The 1999 Mercedes E Class, part of the W210 generation, is often lauded for its blend of luxury and engineering. For those considering this classic vehicle, understanding its safety performance is paramount. Specifically, models manufactured between January 1997 and February 2000 underwent structural enhancements aimed at improving frontal crash protection. Let’s delve into the crash test results conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) on a 1997 Mercedes-Benz E 420, which reflect the safety standards of the Mercedes 1999 E Class within this production timeframe.
Evaluating the Mercedes 1999 E Class in a Frontal Offset Crash
The IIHS put a 1997 Mercedes E 420 through a 40 mph frontal offset crash test, assessing various aspects of vehicle safety. The evaluation focused on structural integrity, occupant injury measures, and the effectiveness of restraint systems. The mercedes 1999 e class, as represented by this test model, exhibited a mixed performance.
Structural Integrity and Occupant Protection: Strengths Highlighted
In terms of structural performance, the mercedes 1999 e class demonstrated significant resilience. The safety cage was rated “Good,” the highest possible rating, indicating that the vehicle structure effectively maintained the survival space for the driver. Furthermore, driver injury measures for the head/neck, chest, and legs/feet all received “Good” ratings. This suggests that in a frontal crash, the mercedes 1999 e class provides robust protection against significant injuries in these critical body regions.
Action shot taken during the frontal offset crash test, demonstrating the impact on the Mercedes 1999 E Class.
Despite some roof rail buckling observed during the test, the structural integrity of the mercedes 1999 e class was maintained, ensuring the survival space for the occupant was largely preserved. This is a crucial aspect of crashworthiness, as maintaining occupant space is vital for minimizing injuries.
Image highlighting the roof rail buckling on the Mercedes 1999 E Class after the crash, while noting the maintained survival space.
Driver Restraints and Dummy Kinematics: Areas for Concern
However, the evaluation also revealed shortcomings in driver restraints and dummy kinematics, which received a “Poor” rating. The dummy’s movement was not adequately controlled during the crash. Notably, upon rebound, the dummy’s head struck the window sill. Additionally, excessive upward movement of the steering wheel was observed. A concerning issue was the driver door opening late in the crash sequence. While this particular instance did not significantly impact dummy movement, the IIHS noted that door opening during a crash is undesirable as it could lead to partial or complete occupant ejection in certain real-world scenarios.
Close-up of the energy-absorbing padding in the footwell of the Mercedes 1999 E Class, aimed at protecting driver’s legs.
Image showing the opened driver door of the Mercedes 1999 E Class post-crash, emphasizing the risk of occupant ejection.
Technical Measurements: Intrusion and Injury Data
Detailed technical measurements from the crash test provide further insights into the mercedes 1999 e class‘s performance. Occupant compartment intrusion measurements on the driver’s side showed footrest intrusion of 14 cm, with other footwell intrusion measurements ranging from 13 to 19 cm. Rearward movement of the instrument panel was 5 cm on the left and 3 cm on the right. The steering column moved upward by 10 cm and rearward by 3 cm, while the A-pillar moved rearward by 9 cm.
Driver injury measures indicated a HIC-15 head injury criterion of 305 and peak gs at hard contact of 29. Neck tension was measured at 2.0 kN, with an extension bending moment of 19 Nm and a maximum Nij of 0.37. Chest maximum compression was 35 mm. Femur forces for the left and right legs were 5.5 kN and 3.2 kN, respectively.
Conclusion: Safety Considerations for the 1999 Mercedes E Class
Overall, the mercedes 1999 e class models manufactured within the specified timeframe (post-January 1997 and pre-February 2000) achieved an “Acceptable” overall evaluation in this IIHS frontal offset crash test. While the vehicle demonstrated “Good” performance in structural integrity and occupant injury measures, the “Poor” rating for driver restraints and dummy kinematics, particularly the door opening issue, raises some safety concerns. Potential buyers of a mercedes 1999 e class should be aware of these findings and consider them alongside other factors when assessing the vehicle’s safety. It’s important to remember that these ratings apply specifically to models built within the mentioned dates, and later models may have different safety characteristics.
