Hi,

I've read everything about the E500/500E and test drove it. Wow is what came to mind. Everything anyone has ever written about that car is true and I became a believer. That maybe also that every car I've driven up to that point never had more than 200hp so to feel 320hp made it that much better. The E500/500E is a great car but I need a car sort of like that and also my '94 E320, in that it can be used for my daily commute (20miles each way) without making me broke from just the gas for the car alone. So I began to set my sights on the 400E/420E. Well I test drove one today and again the thought Wow came to mind. It was everything like the 500 but not as great....its true its about 90% there.

What I need to know is the following:

1) whatelse besides the engine does the e320/e420 differ? Like I'm sure transmission but how about the brakes and stuff like that? Same or different

2) what were the exterior/interior color combos? I would love it if there was any black interior versions!

If anyone knows the answers to these questions or just know where to look please let me know. The 500 is what I wanted but its the 400 that I can live with and afford. So please help me in this quest.

Thank you,
Reny

PS I'm still smiling about the test drive but the car I drove had too much rust when I really looked around to warrant a purchase. Living up north in Rochester, NY stinks in that the cars I would like to buy can't be from here.

I think the W124 E class is an excellent car and the 420 is a great engine. It is solid and won't let you down except for the wiring harness issue.

__________________
Ali Al-Chalabi

2001 CLK55
1999 Dodge Ram 2500 Cummins Diesel
2002 Harley-Davidson Fatboy
Merlin Extralight w/ Campy Record

yeah...I did a search for the car nad most of the earlier posts were mostly what to watch out for when buying this car

its a very fast car for sure!!!

Ren

I believe that the 400E has different brakes than the 300E (larger disks, 4 piston calipers), different suspension components, and a different axle ratio, among other things. Almost the same gas mileage as the later 300E as I recall. There is a brief description under the 'cars' tab at the top of the page, and the search function will reveal a lot of info on this car, especially the brakes (some problems with the 92 aluminum calipers, solved by switching to iron units?)

__________________
John

2003 Firemist Red/grey leather SL 500
2015 Palladium Silver/black mbtex GLK 350
1987 Smoke Silver/burgundy mbtex 300E Sportline (SOLD)

Click to see 87 300E

JCE,

Yeah I checked out the section on the featured cars when I first came to this site.

Wow the brakes are different right? Wonder if I could install it to my E320?

If things don't go as planned I could get the better brakes and Sportline Suspension later on along with teh Sportline seats. I loved those seats when I sat in them from the E500.

Ren

Ren:

The brakes are a good retrofit. I believe that Chiragp has done this, and I plan on adding them to my Sportline. I have a dark red MBTEX interior, so unless I changed all 4 seats with grey or black Sportlines, it wouldn't work. When I told my wife that I thought the 4 Sportline or 500E seats would look nice in our car, she reminded me that the kids are out of the house (almost), and that the last time we used a rear seat was in College, and semi-buckets in back would not have been an asset! :p

Anyway, do a search on 400E brakes, there are a bunch of threads.

__________________
John

2003 Firemist Red/grey leather SL 500
2015 Palladium Silver/black mbtex GLK 350
1987 Smoke Silver/burgundy mbtex 300E Sportline (SOLD)

Click to see 87 300E

A few weeks ago someone got into the issue of the pros and cons of the 400E, you might want to do a search because some good posts were listed.

If I were pointing out the main differences between the 400E and the 500E, this one would top the list:

The 500E was a very special niche model. M.B. would send a stock W124 chassis and a 5.0 liter V8 to Porche's factory in Stuttgart, Germany, where a dedicated group of workers would literally handbuilt the car and engine, including all its added performance items. All major components, including the suspension and brakes were changed with specially designed sport parts (some M.B. sourced, others Porsche sourced). Finally, wider fenders were used to accomodate the wider front track.

The 400E was created to fullfil a void in price gap between the 300E and the 500E at the American market. M.B. would send a stock W124 chassis and a 4.2 liter V-8 to Mexico (mainly to lower costs of production), where it would be mass assembled with a few minor revisions.

In Germany and most markets the 500E could be ordered in 16 different exterior colors combined with five different interior colors (which included black, blue, dark brown, creme beige and grey - either in sport cloth or leather).

A. Rosich
S320, 1998
E320T, 1995

yeah I know all abou the 500E....what a car!!!

My whole thing was needing more personal info about the E420. There is soooo much info on the 500E that like everyone on this board is now very knowledgeable.

