Ronnyng

I am checking out a 1997 E420 and a 1999 E430.
Looks the same except the radio inside and the engine.
The price difference is about 7Gs and got 70K miles on the E420 and 50K miles on the E430. Both look clean, I believe both are out of warranty. Please give me some opinions guyz? Thanks!

Silver_Lana

Assuming the price doesnt mean too much to you.... i would say get the E430. The engine runs smoother, quieter and is a newer(=better) design. Also better fuel econonmy.... not that that is a priority in a V8

Either way, Congrats!

pocholin

E430

E55 KEV

Ronnyng, any reason you skipping the 98 E430? Get Xenon lights if possible. My old one is still available:

www.e55amg.com/E430.html Pohanka Mercedes link at bottom.

Tune ups on the E430 are 100k miles. The E420 is around 30k.

Ronnyng

Someone convince me the maintainance cost on the V8 models are quite high? Is that true? Anything wrong on the new engines or the old engines? Transmission? I heard 98 is the first year it came out with the E430. ANything wrong with the first year model? I don't know much about mercedes, I am a bmw driver, I wanna give mercedes a try, cause' bmw drives me crazy on maintainance. The 1994 740IL engine is a joke, and so as the transmission. Both of them have problems...errr...Thanks a lot guys!

apb

I have an E420 and love it. Cannot say that I feel a big difference when in the E430.
the 4.2 M119 engine is very good and reliable, so there is no problem there (not true of the straight six in the E320 which has gasket problems).
The 4.3 V8 and 3.2 V6 are modular engines (the 3.2 is 3/4 the V8) so there should be no difference at all in reliability.

E55 KEV

No problems with my 98 E430 which was the first year. If cost is your concern go with the 1998 plus cars because of the 100k mile tune ups and the FSS (flexible service system) Oil changes average 12-15k miles.

ppatrick

I just purchased a 97 e420. I looked at the e430 as well. I think the value in the e420 is better. The engine is not bad to maintain if you use the platinum plugs. There is only 1 mpg difference between the 2. HP ratings are the same and the 4.2 liter has been around a lot longer...It has a very strong track record. My 97 has xenon lights and all the toys..contour and heated seats. Both have 5 speed automatics...and I paid about 5 Gs less than I would have for a 98 e430 with the same miles. I have driven both and the e430 pulls a little (only a little better) better from the bottom, but once you shift into 2nd both feel the same. If both are out of warranty I would go e420...but when it is all said and done...they both are great cars..

Philip
97 e420

M Brabus

you might also want to look into the service record of both cars. if the E420 already has the 60k maintenance done, that another sum of money saved. the E430 would have the 60k maintenance coming due to you...

suginami

I've driven both. My mother has a 2000 E430, and my boss has a 1997 E420. They both felt awfully close to me in terms of power. You'd have to have a stop watch to notice the difference.

I don't think the FSS is a benefit at all. All of the techs that have commented on this on many of the Mercedes Forums say that it is much too lenient in oil change frequency. It also never recommends trans fluid replacement, but they've seen them at higher mileage, and they don't look good. Most say replace the trans fluid at 60k, and to change the oil every 5k regardless of what FSS says.

Also, the difference in maintenance costs between the E420 and E430 is miniscule compared to what your biggest cost of ownership will be - depreciation. Most cars depreciate 50% every 4 years. So a $40,000 dollar car will be worth $20,000 after 4 years, then $10,000 after 4 more years, etc.

Given this, you will have lost $10,000 after 4 years in depreciation cost, and maybe spent $1,000 in maintenance costs over 4 years and 60,000 miles.

I'd save the $7,000 and buy the E420. Given the mileage that each car has, they're barely broken in.

E55 KEV

Ronnyng,

If you can get new technology go for it - Never go backwards.

M Brabus,

The 60k mile service on the E420 includes the expensive tune-up and that E420 will also need another tune-up at 90k while the E430 tune up service comes at 100k miles.

suginami,

Most mechanics are in the business to make money and more oil changes mean more money. Some die hard techs are just "die hard" techs and have no faith in new technology. Most Mercedes techs don't drive Mercedes they just service them. Technology and Engineering has increased the intervals of oil changes and 20 years from now you will still have people and old die hard tech's changing the oil every 3k miles when they don't have to. Old wives tell never die.

ppatrick

The 97 engine has been around longer and is proven. Also the price savings between a 97 and 98 is greater than the cost of the higher service interval. If you take the car to a reputable shop it will not be that expensive. My 60k service was only about $600.00. The price between a 97 and 98 could be as much $6000. Your choice

Ronnyng

I wish I can get the E55. But I can't afford it, its just too expensive for me. It must feel like a rocket right... Anyway, I liked the new engine better of course, so I will look into the E430 instead. THanks a lot!

Silver_Lana

Glad i could be of service..

pocholin

Have you looked at a used E55? Low milage, good conditions, preferently from a MB Dealer?

MikeyE430

E430

Ronnyng

All I gotta say is an extremely nice ride!!!
Gosh, wish this is my ride!!!

M Brabus

E55 Kev,
I can understand where you are coming from, but just a couple of things to ponder:

first off, the term 'tune up' can be misleading or vague...is it referring to changing spark plugs at 100k? what about all the fluid changes; a newer FSS MB will still need fluid changes just like any older MB.

I would hope you're changing air filter, fuel filter, brake fluid, flushing coolant, transmission fluid, rear diff fluid, etc...all before you hit 100k. For a $50k+ car, I would not hesistate to pluck down $50 to get some new spark plugs before I hit 100k.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not against new technology; I'm just not seeing the maintenance savings for a newer MB.

I also find it very 'interesting' that FSS came out around the same time when MB started offering free maintenance...

suginami

Also, I don't think there is anything wrong with the current version V8 engines, but there was a poll taken on another Mercedes forum, and most techs felt the M119 was a better engine.

I have also read in one of the recent issues of one of the many car magazines I subscribe to that Mercedes in 2004 or 2005 is going to go back to DOHC V8 engine designs. It mentioned that one of the reasons for going with the current SOHC was reduced cost.

ppatrick

I also like knowing that I have a 32valve quad cam engine...that sounds cool..

E55 KEV

ppatrick,

"Dual Spark Plugs with 24 Valves" sound cooler. No Quad Cams in MBZ.

M Brabus,

The current 4.3 liter came in 98. The free schedule service started in 2000. The Free Service was more of a Marketing tool. MBZ had to keep up with BMW & Audi - they had free schedule service a lot longer than MBZ.

Plus no Kleemann Supercharger for the 97 E420.

ppatrick

Maybe I am out of touch...which is possible...but doesnt the E55 based on the 32 valve engine.

suginami

Nope, it's based on the SOHC 24-valve, two spark plugs per cylinder V-8 engine. I can't remember the engine code.

http://www.mbusa.com/brand/container...34568&menu=6_1

pocholin

Does that mean my 1999 only has 24 valves? not 32 like the 2000 model?

suginami

All the V8's from 1998 - present have 24 valves total. It is a very unusual arrangement. There are 3 valves per cylinder. I don't know if there are 2 intake valves or 2 exhaust valves, but all other engines either have 2 valves per cylinder (in single overhead cam engines), or 4 valves per cylinder (dual overhead cam engines like the M119).