1991 Mercedes-Benz 300D

For the North American market, Mercedes-Benz introduced the W124 chassis in early November 1985 as a 1986 model and sold through the 1995 model year. Customer deliveries began in January of 1985 for the European market.

The W124 used a front suspension comprised of a separate spring and damper with a rubber top mount. In the back was a multi-link axle setup introduced in 1982 with the Mercedes W201. A Citroen-inspired rear self-leveling suspension with struts (instead of shock absorbers and gas-filled suspension spheres) was optional on saloons and coupes, and standard on the Estate bodied cars. This suspension used a fixed ride height, unlike Citroens, and used rear coil springs to maintain the static ride height when parked.

Along with gasoline-powered vehicles, the W124 could be fitted with diesel engines. The 1991 Mercedes-Benz 300D Sedan, with a factory base price of $41,400, was equipped with an overhead cam engine displacing 180.8 cubic-inches and delivering 177 horsepower and 190 lb-ft of torque. It had hydraulic valve lifters, a Multi-Point fuel injection system, and a 9.2:1 compression ratio. A four-speed automatic was standard, along with power recirculating-ball steering, and four-wheel disc brakes.

By Daniel Vaughan | Sep 2020