I am looking for a W124 V8. Should I go for a 92/93 400E, or a 94/95 E420? I think I want to stay away from the 500s because of the price/exclusivity/insurance and so on. The only difference I know of between the 400E and E420 is the front grille/headlights and white turn signals. Are there any major differences in engines, trannies, mechanicals, other cosmetics, or anything else worth noting, or "bad spots" on either? Recommendations? Thanks for any help.

500E/E500 is a completely different beast than any other w124 chassis car.

The 400e has a v8, but the 500E is not your run of the mill w124.

Completely different suspension, wider track, built as a collaboration between mercedes and porsche, and partially assembled on the porsche 959 assembly line.

Couple that with a 322 hp Mercedes v-8, the car is one of my all time favorite benzes.

The headlights have aux high beams instead of fog lights. the fog lights are in the front spoiler.

a 400e is essentially a 300e with a v8. the 500e is a different animal all together, completely reworked by mercedes and porsche from the frame up.

A 400e/e420 is great. if you prefer the updated look of the 94-95, go for the e420. otherwise a 400e will be a little cheaper, and essentially same car as an e420 wihtout the updated looks.

Alon

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'92 300CE - Sold
2004 C240 - 744 - C7 Wheels - Android Radio
2002 C320 - 816 - Sport Wagon

The 94 + update looks good in my opinion, but the E420 or 400E is not just an E320 or 300E with a V8. Brakes, suspemsion and transmission are all upgraded to handle the extra power. Interior trim is also upgraded. Just because the numbers are different doesn't mean much, both the 400 and 420 had the same 4.2l engine.

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Jason Priest
1999 E430
1995 E420 - retired
1986 420SEL - retired

I have a 95 E420,I like the updated look.
The hood,headlights,grill,and the dark
interior wood trims.I just wish MB,retains
the 92-93 front and rear bumper style.
500E-E500?? Someday!

Differences:

My '94 E320 also has a passenger side airbag, R134 Freon stock from the factory, and there's about a 1" additional ground effect on the rear bumper cover. It wraps around the exhaust tip and looks pretty cool. It's a subtle difference, but noticable with the two cars side-by-side.

These differences probably apply to the E420 as well.

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D.H.

04 ML500
02 E430

Experience is something you don't get until just after you need it.

I believe 1993 is sort of a hybrid model between the 92 and the 94-95. They all have wood trim, though, which I believe arrived in all E-classes in 90 or 91.

1993 received R134 refrigerant and the interior upgrades: passenger side airbag (you lose the glove box), the armrest with the flip-up storage compartment, and the locking compartment with the sliding wooden door underneath the armrest (to provide storage for the lost glove box).

94-94 models got the exterior upgrades: redesigned grill section of the hood (trust me, the hood shape is exactly the same! It is the grill section only that's different), front and rear bumpers completely painted; the rear center formerly black portion of the rear bumper also wraps around completely instead of extending to just the corners of the bumper, European style headlights, almost clear corners, and tail lights that are clear and red (no amber), and trunk that has a chrome strip beneath the Mercedes star symbol instead of the black plastic strip.

I believe the 92-93 also have the same engine size (4.2 liters) even though the numbers are 400E. I've also read that horsepower numbers changed, although I can't really verify that for sure.

I don't think there is anything wrong with any of the model years at all. They all have the timing chain issue and weak rail guides, though.

I'd get a 93 or newer to get the new R134 refrigerant to avoid conversion issues.

While I like both the new and the old hood / grill treatments, everyone seems to be unanimous that the new headlights look soooo much better.

I'd therefore look for a 94-95 model, but if I found a clean, low-mileage, good deal on a 93, I'd buy it and purchase real Bosch or Hella European headlights and clear corners.

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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".