(first posted 7/7/2015) Many cars boast attractive and exciting designs upon their introduction, but within a few short years become old news in the face of the new kids on the block. Some cars are able to prolong their appeal, courtesy of sheer luck, minor styling tweaks, or competitors’ mishaps. Then there are a select few that can go on for seemingly forever, never loosing their sense of style even after they end production. The second generation (W126) S-Class is one of those cars.
Appearing in late-1979 as a 1980 model, the W126 was an evolutionary styling update of the vintage-1972 W116, but its seemingly minor styling advancements did wonders for Mercedes-Benz’s largest car. Its aerodynamic enhancements gave the car’s already elegant proportions a sleeker, more graceful silhouette, especially in long-wheelbase versions. In all versions, it was certainly a big car, yet it managed to look far leaner and athletic than most cars its size.
Benefitting from the Eighties’ surge in consumer culture, the W126 quickly earned its place as one of the decade’s ultimate status symbols. It conveyed wealth and power without being overly flashy (as a little flash was always appreciated). It was luxurious, with plenty of creature comforts and high-quality trimmings, but not stuffy. Just watch any ’80s film or TV show. Every doctor, dictator, drug dealer, diplomat, stockbroker, lawyer, wealthy business industrialist… basically anyone who was rich and important drove one of these. This wasn’t just the flagship of Mercedes-Benz, this car was the flagship of the 1980s. They could’ve driven a more prestigious Rolls-Royce, or a more exotic Ferrari, but there was something supremely perfect about this car.
Furthermore, the W126 was sold for twelve model years, right up through 1991. By contrast, most S-Class generations are sold for at most eight years, seeing total sales between 400,000-500,000. With total sales reaching nearly 900,000, the W126 managed to sell roughly 100-percent more examples in only 50-percent more time. Even in its final years, with newer competitors such as the BMW E32 7-Series, Lexus LS400, and Infiniti Q45, the big Mercedes was always a fashionable choice in this class, and this was backed by its impeccable engineering and competitive powertrain, luxury trimmings, and safety features.
Today, these cars are viewed with as much admiration and prestige as they were when new. For cars this age, there’s still a high percentage of well-cared for examples left on the road, even in the Northeast like this one I photographed on the first nice day of spring in Cohasset, MA. Depending on condition and model, examples can easily sell in the $12,000-$15,000 range, and often significantly higher. By no means the cheapest cars to maintain, with proper care and maintenance, these S-Classes can still run and look like new.
The W126’s longevity is a true testament to Mercedes-Benz’s unrivaled engineering and perfectionist attitude during this period. Unfortunately, as the W126’s run was coming to an end, changing market conditions would not allow Mercedes to continue its practice of prolonged development cycles for new models in the sake of over-refinement. As a result, corners would be cut for the following W140 S-Class, a car met with considerably less praise. With its development running over budget and behind schedule, the W140 would ultimately be deemed by many as overkill, facing sharp criticism for being too big, too costly, and having too many finicky technologies that would often prematurely fail.
While subsequent S-Class generations have come and gone, the W126, with its stellar reputation and timeless elegance, has gone down in history as the best S-Class and possibly the greatest Mercedes of all time. To quote the lyrics of the Tina Turner song released the same year the W126 ended production, “Simply the Best”.
Related Reading:
Travels with Dad and Brigitte: 1989 Mercedes-Benz 300 SE (COAL)
I had an ’88 420SEL a gem of a car replacing my ’77 6.9 which broke down at the turn of a corner. The 420 never gave me a lick of trouble and my only complaints was that it took Super Unleaded. I kept that car until 2003 and only sold it because I moved out of the USA. Based on its beauty, comfort and reliability I would probably own it still today.
Amazing to think that in terms of a well engineered traditional and adequately powered drive train that Cadillac abandoned this market the same model year this was introduced. And Mercedes walked all over Cadillac for the next two decades.
Lexus thought enough of this car that they built it through the 2006 model year…….
The most quintessential Mercedes ever in my eyes. Mercedes in the US before the W126 were desired primarily by coastal hip/Caddies are for squares demographics, and Mercedes to follow were for status seeking fad following wannabees. The W126 (and it’s underlings of the same era) just hit that perfect blend of style and identity on top of the already supurb and literally immortal build quality, and because of that these are one of those few post war cars that never was or ever will be out of fashion, and will never go away. I still see W126s regularly, even in wealthy communities!
