My 300E has a Remus exhaust system and K&N. It pulls a lot better than stock - surprisingly eager - prehaps its the combination of the two. In any event I lust after a V8. Anyone have opinions on the best of the 92-95 lot? Another question - people tell me the torque on the V8 is dramatically better than the 3 liter, yet 0-60 times don't look that much better ????
Thx

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88300E

My '92 400E has more power than I EVER need. Pulls hard at any speed- 60, 100, it doesn't care. My favorite engine I have ever driven.

Its an impressive motor. Do not go by published numbers. 119 124 cars are very fast. Pulls right up to 150 ('92 limit, later cars are 130) with incredible ease.

Drive one and you will see. It makes the the 103 feel very anemic.

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'90 300SE 298k
-300K and it gets put into retirement.
'80 300D 255k Purchased new by family in 1980.

Had a:
1973 220 (gas)
1980 300SD
1992 400E

Having had a 300E I know that 0-60 is respectable as long as you let it wind up, but my 92 400e absolutely kicks butt...

Of course, my 500sl has a better top end and more torque overall...

But back to the question. I'm told that the 92 400E has a performance boost over the same vehicle in a 93 because the emissions system kicks out at WOT...

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02 S500
92 500SL
92 400E (Sold)
87 300E (Sold)
83 300D Turbo (Sold)
75 300D (Sold)
74 240D (Sold after 20 years)

I don't think there is a best year. It just depends on what you like.

1. 1992-1993 400E's have the same 4.2 liter engine as 1994-1995 E420's.

2. 1994-1995 E420's have the exterior updates: facelifted hood / grill / headlights / front corners / tail lights / painted bumper impact strip.

3. 1992 400E's produce slightly more horsepower. M.B.DOC has posted that 1992 was the last year for WOT (wide open throttle enrichment), which decreased horsepower by 5-6% on the same cars in 1993 & later. Emissions & CAFE (mileage) were the factors in that change.

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Paul S.

2001 E430, Bourdeaux Red, Oyster interior.
79,200 miles.

1973 280SE 4.5, 170,000 miles. 568 Signal Red, Black MB Tex. "The Red Baron".

EDIT!

Of course you have read THIS

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'90 300SE 298k
-300K and it gets put into retirement.
'80 300D 255k Purchased new by family in 1980.

Had a:
1973 220 (gas)
1980 300SD
1992 400E

92's had only 268 hp vs. 275 hp of the later years. The extra power came from increased compression.

As mentioned, due to the 2.24 final gear ration, the 400e420's forte is the highway/autobahn, not the dragstrip.... That said, if you simply swap the rear diff. out for that of an S420's 2.82, your talking about a sub 6 second car to 60 mph (5.6 to 5.8) and 14 flat 1/4 all while running merely 2300 RPMs @ 60mph. Top speed is still over 150 mph and stock 500e500's eat your brake dust.

Thx all - particularily interested in the rear end swap idea - how much does it cost in parts and labor to do this?
Thx again - appreciate all your feed back ....

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88300E

I've read that the labor on the rear-end swap is about 4 hours. The part can be had at a yard for around $500, maybe less, maybe a bit more.

You can go with the 2.65 from a 90-93 SL500 or a 2.82 from a 92-94 S420 / 400SE.

Make sure that you get a differential that matches your car's ASR (with / without ASR - donor car must match).

I'm considering doing this myself. I just may someday...

Troy
1995 E420 77k

My 92 400E with 2.82 conversion for under $600 is the best bang for the buck I have ever had with this car . Smokes the yoko
225/50/16 rubber with ease !!!!!

Next up I am installing a performance chip said to give 10% increase in HP and torque . So with other mods done I should be at 305 -320 HP -- and sub 6 second 0-60 times with ease .

Will hit the drag strip this spring and see what this car can do in the 1/4 mile --hoping for sub 14 second runs !!!

Now if only a 6 speed didn't cost $16,000 !!!!!!!!!!!!

see car at http://userpages.itis.com/eurocars/gts3.jpg

92 400E
88 300TE -Euro spec
89 300E
86 300E

...eat brake dust?

fwiw-

stock '92-'94 500e500's are all limited to 155mph top speed according to factory specs

hmmm?

...don't the 500E's have a 2.82 stock rearend? I don't think a 275hp 400E with 2.82 gears will "eat" a 322hp stock 500E with 2.82 gears. Let's not get carried away here!

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Mike
-W126C 560SEC 040 Black
*6.0L AMG M117 32v Hammer
-W163 ML320 Brilliant Silver
-W124 300E Pearl Black

E500's are gear limited to around 156mph

E500's have a 2.65 diff

E420's weigh 200lbs less than E500's

=

E420 with 2.82 beats stock E500

500E/E500 come with a 2.82 rear-end, stock. Any 500E owner can verify this. Euro 400E/E420 came with the 2.65.

The 500E weighs more for performance reasons- a 600SL suspension setup, bigger brakes, self-leveling system, and finally a larger engine capacity.

How do you justify a 400E's top speed "still in the 150's" with a 2.82 and the 500E with larger engine capacity "gear limited to 156mph," also with a 2.82?

47 more hp, 56 more lb/ft tq, 2.82 rearend = pretty tuff competition for a 400E with 2.82 gears even with a 200 lb difference.

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Mike
-W126C 560SEC 040 Black
*6.0L AMG M117 32v Hammer
-W163 ML320 Brilliant Silver
-W124 300E Pearl Black

Where do you guys find the diff?

I checked the North American Mercedes EPC. The 400E/E420 came with a 2.24 rear-end for better fuel-economy among the E-class lineup.

A 400E with a 2.82 diff like the 500E is still slower in the 1/4-mile due to the torque penalty (no replacement for displacement).

Show me a 400E with a 2.82 diff and a certified 1/4 mile time-slip under 14.2 seconds. Even a stock 500E has trouble delivering consistant sub 14.2 seconds 1/4-mile ET.

FWIW, with a rev-limiter removed chip in our otherwise stock 2.82 diff 500E, we have gone over 165 MPH.

While a lower diff may have a high top-end speed, the accelleration will be slower.

IMHO, the best W124 V8 is the 500E. I am biased for the 1993 since it still has the the "BIG GRILLE".

:-) neil
1988 E36T AMG
1993 500E