomenclature (as with other models), and officially adapted the nameplate "E-Class".

Similar to its predecessors, the W124 also offered a coupé and estate body styles. A new convertible (internally A124), were also available, making it the first mid-size Mercedes convertible.

E-Class

First generation (W124; 1993–1995)

W124
Overview
Production	1993–1995
Body and chassis
Body style	4-door sedan 5-door station wagon 2-door coupé 2-door convertible

The "E-Class" name first appeared in with the facelifted W124 in 1993 for the model year 1994 (the W124 was introduced in 1984 but continued with the older naming convention until 1993, when all Mercedes-Benz models switched to a new system, e.g. E 320 instead of 300 E). The diesel versions continued to be the fuel economy option over the four and six-cylinder gasoline engines, and the gasoline V8 engines (available after 1992) increased gasoline power outputs further. Four-cylinder gasoline models were not marketed in the United States. The V8 powered sedans/saloons were named 400 E/500 E from 1992–1993, and E 420/E 500 after 1993. Likewise, the 3.0-litre cars (e.g. 300 E) were also re-badged to E 320 with the new 3.2-litre M104 engines and naming rationalization of 1994. For the diesel models the name change was less elegant, with the 250 D becoming the E 250 Diesel for example.

Sedan (W124), Coupé (C124) Convertible (A124) and Estate (S124) body configurations were offered.

From 1991 to early 1995 Mercedes offered a limited production sport version of the W124 sedan, created and assembled with help from Porsche. This was called the 500 E (E 500 after 1993).

Second generation (W210; 1995–2002)

W210
Overview
Production	1995–2003
Model years	1996–2002
Body and chassis
Body style	4-door sedan 5-door station wagon

The W210 E-Class, launched in 1995, brought the mid-size Mercedes firmly into the upper end of the luxury market. Though six-cylinder models were still offered, the four-light front end and high prices moved the car upmarket. In September 1999 the W210 E-class was facelifted. This included visual, mechanical and quality improvements over the earlier versions.

The Mercedes-Benz E-Class was Motor Trend's Import Car of the Year for 1996.

While the W210 sedan was replaced by the W211 in 2002, the wagon version continued to be sold until March 2003 until the W211 wagon was available.

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  Pre-facelift E 240 sedan

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  Pre-facelift E 240 wagon

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  Facelift E 270 CDI sedan

Third generation (W211; 2002–2009)

W211
Overview
Production	2002–2009
Body and chassis
Body style	4-door sedan 5-door station wagon
Platform	Mercedes-Benz W211
Related	Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class

Launched in 2002, the W211 E-Class was another evolution of the previous model. Before North American sales began, the car was shown in the 2002 movie Men in Black II.

The W211-based W219 CLS-Class 4-door coupé was introduced as a niche model in 2005, primarily to attract a younger demographic.

The W211 E-Class was facelifted in June 2006 for the 2007 model year to address quality and technical issues raised by earlier models, Sensotronic was dropped, while Pre-Safe (w/o brake support) was made standard. The largest factory built engine in the E-class range is the E500 (badged E550 in the U.S.) which had its engine size increased from 5 litres to 5.5 litres in 2006 along with the facelift. There is also an AMG model badged E63 AMG and other tuning house installations.

In 2007 the diesel version of the E-Class was rebadged from CDI (Common rail Direct Injection) to Bluetec. While in some of the other Mercedes-Benz diesels urea injection was added, in the W211 E-Class the Bluetec name was only adopted to prevent confusion in the diesel lineup.

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  Pre-facelift E-Class W211

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  Pre-facelift E-Class S211

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  Pre-facelift E-Class S211

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  Facelift E-Class W211

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  Facelift E-Class W211

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  Facelift E-Class S211

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  Facelift E-Class S211

Fourth generation (2009–2016)

Sedan and wagon (W212)

Mercedes-Benz W212
Overview
Production	2009–present
Body and chassis
Body style	4-door sedan 5-door station wagon
Layout	Front engine, rear-wheel drive / four-wheel drive

