Mercedes W115 Overview: Specs, Generations and Which One to Buy
Mercedes W115 specs at a glance: a rear-wheel-drive sedan built from 1968 to 1977 with 55 to 110 hp across ten modifications. A guide to its generation and the versions worth buying.
The Mercedes W115 is a rear-wheel-drive sedan produced from 1968 to 1977, with outputs ranging from 55 to 110 hp. Anyone comparing mercedes w115 specs will find a single generation with ten modifications, offered with both manual and automatic gearboxes — a straightforward classic sedan for drivers who value simplicity over speed.
Mercedes W115 generations
1 generation (1968–1977)
The 1 generation ran from 1968 to 1977 and was offered in a single body style, the sedan. Power spans 55 to 110 hp across 10 modifications, all with rear-wheel drive and a choice of Automatic or Manual transmission. Two versions stand out in the data. The Mercedes W115 3.0 MT (1 generation) is the mass-market pick: a 3005 cc diesel with 88 hp, a manual gearbox and 0–100 km/h in 19.9 seconds. The Mercedes W115 2.3 MT (1 generation) tops the range: its 2307 cc engine produces 110 hp and brings acceleration down to 13.7 seconds — more than six seconds quicker than the diesel.
The spread from 55 to 110 hp means the base versions have exactly half the power of the top one, so the choice of modification changes the car's character substantially.
Which Mercedes W115 to buy
- 3.0 MT (1 generation): the most common version, with an 88 hp 3005 cc diesel engine — a manual, rear-wheel-drive sedan that reaches 100 km/h in 19.9 seconds.
- 2.3 MT (1 generation): the most powerful choice at 110 hp from 2307 cc, cutting the 0–100 km/h time to 13.7 seconds — the quickest figure in the range.
Every Mercedes W115 is now several decades old, since production ended in 1977. With one generation and one body style, the buying decision comes down to the engine and gearbox: the data favors the 2.3 MT if acceleration matters, and the widespread 3.0 MT diesel if availability of the car itself is the priority.
Between those two, the numbers are clear: the 2.3 MT delivers 22 hp more than the 3.0 MT (110 vs 88) and is 6.2 seconds faster to 100 km/h. The 3.0 MT counters with its larger 3005 cc displacement and its status as the mass version of the lineup, which is why both remain sensible choices rather than one dominating the other.
All versions share the same fundamentals — rear-wheel drive, sedan body, 1968–1977 production — so mercedes w115 specs differ mainly in engine output, from the 55 hp entry point to the 110 hp 2.3 MT.