PKW4221 116 series S-Class Saloons, 1972 - 1980

116 series S-Class Saloons, 1972 - 1980

In September 1972 a totally new car generation of the upper class was presented to the public. For the first time the name "Mercedes-Benz S-Class" was officially used. It replaced model series 108/109 and at that time consisted of Types 280 S, 280 SE and 350 SE. Six months later the S-Class saloon was also available with a larger displacement capacity in the 4.5-liter V8-engine, parallel to the 450 SL and the 450 SLC. At the same time Type 450 SEL was launched with a wheelbase extended by 100 mm. As with its predecessors the rear passengers thus benefitted from the newly gained leg room. Since November 1973 the prolonged version was also available as 350 SEL, since April 1974 finally also as 280 SEL.

A remarkable technical novelty in the saloons of type range 116 was the double-wishbone front wheel suspension with zero steering-offset and brake dive support. It improved the handling characteristics of the car considerably. The rear wheel suspension corresponded for the most part to the construction which had proved itself for years in the "Stroke Eight" models and was also used in the 350 SL.

In terms of passive safety the S-Class also outlined the latest technological development. The many construction details realised in the 350 SL for the first time and for safety reasons now, of course, were transferred as a whole to the S-Class saloons. Thus the fuel tank was not located in the rear end of the car anymore, but above the rear axle and thus protected against collision. Inside a heavily padded dashboard, deformable or conceiling switches and controls as well as a new four-spoke security wheel with impact absorber and broad impact cushion provided for utmost crash protection. Important improvements in comparison to the preceding model range was the even more stable safety passenger cell with stiffened roof-frame structure, high-strength roof and door pillars as well as reinforced doors. The energy absorption of the front and rear deformation zone in the front and rear end was significantly increased by a controlled deformation capacity.

Newly developed cowl panels at the A-pillars, serving as water-shield gutters, guaranteed good visibility in rain and kept the side windows clean in bad weather. Further safety details were wide wraparound direction indicators, well visible also from the side. In addition, broad rear lamps with ribbed surface profile proved to be very insusceptible to dirt.

In May 1975 Type 450 SEL was presented as the new top model of the Type range and as the legitimate successor to 300 SEL 6.3. The powerful 6.9-liter V8-engine, developed from the 6.3-liter unit, achieved 286 hp and a maximum torque of 56 mkg. For the first time in a Mercedes-Benz car a hydropneumatic suspension with level control system guaranteed highest driving comfort. Further optional equipment belonging to the production delivery of the top model included central locking system, air-conditioning and headlamp washer system. As its direct predecessor, the 450 SEL 6.9 was an immediate and full success. Even though it was more than twice as expensive than the 350 SE, as many as 7,380 cars were built within its production time of four years and six months.

Between November 1975 and February 1976 the fuel injection system of the 2.8-liter, 3.5-liter and 4.5-liter injection-engines was changed in order to correspond to the now higher exhaust-emission standards in most European countries. The electronically controlled Bosch "D-Jetronic" was replaced by the newly developed mechanically controlled Bosch "K-Jetronic". In all three cases the conversion was connected to slight power reductions. In the 2.8-liter engine as well as in the 3.5-liter engine the compression was lowered at the same time. In order to facilitate maintenance both V8-engines were equipped with a breakerless transistor ignition and a hydraulic valve-clearance compensation.

Parallel to the 2.8-liter injection engine the compression was also lowered in the carburettor engine. Here, too, this led to a reduced potential of performance. Two years later, since April 1978, the original performance of all three models with injection engine was reached again. With the 2.8-liter injection engine - in contrast to the carburettor engine - the compression was increased to its old value. With the two V8-models the former performance was basically achieved by changing the exhaust-emission system.

In May 1978 the 116 series model range was once more extended. The new member of the family, Type 300 SD, gained as much attention as the 450 SEL 6.9 three years before. The new S-Class model, however, was at the other end of the performance scale and - for the first time in the history of this vehicle category - was driven by a Diesel engine. The 3.0-liter 5-cylinder aggregate which had proven so well in the Types 240 D 3.0 and 300 D was now provided with a turbocharger. This made it possible to increase the performance to 115 hp. The development of this unusual S-Class variant, which was exclusively available in the USA and Canada, had been started with the goal to fulfil the lower consumption figures newly introduced by the US government. The important figure was the so-called "corporate average fuel economy", an invention of the Carter-administration, which designated the average consumption of all car-models made available by a manufacturer. With an extended offer of traditionally economical Diesel models the fleet consumption could be lowered under the legal limit.

