| At the Geneva car salon in March 1987 a coupe variant of series 124 was introduced, exactly ten years after the presentation of the preceding model at the same place. As with the coupes of series 123, there was a close technical and stylistic affinity to the limousines. Based on the platform of the four-door model, the wheel base had been reduced by another 85_mm in favour of the coupe character. Accordingly, the body -as with the preceding type - presented a completely new variant as to construction and shape. The common features with the limousine were limited to the front end and the rear lamps.
The safety standard reached in the limousines of series 124 was, of course, transferred to the coupes. The missing B-pillar was compensated by a reinforced A-pillar, reinforced side sills and doors as well as a high percentage of high-strength sheet steel. New ways were opened for the roof end.
The interior trim of the roof had been drawn further under the rear window, a solution which increased the safety as well as the comfort of the rear passengers. In case of an accident neither sheet metal nor edges of the window were close to the heads of the passengers. Since the roof, in spite of its coupe shape, only sloped at the far back, the rear passenger enjoyed a lot more overhead space than one was used to from a coupe. The overlapping part was covered by a dark grid on the window.
A characteristic design element, documenting the independence of the coupe in comparison to other body variants of the series, were the side protection strips with integrated longitudinal sill covering. Allocated between the wheel cutouts at the height of the bumpers they were an optical link between front and rear apron. Like those they were painted in metallic contrast paint.
As to their mechanic components the coupes were fully identical with their four-door counterparts. Like the limousines they were provided with a multilink rear suspension. This once more improved the driving performance as against the preceding model. In addition, there was a damper strut front-wheel suspension on individual A-arms. The brake system had also been taken over unchanged from the four-door vehicles.
The range of models first comprised the types 230_CE and 300_CE. The engines, a 2,3_ltr.=four cylinder and a 3,0_ltr.=six cylinder corresponded exactly to the version of the respective limousine. The standard versions of both models were provided with a regulated emission control system with a lambda-probe equipped catalyst. An alternative was the so-called ,RF-version", in which the vehicle was delivered without catalyst and lambda probe, but with a multifunctional mixture preparation and ignition system. Retrofitting a ,back fitting vehicle" with regulated catalyst was always possible and without problems. From the outside the 230_CE and 300_CE could only be distinguished by the dual-branch exhaust system of the six-cylinder and the type label.
In September 1988 both coupes, like all other types of the series, received an extended standard equipment now including a heated and electronically controlled right outside mirror. At the same time the washer system of the S-class with heated washer tank as well as with heated jets and tubes had been taken over.
Beide Coups erhielten wie alle Typen der Baureihe im September 1988 eine erweiterte Serienausstattung, zu der nun ein beheizter und elektrisch einstellbarer rechter Auáenspiegel gehrte. Gleichzeitig hatte man die Scheibenwaschanlage der S=Klasse mit beheiztem Waschbehlter sowie beheizten Dsen und Schluchen bernommen. Das Anti-Blockier-System ABS, mit dem jetzt ebenfalls alle Modelle der Baureihe 124 serienmáig ausgestattet wurden, war beim 300_CE bereits von Beginn an und beim 230_CE seit Februar 1988 Bestandteil der Grundausstattung.
The anti-locking system ALS was now also built into all standard models of series 124. In the 300_C it had belonged to the basic equipment from the very beginning and in the 230_CE since February 1988.
At the motor show in Frankfurt IAA , in September 1989, a completely redesigned model program of the medium-size class was presented. Most important were the stylistic novelties of the body and the newly equipped interior. The coupes presented themselves almost unchanged, since the most eye-catching characteristic of the improved 124 cars, the lateral protection strips with integrated longitudinal sill trim, had been part of their equipment from the very beginning. In this respect they had been the pre-runners for the others.
The side panelling was optically improved by small decorative fittings of polished stainless steel which continued on the upper side of the front and rear apron. After a long time of abstinence, they brought back in discreet form the often missed chrome shining
This effect was reinforced by chrome decorative fittings at the door handles as well as by changed ornamental wheel caps, in which the Mercedes star and a small decorative ring at the circumference were also chrome-plated. A further novelty were the outside mirror bodies painted in the body colour. The interior, too, was newly equipped and revaluated by numerous details. Front and back seats were improved.
For the model improved 124 the ,sports-line" package was available on special demand. It was already know from the compact-class models. An outward characteristic was the sports suspension which was provided with wide base tyres - dimension 205/60_R_15 - on all-aluminium or steel rim 7_J_x_15. The body was allocated considerably lower. Furthermore, springs and bumpers were more closely adjusted. The interior was improved by a leather steering wheel and leather shifter. There were individual front and back seats.
Besides the above-mentioned improvements in design and equipment, the redesigned type program of series 124 also presented fife completely new models, among them a coupe.
