Safety features of the W201

The W201 model is now an old car, designed in the late seventies into the early eighties, it cannot possibly keep up with todays standards. It was only available with one airbag, for the driver, and most certainly not any side-airbags. However, Mercedes-Benz has always been in the leading class when it comes to safety in cars. Mercedes-Benz started crash-testing cars in the sixties, was one of the first car-manufacturers to offer ABS (Anti-lock Braking System) on their cars. This heritage has of course also been kept well in the W201. With crumple zones in front and back, ABS-system and Airbag available from the beginning the W201 was one of the safest cars in its class for a long time.



Airbag
As mentioned, the W201 wasn't available with more than one airbag. However, when ordered with airbag one also got electronic belt tensioners in the front seats. This system reacts instantly when an accident occurs (Just like the airbag), and immediately tightens the slack in the seat belts.






ABS
Anti Lock Braking-system. The W201 was available with one of the best ABS-system at that time. With disc-brakes on all four wheels and an onboard computer with sensors on all four wheels, this system prevent the wheel from locking, and helps gain grip on slippery or loose surfaces.








ASD IndicatorASD
The 190 was available with an automatic locking differential, a system that looks after the driven wheels and always make sure that an equal amount of power is delivered to both wheel. This means that it is impossible to spin with only one wheel, hence impressively enhanced starting-off capabilities on slippery surfaces.






Deformable front section
The front section of the W201 is deformable to reduce risk of injury on cyclists, pedestrians, etc. In addition, the later model (1988 and up) has a deformable bumper system, that regain their shape after minor impacts.









"Safety pedals"
The pedal assembly in the 190 is designed to retract forward and away from the drivers feet in case of an impact.











Exterior mirrors
The exterior mirrors are designed to bend away when struck, both front- and backwards.











Windshield wiper
The windshield wiper on the first model was a single wiper that managed to sweep 75% of the front windshield. In 1985 the new type came, a wiper that sweeps the corners of the windshield as well, clearing even more of the windshield. This latter wiper is also designed to stay firmly pressed to the windshield even at high speeds. Water displaced from the wiper is routed from the windshield edges to the roof, leaving the side windows clearer.




Steering
The steering wheel with its impact and absorber and padded boss, the steering column with its deformable corrugated section. The entire system is anchored in such a way that it is unlikely to be displaced towards the interior in the event of an accident.









Crumple zones
The W201 is designed so that it's passenger should come out of an accident the best way. The front and rear body sections are programmed to progressively collapse and absorb kinetic energy in a major impact. Force from an impact is directed up through the A-pillars and down through the floor.



This pictures shows the crumple-zones. One can also see the fuel tank, placed in a safe position over the rear suspension.




Various safety-features

    - Improved positioning and stowage of the belt buckles in the rear (1988 and up).
    - The top section of the instrument panel, the glove compartment lid and the interior door panels are soft padded elements designed to absorb energy.
    - The glove compartment telescopes in the event of an accident.
    - Instrument panel designed to absorb impact-energy in the knee area.
    - The front doors are meant to overlap the rear doors in a major frontal impact to help prevent jamming.
    - The rearview mirror is set to break away from its base under a blow of 16 lbs. of force.




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