Mercedes Benz now may as well be Hyundai. Part of the reason the W126 works so well is it has quite a few details that root it in the pre-aero era of automotive design(particularly the greenhouse), despite it’s overall sleek design. That’s part of the understatement that made it great when new and what kept it looking great after production ended, when full on aero became unfashionable. The W140 exemplifies it perfectly, as it essentially carried over all the “modern” traits as well as most stylistic details the W126 had, but got rid of all the old-world in the midsection, subsequently the W140 just looks like another 90s car.
From my experience, those wealthy communities with higher percentage of cars like W126, W123, R107, ’80s Town Car, Mark series, Eldorado convertibles have the better chance of being pleasant to stay ( or pass by, like Grosse Pointe, Harbor Springs ) while those wealthy communities with brand new Infinities, BMWs, Lamborghinis have the higher tendency to attract reckless drivers and road rages. ( in one of those areas, like Troy, Michigan 1) I can always hear people swearing to each other on the road 2) Many presumably young international students drive not-so appropriate cars from BMW X6 to McLarens )
+1
The cluster of wealthy South Shore coastal Massachusetts towns are full of well-preserved older luxury cars, although primarily European makes.
And I can echo your thoughts about many international students and their cars.
http://www.whdh.com/story/26690311/bu-student-arrested-after-driving-100-mph-in-back-bay
The association of timeless design and old money regardless of the elapsing decade could be the reason. Packard 120, late ’50s Imperial still occasionally show up around Indian Village in Detroit ( where Henry Leland and Edsel Ford’s residence used to be ) while in the wealthy countryside W108 shows up too. Late ’30s Chevrolets remain at the typical mid-class communities though.
It’s fairly hard to find any international student driving any cars with some class. Most of them either end up with inappropriately expensive models, or appliances like Fusion, Corolla and probably the farthest stretch stops at Buick Lucerne. For those into cars without falling into the first category, Mustang is type one bet, type two would be Civic with aftermarket mufflers. ( The only exceptions I am aware of is a Plymouth Horizon around Wayne State and a ’67 Fury somewhere in Seattle. )
This has been my experience in Southern California as well. Old money drives a W126 or a well-traveled W123 wagon; new money drives a Maserati or Lamborghini and runs it into the ground after a couple of years, after which it gets a new one.
Being in Southern California only exaggerates it.
Last of the real Mercedes. The 140 had the style of a fridge and the follow up model looked to much like a Sigma.
Dream car a metallic red 560SEC .
One of the last Mercedes’ with immense gravitas, an impeccable business suit on wheels.
The company really lost their way in the 90s, and have yet to find their way back to what they were in the W126 days, in terms of quality or engineering.
“One of the last Mercedes’ with immense gravitas, an impeccable business suit on wheels.”
+1
I wouldn’t say that that Mercedes Benz may as well by Hyundai. In recent years, the quality and amount of technology features in mainstream brands has drastically increased, so yes the gap has narrowed considerably. It’s a common opinion by many that luxury automakers have cut quality and features in order to lower prices and increase sales, but I disagree.
Looking back, automakers like Mercedes and BMW have always sold vehicles in the U.S. with leatherette upholstery and a lack of many options as standard, charging considerable amounts for every available “luxury” option. Comparing newer Mercedes to older models, I’d say the interior material quality has only increased. It’s just that so many more people drive them now that they aren’t as special.
Having been acquainted with both I will say wholeheartedly that the only increase in anything with a Mercedes Benz interior is gadgetry. The quality, fit and finish, materials on the other hand I find vastly superior in the W126 interiors, even Leatherette (MB-Tex thank you!) was fantastic. The interior, like the rest of the cars, not only was high quality off the show room floor, it also holds up very well. I have come across numerous Mercedes models at Junkyards and such and the older ones ( W124 and earlier) all are, like clockwork, mint, regardless of miles, how battered up the rest of the car is, ect, and that’s including the leathers. Conversely any 90s or 00s model has cracked torn leather, various falling off trim pieces and all the other crap you find on typical cars of that age. Mercedes may be able to wow people with technology to justify it’s premium with new models, but the true test for a real Mercedes Benz is time, and they simply don’t pass it anymore, no more than a Genesis would.
