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 :D

Maintenance records?

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.

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.

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. :eek:

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!

I never owned a Mercedes V8 .... and I'm 57

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...:confused:

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.

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.

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...

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.

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.