S-Class W140 Modern classics: the S-Class Saloons of the Mercedes-Benz 140 series (1991 to 1998)

[Mick Briesgau]

I never liked the exterior design of the C140. The worst looking S class coupé. I’d wish however that the leather quality of today’s S class was at least on par with that of the W/C140.

 

[Merc1]

People complained that the leather back then was too hard and unyielding.

M

 

[Swissbob]

People complained that the leather back then was too hard and unyielding.

M

It is much harder than on a current S-Class I can confirm that.

The CL140 needs big rims to really shine, 19“ Lorinser deep dish are my personal favorites.

The basic 16“ look ridiculous.

 

[Mick Briesgau]

People complained that the leather back then was too hard and unyielding.

M

Last June I drove a W140 600 SEL facelift of a collegue of mine. The perceived leather quality surpassed that of my nappaleather in almost every way. Mine is indeed slightly softer, but I can’t imagine it endures more than 300.000 km. Time will tell.

 

[Merc1]

Last June I drove a W140 600 SEL facelift of a collegue of mine. The perceived leather quality surpassed that of my nappaleather in almost every way. Mine is indeed slightly softer, but I can’t imagine it endures more than 300.000 km. Time will tell.

I’m aware. The leather is the old school kind designed to last forever.

M

 

[Rolf]

I remember in the 90s Mercedes introduced the pleated leather seats (not sure if these were similar to the buffalo seats in the E32 and E34 BMW models) and those felt alot softer than the older models ribbed seats. But amazingly those pleated leather still lasted long without major wear.

Is the new leather in Mercedes latest models perhaps thinner than that in older models?

 

[Mick Briesgau]

I remember in the 90s Mercedes introduced the pleated leather seats (not sure if these were similar to the buffalo seats in the E32 and E34 BMW models) and those felt alot softer than the older models ribbed seats. But amazingly those pleated leather still lasted long without major wear.

Is the new leather in Mercedes latest models perhaps thinner than that in older models

Though I can’t substantiate it with factual figures, I’m sure the leather is thinner. I even thought the nappaleather in the W222 felt and looked better, thicker, less fragile, than that of the W223.