BMW is a different story, their interiors, even on a 7 series, were a step above Escort grade at best in the 80s. What Made BMWs worth it inside was the excellent ergonomics, the driving position, seat support and instrumentation. I’d say only once Mercedes quality declined BMW started actively making the interiors a cut above average, but then again the rise in interior grade has been a mirror image of the decline of the notion of them being “ultimate driving machines”.
Words truly stated. My two cents:
I have an ’88 560sel and a ’94 525i. Granted the 525i is much smaller, but I’ve driven a 740i from the same time period (’94) and I have to say that the BMW is a much better, more modern driver. The handling, braking and transmission shift quality is much more modern and sophisticated in the BMW. The Mercedes beats it 100% in interior detail and durability, but everything else feels old, Especially the transmission. The 560sel’s top gear (4) is a direct drive gear and there is no torque converter lockup. Fuel consumption is terrible…but I love them both equally.
Very well said, Matt!
I absolutely agree the W126 is the quintessential Mercedes-Benz. That sentiment was also echoed, around 2003, by the general manager of the then new Mercedes-Benz dealership in my city.
These make a nice alternative to the typical beater-car Cavaliers, Tauruses, and Centuries as evidenced by the half dozen or so currently listed on CL in my area for under $2k. As long as one has some basic car knowledge and a set of metric tools, they aren’t too terrible to fix either.
I had a 300e of this vintage for a short time and found it to be pretty cheap and easy to run. Also, as a bonus, people will assume that you drive one because you want to, not because you’re merely broke and can’t afford a newer car.
I’ve driven a few W126’s and my only real complaint was how slow it felt when accelerating.
I think W126 looks harmonious as a larger car just like ’77 Caprice does without being too small ( BMW 7 series at the time looks rather small and thin ) neither too overweight ( W140 does ) and probably that’s the biggest size suitable for international market, as typical diplomatic Roadmaster around Europe or China appears too big for the local market.
I really have to disagree with your assertion that the W140 “cut corners.” In fact that car was the last of the spare-no-expense models. I think that you’re thinking of the 2000 model, which was indeed an accountant influenced car.
While I concur with your comments about the W140 being pretty over-engineered, it looks too much like a tank – particularly around the C-pillar section looking to the rear. The W126 by comparison, looks a bit more leaner, more “athletic” in its overall appearance.
No, I was indeed thinking of the W140. It was certainly a “spare-no-expense” model (and it went considerably over-budget), but with the introduction of the Lexus LS400, it was rushed to the market with a number of cutting-edge technologies that hadn’t been properly tested in the real world.
Many of these technologies, of course would experience issues and failure over time. Overall reliability of the W140 was far worse than the W126, specifically with electrical issues, as well as mechanical, paint, and interior issues also more common. Much of this was resolved with the 1996 mid-cycle refresh, and many of the technologies were either improved or had their kinks worked out by then.
The following W220 often gets chided for Consumer Reports’ initial ratings (which they later retracted) of it, but in fact, it was an improvement in most aspects over the W140. Not that I’m saying it was significantly better, nor that it was a cheaper car to maintain.
Rushed to market? 1992 model…in response to a 1989 model? I am not actually a fan of the 1992-2000 S class but I think all modern Benzes suffer from a lot of mis-perceptions that are perpetuated by supposedly knowledgeable websites.
The car and its basic engineering was not – development began in the early 1980s, and it was originally scheduled for a 1989 introduction for the 1990 model year. But a number of features and new technologies were added last minute to “one-up” the LS, and they were not extensively tested and a result, prone to early failure. FWIW, the W140 began production in early 1991.
Well, time has definitely proven the LS400 to be the superior vehicle. Damn near flawless. Thanks for your thoughtful replies, great conversation and yes, I do enjoy your writing, Brendan!
Agreed in about the LS and our conversation. And thank you for the compliment.
Brendan, comparing the W126´s reliability to the W140´s would be like comparing a McIntosh Classic to an Apple iMac!
The more basic W140s like the diesels without all the gadgetry seem to hold well. As for the top models, run away quick.
I think the W140 definitely cut design corners. It was not a pretty car. Instead of taking the Mercedes functional look a step into the future it went in a strange, unfinished, minimalist direction. You almost wonder if that was intentional or if they ran out of time.
‘ I think the W140 definitely cut design corners. It was not a pretty car. Instead of taking the Mercedes functional look a step into the future it went in a strange, unfinished, minimalist direction.’
