Segment: Upper Premium
Production years: 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980
In 1972, the German car-maker launched the W116 series which replaced the previous W108/109 models. It was launched with 6 and 8 cylinders engines.
The Watergate scandal started, a gallon of gasoline was 55 cents and the average income per year in the U.S. was USD 11.800 and Bobby Fischer became World Chess Champion. In September that year, the first vehicle to receive the name "Mercedes-Benz S-Class" was launched and become a champion in its class. The horizontal headlights were brought in that class after the 1971 SL model.
The designer was Friedrich Geiger, the man responsible for the design of famous models such as the Mercedes-Benz 500K and 300 SL "Gullwing". For the new S-Class, there were developed cowl panels at the A-pillars, serving as water-shield gutters. 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.
Inside, there was plenty of room for five passengers, and, for the long-wheelbase, there was even more for the rear passengers. The dashboard featured three round dials. In the middle, there was the speedometer and on the left, there were three gauges for fuel level, coolant temperature, and oil pressure. The right dial was an analog clock. On the center console there were the sliders for the climate control unit and, if installed, a radio-telephone.
The W116 featured independent suspension on both axles and it had important new safety features such as antilock system (ALS) developed with Bosch. For the engine, the top model was the 6.9-liter V8 unit with a mechanical injection that offered 286 hp and 549 Nm (405 lb-ft) of torque.
ENGINE SPECS - 280 S | |
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Cylinders: | L6 |
Displacement: | 2746 cm3 |
Power: | 116 KW @ 5500 RPM 158 HP @ 5500 RPM 156 BHP @ 5500 RPM |
Torque: | 166 lb-ft @ 4000 RPM 225 Nm @ 4000 RPM |
Fuel System: | Carburetor |
Fuel: | Gasoline |
PERFORMANCE SPECS | |
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Top Speed: | 124 mph (200 km/h) |
TRANSMISSION SPECS | |
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Drive Type: | Rear Wheel Drive |
Gearbox: | Manual, 4 Speed |
BRAKES SPECS | |
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Front: | Discs |
Rear: | Discs |
TIRES SPECS | |
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Tire Size: | 195/70 R14H |
DIMENSIONS | |
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Length: | 195.3 in (4961 mm) |
Width: | 73.5 in (1867 mm) |
Height: | 56 in (1422 mm) |
Front/rear Track: | 59.8/59.1 in (1,519/1,501 mm) |
Wheelbase: | 112.8 in (2865 mm) |
Ground Clearance: | 6.3 in (160 mm) |
Aerodynamics (Cd): | 0.42 |
ENGINE SPECS - 280 SE | |
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Cylinders: | L6 |
Displacement: | 2746 cm3 |
Power: | 136 KW @ 6000 RPM 185 HP @ 6000 RPM 182 BHP @ 6000 RPM |
Torque: | 177 lb-ft @ 4500 RPM 240 Nm @ 4500 RPM |
Fuel System: | Electronic Fuel Injection |
Fuel: | Gasoline |
PERFORMANCE SPECS | |
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Top Speed: | 126 mph (203 km/h) |
Acceleration 0-62 Mph (0-100 kph): | 10.5 s |
TRANSMISSION SPECS | |
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Drive Type: | Rear Wheel Drive |
Gearbox: | Manual, 4 Speed |
BRAKES SPECS | |
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Front: | Discs |
Rear: | Discs |
TIRES SPECS | |
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Tire Size: | 195/70 VR14 |
DIMENSIONS | |
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Length: | 195.3 in (4961 mm) |
Width: | 73.5 in (1867 mm) |
Height: | 56 in (1422 mm) |
Front/rear Track: | 59.9/59.3 in (1,521/1,506 mm) |
Wheelbase: | 112.8 in (2865 mm) |
Ground Clearance: | 6.3 in (160 mm) |
Aerodynamics (Cd): | 0.42 |
WEIGHT SPECS | |
