A cikin 1972, Mercedes-Benz ya gabatar da layin W116, na farko da za a kira shi S-Class. An samar daga 1972 zuwa 1980, jerin W116 sun ƙunshi dakatarwa masu zaman kansu guda huɗu da birki na diski. Model 280, 350, da 450 (4.5L version) sun ƙunshi nau'ikan SE da SEL. Yawan samar da W116 ya kai raka'a 473,035.
Shekara ta 1972