.
Not to mention they’re already filling up the low end self service junkyards at an age where W115’s & w123’s were still top dollar premium salvage units….
.
-Nate
Sorry,
But the flagship model for Mercedes from 1982 to 1992 was the SEC, not the SEL.
The SEC was built on the same 126 platform, but was a 4 seater, two door coupe, they were the last of the hand build Mercedes, they even had an aluminum tag, that was hand signed by the builder,
These were truly aspirational cars in the years before leasing. They meant something, maybe the most important thing, that you had a measure of class. Now I can afford an S, but would not be caught dead in one. Too glitzy, too rap star-ish, too Kardashian to be acceptable. It takes awhile to overcome guilt by association. I’m still not sure if the BMW 3 series has shed it “leased by a wannabe jerk” label. That’s unfortunate. I’ll probably look at the Audi 8, but even that could be dicey.
I wholeheartedly agree; I wouldn’t be caught dead in a German “luxury ” car, they are simply bourgeois and bad taste.
actually there are pretty much the epitome of the opposite.
so what exactly would be able to make you happy then?
Well admit it, even in Germany and Austria SOME models have a certain bad image (SECs, 6-Series BMWs) 🙂
On the other hand, our US-based fellow commentators may forsake their admired Lexus (Lexi?) and Toyotas once they find out what stereotypes are associated with their ownership (old age fuddy-daddies, practical yet mind-numbingly boring souls)
uhm…Hummers….Jaguars….
Lexus and Toyate are too much ignored to even have a repuation of any kind.
You’re correct. The cars are fine. It’s their image. Or rather the image of many of those who drive them, the people Jeremy Clarkson calls “cocks.” That being said, I DO think Mercedes is badly in need of an infusion of good taste.
So your quoting Jeremy Clarkson, as to the reputation of a car brand? Really?
Please, that guy epitomizes the meaning of “pompous asshole”.
The quintessential Mercedes in the quintessential sea coast town. How appropriate.
PS. I’m NOT being snarky. Nice town.
Man, I really appreciate Brendan’s writing style. Really impressive coming from a young guy. What an asset to this site.
Sister-in-law had a W126; even the door catch looked like it was off a Mosler safe. She prized it for safety & insisted my nephew drive it, which was a good thing when his undeveloped driving judgment failed him. At least it was well-aged by this time.
The 7-series was no competition; Consumer Reports gave it ? for long-term reliability (as they also do, alas, for the current S-class).
I’ve always lusted after the W126, which I see as the last truly great Daimler, designed to be the best in the world, where cost was no object in development.
Alas, fuel prices, Vancouver parking and outrageously expensive repair costs have kept me away.
Trivia: Saddam Hussein lusted after it too; he supposedly had an armored 560SEL mit Flammenwerfer? (not a factory option). Probably doesn’t count as a Weapon of Mass Destruction, however.
The Mideast is one of the few regions outside the US where gas-guzzling big cars like Yank Tanks are popular. And that includes the M1A1 too, still in production despite attempts by the Army to stop procuring it.
Was the W126 the first big sedan anywhere in the world since the ’77 GMs to have *not* copied the ’77 GMs?
In many ways, the original Lexus LS400 was a more worthy successor to this car than the W140 was, and it cost E-class money. That was the first blow to S-upremacy. Market fragmentation did the rest; a lot of people who would’ve bought the W126 were they a generation older, instead go for an Escalade or a Tesla. Or they may have a sports car but their uber-sedan is literally that.
The great thing about the S class – and their W108/9 predecessors, is that each model, when new, seems like the brand pushed the styling a bit to far, but by the time the next generation comes around it looks absolutely spot on, while that new model…
The glaring exception being the W140. Had a client in Antwerp for several years who used to send one of their company cars to collect me from the Brussels airport. They used black S-class W126 sedans with gray cloth interiors – very proper and very European. Then they picked up a W140, which looked like a tank and rode heavy compared to the 126es.
As a former owner of W126, somehow my lust for S-class ended with W126. I no longer have desire to own a new S-class, come to think of it, I don’t even know what the latest looks like.
Great article, Brendan. In my opinion, the W126 and the W124 definitely represent the high water mark of Mercedes automobiles.
