(First Posted November 10, 2013) I’ve always had a thing for the understated car – To wit, my Audi S4/S6’s were nothing special to those not in the know, the Saab 9-2X was a visually tamer WRX, and the Buick Regal GS, well, does the general public see a Buick and think “Supercharger”? No. So the 400E makes sense, let me explain…
I’d long been a fan of the W124 chassis since back when I saw my first 300E in high school around 1985. Classically elegant design, but very modern compared to the larger models at the time – but clearly building on the 190’s design language. Built to the standard that used to define Mercedes and offered in the U.S. with 6-cylinder power and, for a while, an optional Diesel engine as well.
Then, in 1992, Mercedes decided to expand the range. The car that got all the press was the 500E – basically a 300E with a 5-liter V8 engine, wider track (and fenders to match), many luxury features (Oh, and a price of $82,150 including gas guzzler tax. In 1992. Doh!) However, the 500E was born along with a little brother at the same time, the 400E. If you were willing to take a car that was externally visually identical to the 300E but still had V8 power under the hood, for $60,175 (base price in 1992) this could be yours. Over the next 4 years, 15425 buyers in the U.S. acted on that impulse.
I was perusing Craigslist again and came across this one being advertised by San Francisco Toyota of all places. Asking $9200 the car had a total of only 32,000 miles on it! I called, thinking it might be a typo but they confirmed it. I then ran a CarFax and confirmed that the car was one-owner car from Belmont (the city I worked in) and had been maintained at Autobahn Mercedes, also in Belmont. Clearly this was a car I had to see.
The next day after work I headed up to San Francisco. The car was as described, that is, like new. White with gray interior. Excellent paintwork. Flawless interior. Gleaming chrome highlights. There was no wear on any parts that I could see, the only negative is that it was missing its floormats but the visible carpets were pristine. Everything seemed to work fine and it drove great. I tried to bargain them down, but they were not budging. In the end I got a couple of hundred off but, truth be told, it did not really matter to me, it was unlikely I would find another car in the same condition anytime soon and I had gotten more for the Buick than I thought I would.
Not to sound like a snob, but there really is something special about being behind that large wheel and looking down the hood through the Mercedes hood ornament. The car made me feel special. The car itself felt special for that matter. Solid, like carved from a single piece of iron. Doors that really did close with a thunk and did not have any residual vibration afterward. You slam the door and it shuts into place and that is that.
So what is a 400E and what differentiates is? Well, as mentioned previously, externally it is the twin of the 300E besides the badges and a different wheel design. Inside they all got leather (instead of the still excellent MB-Tex), the wood trim is Burl-Walnut instead of Zebrano (which I actually like better, the Zebrano looks more “real”), automatic climate control (more about that later), dual air bags, and some other goodies.
Engine-wise it sports a 4.2liter 32-valve V8 producing 268hp@5700rpm and 295lb-ft of torque at 3900. Backing this up is a 4speed automatic with the traditional gated shifter that now everyone seems to have imitated. With weight being just over 3800lbs, this was quite a fast car. What is surprising though is how nimble it felt. Once familiar with the car and anticipating its tendency to be a little slow to downshift you could very easily exploit small gaps in traffic. Its party-piece though that I never got tired of was the way it accelerated onto a freeway.
The San Francisco peninsula has several freeway on-ramps that are very long, sometimes taking over a mile to merge with the traffic proper of which I used one all the time. Curving onto the onramp you’d put your foot down and the engine would just start to howl with a glorious noise towards its 6000rpm redline, upshift and do it again. The thing is the rush of power never seemed to stop. Once on the freeway passing power was prodigious. You could hit the throttle at 80 and get pushed back in your seat, then next thing you know, you’re doing well over 100 and at risk of heading to jail…but the car was still pulling as hard as before, you just wanted to see how much longer it would last.
Car and Driver (my 4/92 issue is in front of me) says it is clearly the 500E’s little brother but in many ways almost its equal. If you did not drive the 500E, you would not miss the additional power but the extra $27,000 in your pocket would go a long way towards tempering any remorse. I freely admit that the 500E is something special and would still love to have one but the 400E is a true gem.
I recall that a few years earlier I had seen a 400E at an auction I used to attend and was looking at it, marveling at its condition. Only when I got into the still pristine-looking driver seat did I notice that the example in question had over 200,000 miles on it. Without a question, these cars were built for the long haul and with proper maintenance could last almost indefinitely.
