1. History

The W114/W115 models were the first post-war Mercedes-Benz production car to use a newly engineered chassis, not derived from preceding models. The new chassis format of semi-trailing rear arms and ball-joint front end first displayed in the W114/W115 chassis would be used in all new Mercedes passenger car models until the development of the multi-link rear suspensions of the 1980s. The W108/109 S-Class chassis of the 280S/8, 280SE/8 and 300SEL/8 (and W113 230SL, 250SL and 280SL "Pagoda") would be the last of the low-pivot swing axle and king pin/double wishbone front ends. The next S-Class, the W116 chassis, had the same engineering of the W114/115.

The W114/W115 models replaced the W110 Fintail models stemming from 1961, and were themselves replaced by the W123 series after 1976.

The Mercedes-Benz W114/W115 was the mid-sized saloon model for Mercedes, positioned below the S-Class. Mercedes also launched its first 5-cylinder diesel engine OM617 in this chassis. It followed heavily in the direction set by the W108/109 S-class, which was launched in 1965 and heralded the new design idiom. The car was designed by French auto designer Paul Bracq who was chief designer at Mercedes-Benz for models from 1957 to 1967, a period that included models such as the Grosser Mercedes-Benz 600. Bracq was also responsible for BMW designs (1970–74) and Peugeot designs (1974–96).^[1]

Mercedes introduced a coupé variant of the W114 in 1969, featuring a longer boot hood and available with either a 2.5 or 2.8 litre six-cylinder engine. While a classic and understated design these generally cost less than the W113-based 280 SL model that ran through 1971, and its successor, the 3.5 or 4.5 litre V8 Mercedes SL R107/C107 (1971–1989) roadster and coupé.^[2] While a 'hard-top' unlike the fully convertible SL, the pillarless design allowed all the windows to be lowered completely for open air motoring. Only 67,048 coupés were manufactured from 1969 to 1976 (vs. 1.852,008 saloons). Of these 24,669 were 280C and 280CE (top of the range), and 42,379 were the lesser 250C and 250CE (A Mercedes-Benz 220D pickup on the W115 chassis was produced briefly in Argentina in the 1970s.)^[3]

The W114 received a facelift in 1973 - with a lower bonnet-line, lower and broader grill, a single front bumper to replace the double bumpers, lower placement of the headlamps, A-pillar treatment for keeping the side windows clear, removal of the quarter-windows in the front doors, ribbed tail lights to minimize occlusion of the tail lights with road dirt, and larger side mirrors. The interior received inertia reel belts and a new padded steering wheel with a four-hole design.

The Mercedes-Benz W115 is known to be a very durable car. In 2004 Greek taxi driver Gregorios Sachinidis donated his 1976 Mercedes-Benz 240D to the Mercedes-Benz Museum Collection with 4.6 million kilometers on the odometer,^[4] which is recognised as the Mercedes-Benz with the highest recorded mileage known to date.

2. Innovations

Like its larger variant this car also boasted advanced technological innovations. 1969 saw the introduction of the Bosch D-jetronic fully electronic fuel injection system into the 250CE. This was the first ever production Mercedes-Benz to use this system.

Other innovations in the W114/W115 models include a center console (a first in a Mercedes sedan), ribbed taillights in 1974. All coupé models used the 6-cylinder engine (and thus were W114s) and were designated with a "C" in the model name.

3. North America

1973 Mercedes-Benz W115 220D with US-spec headlights and corresponding side markers and reflectors

1975 Mercedes-Benz W114 280, with US-spec bumpers and sealed-beam headlights

In 1968, the W114/W115 was introduced in North America (as the 240D and 300D), but with fewer engine choices than elsewhere. These models from the start had unique headlights, utilizing a sealed-beam lamp instead of the H4 type used in the European models. Bumpers changed frequently and there were at least three different bumpers used over the production run for the North American market. The 1974 model year brought significantly larger bumpers due to new DOT requirements.

North American 220Ds and 240Ds were offered with a 4-speed manual or 4-speed automatic, whereas all 5-cylinder 300D models were equipped with the 4-speed automatic without a manual option.

4. Models

4.1. W114

Pre-facelift Mercedes-Benz W114 250C coupé

1972 Mercedes-Benz W114 250C coupé (with US-Spec bumpers)

Chassis code

Years

Model

Engine

Number built

[

5

]

Displacement
Model	Type
W114.015	1968–1973	230	2.3 L	M180	I6	152,822
W114.615	1973–1976	230.6	2.3 L	M180	I6	63,497
W114.010	1968–1970	250	2.5 L	M114	I6	78,303
W114.011	1970–1973	250	2.8 L	M130	I6	22,624
W114.611	1973–1976	250	2.8 L	M130	I6	11,437
W114.021	1968–1972	250C	2.5 L	M114	I6	8,824
W114.022	1968–1972	250CE	2.5 L	M114	I6	21,787
W114.023	1969–1973[6]	250C	2.8 L	M130	I6	10,527
W114.623	1973–1976	250C	2.8 L	M130	I6	1,241
W114.060	1972–1973	280	2.8 L	M110	I6	19,537
W114.660	1973–1976	280	2.8 L	M110	I6	25,000
W114.062	1972–1973	280E	2.8 L	M110	I6	13,711
W114.662	1973–1976	280/E	2.8 L	M110	I6	9,125
W114.072	1972–1973	280CE	2.8 L	M110	I6	7,576
W114.672	1973–1976	280CE	2.8 L	M110	I6	3,942
W114.073	1972–1973	280C	2.8 L	M110	I6	4,924
W114.673	1973–1976	280C	2.8 L	M110	I6	8,227

4.2. W115

Pre-facelift Mercedes-Benz W115 220D

Pre-facelift Mercedes-Benz W115 220

Chassis code	Years	Model	Engine			Number built[5]
			Displacement	Model	Type
W115.015	1968–1973	200	2.0 L	M115	I4	175,242
W115.615	1973–1976	200	2.0 L	M115	I4	113,543
W115.115	1968–1973	200D	2.0 L	OM615	Diesel I4	187,873
W115.715	1973–1976	200D	2.0 L	OM615	Diesel I4	152,054
W115.010	1968–1973	220	2.2 L	M115	I4	128,398
W115.110	1968–1973	220D	2.2 L	OM615	Diesel I4	345,376
W115.710	1973–1976	220D	2.2 L	OM615	Diesel I4	67,453
W115.017	1973–1976	230.4	2.3 L	M115	I4	87,609
W115.117	1973–1976	240D	2.4 L	OM616	Diesel I4	126,148
W115.114	1974–1976	240D 3.0/300D	3.0 L	OM617	Diesel I5	53,690

4.3. W114 & W115 Long-Wheelbase Models

Chassis code	Years	Model	Engine			Number built.[5]
			Displacement	Model	Type
W114.017	1968–1973	230 Lang (LWB saloon)	2.3 L	M180	I6	1,082
W114.617	1968–1973	230.6 Lang (LWB saloon)	2.3 L	M180	I6	1,131
W115.112	1968–1973	220D Lang (LWB saloon)	2.2 L	OM615	Diesel I4	4,027
W115.119	1973–1976	240D Lang (LWB saloon)	2.4 L	OM616	Diesel I4	3,655