…the supercharged V8 M113 alloy block engine of the S-Class AMG (of the years 2003 through to 2006 only) is the ultimate ‘turn-on’ engine for the so-called petrolhead…
this engine has ENORMOUS torque potential simply by changing the crank and SC snout pulleys.. it needs one size larger injectors and a re-map ..if you want to shield some heat transfer with phenolic spacers and hi-tech blanketing, and fit a pair of tuned headers and a proper crossover in place of the cats .. so much the better
very doable .. guaranteed to be the most powerful quickest accelerating family car in your city wherever you live
I mentioned this in a posting yesterday, but this is my recently acquired 1990 W126 300SEL. Same body / chassis, but with the bulletproof M103 inline six cylinder engine.
The rear passenger door is mangled but the rest of the car is arrow-straight. Earlier today I called my go-to shop for a price quote on a head gasket replacement. When I told them the mileage ( 365,000- but doesn’t burn oil or leak, has good compression ) they wouldn’t touch it. I’m not sure what to do now. If folks are afraid to work on it, it may end up being a future junkyard find rather than a future CC. And that would make me sad 🙁 .
Such reaction from the mechanics merely shows their compromised knowledge. Let them visit rust belt once and they would gladly take the job without complaint. ( or, you can always sell rust free cars with various mechanic problems to Michigan, someone can fix it anyway plus paying the shipping )
That’s nuts, these have very good parts availability and (a period Mercedes asset) they couldn’t possibly be easier to do the work on.
Agreed. Me and the staff of this particular shop go back a long way. My dad knows the service writer well.
Their concern was that doing a head gasket on an engine with such high mileage would create a ticking time bomb, regardless of the fact that the bottom ends on these engines are practically indestructible with proper care. They are well aware of the M103’s stoutness, but for their own protection, can’t or won’t assume the liability.
I have three choices- find a Mercedes specialist who isn’t so paranoid ( but way more expensive ), attempt to fix it myself, or unload it to a Mercedes aficionado who will appreciate it.
BTW- even after 25 years and 365,000 miles it still makes 3 PSI BAR of oil pressure- even after warmed up.
3 bar is roughly 45 psi.
Yep. And it doesn’t take forever either. Soon as the engine lights off the oil pressure jumps right up to where it should be.
If it’s not your daily driver, why not try to fix it yourself? I’m sure it’s not an easy job, but with a factory service manual and some patience, should be do-able. (Unless, like me until recently, you don’t have the work space.)
If that’s not possible, I’m sure there’s a mechanic somewhere who will do the job without severely overcharging you…
I hear ya on that dilemma, Chris.
I get the same reaction when asking these so called “pros”, to work on my Alfa Romeo 164S. They hear the brand and are afraid to go near it.
Uh, it’s a car, it won’t BITE your girly asses. Lol
You just gotta find an “all around mechanic” whose not a wuss, and fixes ALL cars regardless of origin. I’m very lucky, NOW, to have found a few.
My Alfa has numerous sites that sell brand NEW parts from Italy, and sometimes directly from Alfa Lancia, SpA.
I love my 164, it’s my daily driver, since my Datsun went underwater, and is in repair(running again w new MAF sensor and new head gasket). All in all, parts are sometimes cheaper than parts for my two TE70 80’s Toyota Corollas. 🙂
Keep the faith, man.
Please, fix and keep your W126, they’re classics now.
Like an old car guy, once told me… “Don’t junk em, restore em… Because once they’re gone, they’re gone”.
Easy to fix? Ever tried to replace the starter on a 1987 300TD?
Hogwash!
It’s not like changing an O-ring on the Space Shuttle Columbia.
Some guy who only fixes Chevys, told me we have to take off the whole nose, to change the starter on my Alfa.
I went to another guy, who never worked on Alfas, was reluctant to do it… Then calls me back in 1 1/2 hrs, and says, ” Your car is all set, it’s ready”.
Like they say, “Just get ‘er done!”
Oh, it got done alright. Bleeding knuckles and a whole dictionary of unsavory language. It still drives like it’s on rail…really does feel like a rolling bank vault,
Met a builder on a job site using a 500 Benz to cart his tools he got given the car as the previous owner couldnt find a sucker, sorry buyer, Another 500 Benz I saw recently was involved in a lottery, pick how long it will run with the throttle bricked wide open, it went over 35 minutes knocking and smoking and when dead was dropped from a crane and pancaked.
