Mercedes-Benz W123

The Mercedes W123 produced of 1975 to 1986 was a large success for the German manufacturer. Its extreme robustness makes that it is still very present in the French automobile landscape. She however discreetly celebrated her 30 years in 2005.

Presentation

W123 makes its world presentation in France, with Bandol, holiday place for much of German, and large fish pond of purchasers of the news Mercedes.

Beginning with the engine 2.8L in version Carburizing or injection in December 1975, and followed three months afterwards by the other models diesel and gasoline, the new frame offers a varied range, hard 200D near to the performances of a FIAT 500 with sporting the 280E, there is for all the tastes.

The range makes a broad place with the diesel, Mercedes-Benz being the pioneer of this kind of engine on the private cars. Its reputation is known of all: Reliability, longevity, approval of control, couples and… price.

The evolution of the W114/W115 towards W123 became necessary to integrate research of the mark as regards passive safety, but also to stick to the new stylistic identity inaugurated by the W116.

The W123 can seem a simple evolution of year, one changes instrument panel, one passes from vertical fires to horizontal fires and here is the business is made! But however here is a completely different car ready to accommodate the last innovations which are the ABS, and the Airbag.

It presents a concept leads of cell of safety surrounded by deformable parts to absorption of shock (the cap before and cases it), and of a structure of roof reinforced.

The steering column presents it also another innovation of size, in the event of shock it does not advance more in the cockpit to wound the driver. Who even can be to him retained by the front prétensionneurs belts. As many equipment which seems to us basic today but which was revolutionists at the time, and only Volvo with its series 200 seemed also advanced in this field.

The quality of the sheet-iron works and the motorizations made it possible to bring until today a big number of W123. One estimates in France that nearly 60.000 are still in circulation (according to the data of the Technical control 2004). The abundance of the model on the second-hand market makes that one has evil to today see it like a car of collection. But however we are at one period hinge where it becomes it without any doubt. That always starts with the special models like the 280CE or the 300td turbodiesel and gradually the passion will extend to all the range.

W123 launches the fashion of the station-wagon Mercedes makes by Mercedes (contrary to the preceding models utilizing independent carriage-builders.) W123 T-model (T for Touring and nonTurbo) takes again the same characteristics with in more one volume of important loading since the back bench is rabatable 1/3 2/3 on the top-of-the-range models.

It is also the model having best the Handling because of site of its fuel tank with the level of the frame and not, as on the trucks and half-compartments, with the back of the back bench.

The cut preserves the traditional lines of the truck, the Empattement is tiny room of 8,5 cm, the guard with the roof is lowered. The panes without amounts take part in its elegance.

In Europe it is only available with the motorizations gasoline 230 and 280 to carburettor or injection. In the USA it will be marketed with diesel engines 300CD and 300CD turbodiesel. It is not lighter than the truck because of the reinforcements which were necessary to ensure a good rigidity, of this fact the performances and consumption is the same ones as on the version four doors.

The version limousine is again present in the range, a folding bench for three people behind the front seats takes seat in the middle of the car. Of an overall length of 5,355 meters (that is to say 63 cm more than the truck and the station-wagon) it is rather cumbersome downtown and difficult to park but its charm and its weak production intend it for a bright future. A good alternative to the monospaces modern.

External: One always finds chromium, but parts like the rods or the handles from now on are made of chromium and plastic. Before and the back are very close to the Class S of the time. The headlights before rounds behind their optics commun runs point out the US headlights and those back are conceived not to be dirtied. The headlights before squares equip initially the top-of-the-range versions before being seen generalizing on all W123 in September 1982.

Interior: Seuls 2 models of the firm of Stuttgart will have opening of ventilation rounds: W123 and W107; What avoids with the board too early taking a growing old air and makes it more pleasant than the rectangular trap doors present on the other models. Compared to the W114/W115, the instrument panel is a small revolution, as well in the aspect as in the functionality and the clearness of the orders which has each one a symbol. One finds under the aerators a plate which gathers the switches of equipment (de-icing rear window, plate of headlight, sliding roof). The quality of materials is obvious the serious one of construction also even if certain instrument panels and more particularly the blue ones are prone to cracks with time and the sun.

