While the replacement parts are the same regardless of year, the originals aren't of the same quality. Costs were slashed from many places invisible to the naked eye but definitely noticeable by the wallet some thousands of miles and some years after use. You have to remember that the W140 was the most ambitious project M-B ever got into (yes, even bigger than the development of the Mercedes-Benz 600). Production costs went way over budget prior to launch. The car was in development for 10 years. Many systems were over-complicated. End result: the accountants advised management that they had to slash costs or else the losses would be out of control. Then came the '95 freshening, or "cheapening" as I like to call it. In fact, the Maybach is based on the W140 because management feels like they haven't gotten anything out of that chassis. True indeed, the W140 never made a profit. Here are some changes I know of that came with the '95 freshening. I also picked up a lot from forum searches:

-New bumpers and new plastic side flanks
(New design to make the car look less bulkier, also cheaper to make)

-New rear lenses (softer edges, and if you buy them at the parts dept.: much, much cheaper compared to pre-95 models)

-Deletion of rear parking assist antennas (a great design touch ommited because of high-cost and the introduction of the new "Parktronic" -extra cost feature in most markets, as opposed to the antennas that were standard everywhere-).

-Deletion of standard power rear seat for S500/S600 (then made optional for entire model range)

-Deletion of standard fully power rear headrests for S500/S600 (couldn't be obtained anymore - you could lower the headrests but not raise them electronically)

-New A/C electronic center dash panel controls (much cheaper to manufacture than the previous one and wears and breaks much faster).

-New interior door panel design. It deletes the very useful storage compartment pre-95 models had, although it addresses a problem that the armrest was too thin and people's elbows would not reach it comfortably (the new armrest is much thickier, although it reduces seat space a little). This change also ommitted several internal parts in the doors (including some electric wiring), replaced many existing ones with cheaper lighter parts and combined switches, all cost cutting measures.

-New headlight lens design (much cheaper to make, although it is said to be 30% brighter, which I would say it is!). Remember that the new Xenon lights (much more expensive) were optional in most markets

-Ride height was lowered an average of 1.5 inches, depending on model and extras fitted. This was done mainly to reduce bulk look and to favor airflow (read: more mpg).

-Mechanically many systems were changed in the engine compartment and the chassis. Bits and ends mainly to reduce costs (end result: lower quality in many cases).

-The infrared remote lock system was changed by a more reliable (and cheaper to manufacture) system.

10/ Many interior materials were cheapen also, the standard leather for example. But, the new more expensive and softer Nappa leather was made available. Even though these are items that couldn't be noticed easily by customers, they obviously weren't as durable as the original, over engineered interior parts used before '95.

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1999 Mercedes-Benz S600, 103K miles - garage queen
1988 Mercedes-Benz 560SEL, 89K miles - daily driver
2007 Hyundai Sonata Limited, 31K - daily driver

None of those things would stop me from buying a post 95 W140. The little antennas that pop up out of the trunk are kind of stupid. I won't miss them, besides all that crap eventually leaks into the trunk so you have to replace some seals. Looks like they just got rid of some standard features, no big deal. I never sit in the rear seat so if it isn't power big loss.

I see a lot of clean 96 and 97 S320's going for real good prices I would snag one of those.

__________________
1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

I'm not trying to convince you not to purchase a post 1995 W140. What you do with your money is none of my business. I was just replying to the other guy's post in which he requested that someone list all the "cheapening."

__________________
1999 Mercedes-Benz S600, 103K miles - garage queen
1988 Mercedes-Benz 560SEL, 89K miles - daily driver
2007 Hyundai Sonata Limited, 31K - daily driver

. . . "stupid"! I can see that you have never tried to BACK-UP in one, especially the coupe. You can't see the trunk so you have NO idea where the back end of the car is located. Looking out the back window, all you see is 'space'. Kaa-bamm! No they are NOT a nicety! Actually, the later models have proximity sensors in the bumpers; forget what that feature is called. Believe me, it's needed.

