Mercedes-Benz S-Class Sedan · 3rd generation S

W140

The double-pane W140 — engineering without compromise.

Production
1991–1998
Built
406,710
Body
Sedan
Chassis
W140
Mercedes-Benz S-Class Sedan (W140)

The W140 S-Class was Mercedes-Benz at its most imposing — a flagship of extraordinary scale, weight, and engineering depth that arrived in the early 1990s as the ultimate expression of the traditional German luxury saloon.

Double-glazed windows, hydraulically damped closing aids, short and long wheelbases, and engines from a 2.8-liter six through 4.2- and 5.0-liter V8s to the company’s first passenger-car V12 made the W140 the most comprehensively equipped S-Class yet. In June 1993 the whole range was renamed — 300 SE became S 320, 500 SEL became S 500 lang — and the SEC coupé on C140 shared the platform in two-door form. Critics called it excessive; owners called it exactly right.

Mercedes-Benz built 406,710 saloons between 1991 and 1998; with the 26,022 C140 coupés, the 140 series came to 432,732 cars.

W140 interior
Cabin details of the W140, as preserved in period photography.

Every model.

21 model designations across 1991–1998 — short and long wheelbase, petrol and diesel, with the June 1993 renaming that turned every SE and SEL into an S.

MalliMallivuodetValmistettuAlustaMoottoriVaihteistoYhteensä
300 SE 2.81993—140.028104.944717.4 · 722.3 · 722.522,784
S 2801994–1998—140.028104.944717.4 · 722.3 · 722.5 · 722.6sisältyy yllä olevaan
300 SE1991–1993—140.032104.990717.4 · 722.3 · 722.598,095
S 3201993–1998—140.032104.994722.5 · 722.6sisältyy yllä olevaan
300 SEL1991–1993—140.033104.990717.4 · 722.3 · 722.585,346
S 320 Long1993–1998—140.033104.994722.5 · 722.6sisältyy yllä olevaan
400 SE1991–1993—140.042119.971722.314,277
S 4201993–1998—140.042119.971 · 119.981722.3 · 722.6sisältyy yllä olevaan
400 SEL1991–1993—140.043119.971722.335,191
S 420 Long1993–1998—140.043119.971 · 119.981722.3 · 722.6sisältyy yllä olevaan
500 SE1991–1993—140.050119.970722.321,942
S 5001993–1998—140.050119.970 · 119.980722.3 · 722.6sisältyy yllä olevaan
500 SEL1991–1993—140.051119.970722.365,065
S 500 Long1993–1998—140.051119.970 · 119.980722.3 · 722.6sisältyy yllä olevaan
600 SE1991–1993—140.056120.980722.33,399
S 6001993–1998—140.056120.980 · 120.982722.3 · 722.6sisältyy yllä olevaan
600 SEL1991–1993—140.057120.980722.332,517
S 600 Long1993–1998—140.057120.980 · 120.982722.3 · 722.6sisältyy yllä olevaan
300 SD Turbodiesel1992–199310.1991–06.1993140.134603.971722.320,518
S 350 Turbodiesel1994–199506.1993–08.1996140.134603.971722.3sisältyy yllä olevaan
S 300 Turbodiesel1996–199806.1996–08.1998140.135606.961722.67,583

* Julkaistu tuotantoluku kattaa kyseisen mallin kaikki sarjat; lähde ei erittele sitä tarkemmin.

717.4x 5-speed manual — six-cylinder petrol only722.3x 4-speed automatic, to May 1996722.5x 5-speed automatic, six-cylinder petrol722.6x 5-speed electronic automatic, from June 1996
W140 side profile
Studio profile of the W140 — the proportions that defined this chassis.

Year by year.

From the Geneva debut in March 1991 to the last car in September 1998.

