Which W140 Years to Look For - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

dproudfo · #1 08-31-2006, 06:35 PM

Well I'm hunting around for a 140 S320 and have been reading everything I've been able to find on the shop. I've come across a number of different opinions in regards to what the better years are for the 140 chassis sedans. The fully aggreable opinion is to avoid the 92 as it was the first year with a number of not-yet addressed issues. Then there's the topic of the price drop of the S-class in 95 and how that reflected on the quality of the materials in the car. And finally the plain and simple answer I get is to look for one that is as young as possible, preferably 97-99 because the kinks of the 140 were mostly worked out by then (I say MOSTLY with caution. . haha) Anway, just though I'd create a post to see what people's opinions are on the specific years for these cars and which years they'd recommend hunting around for. Thanks!!

Gilly · #2 08-31-2006, 08:16 PM

Buy the newest one you can afford.
Gilly

softconsult · #3 08-31-2006, 09:08 PM

I just bought a '97S320, Black Pearl Mettalic, Long Wheelbase, 107K, Starmarked from 40K to 100K. Pretty much complete dealer records.

I was not really considering one, until I really started reading about them. I concluded that I would accept the risk of the evaporator, the "Lifetime Sealed Transmission" , and the head gasket issue. I had briefly drive a '95 S500. I don't remember being overwhelmed by that particular car and I didn't like it's massive appearance.

So I was cruising around on AutoTrader and saving various cars about 4 S320's and a bunch of W124's (I've had 3). So up pops this S320 located 20 miles away from me. I had a month long CarFax account and it checked out. Local NE Tennessee car for the last 68,000 miles. Owned in a wealthy little old money town. Car spent 3 years on lease in NJ, then sold under starmark to the guy in TN. I have read that the W-140 is very good in corrosion resistance. Only rust I have found in on the rear muffler.

Went for a test drive. A stack of dealer service records were available for review. It was about a 9 out of 10. To many things to list, but included head gasket, blower regulator, Mass Air Sensor, new windshield.

As far as any quality degradation goes, I sure can't tell. What a ride. Solid, heavy, quiet, and really fast for a 4,500 machine. Totally fast enough for me.
0-60 in under 9 seconds. Great seats, great features, great sound system.
Dual pane side glass really isolates noise, self-dimming mirrors.

So what is the reality of trying to find a good one. CarFax is a must have weed-out tool. Then I think it might be fate. I mean you can find them, but how far can you travel go to test drive them. Seems to me that this is a complex car, but many aspects are not that different from the W124.

The M104 engine is up to 228 HP. It is sitting there in the cleanest engine department design going. There is so much room. Nice plastic horizontal covers adjacent to the insides of the fenders. The hood liner is fastened on rather than glued on. Dual wipers . Re-designed belt tensioner, far more simple. Easier to work on if you are a DIY'er.

The transmission is a snap to service if you have the special $40 dipstick tool.
Replaced front rotors and pads. Nothing special. Easy.

I still have my '92 Sportline with 245K , 90% interstate, miles. Meticulously maintained. It's such an interesting back to back comparison.

The 300E is very connected to the road. A great car in pretty much every respect. Makes me drive fast in the curves and feels glued to the highway.
The S320 changes my personality. The suspension kind of moves around. Steering is more boosted. Less feel. However, after you become accustomed to the car, it can really be pushed through the curves. Brakes are wonderful, but not brake pedal is not as immediate. More pedal travel. Feeling in the S is less rushed, serene, quiet. S is for highway cruising in style. S really settles in at 80 - 110 mph. You can tell that's where it wants to be. Fortunately it's also really good at 75 - 80, which is normal.

The climate control system makes the 300E look sick. It is really nice, dual zone system. You can over-ride the automatic fan speed with a tap of a button.

The headlights were improved at some point in the model run. My model has projector headlights. They aren't as good as the Euros on my Sportline, but they are really pretty good.

In conclusion, the M104 is a very bulletproof engine. The 722.6 will be fine as long as the fluid and filter is changed on a 30,000 mile or so interval. I have not been able to determine the exact point at which MB switched back to non-disintegrating wire harnesses, but logic says 99, 98, 97 would be the most logical choice.

Now that I have one, I would recommend holding out for a Long Wheel Base model. I didn't know it at the time, but now think it looks better than the short wheel base.

If you can find a good one, you will smile every time you drive it.

Steve

dproudfo · #4 09-01-2006, 01:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by is4b2rd

I agree that the W140 interior is much more inline with what we expect from Mercedes. However, starting as early as 1995, MB was cheapening the interior bits of the W140. Look at the interior materials of the pre-95 W140's and you will see what I mean. Even the leather was better and smelled more in the earlier W140's. Remember how po'd 94 S-Class owners were when MB dropped the price dramatically, I think it was with the 95 models. There was a reason they were able to drop it so much, cheaper materials.

How true is this? Could someone address the softer "Nappa" leather option in the 140? How was it applied to the 140s post 1994 (was there an alternative to it?)

Thanks for the replies!!

HarryM · #5 09-01-2006, 01:54 AM

There was a very long thread about the various model years of the W140, (guessing) about a year and a half ago. Everything you need to know is there, written by very knowledgeable individuals.

dproudfo · #6 09-01-2006, 02:58 AM

Found it. Sorry that some of these questions come up over and over again. The title of the actual post is W140 vs W220, and in it are some comparisons of the 140s different years and their qualities. Sometimes the answers to certain questions are hidden deep within posts that appear to have no relavence based solely on their topic titles. I'll keep reading. Thanks again!