__________________
Regards . . . . JimF
-------------------
'94 S500 Cpe

Visit my Mercedes Web Page

Hmm I have never backed a W140, maybe they help. Their is a late 90's S500 down the street from me that has been for sale for a few weeks. I really like the W140 it does feel like more car compared to the W126.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

braverichard,
Are you sure your descrbing the changes in a 95 or 96. My fathers 95 S600 definately has half of the features you memtioned that were deleted. His has the pwer back seats, power back head rests, the better climate control panel, and the mini antennas that stick up when in reverse. Im pretty sure that the S600 came with these features standard. Some of the storage compartments are not availible because of other features. If the car has the rear climate control, then the storage compartment under the armrest is no longer availiable because of the ducting and wiring. This is the case in my father's car at least.

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2002 G500 74K
1998 E300 200K and rising
1995 S600 73k


"Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering
if they've made a difference. The Marines don't
have that problem."-Ronald Reagan

"Never tell people how to do things. Tell them
what to do and they will surprise you with their
ingenuity."-General George S. Patton

. . . they are mandatory. One more time, YOU CAN'T SEE THE TRUNK OF THE CAR LOOKING OUT THE BACK WINDOW. Go down the street and try it. Don't send me the bill when you hit something.

__________________
Regards . . . . JimF
-------------------
'94 S500 Cpe

Visit my Mercedes Web Page

As Jim F states, visibility out of the back of the car is limited. Even when the headrests for the rear passengers are dropped, you can't see the rear corners of the car. When the antennas are up, I have excellent situational awareness. I personally think the antennas are cool, and I specifically bought an S with this option.

__________________
1995 S600, 1 of 618 (sold)

"Speed is just a question of money...how fast you wanna go?"

LONG LIVE THE W140!
Visit my Web Page at www.v12uberalles.com

. . bit of misinformation here. Pete, the visibility is not 'limited'; there is NO VISIBILITY! You can't see the corners nor the trunk!

Unlike the current punker/gangstas that set the seat height to the bottom so that all you can see is 'part' of a head, I have my seat height adjustment all the way up. I'm almost 6ft tall and even with that, I can't the the trunk of the car. The visibility is not limited; there is NO visibility! Without the pop-up antennas, there would a lot of dents/scratches in the rear bumper.

Maybe it's now clear what I mean? I hope so!

__________________
Regards . . . . JimF
-------------------
'94 S500 Cpe

Visit my Mercedes Web Page

Jim, do you think this is worse on the coupe than the sedan or is the sedan just as bad?

Sedan is as bad: you cannot see anything about the trunk when reversing. Nothing exceptional in modern cars though.

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S320L -97

LOL Jim is taking this a bit too seriously. But I agree with him. Visibility is pretty limited with the car. They help out a lot when backing up and since I live in the city this happens every day all the time.

I must say one thing they did improve in the later 140's was the climate control. It's hard to change the temp while driving because the little wheel doesn't have notches for each degree so you don't know whether you moved it one degree down or 5. The new ones I believe had push buttons rather than wheels which is much easier. Plus it doesn't help that both backlights are burnt out on the climate temp readings so now I have to turn on the interior lights when changing the temp at night.

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1985 500SEL 124k miles
2001 Honda Civic EX

