1992 Mercedes-Benz W124 400E from North America - Comments

The only problems had with the vehicle were due to normal wear and old age.

However there were a few issues not customary in a motorcar with a $57K price tag. Front crank seal (major oil leak), leaky power steering box (had to replace), and the worst one being a bad slide valve (throttle body), and main wiring harness ($1,000 for the harness alone). Aside from these problems, I can still say that this car never left me stranded on the roadside..

I am simply amazed with the manner in which this motorcar picks up speed on the highway. This is a heavy 4 door saloon, yet I still see speeds in excess of 145mph regularly. 152 was the most I have seen, that is pretty much max-ed out.

This car was made for long distance high speed touring and it shows in near silent cabin at speeds up to about 135mph. After that, the sunroof and mirrors start making a light whistling sound.

The vehicle is stock (no modifications) except for a different control unit which came from a European E420, which has slightly different fuel and spark curves. Anyhow, top speed was not affected with the new box (mine was damaged during repair).

Stopping ability is also phenomenal with brakes having been borrowed from the SL model. They are the same 4 piston fronts and twin piston rears (calipers) as on the 500E. Fabulous motorcar!!!

I just wanted to say that was a brilliant description of the 400e. I own one and couldnt have said it better myself!

Hi Steven - I just bought a 400E from a sale at a local Infiniti dealer. It drives unbelievably tight and smooth, despite 193,000 miles. I intend to keep the car as it's amazingly clean. However, do you know of any major (i.e. costly) surprises I might be in for if I did so. Haven't had chance to check it over yet, but engine and tranny are flawlessly smooth. Thanks, Jim Ernst.

I can only confirm your statements, yes I drive a preowned 400e from 92 with 145.000m on the scale,I drove with it now 60.000m and it is unbelievable smooth on the street. They built in many underparts from the SL and you can feel that, beforehand I drove a 300 e from '86 and there is a massive difference in handling. Especially the rear axle suspension is so much smoother and much more S-class like! And they tried to get rid of the lateral swimming-movements at the front axle which always was a problem, at mine it is only mild. I drive my 400e often on our German autobahns with no speed limits, it is cruising so sovereign, max speed with mine is 140m, bec of the speed governor it is not getting over that limit although its only at 4200 r/pm and end of scale is 6000.You can ride it hours and hours at high speed and it won't matter. What made me wonder was the temp-scale which always is about 105 °C.As I was earlier driving only Merc without air-condition and the temp was pretty below 100 normal, I only learned recently from my local Mercedes Dealer in Regensburg, Bavaria, Germany, that the regulation at engines with air condition the radiator temperature is regulated a bit higher and you must not worry about that. This dealer told me they had never changed a 500 or 400 V8 engine bec they are so long lasting and reliable.Nevertheless-my generator broke down at 90.000m (costed me 600EUROS=600$!) and what made me wonder the exchange generator had a problem too and was leaking, so I had to replace that part on guarantuee only 500miles later!So keep an eye on that part, esp white splash in the front of the engine is suspicious!Recently I had problems with leaking oil,luckily it were only sealings on the underpart of the engine and I could let them replace. Another problem is the leaking air condition, it was not any more working, but after replacement of the fluid it now runs nicely,again old sealings caused that problem. The most recent little problem was the lights of the scaling in the dashboard. To fiddle the whole part out is recommended to be done by a skilled person and to replace the two lights which each costed only 1 $,was done in 1 hr and costed me 111Euros=111$!!!-Another problem is the frequent renewal of brake-rubbers because the car is quiet heavy.-Well its worth it- to drive this car is a philosophy and you have to be a bit a merc freak as to my opinion it is the very last super solid super quality merc (W124- I mean) and secure like a swiss bank. You got gorgeous understatement, but if you need the power for e.g. chasing a Porsche a bit or for a quick overtake you simply got it! -And in comparison to the newer E Models I have to admit that the suspension is much smoother (maybe handling is therefore not as direct on the street), but the long journey comfort on the leather interior seats is still very comparable or even superior with contemporary new Mercs-they changed the single seat suspension in modern model to pretty hard material! So I am still very addicted to my 400 e which got a black coating with safran leather interior in very good condition. At last I was astonished what my Merc dealer told me:The next generation, the 420 e W124 which was built 93-95, got a newer fuel injection and therefore is faster and quicker reacting to accelerating impulses and little more squeezable so if you got the choice lads grab a 420e, it has as well the beautiful more chrome applications, and a bit more elegant outer body alterations (hood-integrated radiator-chrome, smoother and softer forms of hood and trunk, and altered, more elegant head- and rear-lights),

So all the best from a guy who grew up with mercs near the "MERC city " (Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg) and states that a BMW might be a wonderful Bavarian car, but the more stylish one is a 400e where swabian sophistication, elegance and cosmopolitic tendency are lingering on!

CU

Ekke.

I concur with the previous comments. I own a black 1992 400E which I purchased after my SAAB 9-5 was totaled in an accident. The car was 12 years old and I had to put some repair work into it, but I did not regret my purchase. The ride is refined with power only a poke of the pedal away. In spite of having some 165,000km on it, it feels like new after the first oil change.

I do have minor complaints. The ventilation system is a bit odd. Last winter, the fan motor stopped working for 2 months when it suddenly came back. It was a sqeaking sound that told me.Also, it seems that the system heat exchanger plumbing which sounds like it is located somewhere in the dash makes little burbling noises like liquid is passing through it. The odd effect is that when the blower first comes on during damp or humid conditions, it fogs up the windscreen.

Other than that, the car is effortlessly fast and relaxed at the same time. I just love my 400E!

JC

Canada 5/28/04.

Sounds like a 400E love-in, but for good reason. I've got a 92 400E with 180,000km in black and black.

Only problem that I inherited is an iffy ventilation system and no ambient temp sensor.

Having written off a 90 300E, it seemed like a natural progression. The 4.2 under hard acceleration with the traction control gets you out of any problems like a rocket with the odd smoking tire. The factory Becker system is a bit primitive with boomy bass and it really needs a speakerectomy.

Getting it up to 190Kph on the Interstate south of here is a State Troopers Monthly Quota Award waiting to happen, and the control at that speed is a dream. Brakes are excellent with the rotors being cheap and readily available. The difference between 91 and 94 octane is noticeable and the improved mileage with the 94 octane pays for extra cost.

Don't think I'll part with this one.

Joe

B.C. Canada.

Where did you get the Alfa 75 from?

Just a side comment. I also own a '92 Mercedes 400E and I love it. It's got 228,000 miles on it and the only problem I've had in the 4 years and 75,000 miles I've owned it was I lost my right front brake caliper right after I replaced the pads and rotors on the front. I didn't notice the problem until I lost a race to a Nissan Maxima. Something was obviously wrong. The brake was gripping at all times. Naturally, it warped my brand new rotor and I had to do another full front brake job and replace the 4 piston caliper. (NOT cheap) All told, about a $1,200 month. Ouch. But that's it. 4 years, 75k miles and I've never been stranded on the side of the road or stuck with a car that won't start. Some of Mercedes' best work.

I have a 1992 Mercedes 400 e for sale, great 1 owner doctor owned car, black with tan leather. Car has about 106000 miles, very nice car. If interested call 706-587-8119.

The W124 400E is one of the best Merc's ever made; I never had any problem with it too. Currently the 500E is called "a collectable classic"; the 400E has almost the same power, but does not look like 'a body builder who trained too much'. Power inside. The better choice.

I have a 1992 400E that I have owned for the past 8 years. This is an awesome car and is better than the collectable 500E. It seats 5 and has relaxed freeway rpms. This car is built like a bank vault.