Mercedes-Benz S320 (1994) Review and Test Drive - The "Diana" Car - W140 | MGUY Australia
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- Опубликовано: 19 июн 2024
- In this episode, I review a 1994 Mercedes S320, series W140, famously known as the "Diana" car after the crash in Paris in August 1997.
The W140 was the last of the "cost no object" S class models before the marketers and the accountants took over from the engineers.
This example will be for sale at Unique Motor Garage link here: m-g.uy/umg
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I had one S420 W140 When I lived in LA. for 6 years. Now I already back to Thailand and I bought W140 S500 now
I've finally got mine S320L almost a year already, what a dream ride will definitely be my collection and will never sell. I got it at 289k kilometers, but the built quality is so amazing after all these years and in great condition. Love the w140 the best absolute over engineered Merc of it's time.
Enjoy!
Benz is the father of the automotive industry....greetings from Jamaica 🇯🇲
These cars were the definition - they were /the/ luxury car, and the car that made Mercedes, Mercedes!
its incredible the built quality
I have 97 S600! :D W140 FTW!
I have the same car/year/paint/interior. The only feature broken on mine is the rear headrests of all things...they won't stay up. Love this thing! 141k miles
What a great video. This is my favourite modern S class from my favourite period of mercedes Benz the 1990s. When they were truly over engineered, as you say. This and the r129 SL.. thank you for a great informative video.👌🏾
I love this car. One of my dreams is to own an S-class, I just haven't decided between the W116, W126 and W140 generations. They're all special to me in one way or another. I hope to get the opportunity to own one some day.
Am between the w126 and 140
@@jabarmalid5393I own a w126 and I love it…i would like to own a w140..I will buy soon❤️
I had one of these when I lived in Melbourne, bought a 300SE 1993 from Mt Eliza quite cheaply from memory, this one in the video looks much nicer, going back 10 years +
This car company is the best car company ever I had got. I really love this car company.
Lmao
Wonderful review, you are so right. The condition of the car. A Bruno Sacco classic along with the r129 sl
The rear view mirror works! Very rare to see them working
One thing to note watching this as someone that owns a 92 S320/300SE is the cost cutting that had been implemented with the facelift.
It brought many improvements with the drive train but some cost cutting was definitely implemented such as the arm rests on mine flip up to reveal velvet lined storage pockets and the most notable is the roller lid under the centre arm rest. On the pre facelift models they are hand made from wood with veneer matching the rest of the interior whereas on these post facelift models they are plastic matching the rest of the console.
Would be interesting to find out what else was changed actually! One big perk of the post facelift was the modernisation of that fantastic M104. Mine being an early model has a lot of leftover tech from the M103 whereas this model has the fully ECU controlled fuel injection system and panel air filter etc.
Thanks for the info!
There were a fair few things that were cost cut:
Vinyl and leather quality
Retractable boot handle changed from chromed metal to plastic
Reverse guide poles changed to optional
Head unit changed from german Becker to Australian supplied Eurovox
Front door armrests lost the metal-framed velvet lined storage compartments
Centre console retractable cover was wood veneer, now plastic
Tool kit foam insert was velvet-lined, changed to plain foam
Simplified AC controls shared with other models
Electric interior rear view mirror with deleted in later models, changed to regular
Fold-out 1m long tyre wrench changed to regular smaller version
@@harley3254 thanks for the extra info mate! Would be interesting to see where it was hidden as well because as far as I'm aware the facelift introduced a fairly hefty weight saving. Of course that's always beneficial to fuel economy and handling but I always wondered if they thinned out the sheet metal or something.
The performance difference between the engines isn't really noticeable at Australian speeds or for what they're intended, although the feel and sound are different. The 320 was available with an optional 5 speed which makes it more flexible. The straight 6 sound is similar to the V12 except the pitch is lower and louder overall. Fuel consumption across all the models is almost identical other than the V12 (it really needs the huge tank if you're going to drive it around town).
. .Всем владельцам MERCEDES здравия и благополучия ! Были W201, W140, четыре года на W124, 1985г.(2.0, 4 - ст.ручка, pierburg, самоблок).
Я заглянул в Вечность .. .
Amazing condition absolutely sublime
Very beautiful car !! I like it ...
I got a BMW 7 series which I’m in the process of restoring. I got to get you to do a review once I’m done haha
I love my car, it's a W140 500SEL and for me it's the best car of the world and I don't need other car. greetings from Ecuador.
Has your 500SEL been reliable? I hear if you spend on regular maintenance then these cars are magnificent.
شكرا لك صديقي انا من عشاق امرسيدس
I owned exactly the same but in blue color with just 120k on clock. The most painful thing in these cars is faulty ac evaporator. This applies to all w140s and w124s... the combination of copper and aluminium in pair would corrode and give a refrigerant leak. Thus, pay attention to this when selecting the car as rthe replacement is around 27 hours at dealership. Other issues are fixable on backyard on these.
I own the '98 ( '99 US) S320 - They actually addressed the a/c de-humidifier leak issue in 1996 along with the biodegradable wiring harness. 1997 + were best w. the 5 speed tranny etc.
Is this on the 96 c320 as well? How long until the evap fails??? I'm thinking of buying one, but scared now
@@stirredbutnotshaken7698 I think all of them were affected. But they can still work ok (it is like a timing bomb but you do not know the exact timing of it).
