New (to me) E420 w124!
 

Yes, I'm excited.

I decided it was time to update my dd.

The list of items needing attention on my 1987 300E had grown to the point where it was less expensive to update to a new(er) car, and I had a choice between a 400E, E420 (W124,1994) and an E420 (W210, 1997).

Mileage? All about the same, from 95,000 miles to 115,000 miles.

My emotional bond to the W124 reduced the options to the first two, and my emotional bond to my money made me decide on the E420, which was about $1500 less than the 400E.

So, after driving it the first day, I am left with 95 percent happiness, and 5 percent disappointment with issues that I missed during prebuy inspection. None of those issues would have dissuaded me from buying, but they might have made me negotiate just a smidgen harder, and I might have come away with a few dollars with which to address said disappointments.

Happiness points;

Much smoother power (of course) than my 300E, although I never had any complaints.

Quieter, although the thought of a more aggressive exhaust on that German V8 intrigues me.

In general, everything works. Windows, sunroof, blower, A/C. Not always a given on a 20 year old car. When I bought the 300E, the second day I owned it, the cruise control quit. (Maybe I should wait another day before being so happy?)

More power.

Feels very tight. Suspension is quiet, firm, and stable. Just like it should be.

Did I mention more power?

The leather interior just feels more luxurious than the albeit 'tough as nails' MB Tex.

I'm not naive enough to believe issues won't surface in the coming months, but I'm prepared to put some money into what seems like a really nice W124.

The 300E has been spoken for by my niece, who has shown her excellent discernment of automotive quality by loving the car.

We'll make DIY projects out of replacing the shocks, muffler. The Sunroof, which doesn't open, will have to wait. I loved that car, too. Something about an early 300E that just seems so true to what a simply excellent car should be.

Any comments or questions gladly accepted!

Ah thinx Ima hate on u.

Not really. W124 with a V-8 is a dream car for me.

LOL.

It's ok.

A good hate-on is sometimes what we need!

At the moment, I think the E420 might just be undervalued.

Not as sexy as the E500, or 500E, and I'm guessing there were more produced than were 400E's, although that's just based on mere speculation.

Good luck in getting your dream!

Yeah, my dream is looked at through the opposite end of the telescope. I'm gonna buy a 38 hp 4wd tractor with a front-end loader instead. I have a sinking feeling about my Benz dream. 18 years ago I had a great opportunity to by a W126 420 SEL in an estate sale. I fooking blew it. The sum***** who bought it is still driving it around. See it every now and then. It still looks garage kept. I have to hate on him, don't I? I mean, it's only fair.

LOL.

Of course it's fair!

On the other hand, it's a bit like drinking poison, and expecting the other guy to die.

If he does, perhaps his widow will sell you the car......

LOL! Excellent! A whole new dimension of vendetta. You're gonna fit in really well around here.

Just to whet your appetite .......

E420 (W124) 0-60 mph Elapsed Time - YouTube

A taste for vendetta, and a willingness to rub it in.

;)

I love the smoothness of the acceleration. It hits the power band and does quickly change the acceleration rate but it is well match to the shift.

Wonder if the windows were down. Sounds like it.

I'm sure they were.

And, to be fair, as much as I tried to time the stopwatch to start when the acceleration begins, you might have to add a fraction of a second to get a more accurate, repeatable, number.

I'm just uploading another one from a different car that goes up to 165 kph.

LOL, I'm thinking of starting a website, or at the very least, a YouTube Channel called "How long did that take?"

In praiise of the w124 e420
 

I have one for my daily driver that I got about two years ago and it's just sensational!

I bought a 1995 because it was the last year of them, and the last of the e class series built to a cost no object standard of excellence.

Plus the Bruno Sacco styling that looks perfect and iconic and can'tbe mistaken for anyting but a Mercedes Benz.

I have added 17"AMG monoblocks, a Lorinser rear spoiler, euro front blinkers, a euro trunk triangle ('WARNDRIEICKE") and a Remus e500 exhaust. Plus last year deleted the resonator and while in Stuttgart last year also purchased a factory skid plate (NLA in the US) from the Mercedes Benz dealer there. that I later arranged to be shipped home and is now on the car too. So I am all set now,and enjoying the car,modified exactly as I want it to be....

I have the feeling that the car will last forever.

The first owner told me that it was THE BEST car he has ever owned. He is about 60. He had told me he named it PENELOPE after the most faiithful woman in literature.

But to me it was the Red Plum....(color/license plate)

Now:

Pictures or it didn't happen!

ok:

http://i353.photobucket.com/albums/r...0/photo_13.jpg

http://i353.photobucket.com/albums/r...20/photo_6.jpg

http://i353.photobucket.com/albums/r...20/photo_2.jpg

http://i353.photobucket.com/albums/r...0/photo2-1.jpg

Enjoy your ride.

Did you know the ONLY countries to ever receive the w124 e420 were the USA and Japan? Not even Germany got them........

Can you share a picture of yours with us?

Those reasons are exactly why I opted for the W124 over the W210.

On pure visual design, I love the front of the W210, but it feels like the designers were too busy congratulating themselves on the front end that they didn't bother to come up with an inspired rear end. I've wondered at times what it might look like if someone really talented had a go at customizing the back. Maybe something inspired by a Ponton, or a Fintail.

I'd love to find 17" Monoblock II's but so far, haven't found anything genuine that isn't an arm and a leg. I could pay that price, but then wouldn't have any limbs to drive with.

In the meantime, I'll leave it without any body mods so this old guy with a sedate looking MB can still surprise the occasional rice rocket. No sense giving a 'spoiler alert'. Chuckling ....

Which reminds me. On my drive today, I was being pushed from behind by a guy in a ... wait for it ... Smart Car. I was keeping up with traffic, without being aggressive.

Please. As he pulled to the right to pass me, I only slightly depressed the accelerator, then moved into his lane. Just fast enough to stay ahead despite the look of determination on his face.

Nothing beats a kill story when the victim is a 3 cylinder diesel. :rolleyes:

Sorry, no pics of the Smart Car, so you'll have to take my word on that happening, but here are a couple of pics of mine that the seller had taken. I'll take some of my own later.....

Great score...
 

That's a great looking example, very nice looking color scheme from the factory.

Your choice reveals a person of extreme good taste and discernment in automobiles.

Thank you.

I must get that from my niece!

;)

I just noticed this ....

I assume the omission of Canada from your 'Got 'Em' list was based on your intent to say `North America and Japan'

'Cause we got them too!

I did know Britain didn't get them.

Just now saw your pics.

Yours is such a beautiful color (notice the concession to US spelling of color) and automobile. The spoiler, rims and exhaust work perfectly to individualize it.

Its hard to imagine wanting a more beautiful, balanced, quality-engineered automobile (It seems so inadequate to call it a car.)

And now, for the price of a new Yugo. (was there ever such a thing? or did they just rebadge the Fiats they didn't sell from the '70's)

I swear, if I didn't love women so much, I'd find a way to have sex with a W124.

Hey, thanks for the tip!