New to the forum and a question for all of you - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

racerboy221 · #1 11-01-2005, 01:25 PM

Hello all...New to the forum here. Fort Lauderdale FL area.

I am about to purchase a 1994 E420 Sedan. It has 198,000 miles on the clock and "appears" to be a solid card. I am getting it from Los Angeles, CA and its only $2050.00. KBB and NADA show it as worth far more than that so I feel its a pretty good deal, even if there are some problems (None that I am aware of so far)

My concern is this...even being well maintained, what is about the life expectacy of this 4.2 V8? Also, what are some of the hot spots I should be concerned with for the furture..things that either go wrong normally or issues that I might look for?

Thanks in advance for all the assistance!

boneheaddoctor · #2 11-01-2005, 01:36 PM

Get a Private inspection done by a qualified shop.....so you don't get burned on undisclosed problems...

How long it lasts depends on how well its been maintained it whole life.

Ali Al-Chalabi · #3 11-01-2005, 01:37 PM

I wouldn't worry about the lifespan of the engine. The entrie car will die around it and the engine will be the last thing left ticking. You can do a search, but you will find a pretty favorable opinion of the car overall.

Possible weak spots? If the evaporator leaks, it will be a pain to replace. Make sure it is in reasonable condition, otherwise expect to spend some money on various things such as suspension work, and the usual things that may need to be replaced after 12 years.

iwrock · #4 11-01-2005, 03:24 PM

I was about to buy another 400E with all of its records. The thing is this one had almost 300000 miles. It leaked brown and red, but it was still on its original trannie and motor. The M119 is one hell of a beast, and if you do the maintainence on schedule, and you keep it in god condition, she will last you at least another 15 years. Mine is about to see the 200000 mark. I am shootin for a million on my gasser.

Jim Anderson · #5 11-01-2005, 03:31 PM

If it's from Los Angeles at least you won't have to worry about rust.

diametricalbenz · #6 11-01-2005, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Anderson

If it's from Los Angeles at least you won't have to worry about rust.

No rust but 9942 door dings. Check the transmission thoroughly there's a lot of stop and go driving and many love to see how fast they can go between stoplights 100 ft. apart.