Hello all! I am new to MB vehicles and considering the purchase of a 1992 400E with 152,000 miles on the clock. The dealer is asking $5,000 for it, but I think he'll take a little less. The car seems to be in pretty nice shape as far as I can see. I've noticed that MB only produced this model for two years. Was there a specific reason behind this? Were 400E's troublesome compared other models? Please pass along ANY information or opinions that you have reguarding this vehicle. I want to hear the good, the bad, and the ugly.

Thanks,
Chris

 

It was that they switched over to the E420 on that body style in 1994. The 400SEL didn't last long before going to S420. They got rid of the 4.0 engine and made a new 4.2 hence the short life of the 400E and any other 400 Mercedes. But since they was only made two years, haven't heard much complaint from them. But I heard the 500E had some front end trouble sometimes.

 

I disagree. the 400sel was a 4.2 liter engine. on the older s class it was a420 sel (single cam). when the "new model came in 1992, mercedes dicided ti call it a 400 for less confusion with the older model. infact a c240 is a 2.6 liter engine not a 2.4. they did that to not confuse it with a european model sold. generally the number states the liters, of the engine, but that is not always so.
the 400e or e420 was mercedes answer back to lexus and infiniti. they tried to be more 'upscale". the thing i remembered about the 420 engine was expensive tune up parts. it has 2 distributer caps, 2 rotors, 2 airfilters. they werent cheap. (unless they came down since i have owned it). otherwise its a great car.