2008 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Side Impact Crash Test: Safety Analysis for Potential Buyers

The 2008 Mercedes-Benz E-Class, part of the W211 generation, was engineered with a strong emphasis on safety, particularly concerning side-impact collisions. Recognizing the importance of occupant protection, Mercedes-Benz implemented design enhancements to mitigate injuries in such accidents. This article delves into the side-impact crash test results for the 2008 Mercedes-Benz E-Class, providing a comprehensive analysis for prospective buyers and safety-conscious individuals.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducted rigorous side-impact tests on the Mercedes-Benz E-Class to evaluate its safety performance. The initial assessment of an early 2007 model yielded an “Acceptable” rating. This was primarily due to elevated forces recorded on the driver dummy’s torso area, indicating a potential vulnerability in side-impact scenarios.

Mercedes-Benz responded to these findings by implementing design modifications in models manufactured after May 2007. These changes focused on the front door trim panels to further bolster occupant safety during side impacts. Subsequently, the IIHS performed a second test on a vehicle incorporating these improvements. While the re-test demonstrated a reduction in forces exerted on the driver dummy’s torso, it wasn’t substantial enough to elevate the torso injury rating or the overall vehicle safety rating. Consequently, the “Acceptable” overall side-impact rating applies to both the initially tested model and the improved design versions of the 2007-2009 Mercedes-Benz E-Class.

View of the vehicle and barrier just after the second of two crash tests.

Despite the “Acceptable” overall rating, the structural integrity and safety cage of the 2008 Mercedes-Benz E-Class also received an “Acceptable” mark, indicating a robust framework designed to withstand side-impact forces and maintain occupant space.

Detailed Driver and Rear Passenger Injury Measures

Breaking down the injury measures for the driver, the critical areas of head and neck protection were rated “Good,” signifying effective protection in these vulnerable regions. However, the torso protection for the driver was rated “Marginal,” reflecting the higher force measurements that initially led to the “Acceptable” overall rating. Pelvis and leg protection for the driver were deemed “Acceptable.” Importantly, driver head protection systems, primarily the side airbags, performed effectively and earned a “Good” rating.

View of the vehicle after the second crash with doors removed, showing the side airbags and damage to the occupant compartment.

In contrast to the driver’s torso, the rear passenger injury measures were uniformly positive. Head, neck, torso, pelvis, and leg protection for rear passengers were all rated “Good.” Similarly, rear passenger head protection systems also achieved a “Good” rating, indicating a high level of safety for occupants in the rear seats during side-impact collisions.

Smeared greasepaint shows where the driver dummy’s head was protected from being hit by hard structures by the side airbags (first test shown).

Smeared greasepaint shows where the rear passenger dummy’s head was protected by the side airbags (second test shown).

Technical Measurements: Intrusion and Injury Data

Technical measurements from the crash tests provide further insight into the vehicle’s performance. Measurements of occupant compartment intrusion on the driver’s side indicated the extent to which the vehicle structure deformed into the occupant space. Negative values in the B-pillar to driver’s seat centerline measurement signify that the structural crush stopped short of the seat’s centerline, which is a positive indicator of occupant space preservation.

Driver and passenger injury measures are quantified using various metrics. Head Injury Criterion (HIC), neck tension and compression forces, shoulder deflection and force, torso deflection (maximum and average), viscous criterion, pelvis forces, and femur forces and moments are all meticulously recorded and analyzed to assess injury risk to different body regions. These detailed measurements are crucial for engineers to understand the specific mechanisms of injury and to develop even safer vehicles in the future.

Conclusion: Evaluating the 2008 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Side Impact Safety

The 2008 Mercedes-Benz E-Class provides “Acceptable” side-impact protection overall. While excelling in head and neck protection for both front and rear occupants, and offering good protection for rear passengers across all body regions, the driver’s torso protection was rated as “Marginal.” Potential buyers should be aware of this “Acceptable” rating and the “Marginal” torso protection for the driver. However, it’s important to consider that “Acceptable” still signifies a decent level of protection, and the vehicle’s structure held up reasonably well in the crash tests. The 2008 Mercedes-Benz E-Class is equipped with side airbags, which demonstrably contributed to head protection for both front and rear occupants. When considering a used vehicle in this class, reviewing safety ratings like these from independent organizations such as IIHS is a vital part of the decision-making process.