The 124 model series

The passenger compartment of the 124 series was characterised by a high resistance to side impact and roll-overs and featured sophisticated crumple zones in the front-end assembly and in the rear. The areas of potential contact were designed to give in an impact to protect pedestrians and cyclists.

The "Mercedes-Benz driving dynamics concept" made its debut at the IAA in Frankfurt in September 1985. It comprised three tiered electronic-automatic driving dynamics systems:

• Automatic Locking Differential (ASD)
• Acceleration Skid Control (ASR)
• 4MATIC automatically engaging four-wheel drive

An emission control system with three-way catalytic converter became optionally available for all petrol-powered models except the carburettor 200 model starting in September 1985. Alternatively, the so-called "retrofit or RÜF version" was available, which involved the vehicle being delivered without catalytic converter and lambda sensor, but with the multifunctional mixture-preparation and ignition system.

Starting in September 1986, the carburettor model was also available with emission control system, and the closed-loop catalytic converter became part of the standard equipment of all Mercedes-Benz passenger car models with petrol engine.

The characteristic shape of the tapered rear end with highly rounded lateral upper edges was particularly favourable in terms of aerodynamics and was based on wind tunnel testing.

Two other typical design features - the boot lid, which reached far down in the shape of a trapezoid and the slanted inner edges of the practically square tail lamps - enabled a particularly low loading sill, which facilitated loading the voluminous boot.

A completely redesigned mid-size model range was presented at the IAA Frankfurt Motor Show in September 1989. The focus was on the stylistic revision of the vehicle body and the redesign of the interior. The most striking identifying features of the updated models were the rub strips at the sides with integrated side sill panels, which had been introduced in similar form two and a half years earlier in the coupé models.

The "Sportline" package already familiar from the compact class was now available as an optional extra for all models of the 124 series with the exception of the 4MATIC variants. External features were the sports suspension as well as the considerably lowered vehicle body. In addition, there were springs and shock absorbers with a firmer set-up, modified interior appointments with leather steering wheel and shift knob, as well as bucket seats at the front and rear.

The 500E with V8 engine presented in 1990 held a special position in the product range. Not only was it developed in cooperation with Porsche, it was also built in part at Porsche in Zuffenhausen. Characteristic features were its lower aprons and wider front wings.

With the new nomenclature, the model designations followed a modified system. It featured a letter, which documented to which class the vehicle belonged, followed by a three-digit number, which continued to indicated the displacement.

The "E" for the German "Einspritzmotor" or injection engine could be omitted, because carburettor engines were now a thing of the past, and the company also did away with encoding the already evident body style as "C" or "T".

The previous "D" for the diesel-powered models had been replaced by a trailing "Diesel" or "Turbodiesel".

The four-valve technology was used in the diesel models with naturally aspirated five- and six-cylinder engines as a world first. The new technology not only ensured higher torque and output, it also lowered the fuel consumption by up to 8%. At the same time, particulate matter emissions were reduced by about 30%.

To improve the environmental friendliness even further, all diesel models of the 124 series were equipped with exhaust-gas recirculation and an oxidation catalyst as standard starting in June 1993.

The most conspicuous feature was the radiator grille redesigned to follow the example of the S-Class. This so-called "integrated radiator" stylishly integrated the now much slimmer chrome surround into the bonnet; while the Mercedes star sat on the bonnet like on the S-Class saloons.

The modifications to the lamp units were impossible to miss: the front indicators had been fitted with colourless lenses, and the tail lamps had bichromatic covers, which in the area of the indicators and reversing light were tinted a uniform off-white. The yellow indicator light at the front and rear was generated by means of coloured bulbs.

The boot lid had also been revised: the prominent edges on the top had been rounded and the surface between the tail lamps was now parallel to the rear end. In addition, a chrome-plated handle at the upper edge of the registration plate recess had replaced the continuous plastic handle strip.

An estate variant of the 124 series made its debut at the IAA Frankfurt Motor Show eight months after the market launch of the saloons.

For the first time, the rolling chassis with partial body were based on precisely these estate models. As had been customary in the mid-size series from Mercedes-Benz for decades, body manufacturers in Germany and abroad fitted the partial bodies out as ambulances, estates or other special-purpose versions.

In addition to the variant with standard wheelbase, which was available as the 250 D and 230 E models, there again was a stretched version, which was available as a 250 D, 230 E and 260 E.

In 1987, the model range of the 124 series was first expanded by two coupé models, which completed the line-up as the third body style variant.

In 1989, a saloon with extended wheelbase was presented in Frankfurt as the fourth body style variant. This meant that a long-wheelbase version was once again available after a four-year hiatus.

In September 1991, Mercedes-Benz presented the 300 CE-24 Cabriolet as another body style variant of the 124 series. After a break of exactly 20 years, a four-seat cabriolet was thus once again available in the mid-size segment.