The 1997 Mercedes E Class, specifically models manufactured between January 1997 and February 2000, underwent structural enhancements to improve frontal crash protection. Evaluated by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the 1997 Mercedes-Benz E 420 4-door model provides valuable insights into the safety of this vehicle. This report delves into the crash test results, offering a comprehensive overview for those considering a classic Mercedes E Class 1997.
Detailed Crash Test Evaluation of the Mercedes E Class 1997
The IIHS conducted a 40 mph frontal offset crash test on a 1997 Mercedes E 420, assessing various safety aspects. The overall evaluation for the Mercedes E Class 1997 is rated as Acceptable (A). This rating encompasses structural performance, occupant injury measures, and the effectiveness of safety restraints.
Structure and Safety Cage
The structural integrity of the Mercedes E Class 1997 during a frontal crash is a critical safety component. The test results indicate a Good (G) rating for “Structure and safety cage”. This signifies that the vehicle’s structure effectively maintained the occupant survival space, minimizing intrusion into the passenger compartment.
Driver Injury Measures: High Levels of Protection
The evaluation of driver injury measures is categorized into Head/Neck, Chest, and Leg/Foot (left and right). Impressively, the Mercedes E Class 1997 achieved Good (G) ratings across all these categories. This demonstrates robust protection for the driver against significant injuries in a frontal crash scenario. Specifically, the design and materials effectively mitigated forces that could lead to head, neck, chest, and leg/foot injuries.
Driver Restraints and Dummy Kinematics: A Noteworthy Issue
Despite strong performance in structural and injury measures, the “Driver restraints and dummy kinematics” received a Poor (P) rating. The IIHS noted that dummy movement was not adequately controlled during the crash test. A significant issue was the dummy’s head hitting the window sill upon rebound. Additionally, excessive upward movement of the steering wheel was observed. Critically, the driver door opened late in the crash. While this door opening did not substantially affect dummy movement in this specific test, the IIHS emphasizes that this is a serious concern. In real-world crashes, a door opening could lead to partial or complete ejection of occupants, significantly increasing the risk of severe injury.
Action shot during the Mercedes E Class 1997 frontal offset crash test, illustrating vehicle deformation and impact forces.
Mercedes E Class 1997 roof rail buckling, demonstrating maintained occupant survival space despite the concerning driver door opening.
Energy-absorbing padding in the Mercedes E Class 1997 footwell, a safety feature aimed at minimizing leg injuries during frontal impacts.
Post-crash view of the Mercedes E Class 1997 showing the opened driver door, indicating a potential safety risk of occupant ejection.
Technical Measurements: Intrusion and Injury Data
Detailed technical measurements from the crash test provide further insight into the Mercedes E Class 1997’s performance.
Occupant Compartment Intrusion (Driver Side):
| Measurement | Value (cm) |
|---|---|
| Footrest | 14 |
| Footwell – Left | 19 |
| Footwell – Center | 17 |
| Footwell – Right | 13 |
| Brake Pedal | 15 |
| Instrument Panel Rearward – Left | 5 |
| Instrument Panel Rearward – Right | 3 |
| Steering Column Upward | 10 |
| Steering Column Rearward | 3 |
| A-Pillar Rearward | 9 |
These measurements indicate the extent of intrusion into the driver’s side occupant compartment. While some intrusion occurred, the overall structural rating of “Good” suggests this was within acceptable limits for maintaining survival space.
Driver Injury Measures (Detailed Data):
| Injury Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| 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 detailed injury measures reinforce the “Good” ratings for driver injury, showing relatively low forces and accelerations recorded on the dummy in critical body regions.
Conclusion: Mercedes E Class 1997 Safety Assessment
The 1997 Mercedes E Class demonstrates a strong performance in frontal crash protection, particularly in maintaining structural integrity and minimizing driver injuries. The “Good” ratings for structure and all driver injury measures underscore the robust safety engineering of this vehicle for its time. However, the “Poor” rating for driver restraints due to the door opening issue is a notable concern. Potential buyers and owners of a Mercedes C Class 1997 (note: should be E Class based on content) should be aware of this door opening issue as a potential safety risk. Overall, the Mercedes E Class 1997 provides a generally safe environment in frontal crashes, but the door latch mechanism is an area that warrants attention.
