1991-1998 жылғы Mercedes-Benz S классы: толық шолу

Mercedes Benz S Class model manufactured from 1991 to 1998
complete overview of all S Class models

The Mercedes Benz W140 is a series of flagship vehicles manufactured by Mercedes Benz from 1991 to 1998 in sedan/saloon and coupe body styles and two wheelbase lengths (SE and SEL). Mercedes Benz unveiled the W140 S Class at Geneva International Motor Show in March 1991, with the sales starting in April 1991 and North American launch was on 6 August 1991. All models were renamed in June 1993 as part of the corporate wide nomenclature changes for 1994 model year on, becoming "S" regardless of wheelbase length or body style as well as fuel type. Diesel models carried a TURBODIESEL trunk/boot lid label. In 1996, the S Class coupé was renamed again as CL Class into its own model range. The W140 series S Class was superseded by the W220 S Class sedan and C215 CL Class coupé in 1998 after an eight year production run. Production of the W140 reached 432,732, with 406,710 sedans and 26,022 coupés.

Development of the W140 began in 1981, with official introduction originally set for September 1989. Several different design proposals were studied from 1982 until 1986, when a definitive design proposal by Olivier Boulay was selected on 9 December 1986. Several engineering prototypes were evaluated from early 1987, with the final exterior design locked in September 1987. The design patents were filed on 23 February 1988 in West Germany and 23 August 1988 in the United States. The lead designer Bruno Sacco attributed Jaguar's XJ40 sedan and BMW's E32 7 Series as a major influence on the W140's design. The initial exterior design proposal called for the two different cooling grille designs to denote the lower and upper model, similar to the idea of round and rectangle headlamps on the W123 (1976 1985). Innovative metal forming technology allowed the extension of the engine hood/bonnet to the front bumper, with the grille placed inside the extruded metal. The W140 became the second model after the R129 (1989 2001) to have this extruded metal grille. When BMW introduced a new 7 Series (E32) in 1986, the first post war German passenger V12 engine (M70) was offered. This surprise announcement forced Mercedes Benz to delay the introduction of the W140 by eighteen months to 1991. The delay allowed Mercedes Benz to develop the new V12 engine and to rearrange the engine bay to accommodate the larger V12 engine, along with upgrading the brake system. The final development prototypes were completed in June 1990, with pilot production models being built from June 1990 to January 1991. The project's cost overruns and eighteen month delay resulted in the departure of Wolfgang Peter, the chief engineer of Mercedes Benz. The price of a W140 was considerably higher than its predecessor, the W126 (up to 25 per cent), leading to slow sales during the recession of 1990 1994. The slow sales of the W140 can also be attributed to a wave of Japanese luxury cars that were introduced before the W140 was launched. While the base price of a six cylinder 300SE was $71,500 in 1992, the Lexus LS400 started at $44,300, the Infiniti Q45 started at $43,600, and the Acura Legend started at $28,800. This led many prospective W140 buyers to switch to its competitors due to their lower prices, lower maintenance costs, better reliability, and in the case of the LS400, an ownership experience that was just as good, if not better, than its European competitors. As a result of the price increases and stiff competition, Mercedes Benz shifted from "engineer's design" to "market driven design" in the 1990s. Many enthusiasts argue that the W140 was the "last true S Class," as its successor, the W220, was criticized for having inferior engineering, and in the case of early models, poor reliability. Two engines, a stillborn V16 engine based on an elongated V12 engine and an 8.0 W18 engine meant for a hypothetical 800 SEL/S 800 were, again, developed in response to the purported rumour of BMW exploring a V16 engine and testing it in a 7 Series (E32) mule, named Goldfisch V16. The W18 did not proceed past the blueprint stage, but Mercedes Benz had a small fleet of 85 W140 prototypes with V16 engines. Due to the increasing concern for climate protection and fear of sending a wrong message to the public in the early 1990s, the V16 engine was quietly cancelled. In March 1994, the updated W140 was unveiled at the 1994 Geneva Auto Salon and went on sale in April 1994. In 1995, the two tone exterior appearance was made to be monotone, low beam xenon headlamps were added and the rear indicator lenses became clear. The change was later introduced in June 1996 as 1996.5 models in Europe and 1997 models in the United States. The W140 received notoriety in 1997 when Diana, Princess of Wales died in a car crash, involving an S 280 model, in a Paris tunnel.

