PKW4231 123 series saloons, 1975 - 1985

123 series saloons, 1975 - 1985

In January 1976 the W 114/115 series "Stroke Eight" models were replaced by a totally reconstructed type range with the internal designation W 123. The model family ranged from the 2.0-liter 4-cylinder Diesel with 55 hp to the 2.8-liter 6-cylinder injection engine with 185 hp.

The new model range orientated itself to the S-Class which had been produced for three and a half years. Thus the new medium-size type was also provided with a semi-trailing arm rear axle which had already been introduced with the "Stroke Eight" models. Furthermore it was equipped with a double-wishbone front suspension with zero steering-offset. The chassis sub-frame of the preceding models was not necessary any more. All other safety-related construction details realised for the first time in series 107 and 116 were of course transferred to the medium-size types. The most important improvements, in comparison to the preceding model range, was the even more stable security 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.

A technical novelty was the safety steering column, realised for the first time in series 123. Steering aggregate and steering column tube were linked together by a corrugated metal tube. In case of a crash, this corrugated metal tube could buckle to the side. This was a further step to reduce the danger of the column tube invading the interior of the car.

The various big round dual head lamps were a characteristic design of the new models. Next to the main head lamp, under a common lens, there was a smaller halogen fog lamp. Differing from that, the two top models of the series, Types 280 and 280 E, were provided with rectangular halogen wide-band head lamps. Externally both 2.8-liter models differed in three further points from their less powerful brothers. Type 280 as well as 280 E had a twin-scroll exhaust system - with twin end pipes, chromed air induction grill in front of the windscreen and an additional chrome strip under the rear lamps.

The range of engines was mostly taken over from the preceding models. The only exception was the Type 250, which was not provided with the old 2.8-liter aggregate M 130 any more, but with the newly constructed 2.5-liter 6-cylinder engine.

According to a long tradition, the 123 series saloons were also available as chassis with partial bodywork. They were completed to ambulances, estate cars and other special versions by body manufacturers at home and abroad. As in the preceding series, there was a variant with normal wheelbase, the 240 D and 230, as well as a prolonged version with Types 240 D, 300 D and 250. Ambulance constructions based on this chassis were mostly built at Binz in Lorch and at Miesen in Bonn. Among the best known German producers of funeral cars on the basis W 123 were the body makers Pollman in Bremen, Rappold in Wülfrath, Stolle in Hannover and Welsch in Mayen.

In the course of the year 1977 the 123 series model range was extended by three new body variants. First a stylistically very appealing coupé was presented at the Geneva Motor Show in March. It was available as 230 C, 280 C and 280 CE. Since August Types 240 D, 300 D and 250 7/8-seater saloons with long wheelbase were offered. As their predecessors from series 115 they were mostly used by taxi and hired car enterprises in transfer services. Finally, in September, the fourth 123 series body variant, a estate car called "T-model", was presented at the Frankfurt International Motor Show IAA.

In the years 1978 to 1980 some changes took place in the engine range of model series 123. First, in April 1978, the power of the 280 E was increased to 185 hp. Then the 240 D was altered. From August onwards it mobilised 72 hp. In February 1979 even the least powerful model of the series, the 200 D, got 5 hp more. At the same time the 220 D was taken out of the program. Finally, in September 1979, the power of the 5-cylinder Diesel engine in the 300 D and of the 6-cylinder carburettor engine in the 250 was increased as well.

Nine months later, in June 1980, three new engines were introduced - one Diesel and two petrol-engines. The 3.0-liter 5-cylinder Diesel engine with exhaust-gas turbocharger, which had been used in the S-Class export model 300 SD for almost two years, was now also available in series 123. First, however, only for the estates. A year later, in August 1981, the turbodiesel was also offered in the 123 series saloon and coupé. Both, however, were exclusively reserved for export to North America.

The two new petrol engines, a 2.0-liter carburettor engine with 109 hp and a 2.3-liter injection engine with 136 hp, replaced the well proven 2.0-liter and 2.3-liter units. Both engines, two different versions of the new in-line 4-cylinder engine M 102, were designed for slightly slanting installation in order to keep the height as low as possible. Despite a boost in output of 15 and 25 % respectively, fuel consumption could be reduced by about 10 %.

ABS (August 1980) and airbag (January 1982) were available as an option.

In July 1981 the 280 with the carburettor engine was discontinued but the 280 E with fuel injection remained in the range.

In September 1982 series 123 received a facelift with numerous improvements including power assisted steering as standard equipment.

