Mercedes S-Class
In 1991, Mercedes replaced the W126 S-Class with the W140. The very first W140 rolled off the assembly line on August 6, 1991. It also received derision for its high price, and for its styling, size, reliability, and weight.Production totalled 406,532 units, the reduced total reflecting the inroads made by Lexus into the key US export market.
Design and engineering
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 was more aggressive, smoother and angular in appearance than its predecessor, but the design also featured slab contourless sides also seen on the first generation Toyota Avalon.
The new styling did not receive much praise from the motoring press, claiming that the only real success of the design was to disguise the size of the car, which was much larger than its predecessor.
As with each new S-Class the W140 was brought in innovations such as double-pane window glazing, which substantially reduced outside noise from intruding into the cabin while, self-closing doors and boot lid, electric windows which bounced back down when encountering an obstruction, rear-parking markers which appeared on the rear wings and a heating system which blew warm even after the engine was turned off. All these features did add to the car's substantial heft though.
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. For the consumer, the W140 cost a considerable 25% more than its predecessor, the W126. In addition, the intense pressure from Infiniti and Lexus led to adding more features and options as to set the W140 apart from the rest and to justify the higher price.
 1999 Mercedes-Benz S-Class |
This W140 was the first Mercedes-Benz in the USA to incorporate the headlamps with 'bow-tie' ECE lens albeit a minor change to the bulb shield and inclusion of hieroglyphs for SAE/DOT and bulb type on the lens. In addition, the headlamps on W140 had been redesigned three times during its model cycle. The first was a 'bow-tie' ECE headlamps with dipped and main beam H4 (HB2 in USA) bulb. The headlamp design changed in 1997 to include the separate reflectors for HID and halogen bulbs. Bi-Xenon HID systems weren't introduced until much later in C215 CL-Class. The third headlamp design was similar to the first one but with tighter lens flutes and narrower 'bow-tie' pattern. The latter one is for models without HID system. It was said to prevent the aftermarket companies from offering the ill-designed and poor-constructed HID bulb retrofit kit.
Along with W140 coupé, W140 was fitted with electronic stability programme following the mid-year facelift in 1997.
Like its predecessor, the car was available in two wheelbase lengths along with shorter-wheelbased W140 coupé.
A new 6-litre 408-horsepower V12 engine joined the lineup for the first time with the 600SE, 600SEL, and 600SEC. The V12 designation was affixed to the C-pillar. In 1997, the grille had more horizontal lines as to distinquish itself from straight six and V8 motors.
In 1994, the 408-horsepower V12 motor was slightly detuned to 389 horsepowers, following the tighter emission control regulations in US and Europe.
Following the new Mercedes-Benz tradition of mid-life facelift (starting with W126 in 1986), the W140 was mildly facelifted in 1997. The clear turn signal indicator lenses on the front and rear were the most obvious changes. The new headlamps with separate low and high beam reflectors stacking atop each other was other prominent change. That separate reflectors were for dipped-beam HID bulb and main-beam halogen bulb. Interior design wasn't changed much.
The W140 S-Class was offered in three wheelbase lengths:
+ 3040 mm (119.7 in) SE sedans
+ 3139 mm (123.6 in) SEL sedans
+ 2944 mm (115.9 in) SEC coupes
In 1994 all Mercedes-Benz model names were rationalized, with the SE/SEL/SEC cars becoming the S-Class, dropping the E (fuel injection) and L (wheelbase). The alphanumerical designations were inverted: for example the both 500SE and 500SEL became S500 regardless of wheelbase length. It is said that some sales materials and order forms include V and W for wheelbase length. To confuse things further, 500SEC also became S500 until it was renamed again to CL-Class in 1998 to reflect its character better.
The V-12 version W140 (S600) was equip with actual leather dashboard, interior door panels, and a real suede headliner, unlike the V8 and inline 6 versions. In 1999, there were only 14 S600s and 15 CL600s for sale in the United States. It is considered one of the most rare Mercedes-Benz cars ever produced, even though the 1999s were actually only 1998 left-overs.
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