E-Class (W124) 1984-1995: E 260, E 300, E 320, E 420, E 500 (Includes CE, T, TD models)

Should i get an E420??

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Rate Thread
 
Old Oct 20, 2005 | 09:23 PM
  #1  
torquemonster's Avatar
Thread Starter
Member
 
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 100
Likes: 0
Should i get an E420??

I am considering selling my bone stock 1994 e320. id like more hp and tq, in other words i want something faster. My price is whatever i can sell the e320 for and maybe a little extra, so about 6-8g's. possibly i might have up to 12 grand to spend i just dont know yet.

Is A 1994-95 E420 much faster if so give me an idea, 0-60 time?? 1/4 mile time??? Is it worth selling an e320 to get a E420??

Oh and unlike the 94-95 e320 can you mod a E420 with cheap performance bolt on mods like ECU, chip, air intake all that good stuff or does it not do anygood like the e320??

say i do have 12 grand to spend, What should i get?? (id like to stay with w124) but i do like the c36 also. just list any car you think is a good car to get and i do want good performance.--thanks for any input!!
Reply
Old Oct 20, 2005 | 10:44 PM
  #2  
Smokiesman's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 314
Likes: 1
From: Bryson City NC
93 300SE Rauch "Smoke"
Well if your looking for the ponies then shell out the extra coin and get yourself a 95 E420 . Save your bux on any HP mods cuz ya won't needem! That V8 is a kick in the pants and I may be wrong but don't think there a lot of HP mods available if so I bet they will fracture your wallet! The beauty of the beast is you can open a can of whup *** on someone and still get 25MPG!!

Smokie
Reply
Old Oct 20, 2005 | 10:56 PM
  #3  
AMG_Fred's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
 
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,594
Likes: 0
Mercedes-Benz w124
the 3420 is good. and if you can get a c32 for that price, have fun with that! another good thing, one that im actually looking for right now if price is good is the acura cl type s. bad things to go is the auto tranny and was put under recall
Reply
Old Oct 21, 2005 | 02:41 PM
  #4  
Holson's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 1,197
Likes: 75
From: USA
18 G550, 24 EQB3504M
I have an E420 and I had the chance to trade it in for a C43 for $5k more. I did not take them up on it just because the W202 didn't quite feel a good as a 124 inside.

But it sure was fast, stopped well, and looked more modern. Had better AC system too.

So it's up to you... I personally think the E420's not much faster than an E320. (I've driven a bunch of 320s) The 420 does however, sound much better, feel more relaxed in accelerating and all the other perks of a bigger engine.

The M119 V8 block is made out of aluminum and the M104's I6 block is made out of iron so the V8 doesn't weigh that much more.

If you want fast though, the AMG C36 and C43 are definitely faster and if you could get the W203 C32... that's a different story

Regarding performance mods, the one mod that would make the E420 accelerate faster is a 2.82:1 or 2.65:1 rear axle. The stock 2.24:1 makes it a relaxed long distance cruiser more than a hot rod.

Chips, etc. probably don't do much. Check out force-induced cars if you want huge gains using those mods. E.g. Subaru Legacy 2.5GT, Porsche 944 turbo, Mitsubishi Evo, Audi 2.7Ts, etc.

Good luck!

Last edited by Holson; Oct 21, 2005 at 02:44 PM.
Reply
Old Oct 25, 2005 | 12:12 AM
  #5  
Smokiesman's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 314
Likes: 1
From: Bryson City NC
93 300SE Rauch "Smoke"
Holson! you should be workin for DB takin shots of there cars. Those are some mighty fine pics friend. You can do a layout on my ride anytime!! Glad to see someone else likes the 2 tone!


Smokie
Reply
Old Oct 25, 2005 | 03:09 AM
  #6  
ashman's Avatar
Super Member
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 882
Likes: 2
From: Sherman Oaks
2004 C240, 2015 GL350 Bluetec
if you get an e420, definately upgrade the differential to a 2.82 many others I know have done it and said it was the best performance mod they could do to the car.

IT really made the car quicker.

Check out this guy I know who has a 94 e420 and what he has done to his car.

http://www.tom.actionfit.com/2_82_Differental_Swap.html

http://www.tom.actionfit.com

Alon

Last edited by ashman; Oct 25, 2005 at 03:11 AM.
Reply
Old Oct 25, 2005 | 03:54 AM
  #7  
e320newbie's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
 
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,014
Likes: 0
From: edmonton alberta
91' 300e // 99 300e TD // 00' ML55 AMG
C43 AMG if u can find one talk about v8 kick, mustang gt's haha whata joke i passed him at 200kmph and he was matting the peddal haha he might as well been sitting still because he looked like he was, the 43 still pulled too man at 200 pulling STRONG!! crazy car drank some gas on her lil race too if u can call that a race :P
Reply
Old Oct 25, 2005 | 07:56 AM
  #8  
Jim's500E's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
 
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 1,311
Likes: 11
From: Manchester, CT
Wink mis-conceptions...

