Mercedes-Benz W114

Mercedes-Benz W114/W115 at a glance

Why the /8 replaced the Fintail

The new range succeeded the W110 "Fintail" saloons. Its nickname comes from the "/8" added to the type names in factory documents, which marked the 1968 launch year; enthusiasts read it as "Strich-Acht", or "Stroke Eight" in English. Mercedes split the range into two series from the start: W115 for four-cylinder and later five-cylinder cars, W114 for the sixes.

The proportions changed noticeably. The wheelbase grew by 50 mm to 2,750 mm, while the car was 55 mm shorter overall than the W110, 25 mm narrower and 55 mm lower. The launch line-up comprised the 200 D and 220 D diesels and the 200, 220, 230 and 250 petrol models. Only four months later, on 9 May 1968, a 220 D saloon became the two-millionth Mercedes passenger car built since 1946.

Semi-trailing arms and the start of a Mercedes chassis family

Under the skin the /8 introduced a new chassis layout. Ball-jointed double wishbones located the front wheels, and semi-trailing arms replaced the swing axles of earlier Mercedes at the rear. Mercedes marketed the rear design as a diagonal swing axle, but Auto Zeitung points out that it works as a semi-trailing arm. Disc brakes were fitted to all four wheels as standard.

Wikipedia EN notes that this front and rear layout carried over into new Mercedes passenger cars until the multi-link rear axles of the 1980s. The first S-Class, the W116 of 1972, used the same engineering on a larger platform, and its descendants are listed in our S-Class generations guide.

The coupé and the eight-seat long saloon

The long-wheelbase saloon entered production in March 1968 with 650 mm more between the axles, 15-inch wheels and eight seats in three rows. Hotels, rental firms and taxi operators were its main buyers.

The two-door coupé followed in late 1968; sources date the start of production to October 1968 and the market launch to November 1968 or 1969. Of the 67,048 coupés, 42,379 were 250 C and 250 CE models and 24,669 were 280 C and 280 CE. The 250 CE was the first /8 with Bosch D-Jetronic electronic fuel injection and produced 110 kW (150 PS).

Engines: W115 fours and five, W114 sixes

The 220 D was the most-built W115. The 250 2.8 is the model buyers most often confuse: it kept the 250 badge with a 2.8-litre engine, was built from July 1970 to July 1976, sold only for export until August 1972 and reached 34,061 cars at a German price of DM 17,871 in 1972. Auto Zeitung advises checking the engine number, because the engine bay looks the same as on the 230.6 and 250.

The twin-cam 280 and 280 E arrived in 1972. The 230.4 replaced the 220 and the 240 D replaced the 220 D in 1973, and the 240 D 3.0 followed in 1974 with the OM 617 five-cylinder diesel, which zwischengas describes as the world's first five-cylinder passenger car engine. In the United States the same engine was sold as the 300 D.

The 1973 facelift and the handover to the W123

The August 1973 update divides the range into a first and a second series. The bonnet line and headlamps were lowered, the grille became lower and broader, and a single bumper replaced the double bumpers. The front quarter-lights disappeared, the A-pillars were shaped to keep the side windows clean, and ribbed tail lights and larger mirrors were added. Inside came inertia-reel seat belts and a padded four-spoke steering wheel.

The /8 left a reputation for distance. A 1976 240 D that covered 4.6 million km was donated to the Mercedes-Benz Museum in 2004. Production ended in 1976, after the W123 had already started; the mid-size line from the W124 onward is covered in our E-Class generations overview.

Mercedes-Benz W114/W115 today: what to check when buying

Auto Zeitung (October 2024) lists the wheel arches, sills and doors as typical rust spots, along with the sunroof drain, where rust can run down to the front bulkhead. The front axle mounts are another weak point. Classic Car Weekly calls rust an eternal bugbear and recommends checking the quality of any restoration work.

A six-cylinder should run smoothly with little vibration; if it does not, worn piston rings and cylinders are the likely cause. The optional four-speed automatic should shift cleanly, and fresh oil sometimes helps. Expect about 12.5 l/100 km from a six. Many cars worked hard as taxis, so low-mileage examples are rare and service history matters.

Parts are available through the Mercedes clubs and specialists such as Niemöller in Mannheim. Auto Zeitung advises distinguishing between new old stock and reproduction parts, because refitting a cheaper copy can cancel out the saving. The /8 is listed in our Mercedes-Benz catalogue, and more cars of its decade appear in our best classic cars of the 1960s and the classic cars section.

Classic Trader's market overview, based on sales data from 2021 to January 2026, puts most road-ready /8s at about EUR 10,000-30,000, with many German and Dutch adverts at EUR 15,000-25,000. Basic diesel saloons and projects can dip below EUR 10,000, while well-presented 250 CE and 280 CE coupés often change hands above EUR 25,000 (Classic Trader, January 2026).

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