As maintenance and repair goes, not much was needed and for what was, quality German OEM supplier parts were (and are) readily available at all sorts of inexpensive internet sites. I recall that one day the car began to run very sluggish and was significantly down on power. I tracked it to the dual distributors, one of which had a visible crack, so I ordered two and replaced them. They are located in a weird position (I thought) facing forward on the front of the engine but replacing them was straightforward. For good measure I also replaced the spark plugs and the leads since if nothing else they were probably fairly old.
Another time (and this is no fault of the car of course) we were driving on the freeway and saw something small spinning through the air towards us. Before we had time to even register the item beyond noticing it we heard a very large bang, obviously there had been an impact, but it was not obvious what had happened. After a few seconds I realized that the passenger mirror was no longer attached to the door so we pulled over. Turns out it was dangling by its power cord and the back was shattered as was the mirror face.
My best guess was that it was some sort of metal bar or a wrench that fell off a truck heading the other way and came over the divider. A very scary incident, it easily could have come through the windshield. However, half an hour of Ebay time and I was able to find another mirror painted the correct color for a reasonable sum which I installed the next week.
Those missing floormats were easy to replace with new factory items and I also ordered another key since mine only came with one for some reason. The costs for both items were very reasonable for what I’d consider an expensive car.
I also replaced the standard 15” rims and tires for a set of 16” pseudo-AMG rims from a newer model E-class. At the time I really liked the look, nowadays I would either stay stock as the standard items look great or go whole hog with a set of classic thick-spoke AMG alloys and lower the body a bit. My pictures show both wheel styles so you can compare.
The early 90’s were a bit of a transition time for the E-class – 1992 was the first year for the lower side cladding. Other than that the body was the same as before. However in 1994 the front end changed slightly to incorporate a bodycolor frame around the grille (mine was bolted to the leading edge of the hood), the rear taillights got smoke-color turn signals and the 300E became the E320, the 400E became the E420 and the 500E became the E500 without any changes to the engines for the V8 models.
I loved the inside of the car. The seats were so solid and constructed with actual springs inside, they just feel different than the foam-stuffed seats you get nowadays in everything. Small quirks abounded – The button on the dash that when you hit it, the rear headrests slammed back onto the parcel shelf (so you could see better when reversing). Putting them back up required doing it manually, no button.
The passenger side mirror was power operated. However the driver’s side? Manual! I guess they figured you are sitting right there, just extend your hand and move the little wand…I loved that in that class of car, such an anachronism.
The other thing I liked was the climate control. Mercedes for many years used these large thumb wheels. When you had the system in “auto”, instead of nowadays in the average car where you have to stab the button 25 times to go from low to high or vice versa, you’d just hit the wheel quickly and dial it around. What was nice is that it also controlled the fan speed, so if it was blowing too hard, you just turned the temp a bit closer to ambient and it would blow softer (or the other way around). Very nice and probably my favorite “automatic” system ever. (I generally can’t stand automatic climate control and usually just set them to manual, I much prefer manual controls from the get-go)…
Lastly, one of the things that Mercedes did was that no matter which version you go, you did not get a bunch of blanks for options that you did not get. There are dozens of variations of center console panels, no button meant that you did not get a cutout for it. Nice but no doubt expensive.
When I got the car in 2005 we were still living in Lafayette with my 42-mile each way commute. Within a year we ended up moving to Belmont where I worked, trading for a 2-mile commute. The car barely got warm but also due to the short drives revealed its real V8 thirst, usually averaging around 11mpg around town (High teens to very low twenties on the highway). Even though gas prices were sky high, the reality is that I did not have to drive very much, so blaming that would be a bit of a cop-out.
However, coupled with the fact that while most would consider it a largish car, the back seat was surprisingly snug, our second child was on the way and fitting a car seat base with a rear-facing car seat was a challenge. But the reality is that I was always looking in many different directions so the car’s time had come, no matter how good it was.
I ended up selling it to someone who had one years before and regretted selling it. It had around 70,000 miles on it when I sold it for $7,700 and represents one of the better purchases I made. The new owner (like me) felt he could not do better or find a better one easily so he quickly paid me and left. It was quite the car and made a definite impression on me. And no, they do NOT build them how they used to. Not Mercedes anyway.
True sleeper indeed, unlike the 500E, which has become a collector’s item. At corresponding prices. Saw one for sale for 49,500 euro, that’s about 66,000 USD. But it’s actually like a brand new one, with only 13,750 miles on the clock. (Photo: Marco Hof Sportscars & Youngtimers)
I don’t know any other car model with such a wide variety of engines. 4, 5, 6 and 8 cylinders. Gasoline and diesel.
