1993 400E Class Information Before I Buy
 

Currently I am looking at a 1993 400E class MB with 101K miles on it. Took it for a test drive and the car performs fine, no rust, etc...

Regarding potentional ownership of this car, is there anything that I should be aware of that isn't jumping out at me at this point in time? Does anyone know of potential BIG problems I may encounter with this model MB going forward?

Truly appreciate any/all information you can provide!

Does the car have ASR? If it does, I would avoid it.

If the wiring harness has not already been replaced it will almost certainly need that done. The part is cheaper for the M119 V8 than it is for the M104 six.

Evaporator core failure is the ticking time bomb on these cars. Some of them never fail. Some do. Hope that yours does not - it's impossible to predict when and if it will happen.

Cooling system must always be kept up to snuff as the motor is really wedged in there. The fan clutch is a very expensive ($500) part. The radiator is not expensive and is easily replaced when the time comes.

Besides that $%&*#!!! fan clutch the only other parts that are more expensive on the 400E than the 300E are brake calipers and the A/C compressor - they are very expensive but you can purchase rebuilt calipers. Whenever you need a new A/C compressor you're stuck if you have the Nippondenso one as it is pricey.

Other than these "gotchas" I honestly believe the W124 400E is one of the finest all around cars MB has ever produced. Mine has 145K miles now and still drives like a brand new and very expensive car. You'll get surprisingly good gas mileage, and that M119 V8 will run essentially forever if you don't overheat it and change its oil.

Good luck and post pics. Wonderful car the 400E.

I had a '92 400E and it may have been the finest automobile I've ever owned. Plenty of power when you need it, and the ride was very smooth--kind of a sleeper really... I REALLY regret selling that car...

This model and chassis has some problems Mr Hills has covered. If you have a little wiggle room in your budget for repairs, it might make a fantastic car for you. Don't buy it if you're financially strapped, otherwise I'd go for it...

-GH

The wiring harness has been the biggest problem for me.
I haven't had any trouble with the A/C.
As far as the cooling system, I had to replace the reservoir (leaked at the flange, where the cap screws on to).
I had to have the calipers rebuilt (not unheard of for 150k miles)
I had to replace the Air Mass Sensor
Because the substandard wiring in the harness, extended into the ETA (electronic throttle actuator) I had to get a rebuilt one of those.
I had to replace the cabin blower motor and regulator.

They like to have their caps and rotors changed rather regularly at 15k mile intervals.

Expect about 23-24 mpg.

Bottom line....if the wiring harness looks good, then you should be safe. If it looks like it is going to need replacement, consider the fact that the ETA might need to be replaced too, and that's going to add up to some $$$ - Better make sure the price is right, in that case

FWIW, even with the potential issues these cars have, I doubt that they are any more severe issues than you'd find in any other 15 year old car.

Besides, NO 15-year-old car drives like a 15-year-old 400E. If the car has not been neglected and you have some funding available for maint/repair, GO FOR IT.

I have owned a couple dozen cars in my day and my '92 400E is hands down the FINEST automobile I have ever owned.

I suppose I ought to add, that inspite of the kick in the shin ( due to MB and their lack of integrity to fix the wiring harness problem), I really do like my E420, and have enjoyed it immensely for the past 81k miles. :)

Depends on what you mean by BIG but there's lots of things that can rack up some hefty repair bills. If you are not a DIYer I would get the car inspected. If it drives fine and you are a DIYer you should be fine. It's a very nice car to work on although a little crowded here and there. But the one inarguably BIG thing on the car is the internals of the engine. A very expensive engine to rebuild or even to do a valve job (32 of everything) - so much so that it just doesn't get done much - easier to just replace it. It is a very strong engine but obviously some have been abused. The one thing I really want in an old 119 motor is one that starts up cold in the morning without any calamity or funny noises. Find that car, maintain the timing chain, change the fluids, etc. and you will have a very long lasting, relatively low maintenance engine and a very good car.

I agree with just about everything said in the above posts. I bought mine with 78,000 back in January 1998. Off the top of my head, this is what I've replaced:

Motor Mounts
Air Pump
EGR
Water Pump
Radiator
Power Steering Pump
Alternator
Starter
Rear Shocks
Spark Plug Wires (though probably not needed)
Rotors/Caps
Front Cam Seals (leaking)
Transmision Rebuild ($3,500 at dealer)
Flex Disks
Driver's Seat Motor
Various Interior Switches and Relays
Blower Motor and Regulator
Wiring Harness
O2 Sensor
Steering Damper Strut
Muffler Donuts
Ignition Tumbler
Transmission Cooler Lines
Fuel Qty Sensor
Rear Sway Bar Plastic Links (both broke within a week of each other)
Cockpit Temp Aspirator Motor

It sounds like a lot, but if you are a DIYer and you're not afraid to work on cars, I think you will appreciate the quality of a Mercedes that was probably designed and built when price was not as much an issue (as it is now).

did the 92 400e have the environmentally friendly wiring harness?

I've seen some controversy on this, and 92s do have a different part number than 93s, but I believe it did - there's plenty of 92 400Es wiring harness complaints in the NTHSA data base.

I believe all 400E's were affected including '92's... I have heard the harness for the 8 cylinder is a bit less expensive than the M104 straight 6...

-GH