What about the 400SEL ?

[86560SEL]

I am looking at a 1993 400SEL thats at a dealer lot.

Was 1993 the only years for these? I was told they were only made a couple of years, so I was wondering if they had wretched engines which was why they were discontinued. According to KBB, 1993 was the only year and I want to know why.

I know the basic W140 issues, but wondering about that 4.0L engine. Are they good engines and basically as reliable as the 4.2L? Parts hard to find for that engine?

Thanks.

[deanyel]

There is no 4.0 liter. The 92 400SE (swb) and 93 400SEL (lwb) were both 4.2 liters, same displacement as the later S420s. The 93 400SEL was the only long wheel base / letters in rear 4.2 liter 140 body but that motor was used throughout 140 body production from 92 to 99. It is one of the best MB engines ever made.

[mbdoc]

The car was the same as a 1994 S420....

As long as the timing chain is replaced at or around 125K, that is a good engine.

They do like distributor caps in humid areas.

[86560SEL]

Thanks. My bad. I was assuming since Mercedes used the liters of the engine as the model, I thought it was a 4.2L.

MB DOC - so timing chains are as a big a deal on these as the W126 V8s? Does this just pertain to the 4.2L, or the 5.0L 92-99 Mercedes as well?

I was asking about timing chains on these cars on another thread and one dude there said that timing chain problems are rare on the V8 W140s and not as big of a deal as they are on the W126 V8s.

If thats the case, I guess I will pass on a W140.

Looks like I will have to pass on all of them.. everytime I find a good deal, it gets gone before I get to it. No good deals on local Mercedes. Here in east Tennessee, these cars command very high prices for some odd reason.