Thanks great reveiw ! Im always looking fór á swb do the 320 is the only option . Dó you get other engines with swb ?
Unfortunately the cost-cutting hit the later 140 models as well. the power mirror thing was changed to how it was in your SL but maybe not only for costs but also because if someone who wasn't aware how to adjust the mirror broke it. the later cars after 93/94 are often affected with rust so the earlier models are better.
little correction: The transmission has no Sport-position. The S means standard and this switch was literally in every mercedes with automatic since 1985.
also the self-leveling system on the rear was a quite commen option since the model 116 from the 1970's. it's no ABC predecessor. The ADS suspension which was available at least for the V8 might be called like that even it only adjusted the damping stiffnes (automatic and per manual switch). the interesting thing is the R129 SL from the same era had a more advanced version of ADS suspension with adjustable height per switch for front and rear. it was hydraulic like ABC but still without the body roll protection.
The early cars had the biodegradable wiring harness, also something to consider
Great video! I only noticed ONE mistake! The central vent control dials are NOT electronic... they do in fact operate using cables!
Thanks for the correction! Cheers!
The w140 in the middle east the S500 and S6OO where nicknamed the "ghost" in arabic
Would love to have a w140. Especially the 600. But I'm scared i wouldn't afford the maintenance costs. Lol. Happy with my w124 though
I have a 1994 S320. I have had other models, but nothing to beat the comfort in this car. Of recent I seemed to have lost the lights at the bottom of the cluster when one turns the key to start. These lights tell you water, oil, high/low beam etc. Can anyone tell me why this is.
Great in depth review of a lower specified legend
Immediate comments
- has a full size alloy rim under boot carpet
- at 6:04 the black dial on the plastic cover rail below the horizontal seat cushion with numbers on it is a lumbar support tension dial
Unique car link didn't come up on my iPad?
Thanks yes I saw the lumbar dial after the video was up! The link is just to the dealer as the listing wasn’t live yet.
@@MGUYTV Thinking you were testing us to see if we were watching closely😉
Looks like unique haven’t listed it yet, but they do have a nice CL600 on there 👍
Yes it will be up soon I’m sure!
😢 love W140❤
I had a dream about this car...
It was about the diesel version in America! IRL they didn't ship the diesels in LWB but in my dream they did! I swapped an OM606 with fixed head gasket and modified emissions in it and made the best worst car ever. A " 360SDL " as I called it. It was beautiful...
Then I woke up. :(
These are the best Benzes ever made
You never mentioned Diana or even Jason Statham in the first Transporter film
On (1) yes acknowledged, on (2) was unaware but will look up now, thanks!
I drive a '97 S class and Dr. Richard Shepard, who did the autopsy, says that Princess Diana would not died had she worn her seatbelt. I refer to the owner's manual: it says sometime like "the most important safety device in any car is the seat belt system." I rarely mention the story but here is Dr. Shepard, who says, if you crash a MB at 60 mph with your seatbelt on, you should walk away: ruclips.net/video/JIrHfcIu0p4/видео.html
Shepard's seat belt comment come at about 11:00 min into the video.
If i remember correctly the "Diana" car was a previous totaled and then poorly repaired S280.
no mention of the double glazed windows
Interesting....they called this color Black Pearl in the United States
Einer meiner lieblingauto genau hat diana auch.
I miss my cupholders - cupholders is my bes companion on my trip....I went with this car from Antwerp to Genova - Monaco - Nice - back to Antwerp...no cupholders - had to stop by a gas station finish my coffee and then continue...i like to smoke and drink coffee while i drive...
thanks for that...
If you've not caught this clip it's probably the best car chase with a W140 and shows how solid the car is - ruclips.net/video/H5YwQt07JK8/видео.html
1996 parking sensors
Mercedes in the 1990's were horrible. They were always at the bottom of the JD Power customer satisfaction surveys. The Japanese luxury makes were putting real pressure on the Germans, during this period. About the only Mercedes I would consider from this time period is the S350D. Putting the petrol 6 in the S-class seemed like a mistake to me. Such a small engine, pulling around such a large car, doesn't bode well for longevity. At least Mercedes diesels are built strong enough to offset their lack of power. The petrol 6 is fine in the C and E classes, but it doesn't belong in the S. When you pay the prices Mercedes charge for an S-class, you don't expect to get a 6. You want a V8 or V12.
The bio-degradable wiring loom killed 95% of these girls
The later ones were better I think?
replacement is not a rocket science , also R129 and some others were affected
I would love to find one 'dead' from a loom haha
It's a very easy job and as someone that has never messed with wiring before I replaced mine in 45 minutes with an updated unit I got for $239.
@@MGUYTV No. It an easy fix except for lower part of the harness that is usually neglected. No spare harness anywhere. However, the thing that killed these cars was leaking ac evaporator that required disassembling of the whole dash and almost all interior.
8:25 ???
Slip of the tongue there…
You needed to be out on the open road for a test drive not driving round in circles over speed humps.
Difficult in some parts of Sydney
Limp squid the S320. The W140 wanted the more powerful engine variants.
They had just that in the form of a couple of V8s and a V12.
The M104 I6 is a fantastic unit though, tough as nails, smooth as silk and not as lethargic as you'd expect given how short the transmissions were geared
Was ok really - perfectly adequate for most people. Petrolheads would choose the 8 or 12