1996-1997 Mercedes E320 or 2000-2001 Cadillac Deville - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

GradyService · #16 12-18-2007, 02:31 PM

Well, I had 2 W124's, one of the first ('86 300E), and one of the last ('95 E420). Neither were "troublefree", but I like the 86 was a better car than the 95. The 86 had its problems, (blew head gasket at 165k, probably due to insufficient maintenance), but the 95 seemed like one electrical nightmare after the other. By the time the car was 10 years old, and had 120k on it, it needed a throttle actuator (being a non ASR vehicle, I couldn't find an aftermarket or rebuilt one, and the dealership part cost nearly 2k), evaporator failed, sunroof went off track, power antenna motor was burnt out, oil pan leaked, transmission rear seal leaked, and the power window regulator was shot on the driver window.

I sold it for cheap, because I was sick and tired of her. Now, in retrospect, I sort of wish I had kept her and repaired her. I did buy her with low mileage (30k), and she was a starmark car. But, you can't turn back time, so may look at a W124, probably a 94-95 E320.

However, I have always like the W140, and the ones I've been in rode like nothing else. My insurance business is picking up, and if I buy a low maintenance daily driver (like a Buick Lesabre), I feel like I can afford the W140. The indy mercedes repair shops in this area charge between 70-100 dollars per hour, and I have a friend who is fairly competent working on MB's (he has done good on my 560), and he charges me 40 dollars per hour for work at his shop. He could handle maintenance, and minor repairs, with the mb shop handling major repairs.

Is there any reason that the S420 or 400SE/SEL is not a good model? I assume that the 500 is the same car, with a few more options, and a bored out version of the same V8. I do not want a 600, I'm scared of a V12. I have looked at a 92 300SE, a while back, it has since sold, but it was a pretty nice car, a little underpowered, but to the best of my understanding, it had the older design I-6 engine, without a Throttle actuator. Would a 92 300SE be considered a "good" W140?

Dave

GradyService · #17 12-18-2007, 02:32 PM

Oh, as far as another panther chassis ford, I would prefer to pass. I've had two of them, both lincoln town cars, and although they are a sturdy car, I can't say that I enjoy driving them.

Dave

Dee8go · #18 12-18-2007, 02:58 PM

I have a lincoln Continental. I like it. The ride is much firmer than the Town Car. It's be a good car and I'm hoping to get another 100K miles out of it.

OTOH, I do like the look of the newer Caddy's. I like the angular body styling. The CTS looks pretty good. Id'd LOVE to have one of the CTS-V's!

GradyService · #19 12-18-2007, 03:10 PM

Well, I looked at a few continentals, but I understand their trannys are somewhat weak. Thats what sold me on the T/C to start with, instead of the conti.

Dave

Jim B. · #20 12-18-2007, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GradyService

Well, I had 2 W124's, one of the first ('86 300E), and one of the last ('95 E420). Neither were "troublefree", but I like the 86 was a better car than the 95. The 86 had its problems, (blew head gasket at 165k, probably due to insufficient maintenance), but the 95 seemed like one electrical nightmare after the other. By the time the car was 10 years old, and had 120k on it, it needed a throttle actuator (being a non ASR vehicle, I couldn't find an aftermarket or rebuilt one, and the dealership part cost nearly 2k), evaporator failed, sunroof went off track, power antenna motor was burnt out, oil pan leaked, transmission rear seal leaked, and the power window regulator was shot on the driver window.

I sold it for cheap, because I was sick and tired of her. Now, in retrospect, I sort of wish I had kept her and repaired her. I did buy her with low mileage (30k), and she was a starmark car. But, you can't turn back time, so may look at a W124, probably a 94-95 E320.

However, I have always like the W140, and the ones I've been in rode like nothing else. My insurance business is picking up, and if I buy a low maintenance daily driver (like a Buick Lesabre), I feel like I can afford the W140. The indy mercedes repair shops in this area charge between 70-100 dollars per hour, and I have a friend who is fairly competent working on MB's (he has done good on my 560), and he charges me 40 dollars per hour for work at his shop. He could handle maintenance, and minor repairs, with the mb shop handling major repairs.

Is there any reason that the S420 or 400SE/SEL is not a good model? I assume that the 500 is the same car, with a few more options, and a bored out version of the same V8. I do not want a 600, I'm scared of a V12. I have looked at a 92 300SE, a while back, it has since sold, but it was a pretty nice car, a little underpowered, but to the best of my understanding, it had the older design I-6 engine, without a Throttle actuator. Would a 92 300SE be considered a "good" W140?

Dave

With labor rates that cheap, perhaps you can afford a W140, I hope you don't get a bad one, there are no shortage of them.

Have a full PPI done though, on the one you choose. The 300SE and S320 are 6 cylinder cars, and the complaint on them as to the other 140 cars, is that they are pretty underpowered to have to push all that weight around.