For what it’s worth, rumours say that Mercedes is working on a new inline 6 cylinder.
A modular family of inline 3, 4 and 6 cylinder engines. 500 cc per cylinder. It would be available in the next E-class, somewhere around 2016-2017. At least, that’s what I’ve just read.
That is correct. It’s an I6 with a 48-volt electrical system, which not only enables it to be a mild hybrid, but also gives the car a temporary horsepower and torque boost when needed, and completely frees up the engine from having ancillary belts and pulleys for the car’s accessories. The new hybridized I6 will debut on the ‘19 CLS450 and AMG CLS53. It looks like the AMG E43 coupe and cabriolet are also being replaced with AMG E53 desifnarions, which will also have this new engine.
Jaguar/Land Roved is also working on a new I6, as part of their modular Ingenium family; it will replace the 3.0-liter supercharged V6 they use everywhere, which is essentially a sawn-off version of the AJ-V8.
Nice to read about something from MB glory days when you could actually tell the difference in quality for the money you paid.
I think the W124 was the last Merc that was really built up to a standard rather than down to a price. I’ve driven a few and they embody the classic Mercedes solidity and grace.
After the Lexus onslaught of the late 80s Daimler-Benz became much more penny-pinching and corner-cutting in their design and engineering, and it showed.
Yeah, I think back in the day they just engineered it how they wanted it, added up the R+D money, figured out the unit cost of production based on projected sales, added that in, then divided by the quantity to sell to figure out the sticker price. Then Lexus came along and everybody in Europe had to change their game…
Lexus: The Relentless Pursuit of Mercedes (should have been their slogan)
Well, then it’s about time to show up with a decent 6 or 8 cylinder diesel….
Lexus, Infiniti and Acura may be hot in North America but not so much in the rest of the world. In the BRIC countries (you know, where the money is right now, money that your and my continent used te have) they keep on buying shiploads of high-end Teutonic stuff.
Don’t compare a Lexus with Mercedes. Lexus is beyond Mercedes . If mercedes was so great why do they depreciate so much over Lexus and Acura . I can tell you Mercedes looks over lexus is what they day beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. Overall the Benz isn’t that great . Let’s face the fact people are only saying Lexus is copying mercedes because Lexus is actually better . If it wasn’t better why would they care? If you compare all the Toyota crown and their high end car you’ll see mercedes lost at their own games long ago . PLEASE don’t get me wrong I’ve own Mercedes and their no way close to a Lexus . The bottom line is Mercedes is only great while it’s new and that’s when Lexus just shine over the mercedes that can’t accept time as it pass on by.
Beg to differ, I own both , the Lexus is a soft pillow without any road feedback and the safety features both seen and unseen is no where near what is in a MB.
The MB’s I have have actual road feel and when you get out of a the car after 8-12 hours of freeway driving you feel like you we in a transport that could do cross country trips everyday, The Lexus, you can’t readjust the pillow. As has been said in the past, with the Lexus your in a car, in a Mercedes your driving a automobile.
Wah wah wah, yeah Lexus is better than MB. You keep telling yourself that.
KJ in Oz
Omg what are you smoking? Driving a Lexus is about as boring as watching a soccer game
The Benz is as solid as a Sherman Tank with a ride like no other. Yeah the gas mileage was pretty poor. But who cares. Take your cookie cutter Camry and have a blast..lol
You have owned yet another of my past and future cars. I have driven and been a passenger in several W124s but never owned one, and I intend to change that soon. I remember riding in a friend’s father’s 300E in the early 90s and thinking that it was the quietest and most solid car that I had ever been in, until several years later when I got to ride in an armored Lincoln Town Car; it’s hard to beat bulletproof windows and a blastproof floorpan for sound deadening!
I looked at a 400E once and also at some 300CE coupes and convertibles, but my current plan is to search for a W124 diesel next year. Having owned and fed a 340 hp V-8 for the past three years, I have found modern V-8 power to be indeed intoxicating but also rather expensive to keep running; a diesel should be the most economical way to have the W124 experience, and the old Mercedes iron turbodiesels are an interesting part of the car world that I would like to experience before good ones become impossible to find.
I would prefer not to think of the latest and greatest cars from my high school years as “classics,” since that is a sure sign of getting old, but I suppose that I will have to learn to live with it.