The three body types are carried over from the W126: four door sedan/saloon in two wheelbase lengths and one two door coupé. The model types are assigned as W140 for standard wheelbase, V140 for long wheelbase, and C140 for coupé. In 1996, the S Class coupé was renamed as CL Class and spun off from the S Class. A longer Pullman version with 4140 mm wheelbase was introduced in 1995 with two engine choices (S 500 Pullman and S 600 Pullman). The S 600 Pullman could be ordered with an armour package. The Sultan of Brunei ordered eighteen S 73 T station wagons/estates with AMG prepared M120 7.3 litre V12 engines producing 391 kW (532 PS; 524 hp) and 750 N⋅m (553 lb⋅ft) to be built, with ten units delivered. The S 73 T had an S Class coupé front end and the rear part of an S210 station wagon/estate installed, and taillights from the S Class sedan. A one off custom built S 500 lang Landaulet Popemobile was built for Pope John Paul II in 1997.

The W140 S Class introduced noted safety innovations. 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 System BAS, which engaged during emergency maneuvers to boost braking power to maximum. Electronic Stability Program (ESP) was introduced in 1995 on the Mercedes Benz S 600 Coupé. 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. Xenon High intensity discharge headlights (low beam only) were introduced in 1995. Side airbags and seat occupancy sensors were introduced in 1996. Automatic windscreen wipers with rain sensors were introduced in 1996.

First introduction of CAN bus (5 CAN bus nodes). The W140 featured a newly developed front axle double wishbone suspension and a rear independent multi link suspension. In 1991 the first generation of the hydropneumatic ADS (Adaptive Damping System) (Skyhook type suspension) was introduced. It adjusted 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. Became standard on V12 models and optional for V8 models. In 1996 self levelling suspension was integrated with ADS. A new diesel inline six engine with four valves per cylinder, a first for Mercedes Benz, was introduced in 1996 as S 300 TURBODIESEL.

For the W140 series, a new generation of inline 6 and V8 petrol engines was developed with double overhead camshafts (DOHC), four valves per cylinder, and new variable valve timing. Mercedes Benz's first passenger V12 engine was introduced in 1991 in a response to BMW's 750i/750iL (E32). Only the 3.5 litre inline 6 diesel engine, OM 603.97x, was carried over from W126, and it remained the only engine in the W140 model range with a two valves per cylinder format until its replacement in 1996. The advent of DOHC, with four valves per cylinder and accompanied by variable valve timing, helped to increase the horsepower and torque figures without imposing a heavy fuel consumption penalty, all while reducing emissions. All petrol engines were equipped with catalytic converters during the entire W140 model run, regardless of where they were sold. The M 104 petrol engine was introduced in 1992 with two displacements: the smaller 2.8 litre M 104.94x engine was fitted to the 300 SE 2.8 (one year only) then the S 280 (1994 1998); the larger 3.2 litre M 104.99x engine was fitted to the 300 SE/300 SEL (one year only) then the S 320 (1994–1998). The M 119 V8 engines were available in 4.2 litre (M 119 E 42) and 5.0 litre (M 119 E 50) versions and remained unchanged during its entire model run. In 1994, AMG developed a 6.0 litre version (M 119 E 60) with and in a very limited production for Japanese market. The S 500 AMG 6.0 and CL 500 AMG 6.0 were built from 1994 to 1999 per customer order. For 1993, the V8 engines were detuned for improved emission control. The M 120 V12 engine was offered in 6.0 litres only for the entire model run. This engine developed 290–300 kW (394–408 PS; 389–402 hp) and 569–580 N⋅m (420–428 lb⋅ft) of torque. The 300 kW (408 PS; 402 bhp) version was available in Europe from 1991 to 1992 and in the United States for 1992 only. In 1993, the V12 was slightly detuned to 290 kW (394 PS; 389 bhp) for lower emission control. An AMG prepared 6.0 litre M 120 V12 with higher performance rating, and , was only available for S or CL Class (C140) coupes and not S Class sedans/saloons. The 3.5 litre inline 6 diesel engine, OM 603.97x in the 300 SD TURBODIESEL (1991–1993) and S 350 TURBODIESEL (1994–1996) models was offered outside the North American and Japanese markets for the first time. This engine was replaced in 1996 by the entirely new 24 valve OM 606.961 ERE engine. This engine was loosely derived from the M 104 petrol engine, but with a different crankshaft and cylinder head. The smaller engine fitted to the S 300 TURBODIESEL produced and The fuel was delivered indirectly in the precombustion chamber before entering the combustion chamber.

