Mercedes-Benz W114

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Mercedes-Benz W114/W115
File:Mercedes strichacht 1 v sst.jpg
Mercedes-Benz 200
Overview
Manufacturer Mercedes-Benz
Production 1968–1976
1,919,056 built
Saloon: 1,852,008
Coupé: 67,048
Assembly
Designer Paul Bracq
Body and chassis
Class Mid-size luxury car / Executive car
Body style 4-door sedan
2-door coupé
4-door limousine
Layout Front-engine, rear-wheel-drive
Related Mercedes-Benz W116
Powertrain
Engine
Dimensions
Wheelbase 108.3 in (2,750 mm)
133.9 in (3,400 mm) (limousine)
Length 184.3 in (4,680 mm)
195.5 in (4,970 mm) (US bumpers)
209.8 in (5,330 mm) (limousine)
Width 69.75 in (1,772 mm)
Height 56.75 in (1,441 mm)[1]
Chronology
Predecessor Mercedes-Benz W110
Successor Mercedes-Benz W123

The Mercedes-Benz W114 and W115 models are a series of sedans and coupés introduced in 1968 by Mercedes-Benz, manufactured through model year 1976, and distinguished in the marketplace by names relating to their engine size.

W114 models featured six-cylinder engines and were marketed as the 230, 250, and 280, while W115 models featured four-cylinder engines and were marketed as the 200, 220, 230, and 240.

All were styled by Paul Bracq, featuring a three-box design. At the time, Mercedes marketed sedans in two size classes, with the W114/W115, positioned below the Mercedes-Benz S-Class.

Beginning in 1968, Mercedes marketed their model range as New Generation Models,[2] giving their ID plates the designation '/8' (due to their 1968 Launch year). Because they were the only truly new cars of the so-called 'New Generation' and because of the '/8' or 'slash eight' designation, W114 and W115 models ultimately received the German nickname Strich Acht, loosely translated into the English Stroke eight.

History

File:Mercedes-Benz W115 front 20080621.jpg
Pre-facelift Mercedes-Benz W115

The W114/W115 models were the first post-war Mercedes-Benz production car to use a newly engineered chassis, not derived from preceding models. The new chassis format of semi-trailing rear arms and ball-joint front end, first displayed in the W114/W115 chassis would be used in all new Mercedes passenger car models until the development of the multi-link rear suspensions of the 1980s. The W108/109 S-Class chassis of the 280S/8, 280SE/8 and 300SEL/8 (and W113 280SL Pagoda) would be the last of the low-pivot swing axle and king pin/double wishbone front ends. The next S-Class -the W116 chassis- having the same engineering of the W114/115.

The W114/W115 models replaced the W110 Fintail models stemming from 1961, and were themselves replaced by the W123 series after 1976.

The Mercedes-Benz W114/W115 was the mid-sized saloon model for Mercedes, positioned below the S-Class. Mercedes also launched its first 5-cylinder diesel engine OM617 in this chassis. It followed heavily in the direction set by the W108/109 S-class, which was launched in 1965 and heralded the new design idiom. The car was designed by French auto designer Paul Bracq who was chief designer at Mercedes-Benz for models from 1957 to 1967, a period that included models such as the Grosser Mercedes-Benz 600. Bracq was also responsible for BMW designs (1970–74) and Peugeot designs (1974–96).[3]

Mercedes introduced a coupé variant of the W114 in 1969, featuring a longer boot hood and available with either a 2.5 or 2.8 litre six-cylinder engine. While a classic and understated design these generally cost less than the W113-based 280 SL model that ran through 1971, and its successor, the 3.5 or 4.5 litre V8 Mercedes SL R107/C107 (1971–1989) roadster and coupé.[4] While a 'hard-top' unlike the fully convertible SL, the pillarless design allowed all the windows to be lowered completely for open air motoring. Only 67,048 coupés were manufactured from 1969 to 1976 (vs. 1.852,008 saloons). Of these 24,669 were 280C and 280CE (top of the range), and 42,379 were the lesser 250C and 250CE.

File:Mercedes Benz 250 at Versailles.jpg
Mercedes-Benz W115 250, w114 technically, saloon: this post facelift version is distinguished by a lower and wider radiator grill, and differing treatment below the single front bumper / fender.

The W114 received a facelift in 1973 - with a lower bonnet-line, lower and broader grill, a single front bumper to replace the double bumpers, lower placement of the headlamps, A-pillar treatment for keeping the side windows clear, removal of the quarter-windows in the front doors, ribbed tail lights to minimize occlusion of the tail lights with road dirt, and larger side mirrors. The interior received inertia reel belts and a new padded steering wheel with a four-hole design.

The Mercedes-Benz W115 is known to be a very durable car. In 2004 a Greek taxi driver donated his 1976 Mercedes-Benz 240D to the Mercedes-Benz Museum Collection with 4.6 million kilometers on the odometer, which is recognised as the Mercedes-Benz with the highest recorded mileage known to date.

Innovations

File:Mercedes 220 D 1969.jpg
Mercedes Benz 220 D 1969.