With the 300_CE=24 an especially powerful variant was presented. It was provided with the 220_PS strong 3,0_ltr.= four-valve engine of the 300_SL=24. Again it had come into existence by falling back on the unit assembly system. Due to the deviant installation conditions, however, the catalyst cross section of the SL could not be used. Thus the nominal capacity was reduced by 11_PS. The 300_CE-24 functioned as the new top model of the medium size class. Thus it had an upper-standard equipment; the all-aluminium wheels, electrical window lift, leather steering wheel and leather shifter, wooden parts in burr walnut as well as door exit lights.
From July 1990 the coupe was also produced with the time-tested 2,0_ltr.-4_cyl.-engine. The 200_CE, however, was not available in Germany, but exclusively reserved for export to Italy.
One year later, in September 1992, a redesigned type program of the medium-size class could be presented, after the 2,000,000th vehicle of series 124 had left the assembly line. In the first model improvement stylistic changes had been important. Now it was engine and equipment.
The whole range of coupe types now had been converted to four-valve technology. Two four-cylinder aggregates with 2,0 and 2,2_ltr.-displacement, belonging to the new developed range of engines M_111, now replaced the time-tested two-valve engines from type family M_102. The new engines excelled with increased power and a higher torque for the whole range of speed. Nevertheless the fuel consumption could be reduced further. By increasing the volume of the catalyst, a further reduction of the pollutant emission was reached. Of course, the type designation changed with the introduction of the new engines. The 230_CE became the 220_CE. The export model 200_CE, which had also received the four valve engine, was also able to keep its name, since the displacement practically remained the same.
The six-cylinder models 300_CE and 300_CE=24 were taken out of the program and replaced by 320_CE. Ist 3,2_ltr.=four-valve engine, which had already been time-tested for one and a half years, had been developed from the previous 3,0_ltr.=four-valve engine M_104. It showed, however, different dimensions of bore and stroke. All four and six-cylinders now had the same bore. This was an advantage for a flexible and economical production. The nominal capacity had remained the same in comparison to the former four valve engine. It was, however, reached 900_/min earlier. The torque maximum was considerably higher and was shifted towards lower numbers of revolution.
In addition to the new range of engines the model improvement comprised a considerably better standard equipment for all types of the medium-size class. From October, the delivery included air-bag for the driver as well as electrically controlled outside mirrors left and right. A central locking system and a fife-speed gear box, which had been included into the basic equipment at the same time, had been part of the standard installation from the very beginning of the coupe production.
In June 1993 all models of series 124 were stylistically actualised and adapted to the other type ranges.. The most conspicuous characteristic of the modified models was the radiator grill changed according to the shape of the S-class. Now the much smaller chrome frame was harmonically integrated into the engine bonnet. The Mercedes star - as in the S-class limousines - was on the bonnet. Equally eye-catching were the changes at the lamp units. The front turn signal lamps had received colourless glass covers. The rear lamps showed bi-chromatic covers, which in the area of the turn-signal and the reversing lamp had been uniformly stained in white-grey. The yellow turn signal lamp in the front and rear was produced by coloured bulbs. Further changes were made at the wheels and the bumpers. Thus the steel disc wheels had new wheel trim caps in 6-hole design. The protective strip of the bumpers were now painted in the colour of the add-on parts. The protective strip of the rear bumpers had been prolonged to the wheel cutouts.
When the redesigned models were started to be sold in June 1993, a new nomenclature came into force which also applied for series 124. Analogous to the S-class and to the new C-class, the medium-size class now was called E-class. The designation of types now followed a modified system. Thus a letter documented the belonging to a class. It stood in front of a three-digit figure which continued to be based on the displacement. The ,E" for ,Einspritzmotor" (injection engine) could be dropped, since carburettor engines now belonged to the past. Codifying the obvious body variants by ,C" or ,D" was equally superfluous. According to the new nomenclature system the two-door cars were now called E_220_coupe and E_320_coupe. The type label, however, only documented the class designation and the displacement.
From September 1993 a powerful variant, the E_36_AMG, was available for the ambitious sports fan and coupe lover. The car was equipped with a 195_kW strong 3,6_ltr.=four-valve engine from AMG. The new top model of the 124-coupe differed discreetly but stylistically from its less dynamic sister models by enlarged add-on parts. Front spoiler, side sills and rear apron were painted in the body colour and harmonically integrated into the body shape. In the standard version the impression was completed by the 17_inch all-aluminium wheels in AMG-design.
In order to offer a reasonable entry-level car to less power-oriented clients, the selling program was extended by the E_200 Coupe in December 1994. It mobilised 136_PS and before had been produced for export to Italy, Greece and Portugal only.
The production of the E-class coupe stopped in March 1996, nine years after its debut at the Geneva car salon. - A hard time for all coupe-fans. The market introduction of a succeeding model was only envisaged for summer 1997. Altogether 141,498 cars had been built in Sindelfingen, a good 40% more than of the preceding types.
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