Years ago a neighbor had a W124 300 D Turbo, so the 3.0 liter inline 6 turbo diesel engine. It seemed to have some sort of sport package, it had the same factory rims and stance as its powerful gasoline family members. And I remember the double exhaust. The car was at least 10 years old when he bought it, but it was in a very good condition. (no scratches or dents, interior like new)
Nothing to be ashamed of, performance wise, and I like the persistent sound of an inline 6 diesel engine.
Another advantage is that these engines are still old-school pre-common rail injection.
You know, from the days that you could add gasoline to the diesel fuel when (very) cold.
Needless to say, I am a very big fan of W124s, having bought one of the first 300Es in 1985. You’ve described these cars and all of their superb qualities (and anachronisms) well. I agree with you that as well as the automatic climate control worked, I almost spent the time rigging up a manual controller for the fan. I am not a fan of having a fan run full-on if not absolutely necessary, and much prefer a manual system. Although once the compartment is reasonably stable in temperature, it worked great.
And I did get a short drive in a 400E once, and its effortless power was intoxicating. But for long-term ownership that very complex V8 stuffed in there was a bit intimidating. I’d rather deal with the easy access and simplicity of the six, especially given how old these cars are now. And I never got less than 22 mpg with the six, unless I was running at over 100 for long stretches.
Thanks for the virtual ride in a superb car. I still pine whenever I see a nice W124; sigh….
Really is amazing how many of these are still on the Road. On my street their is an 87 300 TE, a 91 300 D (2.5) and a couple of streets over a regular gas wagon. They just keep running and are just so comfortable. Their size is absolutely perfect and the interiors still look great. And the age range and condition of the cars I see. Some look as if they just rolled out of the factory and others look like they spent a decade in Siberia but are still running. A little lubro moly is all you need.
I have long lusted after a 400E as I consider it the pinnacle of sleeperdom. When I was shopping for a car a few years ago, I found more around than one would of expected. They were usually wealthy Chinese who had become too old to drive and there was no way the grandkids would be caught in a car that old.
I found a white one with 76,000 km on it, a 1992. The car was flawless and had gobs of power. Everything worked perfectly and the car had all service records. For $7900 I thought it was a great deal, especially since these cars are actually pretty reliable.
Then I started to realise that any kind of repair would cost an arm and a leg, as I do not have the time of space for DIY. In addition, I am on the road a lot for my business, and these things are not exactly fuel sippers. This caused me to go for Japanese reliability and fuel consumption.
These are the last of the great Daimler cars but look at the price tag. The new ones, while not nearly the car, do go out the door for a lot less.
Wow, that car sounds very much like mine! Repairs probably would be fairly pricy but less than the modern equivalent, I’d surmise. The fact that these are often sold with truly large mileages shows that they do last, but yeah if it is the one car that has to be relied on then a Japanese car gives greater peace of mind, can’t blame you for that.
A few interesting additional w124 factoids: in 1993, the 300e gained the 24 valve 3.0 six from the 300ce, gaining 40hp from 177 to 217 (if I remember correctly), but the model name didn’t reflect any change. Also, the sticker price on the 1993 300e was still in the range of $53,000+, more than $10,000 more than the very popular v-8 Lexus LS400 which was both larger and more powerful. In 1994, mercedes dropped the price of the newly named e320 by $10,000 to compete with the very successful Lexus.
And it wasn’t just v8 vs inline six, but also which 6-cylinder engine. The 260e was a smaller inline six version of the w124 minus the headlight wipers and leather but with a nice high revving engine and very sporty in the 80s compaired to the immediate predecessor 300d’s and 280e’s. Some, including my dad who had a 260e considered the v8 very front heavy, despite moving the battery to the trunk.
I seem to remember folks complaining (well, a little), that the newer engine lacked off-the-line shove compared to the old low-power 6. Can’t say I ever felt deprived in my ’95 E320, but I never had a chance to try the 300E.
I still kind of miss it. (It was pretty ratty and had suffered a lot of mechanical abuse by the previous owner.) It had the best suspension tuning and balance of any non-sports-sedan I’ve ever driven.
U nailed it with the best suspension tuned and balance. No car has yet to be able to match it. I had a 90 300 E with stock leather heated seats. Yeah u heard that right. Have yet to see another
The paint shined like it was waxed every day by some elves in my garage
I do like a good sleeper, and you found a nice one. It shouldn’t surprise us that most people would refuse to pay a stiff premium for a car that the neighbors would not know was something special. The typical buyer (or lessee) of a Benz back then was looking for that 3 pointed star, and what powered it was mostly beside the point.