I'm found that the 420E is close to the 500E without needing the win the lottery to maintain and keep. Actually its more like owning a E320 expect with mind blowing passing power.

I wish the 420E had the flared fenders.

So as of now I'm looking for a 94/95 Black with dark interior (gray or black). Wish me luck.

JCE, the rear seats from a 500E just wouldn't be ideal ;-) I think we should start a new poll....best MB past or present to make out/do it in.

Hi Reny,

As you can see by my sig, I have had some experience with these cars. I had a private exchange with another member a couple of weeks ago and here is, in part, what I told him...

I cannot say enough good things about these wonderful automobiles. The '94 I bought with good records with 105,000 miles in January of 1997. I had the oil changed once a month (I drive 4500 to 6000 miles per month), and did a "maintenance service" every 30,000 miles.

Aside from normal wear parts like brakes, bulbs, and tires it only failed to start once because of a starter. I drove it with spirit for 190,000 miles and never thought twice about pulling it down into second at 50mph and leaving trouble behind in a hurry. I consistently got 23-25mpg, no matter how I drove it. It went through and oil sending unit every 60,000 miles for some strange reason. This was OK after the first time, which kinda shook me
up when I looked down and saw the gauge laying on 0 at 85mph.

I did notice that I probably should have put a set of shocks on it at about 200,000, but I didn't realize it until I got the '95.

I sold the car in July to some family friends and they absolutely love it. In fact, they said to call them when I turn 300,000 on the '95 that I'm driving now.

I occasionally test drive other cars and find that they no loner fit the way I have become accustomed (spoiled) to driving. I find it difficult to conceive of ever being truly satisfied with a car other than a V8 E-Class. Oh, I could probably make the adjustment to an S600 .

BR,

Reny,
I just bought a 1995 E420 a month ago,
and I love it.It has 93k on the clock.
The previous owners(I am the third owner)
had the car dealer serviced from day one.
It is black pearl w/black leather interior,
dark burled walnut wooden inserts and iron
calipers.The passing power is addicting.
I found myself sometimes saying I don't
need a 500e.Although I'm hoping someday
I will get one.One of this days.

Hey thanks for the personal experience info I was looking for.

Steve.....Wow it ran for 300K miles with no real problems Steve? Thats awesome!

Clauser1....I believe you bought the car I was looking for!!! >;(
But seriously thats awesome. If you possible could or make the means I'd love some pics fo your car. Wish me luck on my search because I'm very jealous of you.

I know exactly what you mean about the passing power. I know and I miss that feeling from the test drive. If it weren't for the poor example of a car (rust here and there) that car would of been mine!

Ren

Clausser1,

Just out of curiousity...how much did u pay?

Also was the car found locally...if so how are the cars from Chicago? Rusty?

Ren

Renfy,
I Paid $16,900.Yes,I bought it
locally.This car is in near exellent
condition.Everything on this car works.
We Chicagoans,are aware of what salt
can do to our car so we wash our car
at least twice a wk.on winter time.
And yes there are lots of rusty cars
too.Mostly rice burner.

I owned a 1995 E420 from August 95 until late last year. It was my first M-B and I enjoyed it tremendously. Pearl Black Metallic with Grey leather. Had the phone and CD changer option.

Excellent power and torque, great brakes, decent handling. I upgraded to Eibach lowered springs, Bilstein Sport shocks, 17" AMG wheels, and 235 45 17 tires.

The only problems I had were the door lock/alarm system went crazy (fixed under warranty) and the distributor caps/rotors went bad. You should try to replace them around 60,000 miles.

I sold it locally with around 80,000 miles on it. Perfect body, always garaged, strictly maintained for $23,500 (last year).

I now have a 2000 E430 which I love even more.

__________________
2000 E430 Sport (European Delivery)
Brilliant Silver/Ash Leather
Brabus Leather/Wood Sport Steering Wheel
PowerChip
Euro Front Bumper Strips, Debadged
E55 "Carbon Fiber" Door Pillar Trim
E55 Tail lights
E55 AMG/Bilstein Shocks
Eibach Springs, #1 Pads
H & R Sway Bars
Speed Yellow Calipers
18" x 8" SSR Integral Wheels
245/40ZR 18 Bridgestone Potenza RE960AS Tires

1986 Porsche 944 Turbo
88K miles

So Mikey,

Do tell the me the difference between the old 95 E420 and your 2000. How you as the driver feel and stuff.

Who knows I might bite the bullet and go with the newer E430 or even a 96 E420.

-Ren

PS in the W124 E420...was the battery in the trunk? I thought only the E500 did that.