Mercedes-Benz E 220 A124
Year of Manufacture: 1995
Power: 150 hp
Displacement: 2,199 cm3
Number of Cylinders/Valves: 4/4
Weight: 1,640 kg
Condition: perfect
Catalog Number: 41
Introduction
In November 1984, Mercedes-Benz introduced the eagerly awaited new mid-size sedan. The new W124 series was launched with models 200 D, 250 D, 300 D, 200, 230 E, 260 E, and 300 E. Additionally, the 200 E model was built for export to Italy.
Development
The successor to the W123 series was often referred to as the “Mercedes mid-size class.” This reflected the era of strategic model initiatives within the Mercedes-Benz product lineup, to which the 190 model (W201) was added again in 1982. As a predecessor to the C-Class, this model was placed below the E-Class in the market segment Mercedes-Benz designated as the compact class.
The W124 adopted elements from this young, sporty, compact car, but set standards for design and construction. Parallels to the compact class were evident, for example, in the use of high-strength steel sheets and other materials that reduced weight.
Technical Specifications
The design of the “four” was created by the trio of stylists — Bruno Sacco, Josef Gallitzendörfer, and Peter Pfeiffer. They achieved a true masterpiece that has not aged even after nearly thirty years. Especially characteristic was the rounded rear corners — the trunk lid was trapezoidal and extended down to the lower edge of the headlights, which still featured the traditional “teeth” design in this generation. Newly introduced was a long single-arm windshield wiper, capable of cleaning 86 percent of the windshield surface! The body shapes were of course designed to achieve the lowest possible drag coefficient and thus reduce fuel consumption.
In September 1989, the redesigned W124 series premiered at the Frankfurt IAA. It changed both externally and internally, but the stylistic adjustments were subtle, as befits the Mercedes-Benz brand. The most noticeable were the large plastic strips on the sides, which had already been added to the coupe two and a half years earlier. In our latitudes, these cars are nicknamed “plasťák” (plastic one) thanks to these strips, while the older version is called “lišťák” (strip one). Above them was a new narrow chrome strip, the same metal appeared inside on door handles and also on the wheel covers, where it bore the company emblem. The exterior mirrors grew larger and were also painted in the body color.
On all 124 series models except the 4Matic all-wheel-drive versions, a Sportline package was newly offered. It included sporty suspension with stiffer springs and dampers, lowering the ride height. It was equipped with 205/60 R 15 tires on 7 J x 15 alloy or steel wheels. The steering wheel and gear lever were covered with leather upholstery, and different seats with sportier shaping and better lateral support were standard. The modernized W124 did not only have stylistic changes but also a novelty under the hood. It was a 3.0-liter four-valve six-cylinder petrol engine. In the models 300 E-24 (sedan), 300 CE-24 (coupe), and 300 TE-24 (wagon), it produced 162 kW (220 hp). It came from the SL roadster of the R129 series, where it had 11 hp more, but a different catalytic converter was used in the W124, which reduced the power.
At Frankfurt in 1989, a fourth body style also appeared — a long-wheelbase limousine, which had been missing from this series for four years. Mercedes closely collaborated on the development with the coachbuilder Binz. The wheelbase was extended by a full 80 cm to 3.60 meters, and the overall length grew accordingly. The “Dachshund” (jezevčík) based on the W124 had six doors for the first time and was produced with a 2.5-liter turbo diesel and a 2.6-liter petrol engine.
June 1993 marked a crucial turning point in the W124 series history. The second visual facelift arrived. The grille underwent a subtle redesign to match the current S-Class — especially the chrome strips were narrowed. The facelifted models can be immediately distinguished by the front and rear indicator lenses — their covering plastic was no longer orange but white, and tinted at the rear. Changes also took place on the trunk lid, which was aerodynamically optimized and received a smaller chrome handle instead of a wide plastic strip. The protective strips on the bumpers were newly painted in the same color as the other plastic panels — the rear ones were extended all the way to the wheel arches.
The design of the standard steel wheels also changed, receiving six holes. A more significant novelty was the change of the designation. It was adjusted to correspond with the new C-Class W202, produced since spring 1993. Thus, the W124 became the E-Class. This designation again complemented the three-digit engine displacement number, but it was now placed after the letters instead of before. Mercedes-Benz still uses this system today. The company also stopped marking individual body styles with letters (C for coupe, T for wagon).
