The Story of the Mercedes-Benz Model 124

I remember with great fondness being greeted by these taxis at virtually every major train station in Germany while traveling there between 1991 and 2015.

Unveiled in 1984, this model series was the first vehicle family from Mercedes-Benz. From 1993, it bore the name E-Class. Consistent lightweight design and optimised aerodynamics resulted in increased fuel economy and improved performance. Excellent driving safety was guaranteed by the innovative multi-link rear suspension. Mercedes-Benz also played a pioneering role in terms of reduced exhaust emissions: from autumn 1986, all petrol-engined models came as standard with exhaust gas emission control by a feedback-controlled three-way catalytic converter.

When the history of the 124 model series was beginning at Mercedes-Benz, the “Stroke/8” saloons of the W 114/115 model series were still in production: it was at the end of 1975 when the decision was made at the company for the successor of the 123 model series, in the upper executive segment, introduced to the market in January 1976. The development process was also accompanied by a change of generations in leading positions of what was then Daimler-Benz AG. Plus, there were also significantly stricter regulations for consumption and emissions, particularly in North America. Therefore, Mercedes-Benz developed new six-cylinder engines for the 124 model series along with a whole range of diesel engines, with four, five and six cylinders, with and without supercharging.

Relation to the new compact segment

In parallel with this, work was being done on the design of the new saloons. The goal was a lighter and significantly more aerodynamically optimised vehicle compared to its predecessor, along with greatly increased safety. There are parallels in the technology and design between the future 124 model series and the new W 201 compact segment, which was developed at the same time and would be launched on the market two years ahead of the upper executive segment. The first project descriptions and ten plasticine models of the W 124 were created in 1977 at a scale of 1:5 – a drag coefficient of Cd = 0.32 was aspired to in the specifications. In 1981 management decided on the final design with seven clay models in the original size.

In order to comprehensively test the new generation of vehicles, Mercedes-Benz began a series of crash tests in 1982 and undertook extensive road tests with around 60 vehicles in various climate zones. The W 124 was tested in the heat of Africa, on the high-speed course at Nardò in Italy, on the Sol y Nieve high road in Spain, 3392 metres above sea level, in Canada and Scandinavia (Arjeplog) as well as in the Alps, amongst other places.

From 26 November to 8 December 1984 the brand from Stuttgart finally introduced the new saloons to international journalists in the area of Seville. Vehicles from 200 D (53 kW / 72 hp) to 300 E (140 kW / 190 hp) were available for test drives. The vehicle concept with the most stable passenger compartment of its class, higher efficiency and impressive Cd figures of 0.29 to 0.30 depending on the engine and equipment was very well received by the experts. Amongst the types with a petrol engine, the 260 E and 300 E with the new six-cylinder M 103 engines garnered the most interest.

Further development until the E-Class

The saloons of the 124 model series launched onto the market in 1985 with three diesel versions (200 D, 250 D and 300 D), the Mercedes-Benz 200 with a 2-litre carburettor engine as well as four petrol engine types with petrol injection (200 E, 230 E, 260 E and 300 E). The 124 model series was further developed over the following years and the range of types was expanded.

And thus, from 1985, the brand from Stuttgart offered the automatically engaging 4MATIC four-wheel drive for the six-cylinder types. It was a part of the Mercedes-Benz driving dynamics concept, which also included automatic locking differential (ASD) and acceleration skid control (ASR). The previous types with prechamber diesel engines were supplemented in 1987 with an exhaust turbocharger in the 300 D Turbo. From September 1986 all vehicles with petrol engines included a controlled catalytic converter as standard.

The 124 model series is an exceptionally versatile generation of the upper executive segment of Mercedes-Benz: on the one hand, saloons and estates proved themselves as taxis, with the chassis being used for patient transport ambulances and hearses. On the other hand, the coupés and cabriolets set standards for sporty luxury in this vehicle segment. The 400 E (205 kW / 279 hp) and 500 E (240 kW / 326 hp) V8 versions as well as the E 60 AMG (280 kW / 381 hp) ultimately positioned the W 124 in the area of absolute high-performance vehicles of their time.

In June 1993 the 124 model series received the name E-Class as part of the new nomenclature. At the same time, the system of model designation was also changed. The 500 E became the E 500, for example, and the 200 D became the E 200 Diesel. In 1995 production of the saloons ended at the Sindelfingen plant and in 1996 the manufacture of parts kits was also phased out (completely knocked down, ckd). In eleven years 2,213,167 saloons were built, resulting in a total of 2,737,860 vehicles of the 124 model series – making it the most successful E-Class by Mercedes-Benz.