Should I buy a E320 or E420? - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Lebenz · #16 12-12-2003, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by dreamer
If you get the chance the E420 is the way to go.Once it gets a hold of you you will never be the same.

It gets in your blood and there's actually not a cure for it except to appease her as she begs you to press just a little harder on the pedal so she can show you what she can do.

You'll never regret it.Sorry for the long post but i attribute it to the effect she now has on me.

I agree 100%! The one i ended up buying was in NY. I had a PPI done by a MB dealer (who was not the place i bought it from), and the shop manager was nice enough to do the inspection himself and gave me a detailed report. After that i had it shipped to Seattle.

Oh, also, word to the wise: If you buy from any dealer, be sure to get a warranty, get the most coverage and the lowest deductable offered. I paid for a Wynns warranty. It covered a whole lot and offered 4 years and 48 thousand miles of warranty coverage. It was more than worth the cost and i still have about 2 years or 28 thousand miles of coverage remaining.

TimFreeh · #17 12-12-2003, 12:52 PM

I agree with all the response RE the E420. Only downside is your mechanic will not be too pleased if he has to work on the M119 engine that has been crammed into the W124 body. It's pretty obvious the W124 chassis was not intended to have V8 power - its an impressive fit job but lots of things take 2X to 3X more time due to very tight clearances under the hood.

The M119 will also run hotter - its important to have a well maintained cooling system if you are in hot climates.

Tim

#18 12-19-2003, 08:52 PM

Buy a 500E.

Hey, mine happens to be for sale!

Great deal.

Dave

DslBnz · #19 12-20-2003, 12:25 AM

I know its not as poweful as the M119, but the old 24-valve straight six delivers such a wonderful chorus when getting up to its 6400 rpm redline it brings tears to my eyes. That wonderful German gutteral six sound echoing back into the cabin off of buildings you pass by. Like my old '85 280SEL(I NEVER should have sold that car. I loved it to death, but so did winter salt).
Also, I believe that wonderful sound is what the new V6 lacks. It doesn't seem to have the same character as the I6. Of course that's just my opinion.

My W210 already has the 2.82 differential with overdrive.

As far as fuel economy, with the overdrive I have gotten as high as 27.5 mpg. Usually average around 22 - 24 mpg 'round town.

Holson Adi · #20 12-20-2003, 01:28 AM

Let's see... out of both my cars (Toyota Celica and E420, both 95s)

I bought my E420 from Hatch and Sons. www.hatchandsons.com

I paid a lot for it to be honest but they did put 4 new brake pads and discs, 4 new shocks, new belts, resprayed the bumper, and some other little stuff I don't remember.

They warranteed it for 1/2 a year and during that period I brought it in because my AC kept cutting off ( I swear it was the relay). They replaced the fan clutch because it was noisy and replaced the relay finally. The AC was great after. I brought it in a few times after to have a few things adjusted (free of charge) and it's been flawless ever since.

The M119 (though unfortunately it's not in its 5.0 liter form), is really smooth. It's not that fast but the SOUND... and the smoothness is just amazing. I've had people who know nothing about cars sit in the car and comment "wow... nice sound" when the engine rips past 2500rpm.

The 500E is something else obviously

The E420's nicer interior is also a welcome plus.

I drove and almost purchased a dark blue E320 Special Edition with cream interior, all leather, burlwood and everything.

It was fast..... and the M104 sounded beautiful! But the M119 definitely makes the W124 a really fine automobile. (It's even nice with a 2.0l carburated I-4 engine

in the 200 form)

sorry for being long winded. If I had the choice.. I'd definitely go the V8 way

im definitely biased though...

Good luck!

Either one is an awesome car.

BTW, yeah... the way the E420 accelerates above 60mph is amazing. It's just so effortless.

The celica's been pretty reliable...

It needs a new rear wiper motor $400 installed at the dealer, and two ABS speed sensors ($800) and the fender is so soft I could change its shape by pulling/pushing it out by hand.

then again.. it's a Toyota

bobbyv · #21 12-20-2003, 06:58 PM

the arguments for the E420 should also apply to the 400E, right? Since they are older, they should be less expensive.

and with the difference in price between the two, you can invest in Bosch Euro-headlamps, and it will do wonders for the looks of the car and performance of the headlamps. And if you have money left, you can purchase 16" 8-hole wheels and wider tires.

the E420 is the prettier of the two, with its more elegant grille and headlamps. But if someone attempts to steal your star, they can scratch the paint on the hood

A. Rosich · #22 12-20-2003, 10:12 PM

As I tell myself everyday after I drive my S 500 L: there is nothing like Mercedes-Benz V-8 power, period.

Just on this issue alone, you should get the E420!