Whoa...who said you can mod a M119? You can't do much of anything to the motor with bolt on junk....chips do nothing but move the hp around the rev range...larger airbox benefits are a myth. Race gas does nothing but ruin the cat. And I seriously doubt anyone is getting 25mpg with a M119 unless they are driving 35 mph all day long. You may see 20mpg on a trip with the cruise at 70....that's about it Short of boring it out to 6+ litres...you get nothing from the mods listed. The motor is pretty damn good right out of the box stock....for a 25+ year old design

I've dragged (officially at 2 drag strips) several 'modded' 500Es with chips and exhaust, etc; ZERO gain. Ours cars (mine stock) pulled and still pull a low 14.1 sec. 1/4 mile time. Short of a NOS bottle, the cars don't break into the 13s or sub 5sec 0-60.

The E420 is a fine and fast enough car as is. The only drawback on the E420 is that the motors electronics are poor (like the 500Es), especially at this age. In this respect the E320 is the better car and a whole lot cheaper to fix and maintain.

C36...OK car, sorta rare....kinda slow...C32...great motor, fast but build quality doesn't come close to any W124. W210 and 211 E55s are straight line faster but reliablity and quality are non-existent. They don't handle as well as the W124 V8s either as I have not lost an auto-x or time trail to any new V8 MB. Sure, driver skill means a ton as their numbers are certainly better than a 500E, on paper at least. The BEST V8 MB if been in to date is a SLK55....chick car, yes, but the motor in there is a monster; the car is like a go-cart on roids. WOW.

Lotsa food for thought...hope I haven't burst anyone's bubble with my opinions...but I've been living with a M119 for many, many years ; heard and seen it all from all types too. If anyone cares to watch a 500E on track....Nov 4 I will be at Lime Rock Park in NW Connecticut all day. Bring a helmet and an adult diaper and I'll prove to ya' the M119 is just fine as is !!! I challenge ANYONE with another V8 MB sedan to come and show me I'm wrong.
Reply
MB World Stories

The Best of Mercedes & AMG

story-0

8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

10 Most Reliable Mercedes-Benz Models You Can Buy Used

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Mercedes Teases Updated EQS With Steer-By-Wire and a Yoke

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

8 Mercedes Models With Poor Reliability Records

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

Magnificent New Mercedes-Maybach S-Class Revealed: 12 Things to Know

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Oct 25, 2005 | 10:25 AM
  #9  
Smokiesman's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 314
Likes: 1
From: Bryson City NC
93 300SE Rauch "Smoke"
Jim ! I agree with most of what you said but for the milage fig. My E420 gets and I drive here in the mtns. and don't baby the gas pedal and I get consistantly 25 MPG and worst was 22 . Just my 2 cents !

Smokie
Reply
Old Oct 25, 2005 | 10:49 AM
  #10  
StapleGun's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
 
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 2,330
Likes: 0
1967 Morris Cooper "S", 1983 911SC, 1997 Toyota Tacoma, 1999 HD FXSTB, 1998 C43
Originally Posted by Smokiesman
Jim ! I agree with most of what you said but for the milage (sic) fig. My E420 gets and I drive here in the mtns. and don't baby the gas pedal and I get consistantly (sic) 25 MPG and worst was 22 . Just my 2 cents !

Smokie
Agreed! My father had a E420 and would get consistently get 24/25 mpg on the highway w/out babying her too!

I get 23/24 mpg with my C43 pretty consistently...so there's another option for you.
Reply
Old Oct 25, 2005 | 11:36 AM
  #11  
Legoinsaniac's Avatar
Member
 
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 145
Likes: 0
From: Ohio
1992 400E
I get 23/24 mpg with my 400E, in the flat lands of Ohio
Reply
Old Oct 25, 2005 | 03:05 PM
  #12  
Holson's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 1,197
Likes: 75
From: USA
18 G550, 24 EQB3504M
I don't get more than 23 at best on the freeway.

Right now I'm averaging 16/17mpg between fill-ups. My commute consists of 6-mile (one-way) stop and go traffic only though.