But I’m glad that there were some exceptions. Actually, I had never paid attention to these. I lost interest in MB after these replaced the W123, but from the sounds of things, I probably should not have. You and Paul are slowly turning me into a fan of these, so thanks for the vicarious ownership experience – I enjoyed it.
I should say, though, that going from last week’s Buick to this week’s Benz caused me a bit of whiplash. I can’t wait to see what is next week – Maybe a Chrysler Fifth Avenue? 🙂
Actually I think that describes nowadays even more than back them. I believe the average buyer (or more likely, lessee) does not even know (or care) that the new CLA is FWD.
The W123 is legendary for good reason, I recall spending time in several in Morocco as an intercity taxicab who only knows what kind of mileage but I think the W124 added more driving flair to the mix and along with the W126 really should be considered the last of the “old guard”.
Haha re: the whiplash – the next few weeks are a bit of a detour for some dalliances I had on the side while enjoying the Benz as well as the cars on the other side of stable that were updated during this period…In about a month the true successor to the Benz will be unveiled and it will cause a bit of a surprise, not as much a Brougham’d 5th Avenue, more like the polar opposite, although it was polarizing (no pun intended) as well. Fear not, there are still quite a few installments to go with many twists and turns…We’re only in about 2006-2008 or so here in COAL-land!
Maybe the contemporary W201 was too small for Americans, but it was as good and durable as the W124. So “old guard” too.
Very nice car Jim. It has lots of road presence compared to newer M-Bs. Looks, and probably felt, like a tank. Must have been a dream on the highway. The under hood area is very crowded, but everything is well placed, and it looks fairly easy to work on. Doesn’t look bad at all, in white on gray. You certainly are opened minded in your eclectic choice of cars!
Nice car! I’ve always admired the W124 series – had several friends who have had examples and loved the cars, except when they had to repair them.
A confession – I once tried to challenge a 400E on the highway with my 1985 Volvo 240 DL. I was beaten rather easily, despite trying to speedshift that 4-speed manual with OD.
That was funny – You could perhaps take a 400E off the line for the first few yards, maybe halfway across an intersection, but on the open road? Forget it. The other guy puts his foot down, it downshifts one (or possibly two) gears and doesn’t stop pulling until you’re not even in the mirror anymore!
Did the automatic on these still subscribe to Mercedes’ curious tendency to start in second gear unless you floored the throttle?
Yes it did. Which worked fine, I guess. As you mentioned if you floored it from a standstill it would select first, otherwise second. I suppose it made for more of a smoother getaway with less shifting in city traffic. It was not noticeable as a negative in daily driving.
I imagine it was probably less of a concern with V-8 torque than with some of the smaller sixes and fours, and I assume it probably helped their EPA fuel economy.
Very strange trick I learned. At a stop light if you shifted down to 2 or 1? And then back to D it would start in 1st gear. Otherwise always in 2nd. Supposed to be a gas saving trick. I didn’t like this about the tranny
Replacing the water pump on that big six in my 1988 300te was one of the worst days of my life.
Nice car and nice story Jim. My uncle had a 300E back in those days (late 80’s), he told me about one occasion where he was driving along a two-lane highway and thought the corner ahead looked a little tight, so he slowed down a bit only to glance at the speedo to find he’d slowed down to 115mph – on a 62mph speed limit mind you! The speed enforcement was nowhere near what it is now and luckily he was in a fairly isolated area.
He then went the opposite way to the 400E, his next car was a 520i with the 5sp auto. I’m not sure if it was in an effort to retain his licence as he used to farm out the points to employees in his office to stay on the road. The 520i was a bit of a slug but I do remember a couple of rapid trips with him, but nothing like the above. He used to do 50-60k miles per year and has only recently dropped back a bit from that. He has stayed with BMWs but moved to the turbodiesels – bulk torque and a longer range from a tank of fuel is perfect for the highway.
Great article. One quibble – I believe the lower body cladding was added in 1991 rather than 1992. A best friend bought a new 1991 300E and it had the new trim. I seem to recall that the interior was upgraded a bit that year as well.
You mention that many considered it a “largish car” though the back seat area was indeed somewhat short on space. According to wikipedia, the W124 was 187.2 inches long and 68.5 inches wide. Almost the same size as my Infiniti G37 sedan which is considered small today. I thought these cars were the ideal size for urban living – good turning circle, tight dimensions for parking, etc.