BUT, you may consider a couple of interesting facts regarding this model:

The W124 M119-engined E420 was produced almost exclusively for the U.S. and Canadian markets to satisfy the urgency of more power and capacity (compared to the E320). Hence, it became a real limited number model.

M.B. factories in Europe could not fit such small numbers for a special niche model in their lines, so basically what they ended up doing was shipping unassembled W124s bodies and fully assembled M119 engines to Mexico.

In Mexico, at a Mercedes-Benz truck plant or the VW plant in Puebla (not sure which), workers will put together the W124 bodies and fit the M119 in it.

So purists consider this a total sin, preferring the E320 over the E420 just for this fact. Also, some E 420 owners complained about fit and finish problems (that the euro E320s did not present).

The other factor to consider is the the W124 chassis was never intended nor design in principle to carry a V-8 engine. Euro models had a wide range of 4, 5 and 6 cylinder engine options.

The fitting of the V-8 generated some cooling, suspension, and engine mount issues on the E 420 and E 500 W124s.

I am NOT trying to rain on your parade or anyone else, just wanted to share a couple of facts that you might consider important to make your purchase.

fahrgewehr2 · #23 12-20-2003, 11:24 PM

<<<>>>endqoute

Interesting stuff. Where did you hear this? Any further evidence?
Seems like if MBZ could find a way to stuff Turbodiesels in 116 and 126 chassis during the eighties (ok, from '78), just for the US, that they could put 4.2s in 124 cars without a problem? Were the european models then sent back to germany? This car was perhaps designed with the US market in mind, but was not a US only model. I'm not sure I buy this.

BUT, If its true, I'm buying a big "hecho en Mexico" bumper sticker!

Mike

carman850 · #24 12-20-2003, 11:41 PM

I would also like to see some evidence to back up "400E/E420 made in Mexico", as I have brought up this topic before, from VIN number, my 400E showed it was made in Germany, I would think MB wouldn't risk its corporate integrity for this.

A. Rosich · #25 12-22-2003, 01:42 PM

I knew E 420s owners who did not know about the "MADE IN MEXICO" issue would get highly sensitive about its REALITY.

Attached below is the official full production list for all model cars (tourstis as they officialy call them in Europe) made by Mercedes-Benz for production years 1995-1996 (tour. 95). This full production list covers models sold throught Europe, Latin America, some African and Asian countries (as it clearly refers for "lefthand drive").

Proof #1: Does anyone see a W124 E 420 / 400 E listed here?

I also have all the specific catalogs for W124 models for every year from 1986 up to 1995/6 in German and Spanish for the local markets in Germany, Spain and Latin America. No E 420 appears at in any on them.

In 1994 I ask the local M.B. dealer if an E 420 could be imported into the country. His answer was, and I quote: "E 420s are limited production models created exclusively for the U.S.A. and Canada, they are being assembled in México. We could provide you a quote on it, although we highly recommed against importing this model because we have recieved several negative comments about its final build quality. Get an E 500 instead."

Proof #2: Call the MBUSA toll free number and demand to know where exactly your E 420 was finally assembled. They should (by law) answer México.

VIN numbers does not at reflect country of final manufacture for a vehicle, since 100% of the pieces where coming from Germany for the E 420 and they were just put together in México, the car could be considered still German. Ask any G.M. pick-up owner about it.

Finally, would you have considered buying an E 420 at the Mercedes-Benz showroom if they had glued a big sticker on the side window that shouted: "PROUDLY BUILT IN MEXICO". I guess not. And please, do not get me wrong, I don't have anything against Mexican built goods, the matter is that if a consumer wants to pay for German engineering, he/she usually wants Geman built engineering.

Limited Edition · #26 12-22-2003, 02:14 PM

Here is some more information:

E320 Review

E420 Review

E500 Review

A. Rosich · #27 12-22-2003, 02:33 PM

Sorry, here is the official production list for W124s sedans on 1994-5 as explained on the previous post:

Limited Edition · #28 12-22-2003, 02:50 PM

Why does is show 190E's on the 1994-95 list?

Hatterasguy · #29 12-22-2003, 04:21 PM

300D Turbo 4 matic? That sounds pretty sweet why can't we get any of the cool models in the US. I wounder if you could get it with a 5 speed manual, cloth seats and manual everything. I would buy one in a seconed!

fahrgewehr2 · #30 12-22-2003, 06:31 PM

Interesting, but what model year does that listing represent? It can't be '95 as there are 190s listed. I see a 300E-24 (early 104)which would have been a pre 1993 (maybe pre '92?) model. So this may be a 1991 list- first year for the 500E.

Still need more proof. Intriguing info however.

Mike