The production of 123 series saloons ended in November 1985, about a year after its successor, the 124 series, had gone into production. Almost 2.7 million cars of all body versions were built in ten years, of which 2,375,440 were saloons, 13,700 were saloons (with longer wheelbase) and 8,373 were chassis for special bodies.

Mercedes-Benz Motor M 110
79F84
Mercedes-Benz Motor M 110
Mercedes-Benz Motor M 110
79F85
Mercedes-Benz Motor M 110
Mercedes-Benz 200, 230 E (from left)
Engine compartmentt, 123 series, 1980
80F20
Mercedes-Benz 200, 230 E
Mercedes-Benz, (Motor M 102 E 23) Motorraum
80F22
Mercedes-Benz, (Motor M 102 E 23) Motorraum
Mercedes-Benz, (Motor M 102 E 23) Motorraum
80F23
Mercedes-Benz, (Motor M 102 E 23) Motorraum
Schnittmodell, Mercedes-Benz Motor M 102
80F31
Schnittmodell, Mercedes-Benz Motor M 102
Cutaway model, Mercedes-Benz engine M 102, 1980
80F33
Cutaway model, Mercedes-Benz engine M 102
Schnittmodell, Mercedes-Benz Motor M 102
80F34
Schnittmodell, Mercedes-Benz Motor M 102
Schnittmodell, Mercedes-Benz Motor M 102
80F35
Schnittmodell, Mercedes-Benz Motor M 102
Mercedes-Benz Motor OM 617 Turbodiesel, (Auspuff glühend) auf dem Prüfstand
80F48
Mercedes-Benz Motor OM 617 Turbodiesel, (Auspuff glühend)
Mercedes-Benz Motor OM 617 Turbodiesel, (Auspuff glühend) auf dem Prüfstand
80F49
Mercedes-Benz Motor OM 617 Turbodiesel, (Auspuff glühend)
Mercedes-Benz Motor OM 617 Turbodiesel, (Auspuff glühend) auf dem Prüfstand
80F50
Mercedes-Benz Motor OM 617 Turbodiesel, (Auspuff glühend)
Motorraum des Mercedes-Benz Typ 200, Baureihe 123
80F219
Mercedes-Benz Typ 200, Baureihe 123, Motorraum
Motorraum des Mercedes-Benz Typ 200 (Motor M 102)
81F24
Motorraum des Mercedes-Benz Typ 200 (Motor M 102)
Vorbau-Karosserie der Mercedes-Benz Baureihe W 123
Durch Automation wird die optimale Fertigungsqualität und konstruierte Sicherheit gewährleistet.
A20726
Mercedes-Benz Baureihe 123 Vorbau-Karosserie
Mercedes-Benz 200 D - 280 E
The bonnet was designed to open 90 degrees beyond a special stop for workshop work.
C20298
Mercedes-Benz 200 D - 280 E
Cutaway model Mercedes-Benz saloon type 280 E, W 123 model series, 1976.
76181-8
Cutaway model 280 E saloon - W 123
Mercedes-Benz Typ 300 D der Baureihe 123. Fahrgestell mit verlängertem Radstand
1998DIG317
300 D
Mercedes-Benz Typ 250 der Baureihe 123. Fahrgestell mit verlängertem Radstand
1998DIG318
250 Fahrgestell mit verlängertem Radstand
Mercedes-Benz 200 W 123
Der neue Zweiliter-Vierzylindermotor (200, 200 T)
1997 cm³, 80 kW (109 PS) bei 5200/min
max 170 Nm bei 3000/min
00082669
Mercedes-Benz 200 W 123
Mercedes-Benz 230 CE, C 123
2,3-Liter-Vierzylindermotor (230 E, 230 CE, 230 TE)
2299 cm³, 100 kW (136 PS) bei 5100/min
00082670
Mercedes-Benz 230 CE, C 123
Mercedes-Benz Baureihe 123
Vierzylinder-Motoren (200, 200 T, 230 E, 230 CE, 230 TE)
Bild links 200 T
Bild rechts 230 E
C30486
Mercedes-Benz Baureihe 123 Vierzylinder-Motoren
Vierzylinder-Motor der Baureihe 123
Die fünffach gelagerte Nockenwelle steuert über Kopphebel die V-förmig angeordneten Ventile.
Als Nockenwellenantrieb dient eine verbesserte Einfach-Rollenkette.
00082671
Vierzylinder-Motor der Baureihe 123
Vierzylinder-Motor der Baureihe 123
Grauguß-Motorblock
00082672
Vierzylinder-Motor der Baureihe 123
Vierzylinder-Motor der Baureihe 123
Zylinderkopf
00082673
Vierzylinder-Motor der Baureihe 123