My cousin had a 1993 400E in dark green as her fourth and last M-B. It was really a powerhouse but consumed fuel at a rapid rate in city and, due to frequent problems with the A/C and some electrical gremlins, was traded for the first of many new Lexuses.
Yes- the body cladding started in ’89/90 on the 201 and a year later on the 124. Mine was an H registration (early 91) and it had the trim panels. These are the best years for the w124- early bugs were worked out, but they are far more rust resistant than the latest (93.5-96) w124’s with the smoothed grille and ‘blackout’ tail lamps. The latest ones with multivalve engines had issues with wiring harnesses, very strange rust patterns, and a much cheapened interior- especially in cloth seated models.
It really is a shame that the American market didn’t get the ‘base models’ that we have in Europe. Climate Control is nice, but I get the shivers thinking about troubleshooting the various relays and servos buried inside the dashboard. No, I prefer good ol manual AC or even no AC and that glorious Mercedes tilt/slide sunroof. But then again, I live in damp and temperate England, so AC isn’t really necessary. Ditto power seats. Manual Merc seats adjust in nearly every way possible, and with a classic, you just don’t want to rely on little motors that moved portly drivers up and down and back and forth. The only option worth getting is an automatic gearbox, which is the best 4 speed ever made. My 250D was a 5 speed, and with a foot operated parking brake, hill starts were less than fun- especially as my street has a 22% incline with a traffic light at the top.
These cars- well maybe not the 400, but the diesels, 4’s and 6’s are very easy to work on, and in Europe parts are dirt cheap. I always say that a well maintained Mercedes is the cheapest cost-per-mile car you can own. Except for internal engine repairs or troubleshooting injection and climate systems, any competent engineer can work on them, and will appreciate the thought Mercedes gave to the engineering, down to little touches like the 90 degree opening bonnet. A 300E will give an honest 25mpg, and a 230E will give nearly 30mpg in mixed driving, while a 250D will give 40-45 and still be capable of nearly silent cruising at 85mph- eventually.
If you can’t find one, don’t dismiss the 190- it is NEARLY as good as a 124, with only slightly cheaper seat beading, one-piece pressed door panels and plastic boot liners as the only ‘downgrades’ over the 124. Neither is great for rear seat space, and the smaller size of the 190 makes it that much easier to live with in our more congested cities.
Buy one with under 100K and an OCD previous owner and hold on to it forever. Never again will a car be engineered and made as well. These will still be plying the highways of Albania and Nigeria decades after the bits to keep the legendary, and arguably better, Lexus LS on the road have been discontinued.
92, 400E, daily driver for 20 years, 235000 miles, keep them maintained and the sky’s the limit. Actually, enjoy the solidity and performance better than the E550 in the garage.
Thanks for a great write up. I purchased my 92′ 400e baby in 97′ for $23K w/77,000 Miles. I still own the car and it has been my everyday driver now for 17 years. It now has 396,000 miles on the clock. I havent seen or heard of one with more than that. It has 2 badges now by MB, and going for a third. Also Mercedes does have very afordable parts at on-line sites. I fix everything when It is time so this car is all ready to go coast to coast. I have never tired of this car! I also own a 92′ 500SL with only 54k on the clock. The r129 is also a great early nineties auto. The 92′ 400e has Bosch LH Fuel Injection, the 500 SL has Bosch CIS JetTronic. I wish the 500 Sl had LH too because It is more maintenance free. I thought it interesting that in 1992 the E class (w124) got the newer technology.
My 400E turned 400,000 miles on 1/30/2015!
I have a1993e 36xxxxx miles clean. Would like to sale I can’t afford a minor fix.Please let know I’ll text or email pic&info thanx 541521 4064
Now 411,000 on Clock – 3/21/16 – Still drives like a dream!
any major repairs…or still stock on most things?
I just purchased a 1993 400E with 160000 miles on it , and I love it.
Alway stock, 451,000 on clock – everyday driver – Could this car be getting better? Key to m119 engine success; 3,000 mile oil changes w/10W-40 natural oil, keep engine running clean by keeping vacuum lines tight and injectors clean. Always replace parts as needed, such as wiring harnesses, ECU, ETA throttle body, air mass sensor. Keep car running at proper temps, viscus fan, aux fans. Tune up, replace rotors, caps, and plugs every 80 to 90K using only OEM bosch. No head gasket or valve job needed yet! Car not burning oil. Not a hot rod, the fastest I ever drive is 90 to 100 when passing on interstate. Car has excellent power range at high speeds. She is like a beautiful woman that needs attention on occasion!