In lower part seat the ordering of left/right separate heating takes then the site for the car radio and the ashtray. Mercedes proposes several colors of interiors, some very seventies, even if one does not reach the level psychedelic of Citroen, there are green interiors which flashent well, and also very traditional interiors, beige instrument panel noir+sièges.

Behind the gear shift lever are then placed the electric orders of panes and imposing it Warning (for the first series). As regards the remainder, each one has its personal opinion: flying too large, single order evil thought of the twinkling windshield wiper/headlight/, hardness of bases. W123 takes again enormously elements of the last W115: external rear view mirrors, flying, cranks of panes.

Motorization: the pontoon had opened the way with its 180D and 190D, the W114/115 had followed the movement with initially the 200D and 220D then the 240D. W123 proposes a range of 4 diesel engines: 200D, 220D, 240D, 300D and of 6 engines gasoline: 200,230,230E, 250,280,280E and finally an engine turbo-diesel: turbo 300D (only sold in the station-wagon on the European market. The truck 300d turbo diesel is only intended for export to the USA and Canada).

This broad choice will contribute to its success. The taxi drivers will be equipped mainly in 240D and 300D, these models will post mileages then often approaching the million kilometers.

Mechanics is articulated around a bridge with oscillating arm, manual boxes 4 and 5 speeds and of an automatic box, and a nose gear tested with more than 300 km/h.

Phases:

Before 1982

Headlights before rounds (square headlights for the models 280E)
Interior without wood (in option and on top-of-the-range model)
specific Control units (electric panes, rotary of lighting, warning)
Cranks of panes like the W115

After 1982

square Headlights for all the range
Back of the seats " creusé" for the knees of the passengers
specific Control units
Cranks of different panes
Wood on the instrument panel (option for the console)

Outstanding options:

To give you an idea of the possibilities offered by Mercedes, the total costs of the whole of the accessible options on one 200 basic into 1982 rise with 87.000 francs for a car which is worth 91.000 francs. One manages to double the price of a vehicle.

The most prestigious options and most expensive are:

the airbag and prétensioneurs of belts before
ABS
air-conditioning
the corrector of plate
the speed regulator
radio operator Becker Mexico City
the electric roof sliding
the rims alloys

Chronology

1976: January 27th: Presentation of the models with Bandol in France

1977: 17 March 27th:

On the Auto show of Geneva, Daimler-Benz presents its series of W123 half-compartments with the 230C types, 280C and 280CE. August: launching from the 240D, 300D and 250 in version of limousine length of 7/8 places with longer footing. August 12th - September 28th: With the Rally-Marathon London-Sydney, the teams Andrew Cowan/Hake Malkin/Mike Broad and Anthony Fowkes/Peter O' Gorman, gained a double victory over Mercedes-Benz 280E. The hardest rally of the world had lasted 6 weeks and half on a way of 30.000 km in Europe, South Asia and Australia

September:

Introduction of the 300CD with 80 ch, reserved with export to America of north and this with an aim cause a drop in the average consumption of the Mercedes range in the United States.

15 - September 22nd: With the Auto show of Frankfurt, presentation of the models T of the W123 series with the 240TD types, 230T, 250T and 280TE. The 200T will be introduced only with the appearance of the M102 engine. Daimler-Benz presented two vehicles with hybrid storage, including one 280E for a gasoline-hydrogen-mixture and City-Bus propulsion with hydrogen.

1978: January: Option rim out of aluminum available. April: With the factory of Bremen construction in series of the models T starts. The power of the 280E M 110 passes from 177 to 185 ch. August: The power of 240D OM 616 passes from 65 to 72 ch, the couple remains unchanged

August 7th - September 24th:

The W123 had a sporting life. The proof: the first 5 places of the Vuelta Rally in Southern America LED after 30.000 km and 38 days are gained by Mercedes, and W123 is on the podium in front of Mäkinen and Todt:

1 Cowan/Malkin 450SLC 2 Sobieslaw/Zembruski 450SLC 3 Fowkes/Kaiser 280E 4 Mäkinen/Todt 450SLC 5 Kleint/Klapproth 280E

1979:

February: Power of the 200D - OM 615 passes from 55 to 60 ch.