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Unladen Weight: | 3560 lbs (1615 kg) |
ENGINE SPECS - 280 SEL | |
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Cylinders: | L6 |
Displacement: | 2746 cm3 |
Power: | 136 KW @ 6000 RPM 185 HP @ 6000 RPM 182 BHP @ 6000 RPM |
Torque: | 177 lb-ft @ 4500 RPM 240 Nm @ 4500 RPM |
Fuel System: | Electronic Fuel Injection |
Fuel: | Gasoline |
PERFORMANCE SPECS | |
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Top Speed: | 124 mph (200 km/h) |
Acceleration 0-62 Mph (0-100 kph): | 10.6 s |
TRANSMISSION SPECS | |
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Drive Type: | Rear Wheel Drive |
Gearbox: | Manual, 4 Speed |
BRAKES SPECS | |
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Front: | Discs |
Rear: | Discs |
TIRES SPECS | |
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Tire Size: | 195/65 R15V |
DIMENSIONS | |
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Length: | 199.2 in (5060 mm) |
Width: | 73.5 in (1867 mm) |
Height: | 56 in (1422 mm) |
Front/rear Track: | 59.8/59.3 in (1,519/1,506 mm) |
Wheelbase: | 116.5 in (2959 mm) |
Ground Clearance: | 6.3 in (160 mm) |
Aerodynamics (Cd): | 0.42 |
WEIGHT SPECS | |
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Unladen Weight: | 3571 lbs (1620 kg) |
ENGINE SPECS - 350 SE | |
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Cylinders: | V8 |
Displacement: | 3499 cm3 |
Power: | 150 KW @ 5800 RPM 204 HP @ 5800 RPM 201 BHP @ 5800 RPM |
Torque: | 211 lb-ft @ 4000 RPM 286 Nm @ 4000 RPM |
Fuel System: | Electronic Fuel Injection |
Fuel: | Gasoline |
PERFORMANCE SPECS | |
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Top Speed: | 127 mph (204 km/h) |
Acceleration 0-62 Mph (0-100 kph): | 9.5 s |
TRANSMISSION SPECS | |
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Drive Type: | Rear Wheel Drive |
Gearbox: | Automatic, 4 Speed |
BRAKES SPECS | |
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Front: | Ventilated Discs |
Rear: | Discs |
TIRES SPECS | |
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Tire Size: | 205/70 VR14 |
DIMENSIONS | |
---|---|
Length: | 195.3 in (4961 mm) |
Width: | 73.5 in (1867 mm) |
Height: | 56 in (1422 mm) |
Front/rear Track: | 59.8/59.1 in (1,519/1,501 mm) |
Wheelbase: | 112.8 in (2865 mm) |
Ground Clearance: | 6.3 in (160 mm) |
Aerodynamics (Cd): | 0.42 |
WEIGHT SPECS | |
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Unladen Weight: | 3692 lbs (1675 kg) |
ENGINE SPECS - 350 SEL | |
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Cylinders: | V8 |
Displacement: | 3499 cm3 |
Power: | 150 KW @ 5800 RPM 204 HP @ 5800 RPM 201 BHP @ 5800 RPM |
Torque: | 211 lb-ft @ 4000 RPM 286 Nm @ 4000 RPM |
Fuel System: | Electronic Fuel Injection |
Fuel: | Gasoline |
PERFORMANCE SPECS | |
---|---|
Top Speed: | 127 mph (204 km/h) |
Acceleration 0-62 Mph (0-100 kph): | 9.5 s |
TRANSMISSION SPECS | |
---|---|
Drive Type: | Rear Wheel Drive |
Gearbox: | Automatic, 4 Speed |
BRAKES SPECS | |
---|---|
Front: | Ventilated Discs |
Rear: | Discs |
TIRES SPECS | |
---|---|
Tire Size: | 205/70 R14V |
DIMENSIONS | |
---|---|
Length: | 199.2 in (5060 mm) |
Width: | 73.5 in (1867 mm) |
Height: | 56 in (1422 mm) |
Front/rear Track: | 59.8/59.1 in (1,519/1,501 mm) |
Wheelbase: | 112.8 in (2865 mm) |
Ground Clearance: | 6.3 in (160 mm) |
Aerodynamics (Cd): | 0.42 |
ENGINE SPECS - 450 SE | |
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Cylinders: | V8 |
Displacement: | 4520 cm3 |
Power: | 162 KW @ 5000 RPM 220 HP @ 5000 RPM 217 BHP @ 5000 RPM |
Torque: | 266 lb-ft @ 3250 RPM 360 Nm @ 3250 RPM |
Fuel System: | Electronic Fuel Injection |
Fuel: | Gasoline |
PERFORMANCE SPECS | |
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Top Speed: | 132 mph (212 km/h) |
Acceleration 0-62 Mph (0-100 kph): | 8.4 s |
TRANSMISSION SPECS | |
