94 E420 worth the engine rebuild?
 

recently bought a 94 E420 (140K) with a blown head gasket for $1500. I initially thought I just need to replace the head gasket and I am set to go. However, my mechanic tells me that the gasket is replaced before and the block and head is too damage to proceed. I got a quote of a replacement engine for $1650 and R & I labor of $1500. Is this worth it? The interior is a bit worn and the body need a new paint job.

Sounds like a parts car to me. The market values just aren't there to fix such a car.

i am afraid of that. junk car it is.

You can probably get most of your money back by parting it out.

I'd like to know where you can get a used M119 engine for only $1650. That seems really cheap to me...

Rgds,
Chris W.

$1650 + $1500 labor?!!! That's pretty cheap, especially for an M119!

My M104 top-end rebuild ran about $2300, and the motor was pretty solid at the time!

But even with that low estimate, from a cost-versus-value perspective, it's not a wise investment.

Most of us that are still tooling around with vintage MBs (i.e pre 2000) have probably far exceeded the net worth of our vehicles...it's a labor of love at that point.

That said...lessee...what do I need from an E420 donor car that I can transplant over to my W124? :idea3:

I got a friend that is getting the engine for me. Another friend to put in the motor, so they are very sweet. I like the car, but man hate to see it go to the junk yard. the body is straight, just need a paint job. if i have space, i will keep it as my parts car for my 92. i thought i can save the this 94 E420. whenever the 92 dies, the 92 was going to be my parts car for this one.. the plan just didn't work out. Just lost some money on the labor of pulling the heads out.

What do you guys think the value of a 94 E420 is that needs a paint job? (provided that it is running condition)

I suspect it's worth at least $4k, probably more. Including his purchase price of $1,500, he'd be into the car $4,650.

Seems to me his cost would just about equal the value of the car, plus he has a nice E420 to drive around in.

I think I'd do it.

I might consider doing it too, but then let's say a month later the trans starts acting up. I'd be really sorry then...

Yes that's right, but I guess it's the risk we all take when buying or maintaining a car that's over 10 years old, and a transmission rebuild or a/c overhaul is nearly worth the value of the vehicle.

I'm a big fan of W124 cars, and sometimes I wish I'd a kept my 1993 300E (3.2), and think they're the cost of keeping on the road.

...and a justifiable concern

Even after the expense of the top-end rebuild on mine, the current tranny was already hopeless.

Fortunately, a forum member was parting out his W124, and I picked this up for a great price...sitting in my garage for later when the tranny finally gives up the ghost...

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a1...r/IMG_0369.jpg

all reasonable argument. i love to hold on to it, but like many members here, the value is just not there.

I subscribe to hotrod magazine and they featured a paint job that used a roller brush and a bucket of rustoleum. Cost was around $100 for materials and a week of labor. Turned out pretty neat after they sanded and buffed the surface.