A technical innovation of trend-setting importance was available since autumn 1978, world exclusively in the 116 series S-Class models: the antilock system (ALS) which had been developed together with the Robert Bosch GmbH. It guarantees the unrestricted controllability of the vehicle even when slamming on the brakes, thus contributing considerably to active safety. Today it is almost self-evident and also available in small cars. In those days, however, the market introduction of the ALS was a real sensation.

Safety of a different kind was offered by the special protection versions of the 116 series models. Based on the experience gained by the development of the special protection 280 SEL 3.5, the protection technology could be further improved. Altogether 292 security cars were produced of the eight-cylinder models 350 SE, 350 SEL, 450 SE and 450 SEL and delivered to selected clients, among them many authorities in Europe and overseas.

In September 1979, models series 126 was presented at the Frankfurt International Motor Show IAA, succeeding the first S-Class type range. The production of model series 116, however, was not finished yet. It ceased only between April and September 1980, depending on the model. The last car of a total of 473,035 built units of this range that passed the final-assembly inspection at the plant in Sindelfingen was a 300 SD.

Mercedes-Benz Typ 450 SEL
74236-31
Mercedes-Benz Typ 450 SEL
Mercedes-Benz Baureihe 116, Typ 350 SE bzw. 450 SE Sonderschutz-Ausführung
EA77F452
Mercedes-Benz Baureihe 116, Typ 350 SE bzw. 450 SE Sonderschutz-Ausführung
Mercedes-Benz Typ 350 SEL bzw. 450 SEL
EA78F397
350 SEL bzw. 450 SEL
Mercedes-Benz 280 SE
saloon, 116 series
side crash
1979
EA7911292
Mercedes-Benz 280 SE
Mercedes-Benz S-Class
Development of the S-Class 116 series:
the 1:5 model is automatically scanned in longitudinal, transverse and vertical sections.
A8105
Mercedes-Benz S-Class
Entwicklung der S-Klasse, das 1:5 Modell wird automatisch in Längs- , Quer- und Höhenschnitte abgetastet. Mercedes-Benz Baureihe 116, Bauzeit 1972 bis 1980
A8120
MB Baureihe 116
Werk Sindelfingen, 1972
Bei der Festlegung der Radausschnitte für das gelenkte und gefederte Rad berechnet der Computer die sogenannte Radhüllkurve für einen abgespecherten Reifentyp.
A8121
Werk Sindelfingen
Mercedes-Benz 280 S, 280 SE, 280 SEL, 350 SE, 350 SEL, 450 SE, 450 SEL, 1972 to 1980
450 SEL with 6.9 litres, 1975 to 1980
Fittings
C8085
Mercedes-Benz W 116
Mercedes-Benz Typ 280 S, 280 SE, 350 SE und 450 SE Limousine aus dem Jahre 1972 (Warndreieck)
C8412
Mercedes-Benz Typ 280 S, 280 SE, 350 SE und 450 SE Limousine
Mercedes-Benz Typ 280 S, 280 SE, 280 SEL, 350 SE, 350 SEL, 450 SE, 450 SEL, 1972 bis 1980, 450 SEL mit 6,9 Liter, 1975 bis 1980 (verstellbarer Außenspiegel)
C8413
MB Baureihe 116
Mercedes-Benz 450 SE, W 116
C8414
Mercedes-Benz 450 SE
Mercedes-Benz Typ 280 S, 280 SE, 280 SEL, 350 SE, 350 SEL, 450 SE, 450 SEL, 1972 bis 1980, 450 SEL mit 6,9 Liter, 1975 bis 1980 (Verriegelung der Sicherheitsgurte)
C8419
MB Baureihe 116
Mercedes-Benz 280 S, 280 SE, 280 SEL, 350 SE, 350 SEL, 450 SE, 450 SEL, 1972 bis 1980, 450 SEL mit 6,9 Liter
Armaturen
1975 bis 1980
C8422
Mercedes-Benz Baureihe 116
engines 116 series comparison
from left: 280 SE / 280 SEL (M 110 E 28) and 350 SE / 350 SEL (M 116 E 35)
1972 - 1980
C8424
engines 116 series
S-Klasse Baureihe (W 116) 280 S mit M 110 Motor. Mercedes-Benz 6-Zylinder Otto-Motor M 110 aus dem Jahr 1972.
C8889
Benzin Motor M 110