Vierzylinder-Motor der Baureihe 123
Die geschmiedete Kurbelwelle ist fünffach gelagert und mit 8 Gegengewichten versehen, was ein günstiges Schwingungsverhalten ergibt, und zur Entlastung der Kurbelwellen-Hauptlager beiträgt.
Relativ geringe Zapfendurchmesser an den Haupt- und Pleuellagern bewirken eine verminderte Reibleistung.
Die Pleuel sind mit einer Kolbenbolzen-Druckschmierung und Spritzdüsen zur Kühlung des Kolbenbodens versehen.
Gewichtsoptimierte Kolben mit flachem Kolbenboden sind weitere Merkmale eines fortschrittlichen Motorenkonzepts.
00082674
Vierzylinder-Motor der Baureihe 123
Vierzylinder-Motor der Baureihe 123
Halbkugelförmige Brennräume mit einer Quetschfläche zur Gemischverwirbelung sowie V-förmige angeordnete Ventile sind die interessantesten Merkmale des Leichtmetall-Zylinderkopfes der neuen Vierzylinder-Motorenbaureihe.
00082675
Vierzylinder-Motor der Baureihe 123
Vierzylinder-Motor der Baureihe 123
Das mechanische Viergang-Getriebe GL 68/20 wird ausschließlich in den Vierzylindermodellen der Benzin- und Diesel-Versionen verwendet.
Alle Gehäuseteile bestehen aus Aluminium-Druckguß.
Gewichtsreduzierung von 30,8 kg auf 22,3 kg (27,6 %)
00082676
Vierzylinder-Motor der Baureihe 123
Mercedes-Benz Flüssiggas-Antrieb W 123
Die abgebildete Limousine des Typs 200 kann wahlweise mit Flüssiggas oder Superkraftstoff betriegen werden.
00150761
Mercedes-Benz Flüssiggas-Antrieb
Mercedes-Benz Flüssiggas-Antrieb W 123
Die abgebildete Limousine des Typs 200 kann wahlweise mit Flüssiggas oder Superkraftstoff betriegen werden.
00150762
Mercedes-Benz Flüssiggas-Antrieb
Mercedes-Benz Flüssiggas-Antrieb W 123
Die abgebildete Limousine des Typs 200 kann wahlweise mit Flüssiggas oder Superkraftstoff betriegen werden.
00150763
Mercedes-Benz Flüssiggas-Antrieb
Katalysator-Technologie
190 E, 230 E und 380 E mit katalytischer Abgasreinigungsanlage bestehend aus Dreiwegkatalysator mit monolithischem Keramikträger und Sauerstoff-Sonderregelung
00158537
Katalysator-Technologie
Gekapselter Pkw Motor
W 123 Vierzylinder
80021-3
Gekapselter Pkw Motor
Mercedes-Benz 280
Baureihe 123
Motor M 110 V - Typ 280, aus den Jahren 1975 bis 1981
C20368
Mercedes-Benz 280
Mercedes-Benz 200 D - 250
Saloon, Class 123, 1976
Fittings, windscreen wiper swiping
C20374
Mercedes-Benz 200 D - 250
Mercedes-Benz 200 D bis 280 E
Scheinwerferverstellung
aus den Jahren 1976 bis 1985
C20372
Mercedes-Benz 200 D bis 280 E
Mercedes-Benz 200 D bis 280 E
Die parallel angeordneten und mattschwarz lackierten Wischerarme (zwei Geschwindigkeiten plus Intervallschaltung). 
aus den Jahren 1976 bis 1985
C20370
Mercedes-Benz 200 D bis 280 E
Mercedes-Benz 200 D bis 280 E
Öffnen der Motorhaube
Nach dem Entriegeln der Haube mittels eines Hebels unter dem Armaturenbrett springt ein Zugknopf aus der Kühlermaske, der kurz gezogen, die Arretierung vollständig löst.
C20367
Mercedes-Benz 200 D bis 280 E
Mercedes-Benz 200 D bis 280 E
In die Tankdeckelklappe ist eine Halterung für den abschließbaren Verschluß integriert, die so installiert wurde, dass die Klappe nicht verschlossen werden kann, wenn der Deckel nicht wieder herausgenommen und auf den Einfüllstutzen aufgesetzt wird.
C20355
Mercedes-Benz 200 D bis 280 E
Mercedes-Benz 250
Motor M 123
1976 - 1985
C20375
Mercedes-Benz 250
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