The 1998 Mercedes-Benz E-Class remains a sought-after vehicle for those appreciating classic luxury and robust engineering. For prospective owners and enthusiasts alike, understanding its safety features is paramount. This article delves into the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) crash test evaluation of the 1998 Benz E Class, providing a comprehensive breakdown of its safety performance. This review is crucial for anyone considering purchasing or maintaining this model, especially concerning safety and repair considerations.
IIHS Crash Test Evaluation of the 1998 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
The IIHS conducted a frontal offset crash test on a 1997 Mercedes-Benz E 420, representing the 1998 Benz E Class models manufactured between January 1997 and February 2000. These models incorporated structural enhancements specifically designed to improve occupant protection in frontal collisions.
The overall evaluation for the 1998 Benz E Class from IIHS is rated as Acceptable (A). This rating reflects a solid performance in key areas of crashworthiness, offering reassurance about the vehicle’s ability to protect occupants in a frontal crash scenario.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall evaluation | A |
| Structure and safety cage | G |
| Driver injury measures | |
| Head/neck | G |
| Chest | G |
| Leg/foot, left | G |
| Leg/foot, right | G |
| Driver restraints and dummy kinematics | P |
This table summarizes the detailed ratings from the IIHS crash test, giving a clear picture of the 1998 E-Class’s safety strengths and weaknesses.
Detailed Safety Performance Breakdown
Structure and Safety Cage: Good (G)
The 1998 Benz E Class earned a Good rating for structure and safety cage integrity. This is a critical aspect of crashworthiness, indicating that the vehicle’s structure effectively maintained its integrity during the frontal offset crash. A ‘Good’ rating here means that the passenger compartment held up well, providing a protective space for the driver. This structural robustness is a hallmark of Mercedes-Benz engineering from this era.
Driver Injury Measures: Good (G) Across the Board
In terms of driver injury measures, the 1998 E-Class also achieved Good ratings across all categories: head/neck, chest, and leg/foot (both left and right). This indicates a low risk of significant injuries to these body regions in a similar frontal crash. The robust design and implementation of safety features effectively minimized potential harm to the driver.
Driver Restraints and Dummy Kinematics: Poor (P) – A Point of Concern
Despite the strong performance in structural integrity and injury measures, the 1998 Benz E Class received a Poor rating for driver restraints and dummy kinematics. The IIHS noted that the dummy movement was not well-controlled. Specifically, during rebound, the dummy’s head struck the window sill, and there was excessive upward movement of the steering wheel.
Action shot during the frontal offset crash test of a 1998 Benz E Class, highlighting the vehicle’s behavior upon impact.
Furthermore, and more concerning, the driver door opened during the crash test. While the IIHS stated this particular instance didn’t significantly impact dummy movement, they emphasized that door opening during a crash is unacceptable. In real-world scenarios, this could lead to partial or complete occupant ejection, significantly increasing the risk of severe injury.
Post-crash view of the 1998 Benz E Class, illustrating the maintained survival space despite roof rail buckling, but marred by the opened driver door.
This door opening issue is a critical point to consider for potential owners. It suggests a potential weakness in the door latch mechanism or overall door structure in frontal crash scenarios for these specific models produced within the mentioned timeframe.
Technical Measurements: Intrusion and Injury Data
The technical measurements from the crash test provide further detailed insights into the vehicle’s performance.
Occupant Compartment Intrusion (Driver Side):
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Footwell intrusion | |
| Footrest (cm) | 14 |
| Left (cm) | 19 |
| Center (cm) | 17 |
| Right (cm) | 13 |
| Brake pedal (cm) | 15 |
| Instrument panel rearward movement | |
| Left (cm) | 5 |
| Right (cm) | 3 |
| Steering column movement | |
| Upward (cm) | 10 |
| Rearward (cm) | 3 |
| A-pillar rearward movement (cm) | 9 |
These measurements quantify the extent of intrusion into the driver’s side occupant compartment. While intrusion is present, the safety cage maintained its integrity to a reasonable degree, contributing to the ‘Good’ rating for structure.
Driver Injury Measures (Detailed Data):
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Head | |
| HIC-15 | 305 |
| Peak gs at hard contact | 29 |
| Neck | |
| Tension (kN) | 2.0 |
| Extension bending moment (Nm) | 19 |
| Maximum Nij | 0.37 |
| Chest maximum compression (mm) | 35 |
| Legs | |
| Femur force – left (kN) | 5.5 |
| Femur force – right (kN) | 3.2 |
| Knee displacement – left (mm) | 5 |
| Knee displacement – right (mm) | 2 |
| Maximum tibia index – left | 0.33 |
| Maximum tibia index – right | 0.43 |
| Tibia axial force – left (kN) | 0.6 |
| Tibia axial force – right (kN) | 0.6 |
| Foot acceleration (g) | |
| Left | 76 |
| Right | 68 |
These injury measures further support the ‘Good’ ratings for driver injury, showing relatively low forces and accelerations recorded on the crash test dummy in critical body regions.
Close-up of the energy-absorbing padding in the footwell of a 1998 Benz E Class, designed to mitigate leg injuries in frontal impacts.
Image highlighting the opened driver door of the 1998 Benz E Class after the frontal offset crash test, a critical safety concern.
Conclusion: Balancing Safety and Concerns for the 1998 Benz E Class
The 1998 Benz E Class offers a generally Acceptable level of safety according to IIHS frontal crash testing. It demonstrates robust structural performance and good protection against injuries in key areas. However, the Poor rating for driver restraints due to dummy kinematics and, most notably, the driver door opening during the crash, are significant concerns.
For owners and prospective buyers of a 1998 Benz E Class, it’s crucial to be aware of this potential safety issue. While overall crashworthiness is reasonable for a vehicle of its era, the door opening problem is a factor that should be considered, particularly in the context of modern safety standards. Regular inspection of door latches and mechanisms might be a prudent measure for owners of these classic sedans to mitigate potential risks.
