Vehicle Description
Mercedes' flagship luxury sedan offered a new feature in 1978, a
five-cylinder turbodiesel engine; it was the world's first
passenger car to do so. This example was made in Mercedes'
Sindelfingen, West Germany factory in May 1979.
Dressed in Milan Brown Metallic (code 404U), this car's paint and
trim are in overall very good order. The bodywork is straight and
solid, the engine bay is very tidy while the cargo area also looks
very good. The car's chrome and rubber-topped bumpers fit tightly
to the body. A factory sunroof has also been fitted. The W116
received the ridged lamp covers which kept dirt accumulation at
bay.
This big Benz rolls on Goodyear Viva radials, size 195/70R14 at all
four corners. Each one is mounted on a factory 15-hole light alloy
rim (code 640). The tires and wheels are all in average shape.
Under the hood is the aforementioned turbodiesel engine. The 3.0L
SOHC unit has a Bosch injection pump with a Garrett turbine along
with the odd number of cylinders (code OM617.950). Backing up this
motor is a four-speed automatic transmission (code W4B 025/722.1)
and a 3.07:1 rear end. Driver convenience features include
automatic climate control (code 588); cruise control (code 440);
power recirculating ball steering; power disc brakes; power windows
(code 588); power antenna (code 531); rear defroster (code 592);
car is equipped with A/C wich blows but not cold. Sunroof (code
410). Radio is inop. This engine was part of an effort to keep the
company from violating the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAF�)
standards that were enacted in the U.S. in 1975.
Inside, the car is finished in Bamboo Leather (code 204). The front
buckets and rear bench seat are in satisfactory order, as is the
matching carpet. The headliner above looks good. A large,
four-spoke steering wheel dominates the driver's side of the dash
while the instrument panel and inner door panels are in overall
good order. The center console and console-mounted shifter are
decent condition. The car's clock still works. A Blaupunkt AM/FM
stereo with cassette deck rounds out the interior.
The W116 S-Class incorporated a broad variety of Mercedes-Benz
safety innovations:
Four-wheel, multi-channel anti-lock brakes were first featured as
an option on the 1978 W116 S-Class. This system prevents the wheels
from locking while braking. The system improves steering control
during hard braking situations, and to shorten brake distances
Strengthened body structure. The W116 featured a more stable
security passenger cell with a stiffened roof frame structure. High
strength roof and door pillars, along with other reinforced zones,
provided enhanced vehicle occupant protection
Deformation zones (crumple zones) in the front and rear
A padded dashboard, deformable switches and controls, and a
four-spoke steering wheel with impact absorber and broad impact
cushion aimed to reduce occupant injury during collisions
The fuel tank was no longer fitted at the rear end, but was now
placed above the rear axle for added protection.
Wraparound turn signals made it easier to communicate with nearby
drivers
Competition to this Benz in 1979 included Cadillac's Sedan de Ville
diesel and Seville diesel and Oldsmobile's 98 Regency diesel.
If you're looking for a solid Mercedes sedan that is decently
broken in, this is a prime candidate. Swing on by MotoeXotica
Classic Cars today and take a look at it for yourself!
VIN: 11612012010347
EIN: 617950 12 010631
TIN: 02-010805
This car is currently located at our facility in St. Louis,
Missouri. Current mileage on the odometer shows 211,762 miles. It
is sold as is, where is, on a clean and clear, mileage exempt
title.
Note: Please see full terms and conditions listed below that
pertain to the purchase of any said vehicle, thank you.