From being a status symbol these cars have declined in value to now be virtually worthless, what went wrong?
well how pathetic is that?
Not clear that makes it ‘ pathetic ‘ ~ when I were a Lad , many old Luxury cars were used as cheap trucks because no one wants to be seen in a 10 + year old luxobarge , then nor now .
This makes them hard to sell and is why there’s always plenty of them being driven into the ground buy poor folks .
-Nate
I don’t know that I agree that “no one wants to be seen in a 10 + year old luxobarge”…heck, I’d rather drive a well-sorted W126 than a new S-class. And my favorite generation of A8 by far premiered in 2002.
Different strokes and all…
Agreed, it all depends on the condition of the car. Most W126s look immaculate, inside and out. Mainly thanks to the collectible-status they have by now. Plus, of course, it’s a timeless design.
Below a 1983 BMW 732i, still in a pristine condition. But it just looks so much older than a W126.
If I had never heard of a W126 before, I would have believed it was introduced in 1995 if someone told me so. “Mercedes’ answer to the Lexus LS400…”
Yes Chris but _we’re_ GearHeads , not the Buying Public .
There’s a huge difference .
Most any Junk Yard will be littered with perfectly good W-126’s most have no dents and run O.K. .
FWIW : ‘ BMW means : Bavarian Money Waster , Bring My Wallet etc….
-Nate
I’ve always thought that driving a well-preserved* classic luxury car conveys a certain image of “old money” class and traditionalism, and I’ve seen firsthand that even non-gearheads can appreciate the effort (and apparent expense) of keeping an older Benz, Jaguar, or even Cadillac in good condition.
*Shiny paint in stock colors, no major dents and very little to no visible rust, good glass, clean interior. Lowriders and other heavily-modded custom vehicles need not apply.
Again ;
You’re discussing the music with the choir….
-Nate
I love the W126 series a lot.
Yet the true King of the 80s was BMW´s 1987 twelve cylinder 750i !
Good luck with maintaining one of those hulks.
I can guarantee the resale value on a V12 BMW is zilch. Like the 8 cylinder 850i is a lot more pleasant to have as an everyday driver, than it’s V12 brethren.
I can imagine the transmission woes in a V12 7 series.
** No, the TRUE King of the 80’s, was the Buick Grand National GNX
That one was certainly unique for the V12…but the styling of the E32 left quite a bit to be desired, at least in my opinion. Plus the whole fragility thing.
Good car, utterly reliable if properly maintained and well-loved here in Austria. The below is obviously still serving its owner as intended to tow his (large!) boat to the Danube, and is spotless.
Yes it’s a 560…
One more
Nice trailer tower !
I came across this really nice 1990 560 SEL with only 96,000 km on the odometer.
More photos here: http://www.koorenclassiccars.nl/mercedes-560-sel-u9/
These things exude class and presence. There’s one not too far from here on club permit plates and lots of patina. And every time I drive down that street, I look forward to see it.
Same goes for the W124.
Bruno Sacco did a great job with the styling of these, the W124, W201 (slowly growing on me) and the R129. They are all timeless designs that still look good and elegant today.
Good cars to be sure .
I just rode in a 1987 300SDL from Los Angeles to Maine , it was a pleasant trip in most aspects , in The Plains the rain was so heavy all the other traffic pulled over with hazard lights on , we just slowed to 50 MPH and motors on sure footedly and safely .
I personally don’t like big cars so I have W-123’s .
Yes , I have changed that damned starter , because I’m an old Journeyman Mechanic , I did it whilst hot , not fun but not terribly hard if you look at it and think it out in advance ~ something like 30″ of 3/8″ drive extensions makes it much easier .
-Nate
W126s are magnificent automobiles, had an 86 420SEL for awhile. Fridge white with whorehouse red leather, guzzled super unleaded, but otherwise was a terrific conveyance. I could do most of the work on it, and worked at a MB dealership so I got a generous parts discount, so the fuel cost was my main issue.
Can’t stand W140s…I just don’t like the appearance and the interiors felt cheapened as compared to the 126. Newer S-Class cars feel even worse. Once MB and BMW started doing softer leather, and tufts on the seats instead of rock hard leather with simple pleats, they lost me.