The transmission choices at its introduction were a 5 speed manual and 4 speed 4G Tronic automatic. A new 5 speed 5G Tronic was introduced in 1994 for inline 6 petrol engines only. In September 1995, the 5G Tronic was updated with electronic control for more optimal shifting points based on the sensor readings and became the sole automatic transmission option for the entire model range from 1996 to 1998. The models equipped with inline 6 petrol engines have the 5 speed manual transmission as standard with either the 4 speed or 5 speed automatic transmission as extra cost options, making the W140 the last S Class to be offered with a manual transmission. In June 1996, both 4 speed and 5 speed automatic transmissions were replaced by a 5 speed electronically controlled automatic transmission. The inline 6 diesel engines were never offered with manual transmissions, following the "tradition" with the W116 and W126. The S 300 TURBODIESEL, introduced in 1996, received the 5 speed electronically controlled automatic transmission. The models with V8 and V12 engines were offered with the 4 speed automatic transmission as standard until August 1995. In September 1995, the 4 speed automatic transmission was replaced by the 5 speed electronically controlled automatic transmission. 4MATIC, the all wheel drive system introduced in the W124 (1985–1996), was never fitted to the W140 S Class. The W140's successor, the W220, became the first S Class to have 4MATIC as an extra cost option.

The figures given for acceleration, top speed, and fuel consumption are combination of all types of transmission (5 speed manual, 4 speed automatic, 5 speed automatic, and 5 speed electronically controlled automatic) and three body types (standard, long, and coupé) wherever applicable. ModelChassisYearsConfigurationDisplacementPowerTorqueEmpty weight (kg)0–100 km/h (0–62 mph)Top speed (km/h)Fuel consumptionUnits Petrol engines300 SE 2.8W140.02802/1992–05/1993(M 104 E 28) Inline 62799 cc189010.6–11 seconds22,784S 28006/1993–09/1998300 SEW140.03209/1991–05/1993(M 104 E 32) Inline 63199 cc18908.9–9.4 seconds98,095S 32006/1993–09/1998300 SELW140.03301/1991–05/1993190085,346S 320 Long06/1993–09/1998400 SEW140.04204/1991–05/1993(M 119 E 42) V84196 cc19007.9–8.5 seconds14,277S 42006/1993–08/1998400 SELW140.04304/1991–05/1993200035,191S 420 Long06/1993–09/1998S 420 CoupéCL 420W140.06302/1994–08/199820802,496500 SEW140.05004/1991–05/1993(M 119 E 50) V84973 cc19007.0–7.5 seconds21,942S 50006/1993–08/1998500 SELW140.05104/1991–05/1993200065,065S 500 Long06/1993–09/1998500 SECW140.07010/1992–05/1993208014,953S 500 CoupéCL 50006/1993–09/1998600 SEW140.05604/1991–05/1993(M 120 E 60) V125987 cc21806.3–6.5 seconds3,399S 60006/1993–07/1998600 SELW140.05704/1991–05/1993219032,517S 600 Long06/1993–09/1998600 SECW140.07610/1992–05/199322408,573S 600 CoupéCL 60006/1993–09/1998 Diesel engines300 SDW140.13410/1991–05/1993(OM 603 D 35 A, 12 valves) Inline 63449 cc194013.1 seconds20,518S 350 Turbodiesel06/1993–08/1996S 300 TurbodieselW140.13506/1996–08/1998(OM 606 D 30 LA, 24 valves) Inline 62996 cc194011.2 seconds7,583