Like its saloon variant this car also boasted advanced technological innovations. 1969 saw the introduction of the Bosch D-jetronic fully electronic fuel injection system into the 250CE. This was the first ever production Mercedes-Benz to use this system.

Other innovations in the W114/W115 models include a center console (a first in a Mercedes sedan), ribbed taillights in 1974. All coupé models used the 6-cylinder engine (and thus were W114s) and were designated with a "C" in the model name.

A Mercedes-Benz 220D pickup on the W115 chassis was built briefly in Argentina in the 1970s.[5]

North America

File:Mercedes-Benz 220D.JPG
1973 Mercedes-Benz W115 220D with US-spec headlights and corresponding side markers and reflectors
File:1975 MB 280 US front.jpg
1975 Mercedes-Benz W115 280, w114 technically, with US-spec bumpers and sealed-beam headlights

The W114/W115 was introduced in North America in 1968, but with fewer engine choices than elsewhere. These models from the start had unique headlights, utilizing a sealed beam lamp instead of the H4 type used in the European models. Bumpers changed frequently and there were at least three different bumpers used over the production run in NA. For 1974 the bumpers grew significantly due to new DOT requirements.

North American 240Ds were offered with a 4-speed manual or 4-speed automatic, whereas all 5-cylinder 300D models were equipped with the 4-speed automatic without a manual option.

Models

W114

File:Mercedes-Benz 250 C.jpg
Pre-facelift Mercedes-Benz W114 250C coupé
File:1972 Mercedes-Benz 250C.JPG
1972 Mercedes-Benz W114 250C coupé (with US-Spec bumpers)
Chassis code Years Model Engine Number built[6]
Displacement Model Type
W114.015 1968–1973 230 2.3 L M180 I6 152,822
W114.615 1973–1976 230.6 2.3 L M180 I6 63,497
W114.010 1968–1970 250 2.5 L M114 I6 78,303
W114.011 1970–1973 250 2.8 L M130 I6 22,624
W114.611 1973–1976 250 2.8 L M130 I6 11,437
W114.021 1968–1972 250C 2.5 L M114 I6 8,824
W114.022 1968–1972 250CE 2.5 L M114 I6 21,787
W114.023 1969–1973[note 1] 250C 2.8 L M130 I6 10,527
W114.623 1973–1976 250C 2.8 L M130 I6 1,241
W114.060 1972–1973 280 2.8 L M110 I6 19,537
W114.660 1973–1976 280 2.8 L M110 I6 25,000
W114.062 1972–1973 280E 2.8 L M110 I6 13,711
W114.662 1973–1976 280/E 2.8 L M110 I6 9,125
W114.072 1972–1973 280CE 2.8 L M110 I6 7,576
W114.672 1973–1976 280CE 2.8 L M110 I6 3,942
W114.073 1972–1973 280C 2.8 L M110 I6 4,924
W114.673 1973–1976 280C 2.8 L M110 I6 8,227

W115

File:Mercedes-Benz 220D creme vl.jpg
Pre-facelift Mercedes-Benz W115 220D
File:Mercedes Benz 220 (W115).jpg
Pre-facelift Mercedes-Benz W115 220
Chassis code Years Model Engine Number built[6]
Displacement Model Type
W115.015 1968–1973 200 2.0 L M115 I4 175,242
W115.615 1973–1976 200 2.0 L M115 I4 113,543
W115.115 1968–1973 200D 2.0 L OM615 Diesel I4 187,873
W115.715 1973–1976 200D 2.0 L OM615 Diesel I4 152,054
W115.010 1968–1973 220 2.2 L M115 I4 128,398
W115.110 1968–1973 220D 2.2 L OM615 Diesel I4 345,376
W115.710 1973–1976 220D 2.2 L OM615 Diesel I4 67,453
W115.017 1973–1976 230.4 2.3 L M115 I4 87,609
W115.117 1973–1976 240D 2.4 L OM616 Diesel I4 126,148
W115.114 1974–1976 240D 3.0/300D 3.0 L OM617 Diesel I5 53,690

W114 & W115 long-wheelbase models

File:Mercedes W115 Lang.JPG
LWB Mercedes-Benz W115
Chassis code Years Model Engine Number built.[6]
Displacement Model Type
W114.017 1968–1973 230 Lang (LWB saloon) 2.3 L M180 I6 1,082
W114.617 1968–1973 230.6 Lang (LWB saloon) 2.3 L M180 I6 1,131
W115.112 1968–1973 220D Lang (LWB saloon) 2.2 L OM615 Diesel I4 4,027
W115.119 1973–1976 240D Lang (LWB saloon) 2.4 L OM616 Diesel I4 3,655

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Available only in North America before 05/1972.[6]

References

  1. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ Taylor, James. The Mercedes-Benz Since 1945: The 1960s (Mercedes-Benz Since 1945), Motorbooks International (June 1993) ISBN 0-900549-96-3, ISBN 978-0-900549-96-0
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ www.mercedes-benz.argentina/history accessed 12 November 2008 (Spanish)
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Mercedes-Benz Classic Wiki: http://wiki.mercedes-benz-classic.com/index.php/Kategorie:W114/W115/en

External links

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