Mercedes-Benz Typ 280 SEL und 350 SEL aus dem Jahre 1973, 450 SEL aus dem Jahre 1972 und 450 SEL mit 6,9 Liter aus dem Jahre 1975
C10789
MB Baureihe 116
S-Klasse Baureihe (W 116) 450 SE/ SEL mit M 117 Motor. Mercedes-Benz 8-Zylinder Otto-Motor M 117 aus dem Jahr 1972
C10790
Benzin Motor M 117
Mercedes-Benz 450 SE/ SEL
S-Klasse Baureihe W 116  mit M 117 Motor
Mercedes-Benz 8-Zylinder Otto-Motor M 117 aus dem Jahr 1972
C10794
Mercedes-Benz 450 SE/ SEL
Mercedes-Benz Typ 450 SEL Limousine aus dem Jahre 1972
C10796
MB Baureihe 116
Mercedes-Benz Typ SLC und S-Klasse aus dem Jahre 1980
C10797
MB Baureihe C 107, W 116
Mercedes-Benz SLC und S-Klasse aus dem Jahre 1980
C10798
Mercedes-Benz Baureihe C 107, W 116
Mercedes-Benz 280 SEL, Engine 200 hp (147 kW) power
1973
C14703
Mercedes-Benz 280 SEL
Mercedes-Benz Coupé-SLC, SL-Roadster aus den Jahren 1971 - 1985
S-Klasse-Limousine aus den Jahren 1972 - 1980
C14705
Baureihe 116, Baureihe 107
Mercedes-Benz 450 SEL 6.9 
M 100, 8-cylinder Otto engine
116 series
1975
C17997
Mercedes-Benz 450 SEL 6.9
S-Klasse Baureihe (W 116) 450 SEL 6.9 mit M 100 Motor. Mercedes-Benz 8-Zylinder Otto-Motor aus dem Jahre 1975.
C17998
Benzin Motor M 100
Mercedes-Benz Typ 280 SEL und 350 SEL aus dem Jahre 1973, 450 SEL aus dem Jahre 1972 und 450 SEL mit 6,9 Liter aus dem Jahre 1975 (Autotelefon)
C25024
MB Baureihe 116
Mercedes-Benz 300 SD Turbodiesel,
saloon, USA version,
1977
C25894
Mercedes-Benz 300 SD Turbodiesel
ABS testing at Daimler-Benz AG's Stuttgart-Untertürkheim plant. When braking on bends the ABS maintains the car's directional stability and steerability, provided permissible cornering speeds based on the laws of physics have not been exceeded.
C27505
S-Class Saloon with anti-lock braking system (ABS) - W 116
Braking better: Mercedes-Benz S-Class saloons of the 116 series on the running-in track in Stuttgart-Untertürkheim in 1979. The vehicle at the top with anti-lock braking system (ABS) remains steerable; the one at the bottom without ABS continues to slide and cannot be steered despite the front wheels being fully turned.
C27510
116 series with ABS
ABS testing at Daimler-Benz AG's Stuttgart-Untertürkheim plant. When braking on bends the ABS maintains the car's directional stability and steerability, provided permissible cornering speeds based on the laws of physics have not been exceeded.
C27511
116 series with anti-lock braking system (ABS)
Mercedes-Benz Typ 350 SEL bzw. 450 SEL
SI77668-7
350 SEL bzw. 450 SEL
Mercedes-Benz 350 SEL Guard
der Baureihe 116
SI77668-8
Mercedes-Benz 350 SEL Guard
Mercedes-Benz 450 SEL
special protection version / Guard 116 (W 116)
SI77668-9
Mercedes-Benz 450 SEL
Mercedes-Benz Typ 350 SE Limousine aus dem Jahre 1972.
72120-23
Mercedes-Benz Typ 350 SE
Mercedes-Benz Typ 280 S, 280 SE, 350 SE und 450 SE Limousine aus dem Jahre 1972 (Geschäumte Türbeläge und Fensterschlüssel in der Verbindung mit einer Velours- oder Lederpolsterung)
72120-42
MB Baureihe 116
Mercedes-Benz Typ 350 SE Limousine aus dem Jahre 1972 (Rückleuchten)
72202-25
MB Baureihe 116
Motorraum, Mercedes-Benz Typ 350 SE bzw. 350 SEL aus dem Jahre 1973
72202-40
MB Motorraum Baureihe 116
Vergleich Motoren, Mercedes-Benz Typ von links: 
280 SE, bzw. 280 SEL (bei beiden M 110) und 350 SE bzw. 350 SEL (bei beiden M116) Limousine aus dem Jahre 1974
72202-113
Benzin Motor M 116
Mercedes-Benz Typ 450 SEL der Baureihe 116
72378-5
Mercedes-Benz Typ 450 SEL
Mercedes-Benz Typ 450 SEL der Baureihe 116
72378-10
Mercedes-Benz Typ 450 SEL
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