Thanks for the updates, TK! I miss my 400E, it was a marvelous car, glad to hear yours is still treating you so well.
Love to hear that!!! Audi and BMW drive them in to the ocean. The service advisor at the Trio dealership said he sees three times as many Audi and BMW in for service. Yeah the M3 is cool blah blah. Give me an AMG any time
Good evening…
Just following up to see if you still own the 1992 Mercedes 400E and how many miles you have on it now. Also wanted to know if you have ever had to replace the Rear Axle Shafts.
Please let me know.
Thanks!
Colin
Not replace the rear shafts, but yes to re-pack and replace the boots.
I currently have a ’92 400E and I love it! At the time I purchased it, my Hyundai daily driver had just passed on and I wasn’t sure what I wanted to replace it. I was surfing Craigslist and saw it for $1500.00! I was totally shocked! I thought it might be a scam or have astronomical miles but I called anyway and was pleasantly surprised to find that although it had 136K+, it only had two owners and was maintained at the same dealership since new. I come from a Mercedes family and I have owned several but I always seem to gravitate to the older models. Thank you for your article! I really enjoyed reading it and I plan on driving my 400E for as long as it’ll last! BTW, I also currently have a 1983 380SEC with 262K+ miles and she runs and drives like a brand new car. Maintenance, maintenance, maintenance.
My 92 400e has over 300k and still drives like its new, the only complaint is that the leather is not as durable as the mb tex.
gotta 1992 400e, 241K, still kicks ass on the road 80 to 120mph is as easy as it gets. runs and drives new. Nothing rides like a benz… Safe Travels, See Ya!
I had one of those. I forgot about the rear head-rest button. You could tap that when rear passengers were wising-off and send their heads flying. I loved it; wise-ass passengers didn’t love my use of that feature.
Is there any difference between the 1992 and 1993 400 e models ?
i am looking at a 1993 that is for sale
Minor differences.
A little different Throttle body accuator. Both years have LH fuel injection. The 1992 500 sl did not have LH, it had CIS. It is interesting that the 400e got LH before MB flagship 500 SL.
I have had my mind on the 400e ever since owning a 400sel. Same engine but a bigger heavier car. That engine is remarkable though. The 4.3 liter version of the m119: an aluminum block 32valve dohc v8 that was a powerhouse like the bigger 5.0 liter variant found in the 500e. I loved it, but the car was too big for my tastes so I sold it to pick up a wrecked c36 that would provide the drivetrain to upgrade my beloved 190e. Nowadays my 190 is super quick, but I still long for the way that v8 would pull.
Which is why I keep my eye out for a 400e. That engine in the w124 chassis is the ideal combo afaiac. Nice write up on yours, and it is agreed they don’t make them like they used to, but I have to say they seem to be on to something with the newest ones.
Lucky, some say, to represent the MB brand. Driven them all for a livliehood. Honestly(poor choice of words) prefer my ’92 Four-Hundred E to most.
I had a 1990 300E for about 3 years, loved driving it. Sadly, I was sold the car by a dishonest private seller who ran the odometer back and didn’t tell me…this was just prior to the new laws enacted in my province which would have better protected me. the car did run well but during my ownership it needed a head gasket job and complete rear brakes. The engine repair cost me more than I paid for the car, however after that it ran strong. I ended up having to part with it after it developed a leak in the drivers side of the windscreen, at which point I noticed that the A-pillar had completely rusted away and any removal of the windscreen would have immediately required a major repair and replacement of that part of the frame. Not willing to pay that much once again to keep the car on the road, I sold it for scrap and bought a used Toyota which was ok but nowhere near as nice to drive. I have a strong intention to buy a 400e as soon as I have a few extra bucks and second parking space to keep it in. lol
hey by any chance are you in vancouver???
there is a 400e for sale on craigslist with exactly the rust your describing!!!
https://vancouver.craigslist.ca/pml/cto/d/1993-mercedes-400e-v8/6316498845.html
I really do love 90s mbs. the newer ones just don’t do it for me. They look like fancy Kias. A 91 wagon w124 compared to a 91 Ford Crown Vic Country Squire at 25k wasn’t in the same league. Even at half price it was an ancient car with zero sophistication. When you think tech didn’t exist back then all you had to do was look at what was coming out of Europe. Think about it. A wagon with 32 or 24 valves. Drivers seat with side bolsters. 16 inch rims. I mean the differences were huge. Well now all the car cos are making the same. I don’t think people realize how far the dollar went back then. You truly got what you paid for.
