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  #1  
Old 10-07-2015, 09:19 PM
Robert W. Roe's Avatar
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Talk me out of wanting a 1994 E420

This car is for sale locally for $3900.

http://www.fridayimages.com/17314007972014150510/C102216.jpg?1444267386

I owned a 1991 300TE the same color, one of my favorites.

I know about some of the issues, heat soak, AC evaporators, wiring harnesses, but I am still drawn to this car.

I'm driving a Honda minivan and my wife has a not very trouble free BMW wagon.

Sorry if I am posting this to the wrong forum but I figure I should ask some experts

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Bob Roe
Lehigh Valley PA USA
1973 Olds 88, 1972 MB 280SE, 1978 Datsun 280Z, 1971 Ford T-Bird, 1972 Olds 88, 1983 Nissan Sentra, 1985 Sentra, 1973 230.6, 1990 Acura Integra, 1991 Volvo 940GLE wagon, 1983 300SD, 1984 300SD, 1995 Subaru Legacy L wagon, 2002 Mountaineer, 1991 300TE wagon, 2008 Murano, 2007 R320CDI 4Matic 52K, some Hyundai, 2008 BMW 535xi wagon, all gone... currently
2007 Honda Odyssey Touring, 2014 E350 4matic
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  #2  
Old 10-07-2015, 09:46 PM
A Talent for Obfuscation
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Robert W. Roe View Post
This car is for sale locally for $3900.

http://www.fridayimages.com/17314007972014150510/C102216.jpg?1444267386

I owned a 1991 300TE the same color, one of my favorites.

I know about some of the issues, heat soak, AC evaporators, wiring harnesses, but I am still drawn to this car.

I'm driving a Honda minivan and my wife has a not very trouble free BMW wagon.

Sorry if I am posting this to the wrong forum but I figure I should ask some experts
Maintenance records?
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  #3  
Old 10-07-2015, 09:49 PM
Robert W. Roe's Avatar
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I haven't seen it yet except to stop at the used car place when they were closed. I will ask about records.
The guy told me over the phone that it was owned by a friend of his and it was repainted.
There is a very good independent Bosch service place that will do a pre-purchase inspection for $159.
I want to drive if first to see if I like it.
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Bob Roe
Lehigh Valley PA USA
1973 Olds 88, 1972 MB 280SE, 1978 Datsun 280Z, 1971 Ford T-Bird, 1972 Olds 88, 1983 Nissan Sentra, 1985 Sentra, 1973 230.6, 1990 Acura Integra, 1991 Volvo 940GLE wagon, 1983 300SD, 1984 300SD, 1995 Subaru Legacy L wagon, 2002 Mountaineer, 1991 300TE wagon, 2008 Murano, 2007 R320CDI 4Matic 52K, some Hyundai, 2008 BMW 535xi wagon, all gone... currently
2007 Honda Odyssey Touring, 2014 E350 4matic
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  #4  
Old 10-08-2015, 07:23 AM
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Beats driving a minivan, but then most everything does.

Real Mercedes don't have spark plugs. W123 is the best real Mercedes.

That said, bikes are funner for cheaper than cars.
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83 300D Turbo with manual conversion, early W126 vented front rotors and H4 headlights 400,xxx miles
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88 Jaguar XJS V12 94,xxx miles. Work in progress.
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  #5  
Old 10-08-2015, 11:32 AM
is thinning the herd
 
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I love Beryl Blue, or Teal-Green Metallic depending on who you ask.

Dad has a 92 300D 2.5 in that color, and a 94 E420 in midnight blue. Love them both, E420 is a great car. We paid similar money for one with a documented harness, ETA, cam oilers, and a long list of history since new. If its had the work done, its an obscure color, if the miles are reasonable I don't think the money is too far off.
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68 280SL - 70 280SL - 70 300SEL 3.5 - 72 350SL - 72 280SEL 4.5 - 72 220 - 72 220D - 73 450SL - 84 230GE - 87 200TD - 90 190E 2.0 - 03 G500

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  #6  
Old 10-08-2015, 09:22 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DieselPaul View Post
I love Beryl Blue, or Teal-Green Metallic depending on who you ask.

