400e
 

I am thinking of purchasing a 400e as a second car. Probably a 94 or so. Those are affordable to me. Any words of wisdom?
Thanks

I'm looking for one of these too Rob. Very impressive cars. Perform a search on '400E' and/or 'E420' and you'll find much pratical and informative bits on these cars - there are many owners here with 100kmi's of personal experience.

Regards,
- Ryan

400E is the way to go!
 

Unless you can afford a 500E ($30K-40K), an early 90's 400E (W124) is the way to go. Common service items are replacing the caps & rotors around 60,000 miles, and timing chain around 100K. Change all of your fluids when you get it (replace with Amsoil or Redline synthetic if you can) and you should expect years of trouble free motoring. Hold out for a 400E with reasonable service records. There is also great tech support for the DIYer at this site. Check the featured cars section as well for some good reading.
Note: the 500E is an INCREDIBLE machine, but has more Gremlins than I have time (and $) to deal with right now.

I just bought one last week. This is a 93 400E with 110K on it and very well maintained. It drives better than a brand new car and has awesome power. You drive one of these and any logical person would conclude that those German engineers are unbeatable. I am really amazed at this car. My friends came over this weekend to test drive it and they all went home embarrassed in their Nissans, Fords and Toyotas. You sit inside this car and you can't even hear the sucker idle. My wife tried to start it twice thinking that it hadn't started the first time. I know maintenance on this car will cost a few dollars more but it is worth it.

smk_texas
93 400E 110k
86 BMW 325 e 147K

A great car
 

The little brother to us 500E boys...also check on the blower for the climate control...they All seem to go on W124s after 100K miles and it is costly to repair (about a grand). Good luck and good choice...you won't be sorry when you finally get one. Also, throw syth. oils (I like Redline) in the tranny and rear dif...makes a difference.

Have a 93 400E and a 97 E420. Bought the 400 in 96 and have had an interesting life with it. Have had 2 trannys put in it and an engine,,,, all under warranty. The engine was replaced last year when the car had 70K on it and the Rep said the problem was a factory screw up and they ate the $18,000 repair bill. Can't begin to say enough about the dealer and the car. Have gotten used to the traction control on the 97 as the 93 will smoke the tires just about any time. All in all the 93 has been a fantastic car and do not regret buying it in the least. Might part with it soon though and it will have a couple years warranty left on the engine.

97 E420?
 

PJG56,
I've heard rumors about corrosion & poor paint quality on the 97 (98?) E420's? I know that they were recalled twice, once for the air bags, and once for some kind of corrosion. Can you enlighten me on exactly what the corrosion recall entailed? I was considering a 97-98 E420 until I heard about the poor paint quality & saw the corrosion recall, now I really want a low miles 95 since it is the last year of the old body style.
Since you own both body styles I think that you'd be the man to ask.

Kowached,
We own an autobody shop and know a little about paint on cars. The paint on the 97,,, Smoke Silver,,, is just about the most perfect paint job I have ever seen. I check all cars I buy with an Electronic Thickness Gauge for paint work and this car has never been touched. As far as the corrosion recall you mentioned, I have no knowledge of that and perhaps it was done on one of my service visits. A lot of times it is just a drain hole that is plugged and if not cleared could lead to a problem down the road.
Pete