Mercedes-Benz W140

Manufacturer	Mercedes-Benz
Production	April 1991–September 1998
Assembly	Germany: Stuttgart Mexico: Toluca[1][2][3][1]
Predecessor	Mercedes-Benz W126
Successor	Mercedes-Benz W220 (sedan) Mercedes-Benz C215 (coupe)
Class	Full-size Luxury car
Body style	2-door coupé (C140) 4-door sedan (W140; short) 4-door sedan (V140; long)
Layout	Front-engine, rear-wheel-drive
Engine	2.8 L M104 I6 (petrol) 3.2 L M104 I6 (petrol) 3.0 L: OM606 I6 (t/c diesel) 3.5 L: OM603 I6 (t/c diesel) 4.2 L: M119 V8 (petrol) 5.0 L: M119 V8 (petrol) 6.0 L: M120 V12 (petrol)
Transmission	4-speed 4G-Tronic automatic 5-speed 5G-Tronic automatic 5-speed manual
Wheelbase	Sedan: 3,040–3,139 mm (119.7–123.6 in) Coupé: 2,944 mm (115.9 in)
Length	Sedan: 5,113–5,213 mm (201.3–205.2 in) Coupé: 5,113 mm (201.3 in)
Width	Sedan: 1,886 mm (74.3 in) Coupé: 1,895 mm (74.6 in)
Height	Sedan: 1,486 mm (58.5 in) Coupé: 1,427 mm (56.2 in)
Curb weight	Sedan: 1,880–2,190 kg (4,145–4,828 lb) Coupé: 2,060–2,240 kg (4,542–4,938 lb)

The Mercedes-Benz W140 is a series of flagship vehicles that were manufactured by the German automotive company Mercedes-Benz. The W140 premiered at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1991, with the first examples rolling off the production line in April 1991 and North American examples on August 6, 1991. Short (SE) and long (SEL) wheelbase sedans were offered initially, as well as the coupé (SEC) body style from October 1992. Like all Mercedes-Benz lines, the W140 S-Class was rationalized in late 1993 using the new "letter-first" nomenclature. The SE, SEL, and SEC cars were renamed the S-Class, with alphanumerical designations inverted. For example, the 500 SE became the S 500, and the 500 SEL became the S 500 L. In 1996 the coupé models following a mid-life update were separated into the CL-Class. The W140 series S-Class was superseded by the W220 S-Class sedan and C215 CL-Class coupe in 1999 after an eight year production run.

Mercedes-Benz built 432,732 examples of the 140 series,^[4] comprising 406,710 sedans and 26,022 coupés.

History

As with its predecessor, the W140 was the first of the "next generation" of Mercedes-Benz models to feature the company's new design theme. The car is infamous for being the model in which Princess Diana died following a car crash due to her driver being intoxicated and due to her not wearing a seat belt.

1991–1993 400 SE (W140)

1994–1996 S-Class (V140)

1996–1998 CL 500 (C140)

Development on the W140 began in 1981, originally set for an autumn 1989 release. From 1982 to 1986 several designs were reviewed, until December 1986 when a principal design was approved. Several prototypes were tested onwards from early 1987 and the final production exterior design was approved in later that year, with domestic design patents being filed on February 23, 1988 and U.S. patents 6 months later on August 23.^[5] A delay was made to accommodate a V12 engine and resulted in the final prototype being completed in June 1990. Pilot production models were made from June 1990 to January 1991. In 1991, to compete with the Lexus LS 400, a series of additional features were rushed for the launch of the W140.^[6] The W140 introduced innovations such as double-pane window glazing, power-assisted closing for doors and boot lid, electric windows which lowered back down upon encountering an obstruction, rear-parking markers which rose from the rear wings (discontinued on later vehicles, and replaced with sonar-assisted parking) and a heating system which, if desired, continued to emit warm air after the engine was turned off. For details like this, the W140 is often known as the last Mercedes to be "overengineered," a Mercedes trait that was costing the company in product delays and overbudgeting. According to Motor Trend, this action reportedly caused project cost overruns and resulted in the departure of Wolfgang Peter, Daimler-Benz's chief engineer.^[6] The vehicle is believed to have cost Mercedes-Benz over $1 billion to develop. For the consumer, the W140 cost a considerable 25 percent more than its predecessor, the W126.

The W140 was to feature air-suspension as an option, but it was dropped shortly before launch because Mercedes was still perfecting the technology at the time. Mercedes chose to launch air-suspension in the next generation S-Class in 1999. The W140 instead used a hydropneumatic rear suspension, first introduced on the W116 450 SEL 6.9 (introduced in 1975) to be used on the S 500 and S 600 models. Following the mid-year facelift in 1994, Mercedes-Benz made Electronic Stability Control an optional fixture to both sedan and coupé body styles in the W140 range. Both the sedan and coupé body styles were equipped with Acceleration Slip Regulation (ASR) as a standard feature.

Like its predecessor, the car was available in two wheelbase lengths (short W140 and long V140) along with the C140 coupé. In 1992, a new 6 litre 402 horsepower V12 engine joined the lineup for the first time with the 600 SEL and 600 SEC. A "V12" badge was affixed to the C-pillar.