The W212 replaced the W211 in 2009 (as a 2010 model). Official photos of the W212 were leaked on the internet on 9 December 2008 ahead of its 2009 Geneva Motor Show unveiling.^[2] Scans of a leaked brochure were posted onto the internet in January 2009, detailing the whole E-Class range including the new E 200 CGI and E 230 CGI with direct injected forced inducted engines.^[3] New features included a blind spot monitor, Lane Keeping Assist, Pre-safe with Attention Assist and Night View Assist Plus. In the United States the E-Class was priced nearly US$4,600 less than the previous model.^[4] The E-Class coupe is built in Bremen using the W204 C-class platform.^[5] The W212 estate was also announced and available from November 2009.^[6] The W212 cabriolet was announced 11 January 2010 at the North American International Auto Show for sale in March 2010 in Europe and in May 2010 in the United States.^[7]

In 2013 (for the 2014 model year), the E-Class was comprehensively facelifted. The front fascia was heavily restyled, giving it a more aggressive look compared to the pre-facelift model. It incorporates a new, bigger, sharper front grille and a new, singular front lights (marking the end of Mercedes's dual headlamps use) with LED DRLs. An optional all-LED headlamps was also available. The front bumper was made more sharp, with bigger air intakes. In the rear, the car was also given a new, rear LED tail lights. The facelift was meant to make it more appealing to younger customers, who prefer its newer rivals (Audi A6 (4G) and BMW 5 Series) for their more modern looks.^[8] Inside, the car's cabin has been minimally restyled with new A/C and a new, incorporated clock in the center console between the central air vents, like the CLS-Class (W218). Most of the engines remained unchanged from the previous model. The Coupé and Cabrio shared a more aggressive, swifter look than the sedan, with a more svelte front fascia and a sleeker bonnet. Although not an all-new model, majority of the auto world have stated that the updated design and several changes make the car more than a regular mid-cycle refresh.^[9] On a family portrait of several generations of the E-Class side by side by Mercedes-Benz for the unveiling of the W213 E-Class, the W212 facelift was the only mid-cycle refresh featured in the image.^[10][11]

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  Pre-facelift E-Class W212

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  Pre-facelift E-Class S212

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  Pre-facelift E-Class S212

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  Facelift E-Class W212

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  Facelift E-Class W212

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  Facelift E-Class S212

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  Facelift E-Class S212

Coupe and convertible (C207)

Mercedes-Benz C207
Overview
Production	2009–present
Body and chassis
Body style	2-door coupé 2-door convertible

The 2009 E-Class Coupé was unveiled at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show and went on sale in May 2009.^[12]

The C207 E-Class coupe is based on the W204 series C-Class platform. The C207 E-Class shares its wheelbase with the W204 sedan. The axle tracks are within a tenth of an inch of each other, and are about two inches narrower than the front and rear tracks of the W212 E-Class sedan. While the W212 E-Class sedan is built at the Sindelfingen plant, the E-Class C207 coupe is built in the Bremen plant alongside the W204 C-Class. Mercedes-Benz is defensive about this relationship, clarifying the original reports by reporting that the C207 shares approximately 60 percent of its mechanical components with the W212. However, this includes powertrain and other technologies that are shared with the E-Class but does not alter the fact that the fundamental structure is W204 derived. Motor Trend, along with other media outlets reported that the coupe "feels nothing like the new E-Class sedan" to drive.^[13]

The A207 cabriolet was unveiled January 11, 2010 at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan, USA. It went on sale March 27, 2010 in Europe and in May 2010 in the United States.

Fifth generation (W213; 2016–)

After Mercedes-Benz invested close to €1 billion into the development of the extensive refresh to the 2013 mid-life facelift of W212,^[14] most likely the most expensive mid-life facelift in the history of the automobile,^[15] the next generation E-Class will be unveiled at the 2016 North American International Auto Show.^[16] The next generation E-Class is expected to have a design cues from the larger W222 S-Class and the smaller W205 C-Class.^[17] While the W212 E-Class has tighter surface and harder edges, the new model is curvier and more flowing.^[18]

Engine options for the W213 E-Class will see a major update, thanks to the switch to inline-6 engines from the current V6 engines,^[19] along a new generation of four-cylinder diesel engines, codenamed OM654, and existing four-cylinder petrol engines.^[20]

The W213 E-Class is due to receive the latest in autonomous driving technology for use at highway speeds, capable of piloting itself up to speeds of 130 mph. The system uses a complex array of motion sensors, radars and cameras to scan the road ahead, and requires the driver's hands to be placed on the wheel at all times.^[21][22]

Production and sales

Notes

References

Bibliography

General

Workshop manuals

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mercedes-Benz E-Class.

• USA Mercedes-Benz E-Class Official Website
• UK Mercedes-Benz E-Class Information Website