I don't know about the 400SE/S420, though, maybe it could work for you, if you got a good one.

I would beware of any of those "bargain" ones, you knwo, the $4000-$5000, W140 cars, they could have thousands of dollars of work to catch up on.

Really good minters would make more sense, the same warning for the other Mercedes cars apply here, maybe much more so, buy the best condition one, that you can afford, it is alway worth it later.

If I was going to get one though, I'd think a S500 would be the best bet, perhaps in a dark color like black, dark blue or dark red, one fussy Southern California owner, all books and records.

The 500 is a good engine, and in the USA it only came as a long wheelbase SEL car. It has enough grunt to propel the car with verve, and with gas prices up, makes for a good buy, the prices are depressed for these cars these days.

I think if I had to get one I would look for a '99 Grand in good shape..

The are limited edition, only 600 made, all of them standard in Obsidian Black, all of them with the 500 engine, birds eye maple interior, AMG wheels, special steering wheel, interior trim, floormats, door sills, and other "Grand Edition" equipment that memorialized the going out of a very impressive looking car.

Yeah a nice '99 Grand could work if you've your heart set on a W140.

But they have to be chosen VERY carefully, get one with no issues.

'92 models are the first year of these complex issues cars, and I think you'd be better off with anything other than a first year of one of these.

The 97-99 ones had most or at least many, of the issues fixed with them, but sadly, MB quality control was starting to slide by then, so I would be careful.

You'd need a good EXAMPLE of whichever one, that you'd buy. If you pay more now, hopefull you won't have to pay more later.

They are excellent highway cruisers, and a bit ponderous in town, and for parking, but very comfortable, and for the mother of all accidents, this is the car to be in.

And nevermind the Princess, she didn't wear her seatbelt in the S280 death car, whe would have survived if she did

Skid Row Joe · #21 12-18-2007, 03:30 PM

Quote:
Originally Posted by Skid Row Joe

Buy a '96 -- '99 E300D or TD, is my Rx.

Skip the Cadillac aging ghetto-cruisers........

Quote:

Originally Posted by catmandoo62

ghetto-cruiser now theres a phrase i haven't heard since i had one in the late 70's.

It's also a phrase I heard from a cousin in Minnesota, in 1978, that fit when he saw me driving my daily-driver, a black, 1971 Cadillac Fleetwood 75-Sedan, a real POS.

Nowadays, they're taking a brand new Chevy Impala, putting these huge-high, chrome mag wheels/tires on them......in effect a "brand-new" ghetto-cruiser.

I've been there, done that, with the ghetto-cruiser thing in the late '70s - early '80s. Never again for me.

GradyService · #22 12-18-2007, 03:54 PM

Okay, lets straighten something out. I would rather drop dead than drive anything that looks ghetto. In my small southeastern NC town, cars like I drive, ie my old caddy and lincoln, aren't considered "Ghetto". They are still driven by wealthy, influential (if older) businesspeople, who do not live in anything like a "Ghetto". In the "ghetto" area here, old Chevy caprices are the standard fare, as well as new Chrysler 300's with mesh grilles and twenty inch wheels. There is one cadillac that is driven by a "ghetto" inhabitant here, a 87 Fleetwood FWD, with landau bars, wire wheels, and a full vinyl roof. It looks ghetto. I don't consider my cars to look ghetto. I have never heard any of my cars called "Ghetto".

I live in the most affluent neighborhood of my small town, and most of my next door neighbors are businesspeople and professionals. I see the ones who are younger driving Toyotas or Hondas, with a late model Tahoe or Suburban in the drive for the weekend cruiser. The older residents, usually drive Cadillac Devilles or Lincoln Town Cars, fairly late model (00 or up), and have something like a pickup or van for utility use. Personally, I consider a "ghetto" car one that the wheels of cost more than the person who drives it's house. In light of that, come to think of it, I don't believe there are but 2 mercedes benzes here in town, mine, and the dentist's 2000 S500.

Dave

LUVMBDiesels · #23 12-18-2007, 03:59 PM

Go find a 1996 Impala SS. You will have the best of both worlds. Chevy reliability and a ride that is light years better than a Caprice or a Lincoln. I loved my SS and put over 100K on her without a single problem. The only thing to get replaced on her were tires

and spark plugs. I wish I still had her, but the exwife got her and sold her!

Get one that has not been bastardized with go-fast goodies and you cannot go wrong.

In my opinion the 1996 was the best year out of the three as they finally had a console shifter and real bucket seats. You can still find them relatively cheaply and in great shape.

That being said, my next choice would be a later W126. I just saw one that had been rolled at 75+ mph, hit a tree and had the right side and right roof take a LOT of damage. The driver, the wife of a friend of mine, walked away from it with only cuts from the flying glass! Damn safe car! I told my friend to give it to MBUSA as a testimonial.