  1. 1991
    • The W140 saloon debuted at the Geneva motor show in March.
    • The launch range comprised six-cylinder 300 SE and 300 SEL models, V8 400 and 500 models, and V12 600 models.
    • The 600 SE and 600 SEL introduced the M120 as Mercedes-Benz’s first series-production passenger-car V12.
    • Double-pane side and rear glass reduced cabin noise.
    • Pneumatic closing assistance pulled the doors and boot lid fully shut.
    • Extending rear parking guide rods rose from the rear wings when reverse was selected.
    • Adaptive Damping System was standard on the V12 models.
  2. 1992
    • The 300 SE 2.8 joined below the 300 SE, using the 2.8-liter M104.
    • The 300 SD Turbodiesel arrived for North America with the two-valve 3.5-liter OM603.
    • The 400 models were recalibrated to 279 PS from September.
    • The 500 models were recalibrated to 320 PS from September.
    • The 600 models were recalibrated to 394 PS from September.
  3. 1993
    • June: the corporate renaming. 300 SE 2.8 became S 280, 300 SE became S 320, 400 SE became S 420, 500 SE became S 500, 600 SE became S 600, and long-wheelbase cars took the "lang" suffix.
    • The 300 SD Turbodiesel became the S 350 Turbodiesel.
    • Diesel models wore a TURBODIESEL boot badge.
    • The 3.2-liter six switched from LH-Jetronic to hot-film air-mass metering as the 104.994, gaining 315 N⋅m at 3,750 rpm.
  4. 1994
    • The March facelift tucked in the lower bumpers and side skirts.
    • Clear front indicator lenses identified the facelifted cars.
    • Bichromatic rear lamps and a broader trim panel visually lowered the tail.
    • The five-speed automatic became available on the six-cylinder cars.
  5. 1995
    • Two-tone paint gave way to monotone bodywork.
    • Rear indicator lenses became clear.
    • Xenon low-beam headlamps introduced.
    • ESP became standard on V12 saloons and optional on V8 saloons.
    • Sonar-based Parktronic replaced the extending parking guide rods.
  6. 1996
    • Brake Assist (BAS) added, boosting braking to maximum in emergency stops.
    • Door-mounted side airbags became standard.
    • A front-passenger seat-occupancy sensor controlled airbag deployment.
    • Rain-sensing windscreen wipers became available.
    • The S 300 Turbodiesel replaced the S 350 with the 24-valve intercooled OM606.
    • The electronically controlled five-speed automatic became standard across the range in June.
    • Linguatronic voice control became available.
  7. 1997
    • TELEAID emergency call and tracking introduced in the United States.
  8. 1998
    • Production ended in September after 406,710 saloons.
    • The W220 S-Class succeeded the W140 saloon.
W140 rear three-quarter view
Rear three-quarter view of the W140.

Engines.

The M104 six, the M119 V8, the M120 V12 and the OM603 and OM606 diesels as fitted to the W140.

M104

I6
  • 104.944 2.8 L · 2,799 cc

    193 PS

    142 kW · 190 hv / 5,500 r/min

    270 N·m

    199 lb·ft / 3,750 r/min

  • 104.990 3.2 L · 3,199 cc

    231 PS

    170 kW · 228 hv / 5,800 r/min

    310 N·m

    229 lb·ft / 4,100 r/min

  • 104.994 3.2 L · 3,199 cc

    231 PS

    170 kW · 228 hv / 5,600 r/min

    315 N·m

    232 lb·ft / 3,750 r/min

M119

V8
  • 119.971 4.2 L · 4,196 cc

    286 PS

    210 kW · 282 hv / 5,700 r/min

    410 N·m

    302 lb·ft / 3,900 r/min

  • 119.981 4.2 L · 4,196 cc

    279 PS

    205 kW · 275 hv / 5,700 r/min

    400 N·m

    295 lb·ft / 3,900 r/min

  • 119.970 5.0 L · 4,973 cc

    326 PS

    240 kW · 322 hv / 5,700 r/min

    480 N·m

    354 lb·ft / 3,900 r/min

  • 119.980 5.0 L · 4,973 cc

    320 PS

    235 kW · 315 hv / 5,600 r/min

    470 N·m

    347 lb·ft / 3,900 r/min

M120

V12
  • 120.980 6.0 L · 5,987 cc

    408 PS

    300 kW · 402 hv / 5,200 r/min

    580 N·m

    428 lb·ft / 3,800 r/min

  • 120.982 6.0 L · 5,987 cc

    394 PS

    290 kW · 389 hv / 5,200 r/min

    570 N·m

    420 lb·ft / 3,800 r/min

OM603

Turbodiesel I6
  • 603.971 3.4 L · 3,449 cc

    150 PS

    110 kW · 148 hv / 4,000 r/min

    310 N·m

    229 lb·ft / 2,000 r/min

OM606

Turbodiesel I6
  • 606.961 3.0 L · 2,996 cc

    177 PS

    130 kW · 174 hv / 4,400 r/min

    330 N·m

    243 lb·ft / 1,600 r/min