I had the first run 1992 500SEL, its was an awesome car, and with the exception of being a Mercedes the 140 shares little with the 126 in its execution or the experience when driving one. That being said, I can also say it was a nightmare to own, and mine had the awesome "everything covered Maintenance program," even my tires were replaced under warranty, but then again it did go through 3 sets of them in under 30,000 miles. I experienced EVERY problem mentioned previously: evap, seats, mirror, window closer/opener (which by the way was standard issue on ALL 140's, there was no "convenience pkg" in 92 or 96, not sure after that), front end shimmy, tire wear, bose amp, inst cluster (one blown when it was jump started), trunk closer, transmission, etc ALL under 30,000 miles. It was a hassle to keep taking the car in for repairs. I traded it in on an 1996 S500 which was vastly improved with respect to reliability for the two years I had the 92. I didn't really notice any diff. in leather quality (seemed identical to me), but I did notice that several features were either optional or no longer available like the "maintenance" program, the necessary rear backup guides and the power rear view mirror, sideview mirrors smaller (not sure why, as this car needs BIG mirrors), the stereo was diff. & now had a weather band like BMW, the climate control panel was easier to use & SEE, but did feel cheaper. I always liked the "thumb wheel." it has a glass sunroof (not avail in 92). The rear pwr seat was an option in 96, but was standard in 92, but then again the 96 was cheaper in MSRP. Not sure about the 95, but my door panels were different (no cubby bins) because mine had side airbags that were not available in 92. Those are the things I can remember it has been a few years . I loved 140, but needed to pull a 26 ft boat, so it was ultimately replaced with a 1998 Lexus LS400, and my tow vehicle a 1998 4x4 Suburban Diesel which I still have. If I wanted the most car for the least amount I'd by a used 140, but only if all the weak points have been RECENTLY repaired, or it was really cheap.

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Mercedes Fleet:
2004 CL600 Designo Espresso SPORT
2004 S600 Designo Espresso SPORT/Lorinser Pkg.
1999 S320
1988 300TE
1972 280SEL 4.5
Diesel Fleet:
2014 GL350 Blutec
1987 300SDL Blk/Blk 4 place seating #18 head
1987 300SDL Smk Slv/Burgangy #17 head
1986 300SDL Blk Pearl/Palomino #14 head w/ 280K
1984 Lincoln Mark VII Fact BMW Turbo Diesel

Talking about the reversing guides, the '95 brochure I have list them as standard equipment. I special ordered my car and it came in about the first of May 1995 and it did not have the guides. Some that came in a month earlier had the guides. I was really ticked at the time and the salesman deducted the price of the glass sunroof to make me feel better. I thought they were neat.

My car does have map pockets in the front and rear doors though. And the leather on the seats; I could not ask for better leather.

My car has the bumpers and lower panels that have the crease. In my opinion it makes the car look smaller than the ones without the crease. I had to replace my front bumper when my wife pulled over a cross tie then backed up, hairlipping the bumper. Could only get the one without the crease. Bummer!

I think '95 started the process of building the car cheaper. I don't think it was all done in '95. But I still don't think the items we are talking about makes 20-30K difference. I do know that dealer margins were lowered also at this time, because I had been looking up dealer cost on the car for a couple of years. Was really not where I wanted to be financially when I ordered the car but it was then or never. Mine is one of the last ones imported.

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1995 S-350
370K + SOLD
1952 220B Cabriolet
39K kilometers + SOLD
1998 E300D
310K +
2012 E350 BlueTec
120K

I also felt the same way. One day I went to the bank and pulled up right next to a W140 S500 in my 300SD. At that moment I thought to myself, "this car is a redesign of my car?" They look so different!! Very few similarities. It's like an entirely new model. Looks much bigger ("overweight"), more imposing and intimidating, has a greater presence, overall nicer. Seems like the W140 was done as a new model really. I know M-B redesigns can look drastically different from the models they replace (the W220 looks absolutely nothing like the W140 and the "frog eyed" E-Class looks nothing like the W124 for instance) but the W140 just doesn't look or feel like it has any connection with the W126. Other than a few interior tidbits in the 1992 W140s such as that sound distribution controller in the center console, the W140 seemed like a different car. That explains why production of the W126 actually completely seized in 1994 as the richer folks who could pay the extra price of customized manufacturing still demanded it.

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1999 Mercedes-Benz S600, 103K miles - garage queen
1988 Mercedes-Benz 560SEL, 89K miles - daily driver
2007 Hyundai Sonata Limited, 31K - daily driver