I would have one now, except I can’t justify 17MPG on 93 octane fuel which is running 40 cents a gallon higher than 87 octane around here. Gonna have to just deal with my old Volvo…
I have yet to see a W140 in recent years without its driver’s seat leather torn at the seams. This is probably one reason why Mercedes really pushes the MB-Tex these days. Virtually every Mercedes sans S-Class, CLS, and SL are sold with MB-Tex unless fully spec’d or special order. Especially because most new Mercedes are predominately leased now, it just makes more sense to have upholstery that holds up better. It also increases resale value.
Having “fake” leather in a Mercedes sounds like a sin, but in all honesty I really like the MB-Tex. It’s just as soft and breathable, and nearly impossible to tell the difference. Plus, if you’re not leasing or are buying pre-owned, it’s nice not to have worn and cracked driver’s side bolsters like what happens to most new cars with leather after a few years.
MB-Tex. The ultimate upholstery. Indestructible.
Wasn’t there a person who made guitar straps or belts out of the material taken out of old Benzes?
” MB-Tex. The ultimate upholstery. Indestructible.
Wasn’t there a person who made guitar straps or belts out of the material taken out of old Benzes?”
Sounds about right ~ the horsehair pads fall apart and the cardboard (seriously) strips that hold the covers in place dry out , crack and fall apart but the M-B Tex stuff is amazing ~ I routinely salvage old grimy seats and door cards from Pick-A-Part Barrio Bombers , Ghetto Hoopties and ex Taxis , a liberal application of Meguiar’s # 40 with a soft bristle brush and they all look like 1977 again ! .
Not so much the few real leather seats in the S-Klasse Sedans , failure to keep those oiled and they dry out and rot .
-Nate
Even modern MB-Tex isn’t the same…smells and feels different than the old stuff. In a perfect world my car would have really sturdy cloth upholstery in a dark color to hide stains. I truly wonder if it is becoming difficult for manufacturers to locate high quality hides for seats, given that you can spec leather in just about every economy car made…it’s not just for high-end cars any more.
When Mercedes used to have hard seats with metal springs underneath, the whole seat surface moved as a unit, and there was less opportunity for seams to pull, or the hide to split. Once they started making softer seats, the leather had more opportunity to be stressed, and pulled or rubbed against itself, making it wear faster and split seams. That’s my theory, at least.
What percentage of car owners properly maintain their seats anyway? I use Lexol cleaners and conditioners at least quarterly on all of my cars with leather seats, and I really think it makes a difference in the way the seats feel and hold up. It also smells nice.
” I use Lexol cleaners and conditioners at least quarterly on all of my cars with leather seats, and I really think it makes a difference in the way the seats feel and hold up. It also smells nice.”
I follow that exact same regiment for my Acura’s leather. I’ve yet to find a better brand of leather cleaner and conditioner. I also like how the conditioner makes the seats feel more supple and less slippery.
I also clean and condition the leather immediately after I have my car serviced, to clear any trace/germs of someone else sitting in my car. I also always place a towel over my seat when coming home from the gym, as to not transmit sweat onto the leather. I’m a little OCD if you can’t tell 🙂
Nothing wrong with some OCD…my 420SEL had a black plastic steering wheel, which was OK, but several of my Volvos have leather wrapped wheels, in a beige color, which shows every little bit of grime and or dead skin. I spend a lot of time keeping those clean.
One of my kids is driving my 2014 Honda Accord LX, and plays high school football. I caught him walking in the door the other, coming home from practice with no shirt on. I about lost my mind when I saw that he had just put his sweaty, dirty skin on the black cloth seat without at least a towel…told him I didn’t want the damn car smelling like his funk and he would be riding a Schwinn to practice if he did it again. Now if I can keep him from bumping into the storage rack when he pulls in the garage, we’ll be all set.
Last of the old school, built to last rolling bank vaults from Mercedes.
“…the W126 was an evolutionary styling update of the vintage-1972 W116, but its seemingly minor styling advancements did wonders for Mercedes-Benz’s largest car. Its aerodynamic enhancements gave the car’s already elegant proportions a sleeker, more graceful silhouette, especially in long-wheelbase versions.”
You hit the tail on the head Brendan. The W126 was the ultimate design evolution. I was a big fan of the W116 but always hated the US bumpers. The W126 fixed that problem but introduced a new one to my eye.
For a good six months or so I felt that the W126 was too aero looking. The decklid, especially, seemed WAY TOO HIGH. Remember this was four years before the aero Audi 100 and six before the high deck 300E.