March: End of manufacture of the 220D.

July: To Sindelfingen the millionth car leaves the chain of the factories.

September: Power of the 300D - OM 617 passes from 80 to 88 ch. Power of the 250 - M 123 passes from 129 to 140 ch.

13 September 23rd: The 300TD turbodiesel is the first Diesel of series of the world with exhaust fumes turbocompressor.

1980: March: End of manufacture of the 280 half-compartments M 110 with carburettor.

April: Replacement of the 230T by the 230TE.

June-August: Replacement of the carburettor engine M 115 per 200/230 by the new M102 engine for 200 with 109 ch and 230E with 136 ch in the series of the half-compartments, limousine and 230TE. ABS in option is available.

October: Beginning of the manufacture of the 300 Turbodiesel OM 617a with 127 ch only available with the automatic Gear box.

November: Appearance of the 200T with 109 ch (M 102).

1981: July: End of manufacture of limousine 280 with carburettor.

August: Introduction of the turbodiesel OM 617a for limousine and half-compartments, both are reserved for export to North America. Replacement of the 300CD by the 300CD with turbo (only for export).

September 1st: Gear box 5 reports/ratios available in option for all the gasoline cars.

1982: February: Gear box 5 reports/ratios available in option for 200D, 240D, 240 TD, 300D and 300TD

March: Four years after launching in Bremen 100.000 station-wagon are manufactured.

April: After only six years the millionth Diesel truck leaves the chain of the factories.

August: End of the manufacture of the 250T.

September 1st: The limousines, half-compartments and station-wagon are re-examined with improved equipment of series (see low). Power-assisted steering in series for all the models. Airbag in option available.

September 19th: Both millionth W123 leaves the chain in Sindelfingen.

1984: November 26th: In the Spanish city of Seville Daimler-Benz presents to the international press the any new generation of Mercedes. Series 124 with the models 200D 300E will replace the limousines of the type 123, which with 2,4 million cars established a new record of production. The launching of series 124 begins in December 1984 in Germany with the motorizations 200D, 250D and 300E. 1985:

August: End of the series production of half-compartments 123. In almost eight years there was a production of 99.884 units, 15.509 with a diesel engine, the rarest model, the 280C, being produced with only 3.704 units.

after W123:

That was to arrive, the German firm found one beautiful day of 1984 that the W123 was done growing old and thus presented the W124. One notes a massive removal of chromiums, the appearance of hub caps and shields out of plastic, a grill inclined for better a Cx, it is a genetic engineering from small the 190 (w201) this one gave to the Mercedes range its new stylistic identity for a long time. The W123 half-compartments will perdureront one year more than the truck, history to await the changing, it is thus possible to find on the market of the EC year 86.

The half-compartment w124 was launched to the beginning of the year 1987.

W123 in figures

podium of the sales per year

figures of production per year

Remarks on the figures of production:

The year 1975 is one year with share since in fact models of preproduction are assembled.

The first three years the 240D which is the best seller w123 does not occupy the first place, it is the 200D which is sold best.

In general in fact the models diesel are sold best but the models gasoline take again hair of the animal during the recasting engine of the year 1981 and the appearance of the M102 engine, the 230E is even the first sale in 1983 and 1984!

The 300D Turbodiesel truck only marketed in the United States was sold with 75.261 specimens. It is a remarkable quantity being given the limited market in which this model was available.

As comparison figures of production of the competitors:

Mercedes w123 of 1975 to 1986: 2.696.915
Citroen CX of 1974 to 1990: 1.042.460
Renault 20 & 30: 634.740

See too

Internal bonds

External bonds

Community Site on the w123

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