MB-JIM

I just bought a 92 400E with 110,000 miles. The car is in excellent condition in fact looks like new. I actually owned this car but sold it a few years ago. The owner needed to sell so I bought it back. Are there any issues I should be especially concerned about now that it has 110,000 miles?

Sam 325i

Bump.

No advice here - I don't know petrols. I would however like to compliment your car.

I test drove a 400E once. Whew, that thing can move.

Bump Nice Car.

ebennz

have timing chain replaced and buy some euro lights.

peter

shiner

Be prepared to start spending more on oil! Very nice car, by the way.

amt

W124 "drink" more oil compare to new MB or other car?

KyGuy

I don't know. My E420 doesn't use any oil between changes.

Jim's500E

No...DON'T replace the chain...not at that mileage; they'll go closer to 200K with good service/driving...do replace the chain tensioner and plastic guide rails. Also, order up both engine wiring harnesses and a throttle body acuator...they will start to cause you problems w/in the next 10-20K miles....I guarantee it (been there)

Enjoy it, great cars !!

Kestas

Jim, I thought the dreaded engine wiring harness problem didn't happen until '93. Did you replace the wiring harness and throttle body actuator because of disintegrating wire insulation or for other reasons?

Even if the car does suffer from disintegrating wire insulation, the throttle body actuator is considered less common of a problem - and more expensive - than the wiring harness problem, since it is less prone to manhandling when poking under the hood.

Jim's500E

No, no...wiring harness problems are from day one on all 10,500 500E500 cars from 1990-95'...probably moreso on the 500E which runs real hot. Don';t know how hot a 400E runs. Ghosts and gremlins pop up (limp mode) and first thing an owner/dealer should do is the wiring harnesses if over 10 years old. Visual inspection; you may or may not see the cracks in the wiring or degraded insulation.

I did the upper harness (lower one to alt and starter is next and last) as well as the TBA , EFB module and a host of silly sensors and switches as well as the alt...to track down an intermittant limp problem. When the cars goes into the mode, ASR lites up (which usually never is the problem)... mostly happens because of an over-voltage spike which sends the car into 'safe' mode. You can't just replace the alt bushings because they're internal but a cracked wire somewhere also can cause it...as well as a bad sensor, TBA, module , etc. Cycle the key and it re-sets and your good to go for a while.

My car has 142K on it and just about everything has been done that can be (thanx Heritage warranty !!). I've seen 500Es with only 50K on them with the same problems...if you have an M119....you WILL have these problems eventually. So, I'm good to go another 150K ...I hope, but now I'm much more educated (I tell the techs some stuff now) so its no longer a big deal to me. I have a spare set of wire harnesses mothballed already!

1stmbenz

Also, I think its safe to mention the steering dampener.