The Mercedes-Benz E-Class, a symbol of luxury and engineering, underwent a significant redesign in 1996, setting the stage for models like the Mercedes E Class 1998. For those considering a Mercedes E Class 1998, understanding its safety features and crash test performance is paramount. This article delves into the safety aspects of the 1998 Mercedes E Class, drawing on rigorous testing conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).
The IIHS evaluated a 1997 Mercedes-Benz E 420, a close sibling to the Mercedes E Class 1998, in a 40 mph frontal offset crash test. This specific model year range (1997-2000) manufactured between January 1997 and February 2000 incorporated structural enhancements aimed at bolstering frontal crash protection. It’s crucial to note that these ratings specifically apply to these models and not later iterations of the E-Class. You can verify the manufacturing date of a Mercedes E Class 1998 on the certification label typically located on or near the driver’s side door.
The crash test results for this era of the Mercedes E Class are detailed in the table below, providing a clear overview of its safety performance across various evaluation criteria.
| 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 |
Action shot of the frontal offset crash test for a Mercedes E Class 1998 model, demonstrating the impact dynamics.
The Mercedes E Class 1998 achieved an “Acceptable” overall evaluation in the IIHS test. Impressively, the “Structure and safety cage” earned a “Good” rating, indicating a robust structural design to protect occupants in a frontal crash. Furthermore, the driver injury measures for “Head/neck,” “Chest,” and “Leg/foot” (both left and right) were all rated “Good,” signifying a low risk of significant injuries in these areas.
Despite roof buckling observed after the crash test, the survival space for the dummy inside the Mercedes E Class 1998 remained largely intact, highlighting structural integrity.
However, the “Driver restraints and dummy kinematics” received a “Poor” rating. The IIHS noted that the dummy’s movement was not adequately controlled. During the rebound phase of the crash, the dummy’s head made contact with the window sill. Additionally, there was excessive upward movement of the steering wheel. A concerning observation was that the driver’s door opened during the crash. While this particular instance did not substantially affect dummy movement, door opening in real-world crashes poses a risk of partial or complete occupant ejection, which is a serious safety concern.
Close-up view of the energy-absorbing padding incorporated into the footwell of the Mercedes E Class 1998. This design element is specifically intended to mitigate leg injuries in severe frontal impacts.
Technical measurements from the crash test provide further insight into the performance of the Mercedes E Class 1998:
Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Test ID | CF97005 |
| 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 |
Driver injury measures
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Test ID | CF97005 |
| 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 |
A closer look at the opened driver door of the Mercedes E Class 1998 post-crash. This door opening incident was flagged as a potential risk for occupant ejection in certain accident scenarios.
In conclusion, the Mercedes E Class 1998, as represented by the 1997 E 420 test model, demonstrates a generally strong performance in frontal offset crash testing, particularly in structural integrity and driver injury protection. However, the “Poor” rating for driver restraints and the issue of door opening are noteworthy points of concern for potential Mercedes E Class 1998 owners to consider. While overall crashworthiness is rated as “Acceptable”, understanding these nuances provides a more complete picture of the safety profile of the Mercedes E Class 1998.
