Wanted to buy: E420

[JCE]

My son wants to purchase a 1994 or 1995 E420. He wants a clean, unmodified (no non-MB parts, chips, lowering kits, etc), accident-free car with all maintenance records and relatively low mileage. He prefers issues such as wiring harness to have already been addressed. He wants Silver paint, and a California car, especially SoCal, but other colors and locations will be considered.

Post or PM me with your cars specs and I will pass them on to him.

Thanks for looking!

[placo1]

Hi John,

Did your son give up on finding a 500E / E500? Mines for sale BTW although I don't think it's the colors he wants. .

[JCE]

Hi Afshin:

Yep - he decided that he still wants a 500E, but too many things are in the way of his dream car right now (lack of a garage, etc). So he is going with an E420 as a reasonable compromise for the next couple of years. His 84 Celica GTS is getting a bit tired (320,000 miles on original drivetrain) and he doesn't think it will last until he can do a 500.

I never thought you would sell your beauty - it is such a nice car! Any nibbles yet?

[JCE]

ttt

[suginami]

Hey John,

Is he looking in the most usual places, like autotrader.com, and the weekly mags like Auto Trader, Photo Buys, etc.?

I'll keep my eyes peeled for him.

BTW, what is his budget?

[JCE]

Hi Paul:

Yeah, he has even left his number at the stealership. He is still checking on 500Es jsut in case someones ex who doesn't know about cars wants to sell their one owner 5000 mile 92 500E for low blue book , but if he finds one like that, he is still faced with not having access to a garage or carport, etc.

Thanks for offering keeping your eye out for him! We saw a clean looking silver 400E in Newport Beach on the weekend with a for sale sign in the window, but with traffic it we couldn't get close enough to get a number, and it doesn't match up to anything in the papers or autotrader, so ?????

[suginami]

Does this mean that he'd consider a 1992 or 1993 400E?

He might prefer the face-lifted look, but with Euro headlights, I think the older style grill looks better. IMHO, the additional chrome in the '86-'93 hood looks better.

[JCE]

Paul:

I prefer the older grill as well - he leans a bit more towards the 'newer' look. His main goal is reliability mixed with fun, preferably in a silver car. (His white Celica is being destroyed by being out in the elements, and he swears he will never have another white car!)

Did they make an E420 Spec Edtn in 95?

PS How are the twins and Tomoko doing?

[suginami]

The twins are doing great. They are 7 months old now, and are sleeping through the night. Thanks for asking.

You say he leans toward the updated look, but will he accept a '92-'93 400E if it is clean and the right price?

AFAIK, all 1995 E320's and E420's are special edition models. They all have polished / clear coated 8 hole wheels, and E320's have the same burlwood interior as E420's (instead of zebrano).

[suginami]

Here is a link to a lot that has a nice '93 400E:

http://www.aprombz.com/

This place specializes in used BMW's and Mercedes. They sell a lot of nice cars, as well as having a huge recycling business.

[suginami]

He should also check out this outfit:

Tilos European ********
200 West Coast Highway
Newport Beach California 92663
(800)799-8456

They also have a used car lot in Fountain Valley, but I don't have the address handy. They specialize in only very clean cars.

I know they have a website, I just couldn't find it.

[JCE]

You say he leans toward the updated look, but will he accept a '92-'93 400E if it is clean and the right price?

Yes, as long as wiring harness/etc issues are done. What was the first year they went to r134a and the upgraded cooling system, do you know? R12 is VERY hard to get in south Orange county - several years ago AQMD told all the local shops that r12 was prohibited, and only approved conversions could be done. Air quality has since backed off a bit, but is showing signs of doing another 'ban' on r12 down here.

The other issue with the 92 is the pathetic DOT lights would need replacing. No big deal, but his reasoning is that by the time you do the lights, harness, etc. then you are talking about the same price ballpark as a 94/95.

[Bob I]

There is an incorrect impression that all 1995 W124 models were “Special Editions” since that was the last year for this body style. The Special Edition models were introduced around April of 1995, so not all 1995 W124 models were Special Editions. The Special Edition package included special metallic paint, special alloy wheels, integrated analog cell phone, trunk mounted six-disk CD player, high performance 10 speaker sound system, drivers seat memory, electrically adjustable steering column (no tilt), stainless steel door sills and burl walnut interior trim.

On the E320 and E300 diesel the extra cost was $1,295 for the options that were worth about $4,300. The E420 package cost only $495 since it already had burl walnut trim, driver seat memory, and special wheels. Paint colors available were Moonstone Grey, Azure Blue, Sapphire Black (exclusive to the Special Edition) and a new color called Brilliant Emerald Green.

The official Mercedes Benz of North America position was that the release of the 1995 E Class Special Edition was to celebrate the 10th year of production of the W124 series. I think it was more likely that back in 1995, Mercedes had a tough time moving the W124 E Class since the new W210 E Class was going to be released in the 1996 model year. Lexus had also been taking sales away from Mercedes Benz. I’m sure the real reason for creating the Special Edition model for the 300D, E320 and E420 was to spur sales.

I have a 1995 E420 Special Edition in emerald green. There aren't too many E420 Special Editions out there, but they do exist.

[suginami]

Originally posted by JCE
What was the first year they went to r134a and the upgraded cooling system, do you know?

The other issue with the 92 is the pathetic DOT lights would need replacing. No big deal, but his reasoning is that by the time you do the lights, harness, etc. then you are talking about the same price ballpark as a 94/95.

He is in luck. 1992 400E's came from the factory with r134a.

My take on the lights is that even if I had a '94-'95 W124, I'd still get the real Euro's. Just because they look like Euro's doesn't mean they put out good light. They don't. And the point is that he needs to be able to see at night.

Regarding the wiring harness, the failure rate on '92-'93's appears to be higher than '94-'95's, but there are still guys replacing them on the later models.

[Chris Blanchard]

Have your friend call me, I've got a 94 Silver/Black E420 for sale right now. It's got the CD changer, traction control.

No accidents, but I think the right front fender had been scraped and fixed. I have all the dealer records from RAB Motors in Marin County, CA. Car was originally a starmark vehicle. He got is at 36k miles, it now has 127k.

No expense spared in keeping up this E420. Have all records.

Either I sell this one or my 92 300D 2.5 Turbo (162k). One of them must go.

Chris Blanchard
Cincinnati, OH
1994 E420 127k
1992 300D 2.5 Turbo 162k
1991 300TE 4matic 155k (sold)
1985 300D 188k (sold)
1984 300SD 165k (sold)