GradyService · #24 12-18-2007, 04:01 PM

Okay, I wouldn't have any chevy impala, or caprice for that matter, for the basic reason that it is the car of choice for local drug dealers. I can't go to somebody's house to sell him insurance and the person to be scared to open the door.

Dave

Benzadmiral · #25 12-18-2007, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skid Row Joe

Quote:
Originally Posted by Skid Row Joe

Buy a '96 -- '99 E300D or TD, is my Rx.

Skip the Cadillac aging ghetto-cruisers........

It's also a phrase I heard from a cousin in Minnesota, in 1978, that fit when he saw me driving my daily-driver, a black, 1971 Cadillac Fleetwood 75-Sedan, a real POS.

Nowadays, they're taking a brand new Chevy Impala, putting these huge-high, chrome mag wheels/tires on them......in effect a "brand-new" ghetto-cruiser.

I've been there, done that, with the ghetto-cruiser thing in the late '70s - early '80s. Never again for me.

Trust me, the ghetto-cruiser look is very much alive down here in The Swamp. Every day I see Pontiacs, Cadillac Escalades, Olds Cutlasses, and even Nissan Altimas (!) with the silly huge tires and silly giant spinner chrome wheels. Almost always accompanied by a $$tereo driven to full volume, crashing and thumping out some incomprehensible gabble. And fake fender ports; don't forget those. And a tinted windshield or back glass decal spelling out the car's name in Old English white lettering.

More times than not, all of this glitters on a car that needs paint or body work!

Since others have mentioned the Impala and the Cadillac, I guess it's my job to weigh in with a word for the other big GM car, the Buick. Older (1997-2005) Park Avenues, the big sedan that I have, can be had for a song, and are uber-reliable in engine and transmission. You also mention the LeSabre; those had the same drivetrain, I believe. I've upgraded my PA with thicker rotors and ceramic pads in front, and am in the process of changing out all the fluids.

I drive it smoothly but briskly, not, I think, like your stereotypical AARP member. It's smooth and confident, and performed like a champ on my recent trip to Little Rock (31.9 mpg highway!). There's also the Ultra, the supercharged model with stiffer suspension and an extra 40 hp. They're worth a look, too.

Buicks used to have the rep of being "doctors' cars," back when doctors made house calls, I guess. Especially in a small town, a doctor who could afford a Cadillac wouldn't want his patients to think he was doing so well because he was overcharging them; so he'd go Buick.
.

GradyService · #26 12-18-2007, 04:14 PM

Well, I plan on getting a Late 90's lesabre for my work. I sell insurance, and travel around 700 miles per week. I have an associate who has a 99 Park Avenue, and she has 201k on the clock, and the most expensive thing she ever had done to it was replacing the plastic upper intake at 170k when it split. That cost about 500.00, and was done at the GM dealer, and included new plugs, wires, hoses, and a reman starter. They are great commuter cars, and pretty comfy. However, I want a MB as well as the buick, in order to have something to enjoy on the weekend.

Dave

suginami · #27 12-18-2007, 04:23 PM

I used to work for a food distributor, and we had about 75 sales reps that drove Olds Cutlasses as company cars. The managers drove Olds Eighty Eights. All of the cars had the 3.8 liter V6.

In about 1995, the company decided to go with a car allowance instead of providing company cars, and sold the cars to the reps at ridiculously cheap prices.

Most of the cars went around 250,000 miles with few problems. A common complaint was that they went through alternators and water pumps every 60,000 miles.

GradyService · #28 12-18-2007, 04:29 PM

Any 3.8 equipped GM vehicle is bound to be a pretty good car. They just don't have any "prestige". I have no problem driving one every day, but there is a difference between driving a Buick and owning a Mercedes Benz, and driving a Buick and owning only that Buick. People who know you, which in the insurance business (I still sell real estate, but it is more of a sideline now, with the market dropping like it has), would think that you had fell on somewhat hard times if you sold your MB, Caddy, and Lincoln, and bought a Buick, unless it was a new Lucerne or Enclave. Also, my few remaining real estate clients would take notice as well, and image is more important than most people think in the commissioned sales industry.

Dave

greasybenz · #29 12-18-2007, 06:01 PM

I say a W140, i loved my S420 to death. And out of all the MB's i have and have owned it was the most reliable.

I didnt like the S320's power and the S500's in the same condition as my S420 cost to much $$$. The 4.2L V8 wasnt very thirsty either. But it was a great car overall, i wish i didnt sell it, but im on a hunt for a 500E

nh500sl · #30 12-18-2007, 08:25 PM

I would go with a Pre-owned Lexus LS 400 Very good cars and will hold the re-sale better then the buick or cadillac