I’ve loved the W124 chassis ever since I got my very first one — a 1995 E320 — with only 125,000 miles on it for $1,700. Love the M104! But I bought it on a whim because the car was so tight and so a year later I sold it to a kid who needed a car for college; what I’d really wanted from the start was an M119 engine anyhow. So here I am now, after just getting rid of a 2008 S550 beast, looking for either a 400E or E420, 1995 or older…
Well, just picked up a 1992 300E Sport line for $4000, California garaged its entire live. Stone cold perfect body, arctic ice blue, darker blue bottom cladding, Recaro seats, etc. With the optional 15 X 7 newer style chrome wheels, this girl is stunning. Last year for metallic solvent paint which I love. Despite a stack of receipts where the one owner spent 13K in the last 5 years on maintenance, I decided to go for perfection. Removed the entire drive train, all new parts everywhere — flex joints, Eigenbacher exhaust, various front end ball joints, all new hoses and reservoirs, fan, repaired the antenna with new gaskets, replaced the gear track in the wiper mechanism. new flow tested fuel injectors including cold start. new PVC hoses underneath, sand blasted and repaired the valve cover, new gaskets, new timing chain complete, Michelin tires, re-soldered the cruise computer (cold joints), new exterior window seals, new hood sponge and insulation pad, new headlights, surrounds, grille, grille badge, grille 3 star, shift bushings, rear main, front main, water pump, pan gasket, timing cover seals, steam cleaned then polished the engine compartment with the drive train out, distributor covers, newer style non amber taillight and turn signal lenses. Get this, lots of parts available new from Mercedes, at reasonable prices, And thank you Rock Auto, Parts Geek, Pelican parts, and AutoHausAZ. Thanks especially to Star Tech Mercedes for encouragement. Have about $1000 in parts (minus tires) in this one. Did all the work myself. Auto appraiser with 40 years experience says it’s the nicest one in the country, perhaps the world. Too nice to drive. So I bought a 2002 Silver Arrow, yow, and I blame Star Tech for this info! Another one too nice to drive. Such is life……..
Jim: I believe that M119 engine, whether 5.0 litre or smaller, was superior to the successor M113 three valve V-8.
I have a neighbor who owns a 1997 E420. Unfortunately it is a W210, not a W124. It is an odd duck – a one year only model, the only W210/M119. I prefer the looks of the W124 and certainly it has a much better reputation than the W210. But . . . . my neighbor/owner wants to sell the car next year when she moves to a retirement home.
The car is “garnet” over a light tan and very nicely maintained. I anticipate getting the chance to buy the E420 and I am anxious to find out about that freeway acceleration you discuss – probably on I-25 right around Loveland or Fort Collins.
That sounds great, I will keep an eye out for you now that I know what you will be driving! 🙂 It would be a glorious car to make the I-25 run with…
Not a Mercedes person, but I’ve always admired these. Great to read of your experience with one, Jim.
For any Midwesterner-CCers, there’s a tidy 400E for sale in Indy right now, sounds like it’s been taken care of:
https://indianapolis.craigslist.org/cto/d/1992-mercedes-benz-400e/6519962356.html
This is how amazing the 124 is, in the 4matic version the front axle goes through the coil.
KJ in Oz
I have 1992 400E with about 101,000 miles on it. It was my dad’s car, and he babied it. It has been kept in a garage, and is in near mint condition. Very well maintained. I have all the maintenance records. Pristine interior. A few light scratches on exterior. It has been in California so no rust. How much could I get for my car if I decide to sell it?
This is NOT my car but it looks just like it…
http://germancarsforsaleblog.com/1992-mercedes-benz-400e/
I just saw a clean ’93 400E in two-tone green… I still LOVE the W124. My dad had an ’86 300E…which was either the first or second year for the W124. I remember the sound of that Inline 6’s engine well…so sporty. So European. I loved riding in it when I was just a little dude..like 6 years old, ha. Hard to believe how far performance and “quickness” has come since then. While in contrast, how much less substantial the overall feel and build quality, MATERIALS-wise, these new (albeit even SAFER!) modern cars seem. I currently have an ’01 Lexus GS430… But would like to have a W124 for a “fun”/cruising car next.
My ’94 E420 has finally died and I started looking around and discovered a 400E on my local CL which brought me here. Pretty much the same car. They are fantastic and I’m tempted to buy the 400E with 150k miles on it.