W126 S-Class Sedan

The replacement for the W116 was the W126 S-Class sedan. This car was produced from 1979 to 1991. The W126 was an effort to create a sedan sleeker, lighter and faster than it's predecessor. With the help of lighter alloys and wind tunnel testing, the W126 is capable of attaining 250km/h and also save 10% of fuel. The exterior was quite different from it's predecessor. The W126 was sleeker and seemed to have a lower ride height. The one-piece headlights on the W116 were also used on the W126. However, The exterior chroming was gone. No longer were there chrome bumpers or long chrome strips. Bumpers and body panels were now body coloured. The body panels were visually aligned, meaning they were smooth and even, instead of the traditional creases. There were still bits of chrome to highlight the exterior, such as the grille, the bumper, the windows, etc. The use of chrome is limited to highlighting small bits instead of whole, chrome bumpers. The shape of the S-Class was pioneered and developed from the W216.
The W216 featured a brilliant interior. There was a sweeping strip of wood inserted in the dash. In the centre are two air conditioning vents. Beneath the vents are is the centre console, containing all the controls. Within the centre console are the controls for the air conditioning and the radio/audio system. Also featured is a telephone. On all models, a fully automatic dual-zone climate control is standard. Also standard were courtesy lights. Eight-way power adjustable front seats with memory function are standard on all models. Heated front seats are standard on the 560SEL and are optional on the other models. On flagship 500SEL and 560SEL models, a two-way powered rear bench seat is standard. An optional feature was individual, powered seats in the rear with a centre console in the rear, adorned with wood and equiped with luxury amenities. This allowed for executive 2+2 seating.
We always say safety first. Mercedes-Benz is definately a safety first. The W126 S-Class sedan was the first car in the world to feature airbags. However, due to high costs, airbags were optional. Another new feature was Traction Control. Traction Control allows the car to prevent wheelspin during skidding. With Traction Control, performance on icy and wet roads is improved. Seat belt pretensioners are also fitted for the first time. Seat belt pretensioners tighten the seatbelts before a collision, therefore, bracing the occupants for the upcoming crash. Features such as ABS was optional for all models except the 560SEL. All these pioneered safety equipment would save many people's lives in the years to come.
The W126 sedans used an automatic 4-Speed transmission. Suspension was the self-leveling pneumatic suspension used on the 450SEL 6.9. A new feature was cruise control. Cruise control enables the driver to set a constant speed and the car electronically controls throttle to maintain the speed. 7 engines have been offered in short and long wheelbase versions of the W126. This chart shows the various engines used.


300SDL 3Litre Inline-6 Diesel
350SD 3.5Litre Inline-6 Diesel
350SDL 3.5Litre Inline-6 Diesel
260SE 2.6Litre Inline-6
300SE 3Litre Inline-6
300SEL 3Litre Inline-6
420SE 4.2Litre V8
420SEL 4.2Litre V8
500SE 5Litre V8
500SEL 5Litre V8
560SE 5.6Litre V8
560SEL 5.6Litre V8

This S-Class was in production for 12years from 1979-1991. Throughout it's 12year debut, 892,123 units were sold, making it the most popular S-Class ever. Also, 12 years of production is the longest for any S-Class. The W126 is definately a great milestone in history of automobiles. It's certainly one of the most influential cars in history. The legacy of the S-Class then continues with the W140.