Dad has a 92 300D 2.5 in that color, and a 94 E420 in midnight blue. Love them both, E420 is a great car. We paid similar money for one with a documented harness, ETA, cam oilers, and a long list of history since new. If its had the work done, its an obscure color, if the miles are reasonable I don't think the money is too far off.
The money is right on for KBB with pretty low mileage. And I do love that color. Almost too much.
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Bob Roe
Lehigh Valley PA USA
1973 Olds 88, 1972 MB 280SE, 1978 Datsun 280Z, 1971 Ford T-Bird, 1972 Olds 88, 1983 Nissan Sentra, 1985 Sentra, 1973 230.6, 1990 Acura Integra, 1991 Volvo 940GLE wagon, 1983 300SD, 1984 300SD, 1995 Subaru Legacy L wagon, 2002 Mountaineer, 1991 300TE wagon, 2008 Murano, 2007 R320CDI 4Matic 52K, some Hyundai, 2008 BMW 535xi wagon, all gone... currently
2007 Honda Odyssey Touring, 2014 E350 4matic
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  #7  
Old 10-09-2015, 08:57 PM
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The $159 pre-purchase is worth the money, b/c it's unlikely the used car dealer will have the maintenance records. I'd also spend the money $30 or $40 on a Carfax. Lots of times the Carfax will list repair shops where the car has been serviced. I then call those shops and see what they can tell me about the car. That being said....judging from the long list of cars you owned, you'll know if it's a good car. Nothing like an MB V8....nothing!
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  #8  
Old 10-09-2015, 11:21 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by PARSHOOT1 View Post
/// That being said....judging from the long list of cars you owned, you'll know if it's a good car. Nothing like an MB V8....nothing!
I never owned a Mercedes V8 .... and I'm 57
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Bob Roe
Lehigh Valley PA USA
1973 Olds 88, 1972 MB 280SE, 1978 Datsun 280Z, 1971 Ford T-Bird, 1972 Olds 88, 1983 Nissan Sentra, 1985 Sentra, 1973 230.6, 1990 Acura Integra, 1991 Volvo 940GLE wagon, 1983 300SD, 1984 300SD, 1995 Subaru Legacy L wagon, 2002 Mountaineer, 1991 300TE wagon, 2008 Murano, 2007 R320CDI 4Matic 52K, some Hyundai, 2008 BMW 535xi wagon, all gone... currently
2007 Honda Odyssey Touring, 2014 E350 4matic
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  #9  
Old 10-10-2015, 11:22 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by PARSHOOT1 View Post
Nothing like an MB V8....nothing!
I have a couple of MB V8 cars but my bi-turbo MB V12 is by far the best engine.
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  #10  
Old 10-11-2015, 12:56 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by super SEC View Post
I have a couple of MB V8 cars but my bi-turbo MB V12 is by far the best engine.
I would agree, but this car is being offered for $3900 and the guy said there would be a discount if I pay cash...
That said, a 500E is a bit quicker, and those turbos do add a lot of excitement...
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Bob Roe
Lehigh Valley PA USA
1973 Olds 88, 1972 MB 280SE, 1978 Datsun 280Z, 1971 Ford T-Bird, 1972 Olds 88, 1983 Nissan Sentra, 1985 Sentra, 1973 230.6, 1990 Acura Integra, 1991 Volvo 940GLE wagon, 1983 300SD, 1984 300SD, 1995 Subaru Legacy L wagon, 2002 Mountaineer, 1991 300TE wagon, 2008 Murano, 2007 R320CDI 4Matic 52K, some Hyundai, 2008 BMW 535xi wagon, all gone... currently
2007 Honda Odyssey Touring, 2014 E350 4matic
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  #11  
Old 10-11-2015, 03:23 PM
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You are much better off with a 98 - 2002 E430 or E55. You should be able to pick one up for a few grand but there is no reason you couldn't get a 99 E55 in the $5k range. Just super reliable fun cars that are easy and cheap to own/maintain. The 210E is probably the best MB ever made. I know it is my favorite and has the reliability of a Honda Accord.
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  #12  
Old 10-12-2015, 02:15 AM
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In my opinion the 210 E is the worst E class ever put into production, there were numerous quality issues where they cut corners on materials at every possible corner.

Dashboards are garbage
Spring Perch and rust issues
Climate control issues

The W124 is by far the best Mercedes had to offer from the late 80s-early 90s. A 210 cant hold a candle to a w124.

As me how I know.
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2001 G500 (45k and counting)
1991 350SDL (211 and counting)
1998 C43 (50k) Silver/Black (sold)
1995 E500 (40k and counting) Pearl Black/Anthracite (sold)
1991 300CE (50k and counting) Silver/Black Cloth (sold)
1983 300D - 79k Classic White/Blue Leather
2002 E55 Obsidian Black/Black
1996 S600 Coupe - 75k Black/Black (traded)
1984 300D -145k (sold)
Silver Blue Metallic/ Blue Leather
1985 300D - 87k (sold)
Manganese Brown/ Palomino Leather
2005 E55, 50k(sold)
Flint Gray/Black
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  #13  
Old 10-12-2015, 06:58 AM
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I daily drive a W124 E500 and won't deter you from getting that E420. I'm actually kind of jealous that you'll have a 1st gear start tranny mated to that sweet, sweet V8...
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  #14  
Old 10-13-2015, 04:25 PM
is thinning the herd
 
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An E420 with a '92 WOT module and first gear start isn't that much slower than an E500. Put 2.82s in the E420 and you can probably run the same times as a stock E500. This has been beaten to death in the performance subsection if the OP cares about going fast.

I have a W210 E55 AMG. Amazing car, I love it. But I would never say its a better car than a W124. It was right in the thick of Mercedes experimenting with cheap steel, water based paint, and their cost cutting experience. W210 E55 will blow the doors of an E500 (awaiting the ********* backlash), but the W124 is the "better car" it all depends on what you want to do.

Admittedly everything I just said is an opinion. But I've had pretty much all of the USA W124s, and W210 E300s, E420s, and an E55. So I'll stick with loving my E55, but preferring my W124s.
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68 280SL - 70 280SL - 70 300SEL 3.5 - 72 350SL - 72 280SEL 4.5 - 72 220 - 72 220D - 73 450SL - 84 230GE - 87 200TD - 90 190E 2.0 - 03 G500

Nissan GTR - Nissan Skyline GTS25T - Toyota GTFour - Rover Mini - Toyota Land Cruiser HJ60 - Cadillac Eldorado - BMW E30 - BMW 135i
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  #15  
Old 10-15-2015, 04:40 AM
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I'm selling my 92 400E but it is by far the best driving W124 I have ever owned. Personally I wouldn't buy an E500E and find a nice 400E420. It's 80% of the car at 20% of the price.

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