Mercedes W188

Mercedes W188 generations

All engines in the data are Gasoline, 2996 cc, 6 cylinders, Inline, 2 valves per cylinder, No boost, Front, longitudinal. Gearbox is Manual, 4 speeds. Drive is RWD.

1 generation (1951–1958)

1 generation of the Mercedes W188 was produced from 1951-01-01 to 1958-12-31. The body in the data is Cabrio. This generation has 3 versions, all catalogued as 3.0 MT. Two of those versions use a Carburetor; one uses Direct injection (direct). Two share kerb weight 1740 kg and gross weight 2000 kg; the 175 hp version is heavier at 1780 kg kerb and 2040 kg gross. Rear suspension is Dependent, leaf spring on the 150 hp and 165 hp versions and Independent, leaf spring on the 175 hp version. Front suspension is Independent, spring on all three. Brakes are Drum at the front and Drum at the rear on all three.

Mercedes W188 specs and engine table

All engines in the data are Gasoline, 2996 cc, 6 cylinders, Inline, 2 valves per cylinder, No boost, Front, longitudinal. Gearbox is Manual, 4 speeds. Drive is RWD.

3.0 MT (150 hp) engine

The 3.0 MT with 150 hp (110 kW) at 5000 rpm produces 230 Nm at 3800 rpm. Displacement is 2996 cc. Fuel type is Gasoline. Cylinders: 6, Inline, 2 valves per cylinder. Boost: No. Engine location: Front, longitudinal. Fuel system: Carburetor. Compression ratio: 7.8. Bore and stroke: 85 × 88. Extra fuel grade in the data: not measured.

3.0 MT (165 hp) engine

The 3.0 MT with 165 hp (121 kW) at 5000 rpm produces 242 Nm at 3900 rpm. Displacement is 2996 cc. Fuel type is Gasoline. Cylinders: 6, Inline, 2 valves per cylinder. Boost: No. Engine location: Front, longitudinal. Fuel system: Carburetor. Compression ratio: 7.8. Bore and stroke: 85 × 88. Extra fuel grade: not measured.

This version is 15 hp (11 kW) above the 150 hp 3.0 MT. Torque is 12 Nm higher, and peak torque is listed 100 rpm later (3900 vs 3800). Power peak rpm is the same (5000). Displacement, Carburetor, compression 7.8, and 85 × 88 are the same as the 150 hp 3.0 MT.

3.0 MT (175 hp) engine

The 3.0 MT with 175 hp (129 kW) at 5400 rpm produces 255 Nm at 4300 rpm. Displacement is 2996 cc. Fuel type is Gasoline. Cylinders: 6, Inline, 2 valves per cylinder. Boost: No. Engine location: Front, longitudinal. Fuel system: Direct injection (direct). Compression ratio: 8.55. Bore and stroke: 85 × 88. Extra fuel grade: not measured.

This is the only W188 version with Direct injection (direct) instead of a Carburetor. Compression is 8.55 versus 7.8 on the other two 3.0 MT versions (a difference of 0.75). Power peak is 5400 rpm versus 5000 rpm. Versus the 150 hp 3.0 MT, output is 25 hp (19 kW) higher and torque is 25 Nm higher. Versus the 165 hp 3.0 MT, output is 10 hp (8 kW) higher and torque is 13 Nm higher.

Mercedes W188 performance, 0-100, top speed, mpg

City, highway, and combined fuel consumption are not measured for any W188 version. CO2 is not measured. Eco class is not measured. MPG figures cannot be stated from this dataset.

The 3.0 MT 150 hp and the 3.0 MT 165 hp share 15 seconds to 100 and a 175 top speed. The 3.0 MT 175 hp is 1 second quicker to 100 (14 vs 15) and 5 units higher in top speed (180 vs 175). The 15 hp step from 150 hp to 165 hp does not change 0–100 or top speed in this data.

Mercedes W188 dimensions, weight, ground clearance, tank

Wheel sizes are not measured on any version.

Payload from the given masses: 2000 − 1740 = 260 on the 150 hp and 165 hp 3.0 MT; 2040 − 1780 = 260 on the 175 hp 3.0 MT. The 175 hp version is 40 kg heavier at kerb and 40 kg heavier at gross; payload is the same 260. Ground clearance is 210 on all three. Tank is 85 on all three.

Chassis notes from the data

Front suspension: Independent, spring on every version. Rear suspension: Dependent, leaf spring on 3.0 MT 150 hp and 3.0 MT 165 hp; Independent, leaf spring on 3.0 MT 175 hp. Front brakes: Drum. Rear brakes: Drum. Drive: RWD. Gearbox: Manual, 4.

Which W188 3.0 MT to choose

All three catalogue names are 3.0 MT. Choose by the power figure.

3.0 MT (150 hp) is the lowest-output Carburetor version: 150 hp (110 kW) at 5000 rpm, 230 Nm at 3800 rpm, compression 7.8, 0–100 in 15, top speed 175, kerb 1740, gross 2000, rear suspension Dependent, leaf spring.

3.0 MT (165 hp) is the higher Carburetor version with the same 2996 cc, same 7.8 compression, same 85 × 88, same 0–100 of 15, same top speed 175, same 1740/2000 kg, same Dependent, leaf spring rear. The measured differences versus 150 hp are +15 hp, +11 kW, +12 Nm, and torque peak at 3900 instead of 3800. Performance numbers in the data do not move with that step.

3.0 MT (175 hp) is the Direct injection (direct) version: 175 hp (129 kW) at 5400 rpm, 255 Nm at 4300 rpm, compression 8.55, 0–100 in 14, top speed 180, kerb 1780, gross 2040, rear suspension Independent, leaf spring. Versus 150 hp: +25 hp, +19 kW, +25 Nm, −1 s to 100, +5 top speed, +40 kg kerb, +40 kg gross. Versus 165 hp: +10 hp, +8 kW, +13 Nm, −1 s to 100, +5 top speed, +40 kg kerb, +40 kg gross.

If the catalogue choice is Carburetor and the same 1740 kg kerb figure, the split is 150 hp versus 165 hp; only torque and power change in the data. If the choice is the highest listed power, the shortest 0–100, and Independent, leaf spring at the rear, the data point to 3.0 MT 175 hp.

Problems and reliability are not in this dataset and are not stated here. Prices are not in this dataset.

The Mercedes W188 in this catalogue is therefore a 1951–1958 Cabrio, one generation, three 3.0 MT versions at 150 hp, 165 hp, and 175 hp, all 2996 cc Gasoline Inline 6, Manual 4, RWD, tank 85, clearance 210, Drum brakes, with fuel use, CO2, eco class, and wheel size not measured.