Designs that make you uncomfortable at first but grow on you quickly tend to be winners that can go the distance. Through today’s eyes it’s funny how something that was once so aero can look so boxy.
I miss how “functional” Mercedes design was back them. The yellow fog lamps, ribbed taillights, prominent rain gutters, safety grip door handles, huge wipers. I absolutely DESPISE those black plastic wipers everyone uses today. I forgot to mention how much I hate those on the CLA.
Nice article Brendan. Another thing to remember was the W140 S-class was launched in the teeth of a recession which made the bigger/better/heavier/more complicated/more expensive car very out-of-step with what the market wanted.
By the time the following model came out (late 90’s) my commute took me through an expensive suburb and I quickly saw half a dozen of the 500/600 coupes – I knew then the recession was behind us!
My story of the W126 is our doctor had one in the 1980s, probably a 380 or 420, and one day he was driving along the Tullamarine freeway in Melbourne when he recognised the signs he was having a stroke. He was in the right (fast) lane, so pulled up as quickly as possible by scraping against the central divider as he struggled with losing control of his body. In those pre-mobile phone days someone stopped and called for an ambulance on the emergency phones along the road. He survived but retired (he would have been in his sixties), and I expect the car was repaired but that part of the story has not stuck in my mind – by comparison to deliberately ‘crashing’ an S-class it wasn’t as memorable!
Speaking purely on appearances and not getting into reliability, for me the W126, Series III XJ6, and Fleetwood Brougham from the 80s were the last timeless luxury car designs. Each said all that needed to or could be said about 3 different schools of thought on luxury. And I think most people agree with me because all 3 are still around in substantial quantity. Nothing since has out Benzed that Benz, out Jagged that Jag, or out Caddied that Caddy.
Great write-up Brendan, thanks.
..does it really matter what other people ‘think’ …that anyone who drives an MB vehicle is a snob or a ‘cock’ (lol)
…with a car like the 2015 A45 AMG being what it is (the world’s most powerful and quickest 2 litre 5 door family vehicle) who gives a toss what your neighbours are thinking about you as “a person with no taste or poor character as a poser or tosser” … I loathed MB’s for years for these ‘reasons’ until I discovered the Lysholm-boosted M113 (no matter what body shape it came in ..S ..SL ..or E Class) …it is a life-changing experience to control that sort of power …the engineering is what it is all about for a petrolhead surely???
…the new A45 AMG is another life-changing motor vehicle to drive …all wheel drive ..and with 265 kilowatts of power …and yet fuel economy in the 6 litre per 100 kilometre range!!! …a lightweight (comparatively) supercar that can be used as a daily driver for shopping, for the ski field, for the freeway ..and no other car will be able to match it in any of these uses
MB produces world-beating technology, period ! The engineering quality is superb !
Why would anyone not want to own or drive such proficient machinery??
..because they are worried about what ignorant folks ‘think’ about them … who cares what they think … it’s their loss not to realise what excellent cars these are
Still perhaps the ultimate Benz for me. Some of their vintage designs are prettier…the newer ones are more powerful and “fancier”…but if I had to pick one car to represent the brand, this would be it. It strikes the perfect balance.
We had one of these new but it was a 280SE bought new in the family for ten years.I do remember reading the reviews on the updated series with the new engines over the years after the designations changed to 300/420/560 later down the track and safety was ahead of it’s time.You have to remember when Australia first saw the W126 Holden were selling a Statesman whose origins dated back to the early seventies,Ford were on their third generation of Fairlane and LTD and the Jaguars of the day were a Series 3 based on a design that first came out in 1968.I was a passenger in a fourth generation Fairlane from 1988/1989 so almost six years to the time we sold our Mercedes and it was different to say the least given that was the only the second time in my life I had ever been in a full size passenger sedan but in this case it was a Limo ride home from the airport and needless to say I was impressed.It had me thinking how did the Australians plus BMW AND JAGUAR get this class of vehicle so right in terms of size and weight when the W140 resembled for all the world an army tank.
Thanks for reposting this article. I was told once by a general manager of a Mercedes-Benz dealership that the W126 was the “quintessence Mercedes-Benz” and I have to agree. Having owned Mercedes-Benz from that era and later models I believe the claim that the W126 and W124 were the last that were built to a specification instead of a price.