The wiring harness problem was fixed after 1995 production models.

The A/C evaporator problem was NEVER fixed on W140s !!!

Why? Simple: the problem with the evaporator comes from the mix of copper and alluminun on the unit. Mercedes insisted on using this same combo until the end, even worse, if you buy an evap to replace a failing unit from an authorized M.B. dealer you will get the same DEFECTIVE copper/alluminun evap.

Many people believe the '98 sand '99s W140s are inmune to the evap failure, but they are not. They were simply to new to start showing the problems as older 90's models were doing. Eventually, they will all fail.

The only solution is to switch to an aftermarket FULL copper evap when the original fails.

__________________
A. Rosich
CL 500, 1998
S 500 L, 1998
E 320 T, 1995 [Sadly sold ]

And the aftermarket company that makes the FULL copper evaporater is made by ACM, I believe.

It's been mentioned here before if you experiment with the search function.

__________________
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".

Where are you getting your information from? I find it hard to believe Mercedes would intentionally ignore such a huge problem for over 8 years through the entire production run of their top of the line car.

As a matter of proffesional courtesy I rather not reveal my source, but believe me, IT IS TRUE !

Actually, to get things even worse, evaps that were early changed on early 90's models are already starting to fail for the SECOND time around because of the same design fault.

Ignore the problem??? No, they haven't ignore it, they are fully aware of the whole situation. They just made numbers and found out that it is more exponsive for them to recognize the problem, design a new evap, and give the previous owners legal proof to demand a new evap free of charge. Anyway, they are making more money than they want with the labour costs of replacing the evaps on existing W140s.

__________________
A. Rosich
CL 500, 1998
S 500 L, 1998
E 320 T, 1995 [Sadly sold ]

That philosophy is becoming less attractive and more expensive in the long run for big companies. It works great until you find that one owner who has the time and motivation to get a class action started. I'm surprised the wiring harness people have not jumped on the bandwagon yet and hauled MB into painful ugly litigation.

THANKS everyone for your input, I passed on the W140 for now - really need to stay with the wagons for the foreseable future -

Brian

Brian,

With as much good information as this board has there is a lot of bad information as well. Don't let the horror stories of the 140 scare you off. Its really a wonderful car. Many of the horror stories are from people who did not understand their cars and took them to mechanics who also did not understand their cars.

Robert Chase

I do worship my W140! I think it is the best designed, best built, best featured and best overall car ever built up to date. I would NOT trade it for anything and Mercedes nor anyone else will ever built a car like it again.

In terms of maintenance, my S 500 L has proved (as Jim Forgione always says too) to be cheaper to run and more reliable than all my previous W124Ts and W123T wagons combined.

The W140 issues about the A/C evap, door closing assist pump, rear window regulators, and early production model faults are not horror stories, they are just plain and real facts about certain design faults which irritates some owners. Other owners like me understand that nothing can be perfect and such minor incoviniences are just some bumps in the road of the real honor of owning the best production car ever manufactured.

__________________
A. Rosich
CL 500, 1998
S 500 L, 1998
E 320 T, 1995 [Sadly sold ]

You mentioned the 140 is only produced for North America ? and with regards to ignoring the huge problem by MB, believe it, they'll ignore the complaint until there are tons of complainant airing it out with the government or consumer group, unlike othe car makers they put extra attentions to recalls and technical service bulletin, and thats a FACT. (just for your information).