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W108/W109

A classic and instantly recognisable Mercedes-Benz model from the mid 60s to early 70s with many models, some very rare and interesting.

The most famous veriant is no doubt the 300SEL 6.3, the granddaddy of large V8 performance Mercedes-Benzes we know today.

Many will generalise that the W108 was the short wheelbase version and the W109 was the long wheelbase version with air suspension and the only one badged as a 300, however this is not explicitly true:
  • W108 can be a short or long wheelbase car
  • W108s can have a 250, 280 or 300 badge
  • All W108 models have steel spring suspension
  • W109 is long wheelbase only
  • All W109 models have airbag suspension and wear a 300 badge
Produced from 1965 to 1972, the W108 & W109 vehicles received new engines (and relevant badges) for the 1968, 1969 and 1971 model years.

Model table:


Model
Chassis Code
Engine Code
Production years
Number Produced
250S
108.012
M108.920
1965 – 1969
74,677
250SE
108.014
M129.980
1965 -1968
55,181
300SEb
108.015
M189.989
1965 - 1967
2,737
300SEL
109.015
M189.988
1966 - 1967
2,369





280S
108.016
M130.920
1968 - 1972
93,666
280SE
108.018
M130.980
1968 - 1972
91.051
280SEL
108.019
M130.980
1968 - 1971
8,250
300SEL
109.016
M130.981
1968 - 1970
2,519
280SE 3.5
108.057
M116.980
1971 – 1972
11,309
280SEL 3.5
108.058
M116.980
1971 – 1972
951
280SE 4.5
108.067
M117.984
1971 – 1972
13,527
280SEL 4.5
108.068
M117.984
1971 - 1972
8,173
300SEL 3.5
109.056
M116.981
1969 – 1972
9,583
300SEL 4.5
109.057
M117.981
1971 – 1972
2,553
300SEL 6.3
109.018
M100.981
1968 – 1972
6,526

1965-1967 model identification

Externally, these cars had 14" wheels, with separate hub cap and ornamental ring. Headlights lenses were rounded and sloped inwards from top to bottom. The single W109 model featured full chrome window frames.

W108 250S, 250SE & 300SE

W109 300SEL
Internally, the steering wheel horn ring sat behind the centre pad at the top of the wheel - indicating the non-collapsible steering wheel boss. The dashboard featured  a full-width chrome strip which acts as the opening handles for the ashtray and glove compartment. The collapsaible steering wheel was introduced during series production, along with a change to a full width rubber strip along the dashboard in place of the chrome.

W109 models featured extra wood, along pillars and the tops of the door trims.

An early 300SEb with solid steering wheel boss and
chrome accented dashboard wood

An updated 250S dashboard


1968-1972 model identification

Updates to all cars included full size hubcaps. Flat headlight lenses were introduced to series production some time in 1969. Chrome continued to differentiate the W108 & W109 models. Though not standard, stacked circular headlamps became an optional distinguishing feature of V8 engined cars.

W108 280SEL

W109 300SEL 6.3

Both W108 and W109 dashboards were updated, removing the rubber strip and replacing it with individual handles for the ashtray and glove compartment. W109s continued to feature extra wood over the W108 vehicles.

W108 280SE interior
W109 300SEL 6.3 interior