'90 420SEL, thoughts and observations.... - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

#1 09-19-2007, 04:44 PM

Hi folks,

I just bought a '90 420SEL last month and have a few thoughts and comments.

It's Burgandy/Wine colored, with a tan interior, and it has 148k showing. I paid $2500 for it......

The good:

The paint is in great shape except for some clear coat issues on the roof, it looks like somebody went crazy with a random orbital buffer.

The interior is perfect, except for a small hole in the drivers seat and stained carpets.

Everything works, including the O.E. radio, A/C, cruise control, sunroof, windows, locks, power seats......

Swaybar and related parts are rust free

No rust, and a few very minor door dings.

The bad:

It needs guide rod joints, and rear shocks.

The OVP relay failed two days after I bought it.

E.H.A is weeping ever so slightly, though the fuel distributer is still sealed. Is there a way to remove the plug without doing damage to anything? Frankly, this is the first MB I've come across that is stil sealed.

It looks like the front seal of the trans has a small leak(haven't had to add any in 100 miles), I can live with it for now.

The idle is a bit high(800 rpm in neutral), I cleaned the air slide and relaced the two rubber air slide hoses with no improvement. For now, I put a brass fitting in the hose, the idle is about 600-700 rpm now in neutral.

The $$$ rear muffler has a leak.

The antenna grommet is coming apart, big suprise there.

Other than that, it runs cool, shifts good, and gets around 20mpg on the road.

I'm not driving it until I get a new EHA, but my fear is that the new EHA will totally throw off the way the car runs.

Any thoughts are most appreciated, thanks!

zcc · #2 09-19-2007, 04:47 PM

Before purchasing the rear shocks make sure that it doesn't have a self-leveling system, if it does, most likely you need a new two shock accumulators.

Jim B. · #3 09-19-2007, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zcc

Before purchasing the rear shocks make sure that it doesn't have a self-leveling system, if it does, most likely you need a new two shock accumulators.

None of the US spec. 420SEL cars had self leveling. Not an issue.

But from your signature/avatar, you are not in the USA and might not be aware of that

zcc · #4 09-19-2007, 05:31 PM

Why would MB send the worst specs to the US?

#5 09-19-2007, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zcc

Why would MB send the worst specs to the US?

Hmm, they don't have to send them anymore, the plant in Alabama does a good job of building the worst vehicles in the world.........

I have a 2000 ML320, my last post 1992 MB.

#6 09-19-2007, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim B.

None of the US spec. 420SEL cars had self leveling. Not an issue.

But from your signature/avatar, you are not in the USA and might not be aware of that

I looked at quite a few 2nd generation W126 models, and while the extra power of the 560 was nice, the cost of the hydro-pneumatic suspension was a deal breaker for the nice 1989 560 I could have bought for $3500. That, and the head gasket issues with the six cylinder made the 420 a decent compromise for me. I can't really enjoy the extra power anyways driving in town, there are stoplights every two blocks or so.

Hatterasguy · #7 09-19-2007, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zcc

Why would MB send the worst specs to the US?

I just spit my beer on my desk! HAHAHAHAHAH! We get all the crap a year later than everyone else.

#8 09-19-2007, 09:34 PM

My local indy just did an "A" service on the ML320, when I went to pick it up he made a point to tell me I should use a battery tender on it since we only drive it around 3k a year. He explained that sudden battery death could cause the various computers to power down and not be able to power up again. One customer had to spend around 5k to replace the various control modules on a late model E320.

If I could put a class III hitch on a W126, the ML320 would be long gone.

Jim B. · #9 09-19-2007, 10:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zcc

Why would MB send the worst specs to the US?

HatterasGuy knows, too: he gave the short answer: Hahahaha

The longer answer isn't so funny:

Because of the US Department of Transportation (Govt. Regulators) and Industry Lobbyists -

Industry Lobbyists: Lobbied for the banning of the excellent Euro headlights, which gave a better beam pattern, were 60% brighter, safer, were nicer looking, and had thumbwheel adjusters for the dashboard, in favor of the ugly, dim, and diffuse sealed beam lights.

Thank the seade beam headlight lobby for that

Government regulators and safety nazis

Made the following Euro components "illegal" for safety or other reasons

Euro bumpers

Euro warning triangles "warndreike"

Euro first aid kits

Euro fire extinguishers

Performance strangling emissions equipment, exhaust crossovers, and catalytic converters were made mandatory on US cars

In some early W126 models ABS and airbags were not available in US spec cars

It made the Euro cars so much more desirable, and with the Deutschmark against the dollar exchange what it was prior to 1986, the Gray Market for W126 cars was born, and at its peak, was draining away up to 30% of the sales of new cars through US Mercedes dealers.

Even wealthy customers liked to save money, and the chance to buy a brand new 1984 500 SEC Euro for $40,000 in Germany, was irresistible, even after the time and expense ($10,000 and up to a 6 month wait) of a conversion to US specifications, was worth it, especially if the car went to an AMG shop, and you came out with a muscular AMG Euro coupe at your the door for a total of about $70,000

Mercedes Benz brought out the 560 engine specifically for the USA market, and with the changing exchange rate, by the end of 1986 the Gray Market was pretty much done as a threat to US Mercedes Benz dealers, and it ceased to exist as a threat to their sales...

Hatterasguy · #10 09-19-2007, 11:08 PM

Is not all bad. They made the E420 just for us, as well as the diesel W126.

Larry Delor · #11 09-20-2007, 10:28 PM

(they also made the 300CD just for US)

The EHA has two small o-rings - you should still be able to get replacements - If you have luck, that might cure the leak. If not, you will pay good money for a small part.

#12 09-20-2007, 10:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Larry Delor

(they also made the 300CD just for US)

The EHA has two small o-rings - you should still be able to get replacements - If you have luck, that might cure the leak. If not, you will pay good money for a small part.

Thanks for the tip, I think I'll try that first. If they don't work, it's time to call World-Pac and cough up some bread.

The dealer qouted me $500 clams for a new one, I think they just don't want to sell parts for cars more than four years old. No wonder people don't wan these cars anymore, one or two problems can cost more than the car is worth if you have to pay for labor and dealer parts prices.

I wonder if a good used one will last, or is it wasting $50.00?

las769 · #13 09-22-2007, 12:40 PM

If you can buy a EHA for 50 bucks just do it good to have as a spare

#14 09-22-2007, 01:48 PM

The only reason I am leery, is because they are on eBay....

If I knew it came off a wrecked car, I would be more comfortable, but the seller has a bunch of them. For all I know, they are the bad one's that were removed from customer cars at a shop.

One of the world-pac interfaces sell a new one for $270 or so, my local indy says that's about what he would pay from world-pac so it's a good price.

I drove the car today, and it's not leaking. It turns out it had been sitting for 13 months before I bought it, and I might just replace the o-rings before I do anything else.

I agree, that a good used eha is a good thing to have, as the dollar loses value against the euro parts prices will continue to skyrocket.