For your Reference :

Here is the list of W140 sold in H.K.
Model..............................Bhp/rpm..........0-100km/h...........top speed
S280 SWB (YES, 2.8L).....193/5500..........10.5.......................215
S320 SWB/LWB...............231/5800........8.9/9.1.....................230
S420 SWB/LWB..............286/5700............7.9........................245
S500 SWB/LWB..............326/5700............6.7........................250
S600 SWB/LWB..............408/5200............6.1........................250

And the price of W140 was astronomical expensive when compared to the other brands, but still it could outsell any competitor like Lexus, Infiniti, BMW and Acura very easily.

Yes, W140 is a hi-tech, overloaded dinosaur......but everyone who sits in side will be impressed with what it offers. At least, all my friends say the same compliment on my W140----" feel so proud and prestigious " Those elements can't be replaced by others easily I suppose....Lexus can't...BMW can't.....even the W220 can't...........
"To be one of the crowd or seen in the crowd" Its still your choice...:)

No diesel 140 in Hong King?!...:-(

I agree with your reply about the 140 being a standout....but MB should have really gotten their act together on reliability before they released the car to market......WAY TO MANY PROBLEMS!!!...especially the early years...some like the AC evap issue still plague the later cars...I will admit that I have thought many times about the Lexus as I drove away from my dealer in the service loaner.....one thing I have figured out...the 140 doesn't look nearly as attractive with the hood up in the dealer's service drive...

Warren
1992 300SD 126K
Columbus Ohio

No, Diesel W140 is not available since day one as diesel is not popular and the Government doesn't allow any registration of diesel private car at all.
Yes, W140 got hips of problems in its early days...........we all know it by heart. But guess what, there are still many many W140 members/ owners here and may not be willing to trade their cars in ..........there must be some elements ruling out the others and making us fall in love and stay with it for long.
As long as those problems can be solved out, we should be happy................as the others may have problems too........:)

My has SOME of the common problems(Close Assist Pump, Gauge Cluster, Shimmy Steering)... however, some are fixed under warranty(Shimmy Steering), rest I get discount for repairs.... and my Evap Core is still working(figers crossed), and seriously, I still rather have a W140 S500 than W220 S500... :)

Andy Kuo

Well,

In regard to problems myself or the original owner have had ALL the problems....steering shimmy(MB bought the original owner a new set of tires),Instrument cluster,window regulator,rear vanity mirror,AV evap core TWICE!!,Climate control push button unit,Alternator,Complete New engine,blower resistor and vacuum control unit, and closing assist pump...

most of this(thank god) was done under warranty...bust just the work that I have had done since I have owned it approaches the amount I paid for the car......

I hope the 220 doesn't have these type of teething problems as I think the clientele that typically spends that amount of money on their auto does not like to be inconvenienced by all the trips to the dealer...I mean don't get me wrong I love my car as long as everything is working...and the funny thing is the tech at the dealer says that everything that has happenend to my car he has fixed on many others in the past...so my situation is not unique

Warren
1992 300SD 126K
Columbus Ohio

S-class models
 

Mr. MidwestMB, I recognize mea culpa in forgetting about the S55 on my list, and yes, the new W220 S600 cannot be bought off-the-shelf as Short Wheel Base (it was the W140).

According to some in-house sales directives I have access to, the W140 was available as a SWB for the customer who wanted the performance, exclusivity and power of the V12 without the destroyer-proportions of the LWB W140.

We have to remember that the proportions of W220 are much, much, smaller than the W140. So the SWB W220 is definitely not worth it to have it as a 600. On the other hand, even a SWB W140 was a already limousine sized.

Finally, about not being able to buy an W220 S600 SWB in any market: don't be too sure about it. I know for fact that if you are willing to fork a substancial premium, Mercedes-Benz will build one for one. Unlike the dealers in the U.S. which are very limited about special orders, an M-B dealer here would accept any special request (as long as you are willing to pay for it).

A. Rosich
S320, 1998
E320T, 1995

I don't doubt MB would build darn near anything if a client wanted to pay for it.

A. Rosich got the point.... SWB W140 is already close to LWB W220 in size while LWB W140 simply is the MONSTER(biggest S-Class build, excluding Pullman).

Andy Kuo

I think the 220 has at least the same amount of interior space as the 140(if I am not mistaken)......in fact the rear legroom is larger than in the 220....I have ridden in the back of a 220 and the legroom was huge


Warren
1992 300SD 126K
Columbus Ohio

Warren:
I was ready to post something to this effect yesterday as well. I hope they were comparing apples and apples, though, long chassis to long chassis. I went to the 220 model intro (not technical training, that came later) it was mostly for sales guys. I believe you are right that the interior space technically was pretty close to the W140.
According to one resource here at home, The 220 is 2.1 inches shorter (exterior) and 1.1 inches lower roofline than the 140, but that the 220 has 2 inches more rear legroom. The 220 is said to weigh 765 lb less than the 140.
Another source, Motor Trend Online, reported the 220 to be "1.4 inches narrower and 1.6 inches lower" than the 140, and that the drag coefficiency dropped from 0.31 to 0.27, and that it was 660 lb lighter. Also to quote "Despite it's more compact footprint, the car's generously proportioned interior dimensions remain virtually unchanged.".
Gilly

The W220 simply rules in terms of driving. Yes, the 140 is more of a "GTF out of my way" TANK, but I can't say the improvements in maneuverability, ride quality, and fuel economy of the W220 aren't worth the slight loss of intimidation factor and overbuild.

The 140 "seems" a little bigger inside, but much of the incremental room is wasted - i.e., wider center console - who cares - seat room same.

Have a '00 ML320, '01 S430, and '01 SLK320. For same cover (with very high liability limits) on each, the S430 is the least expensive of these vehicles to insure. My co-worker who has a 99 S500 was quoted FOUR TIMES the premium I'm paying on my '01 S430 for similar cover.

Having driven a LOT of cars, the new S is my fave by far in terms of any parameter you can name, except the W220 S500 which is marginally smoother and a little faster. I wouldn't trade my '01 S430 for any 140. And I used to lay awake at night wanting a 140.

Also, the jury's still out on cost-to-maintain and anyway MB pays ALL the maintenance during the warranty for post '99 cars (here in the US anyway).

FWIW, I spent more money repairing and maintaining my 1992 Acura Legend (which was under warranty for 3/4 of the time I had it) than on ALL FIVE MB's I'VE OWNED and LEASED COMBINED.

Bottom line - cost of ownership matters and MB realized it. W220 rules on value and driving quality. We will see if it holds up like an MB should.

Already put 12000 miles on S500 without any single problems , which I had experienced in my 97 e420 during its earlier years such as light bulbs, check engine, etc.

Well I truly hope like someone mentioned before that MB now cares about total cost of ownership with the 220...because I don't think they did with the 140......way too many problems!!!
Car is great when everything works ....but can be a maintenance nightmare......interestingly enough I have noticed the drop in resale values as the older cares are not eligible for extended warranties any more...the value seems to take a much larger dip after about the 6-7 year point which is about as old as anyone will warranty a car these days.........seems the general public must be a little leary about non warrantable 140's and therefore the value( in their minds) has to be lowered to form a budget for repairs


Warren
1992 300SD 126K
Columbus Ohio

I just saw a promotional video from 1992 that said design work began on the w140 series in 1982. I guess those 10 years yielded what can truley be called the best car in the world.

Where you find the promotion video?? Damn, I have been looking for one for a while... :(

Andy Kuo