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Drive Type: | Rear Wheel Drive |
Gearbox: | Automatic, 4 Speed |
BRAKES SPECS | |
---|---|
Front: | Ventilated Discs |
Rear: | Discs |
TIRES SPECS | |
---|---|
Tire Size: | 205/70 R14V |
DIMENSIONS | |
---|---|
Length: | 195.3 in (4961 mm) |
Width: | 73.5 in (1867 mm) |
Height: | 56 in (1422 mm) |
Front/rear Track: | 59.9/59.3 in (1,521/1,506 mm) |
Wheelbase: | 112.8 in (2865 mm) |
Ground Clearance: | 6.3 in (160 mm) |
Aerodynamics (Cd): | 0.42 |
WEIGHT SPECS | |
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Unladen Weight: | 3847 lbs (1745 kg) |
ENGINE SPECS - 450 SEL | |
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Cylinders: | V8 |
Displacement: | 4520 cm3 |
Power: | 162 KW @ 5000 RPM 220 HP @ 5000 RPM 217 BHP @ 5000 RPM |
Torque: | 266 lb-ft @ 3250 RPM 360 Nm @ 3250 RPM |
Fuel System: | Electronic Fuel Injection |
Fuel: | Gasoline |
PERFORMANCE SPECS | |
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Top Speed: | 132 mph (212 km/h) |
Acceleration 0-62 Mph (0-100 kph): | 8.4 s |
TRANSMISSION SPECS | |
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Drive Type: | Rear Wheel Drive |
Gearbox: | Automatic, 4 Speed |
BRAKES SPECS | |
---|---|
Front: | Ventilated Discs |
Rear: | Discs |
TIRES SPECS | |
---|---|
Tire Size: | 205/65 R15V |
DIMENSIONS | |
---|---|
Length: | 199.2 in (5060 mm) |
Width: | 73.5 in (1867 mm) |
Height: | 56 in (1422 mm) |
Front/rear Track: | 59.8/59.1 in (1,519/1,501 mm) |
Wheelbase: | 116.5 in (2959 mm) |
Ground Clearance: | 6.3 in (160 mm) |
Aerodynamics (Cd): | 0.42 |
WEIGHT SPECS | |
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Unladen Weight: | 3902 lbs (1770 kg) |
ENGINE SPECS - 450 SEL 6.9 | |
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Cylinders: | V8 |
Displacement: | 6834 cm3 |
Power: | 210 KW @ 4250 RPM 286 HP @ 4250 RPM 282 BHP @ 4250 RPM |
Torque: | 406 lb-ft @ 2800 RPM 550 Nm @ 2800 RPM |
Fuel System: | Electronic Fuel Injection |
Fuel: | Gasoline |
PERFORMANCE SPECS | |
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Top Speed: | 150 mph (241 km/h) |
Acceleration 0-62 Mph (0-100 kph): | 7.2 s |
TRANSMISSION SPECS | |
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Drive Type: | Rear Wheel Drive |
Gearbox: | Automatic, 3 Speed |
BRAKES SPECS | |
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Front: | Ventilated Discs |
Rear: | Discs |
TIRES SPECS | |
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Tire Size: | 215/70 VR 14 |
DIMENSIONS | |
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Length: | 199.2 in (5060 mm) |
Width: | 73.6 in (1869 mm) |
Height: | 55.5 in (1410 mm) |
Front/rear Track: | 59.8/59.1 in (1,519/1,501 mm) |
Wheelbase: | 116.5 in (2959 mm) |
Ground Clearance: | 6.3 in (160 mm) |
Aerodynamics (Cd): | 0.42 |
WEIGHT SPECS | |
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Unladen Weight: | 4288 lbs (1945 kg) |
FUEL ECONOMY (NEDC) | |
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Combined: | 12 mpg US (19.6 L/100Km) |
ENGINE SPECS - 300 SD | |
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Cylinders: | L5 |
Displacement: | 3005 cm3 |
Power: | 86 KW @ 4600 RPM 118 HP @ 4600 RPM 115 BHP @ 4600 RPM |
Torque: | 148 lb-ft @ 2400 RPM 200 Nm @ 2400 RPM |
Fuel System: | Indirect Injection |
Fuel: | Diesel |
TRANSMISSION SPECS | |
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Drive Type: | Rear Wheel Drive |
Gearbox: | Automatic, 4 Speed |
BRAKES SPECS | |
---|---|
Front: | Discs |
Rear: | Discs |
TIRES SPECS | |
---|---|
Tire Size: | 195/70 R14V |
DIMENSIONS | |
---|---|
Length: | 199.2 in (5060 mm) |
Width: | 73.5 in (1867 mm) |
Height: | 56 in (1422 mm) |
Front/rear Track: | 59.8/59.1 in (1,519/1,501 mm) |
Wheelbase: | 116.5 in (2959 mm) |
Ground Clearance: | 6.3 in (160 mm) |
Aerodynamics (Cd): | 0.42 |