Not exactly economical hehe... but it did beat my sick Toyota Celica, which was getting 13/14mpg from its 2.2l I-4 (SLOWWW, noisy, and sounds terrible)

Smokiesman,

Thanks for the compliments, I grab my brother's camera and try taking cool pictures myself but he's still better at it!
Reply
Old Oct 25, 2005 | 05:08 PM
  #13  
Jim's500E's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
 
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 1,311
Likes: 11
From: Manchester, CT
Hey, that's very cool that your versions of the M119 DOES get decent gas mileage...my version gets around 12 in town and once I got 20 mpg on the highway on a 400 mile run at about 75. Usually its around 16-18. I obviously spoke too soon and I apologize for any goose-steppin'....my lead boots are heavy to say the least.

Like one of you said...the E420 is more of a cruiser...while the 500E fuel mapping is most certainly geared toward the performance side of things....hence it gulps the fuel instead of sipping it.

....but if the E420 V8 gets almost a good mileage as a E320 then why not get one? ...or even a C43.

And Holson...who you kidding? your car looks like its hardly ever driven !!
Reply
Old Oct 25, 2005 | 06:23 PM
  #14  
oliverb's Avatar
Member
 
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 76
Likes: 0
From: Hedgesville, WV
1990 300E 2.6
Smaller displacement of the 4.0/4.2 liter engine, different final drive ratio and not tuned for performance as much as the 500 makes the difference. For 1993 the 4.0 was boosted from 10:1 to 11:1 compression ratio and knock sensor added to the engine management system. HP was boosted from 268 to 275, mpg improved slightly allowing the gas-guzzler tax to be lifted (Stu Ritter: Mercedes Benz Owner's Bible). Sounds like the "94-'95 series E320 had similar improvements in mpg. I have been advised that for best economy go for the older 2.6 versions of the 300E or the '94-'95 E320.
OliverB
Reply
Old Oct 26, 2005 | 10:25 PM
  #15  
Smokiesman's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 314
Likes: 1
From: Bryson City NC
93 300SE Rauch "Smoke"
Ok Torque ! Now you have heard the pros and cons ,what are ya waitin fer we want pics of that E420 pardner!

Smokie
Reply
Old Oct 27, 2005 | 04:45 PM
  #16  
torquemonster's Avatar
Thread Starter
Member
 
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 100
Likes: 0
i think im goin to get a C36 AMG instead of E420 but if that doesnt work out then ill go with the e 420
Reply
Old Oct 27, 2005 | 09:48 PM
  #17  
Smokiesman's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 314
Likes: 1
From: Bryson City NC
93 300SE Rauch "Smoke"
This be lookin kinda bad!

Smokie

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Relia...QQcmdZViewItem
Reply

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 


You have already rated this thread Rating: Thread Rating: 0 votes,  average.


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 10:46 PM.

story-0
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine

Slideshow: Before curves took over, Mercedes mastered the art of the straight line, and some of those shapes still look right today.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-25 12:05:49


VIEW MORE
story-1
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction

Slideshow: The 190E Evolution II shows how a homologation necessity became a six-figure collector icon.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-22 17:53:47


VIEW MORE
story-2
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know

Slideshow: Mercedes is turning one of its core nameplates electric, and the details show just how serious this shift is.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:58:06


VIEW MORE
story-3
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know

Slideshow: Faster charging, longer range, and a controversial steer-by-wire system define the latest evolution of Mercedes-Benz EQS.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-15 10:35:34


VIEW MORE
story-4
5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve

Slideshow: These overlooked Mercedes-Benz models never got the spotlight, but they quietly delivered more than most remember.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-13 19:35:45


VIEW MORE
story-5
Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping

Slideshow: A well-used 1991 Mercedes-Benz 300D with more than one million miles is now looking for a new owner, and it still appears ready for more.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-10 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-6
10 Most Reliable Mercedes-Benz Models You Can Buy Used

Slideshow: From bulletproof sedans to surprisingly tough SUVs, these Mercedes models proved that the three-pointed star can go the distance.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-08 09:55:49


VIEW MORE
story-7
Mercedes Teases Updated EQS With Steer-By-Wire and a Yoke

Slideshow: The 2027 update adds a fully digital steering system, revised styling, and potential charging upgrades as the company looks to revive interest in the luxury EV.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-04 10:24:38


VIEW MORE
story-8
8 Mercedes Models With Poor Reliability Records

Slideshow: From problematic air suspensions to early dual-clutch transmission issues, these specific models and years stand out as the least dependable modern Mercedes vehicles.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-26 18:08:10


VIEW MORE
story-9
Magnificent New Mercedes-Maybach S-Class Revealed: 12 Things to Know

Slideshow: Mercedes-Maybach has refreshed the S-Class with new lighting signatures, AI-driven software, and even more elaborate rear-seat luxury.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-25 18:01:51


VIEW MORE