In 1992, the 402 horsepower V12 engine was slightly detuned to 389 horsepower to comply with tighter emission control regulations in the United States and Europe. The V8 models were tuned down from 322 horsepower to 315 horsepower. This de-tuning, among other changes, involved the deletion of the full-throttle enrichment circuit, which reduced output by 7 horsepower.

The W140 600 SEL was available with wooden rear ash tray covers, wood/leather shift knob, leather dashboard and a suede headliner, unlike the V8 and inline 6-cylinder models. Following the facelift in 1994, the rebadged S 600 was updated with a wood/leather steering wheel, a V12 badge on the wood/leather shifter, double needle stitching all over the interior and two tone nappa leather seating – further distinctions from its lower rung siblings.

In late 1991, following the new Mercedes-Benz tradition of mid-life facelifts (starting with the W123 in 1979), after worldwide launch, work begun on improvements to the W140. By the end of 1992 final design changes were approved and later patented(application) on February 27, 1993, exactly 5 years after the original W140 design patent application in 1988.^[5] In March 1994, the updated models were unveiled at the Geneva Auto Salon and went on sale in the second half of 1994. The clear turn signal indicator lenses on the front and new taillights were the most obvious change, as was the grille including a new and distinctive one for S 600s. Headlamps were fitted with separate low H7, H1 fog, and high H1 beam reflectors in 1995, pre 1995 used an H4 bulb and H3 for the fog lamp. In April 1995, "Parktronic" replaced the parking guiders on the rear boot lid. In June 1996, the two tone exterior bumpers were painted to match the upper portions of the vehicles, Xenon headlamps and the rear indicator lenses became clear.

Height of the W140 production models varied between years (1992-94 W140 Sedan: 58.7 in; 1992-94 V140 Sedan: 58.9 in; 1995-96 W140 Sedan: 58.4 in; 1997-99 V140 Sedan: 58.3 in; C140 Coupe: 56.7 in; 1997-99 W140 Sedan: 58.5 in).

Models

1996–1998 CL 600 (C140)

Interior (C140)

Features

1991–1993 300 SE (W140)

1994–1996 S 320 (W140)

1996–1998 S 320 (W140)

Safety

The W140 S-Class introduced several safety innovations which have since become commonplace among many vehicles.^[7]

• Braking system. The V8 and V12 W140 models distributed more braking power to the rear wheels, increasing stopping effectiveness. In 1996, the W140 received Brake Assist, which engaged during emergency maneuvers to boost braking power to maximum.
• Electronic Stability Program (ESP) was introduced in 1996. ESP used on-board computers to improve vehicle handling response during difficult driving conditions. This was a Mercedes developed system, which has since been licensed to other manufacturers.
• Side airbags and seat occupancy sensors were introduced in 1996.

Comfort and convenience

Some innovations for the W140 included:

• Double-paned soundproofed glass was a new S-Class innovation first fitted on the W140. This form of window glazing allowed for improved soundproofing, reduced condensation, and other insulation benefits.
• Electrically-operated exterior mirrors could be folded at the flick of a switch to ease driving in narrow spaces.
• 'Parameter steering' was a system which made low-speed driving easier by reducing the effort required to maneuver in speed-sensitive situations such as parking.

• Rear-parking markers, or guide rods. These rods extended from the rear corners of the trunk lid when in reverse, providing the driver with a guideline for rear maneuvers. In 1995, this system was replaced by the sonar-based Parktronic system which measured the distance of the bumpers to nearby obstacles.
• 12-way powered, heated front seats, with 3 setting memory functions and lumbar support.
• Windshield wipers w/heated washer system. Later models also included Rain-sensing windshield wipers.
• Electrically-operated automatic-dimming inside rear-view mirror that tied into the seat and steering wheel memory.
• Heated exterior mirrors. Later models also included auto dimming driver's side mirror.
• Orthopedic seats were an expensive option from the factory but consisted of several different air cushions in the seat that the user can inflate and deflate to find the perfect driving position.
• Dual-zone climate control. Four-zone climate control on LWB models.
• Reclining and heated rear seats on LWB models. V12 models also have the four place seating option allowing fully adjustable rear seats, lumbar support and rear sunshade control. The center seat has been replaced by a burlwood center console, allowing a 2 + 2 seating format.
• The climate control system could be set to operate for 20 minutes after the engine had been turned off.
• Electric Rear Sunshade
• Rear passenger illuminated vanity mirrors.
• Self-Closing Doors and Trunk.

Drivetrain technologies

• The W140 featured a newly-developed double wishbone front axle and a multi-link independent rear suspension.
• ADS (Adaptive Damping System) standard on V12 models and optional for V8 models that adjust the damping level of the shock absorbers to help stabilize the car during high speed driving, aggressive driving, or if the driver loses control of the vehicle.^[8]

Engines

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Mercedes-Benz W140 or Mercedes-Benz V140 or Mercedes-Benz C140

Bibliography

• Schlegelmilch, Rainer W.; Hartmut Lehbrink, Jochen Von Osterroth (November 2004). Mercedes. Könemann. ISBN 3-8331-1056-2. 
• Kevin Smith. "Mercedes-Benz 500SEC". Car and Driver (March 1993): 45–49. 
• William Jeanes. "Mercedes-Benz 300SE". Car and Driver (March 1993): 126–127.