SOLD 1993 400E AMG? Pearl Black/Black-Red, 134kkm, Japan spec, Barrett Jackson Auction (Scottsdale, AZ)

[Bogeyman]

Don't know what to make of this?

VIN = WDB1240341B838860

Datacard: https://www.lastvin.com/vin/YvV1rdZZVDrdO3Zjl

https://www.barrett-jackson.com/Events/Event/Details/1993-MERCEDES-BENZ-400E-272950


1993 MERCEDES-BENZ 400E
Lot #1553 - This 1993 Mercedes 400E AMG was recently imported from Japan. It is one of fewer than 20 units of the AMG-tuned 400E built exclusively for the Japanese market. This 400E was built by AMG when it operated as an independent tuner that sold a handful of made-to-order cars, rather than as Mercedes-Benz's volume-oriented performance sub-brand. It received a tuned V8 engine with specific cams, an AMG exhaust system, 17-inch wheels, a lower and firmer suspension system, a full AMG body kit, AMG gauges and many other add-ons. It is also equipped with a multi-piece aftermarket sound system.

 

[gsxr]

Very interesting. If the air cleaner is to be believed, a 5.7 (probably 5.6L) would be a 5.0L engine with stroker crank and either stock 5.0L bore, or 1 oversize bore.

Need a photo of the engine number stamp, better yet a photo of the block casting number. The block cast will confirm if the block is 4.2 or 5.0. If this is really a stroker 5.0 engine, it's way more interesting than a 400E with a body kit.

 

[2phast]

Hard to say if this was built by AMG of Japan as its so modified by a previous owner.

 

[TimL]

Very interesting. If the air cleaner is to be believed, a 5.7 (probably 5.6L) would be a 5.0L engine with stroker crank and either stock 5.0L bore, or 1 oversize bore.

Need a photo of the engine number stamp, better yet a photo of the block casting number. The block cast will confirm if the block is 4.2 or 5.0. If this is really a stroker 5.0 engine, it's way more interesting than a 400E with a body kit.

Just looking at Niibe's old posts it sounds like Echigoya is a known tuner in Japan with some of their parts on his car.....maybe @NIIBE can tell us what there is to know about Echigoya?

 

[Bogeyman]

Hammered for $35K + BJ's cut, whatever that is...

 

[gsxr]

Hammered for $35K + BJ's cut, whatever that is...

OH! Sold already. Well, if that's a legit 5.7L engine, someone got a pretty nice deal IMO... but if it's a 4.2L with a fancy air cleaner, uh, not so much.

 

[Bogeyman]

Now on BAT - it's traveled a total of 78km since Jan '24...

No Reserve: 1993 Mercedes-Benz 400E AMG 4.2

Bid for the chance to own a No Reserve: 1993 Mercedes-Benz 400E AMG 4.2 at auction with Bring a Trailer, the home of the best vintage and classic cars online. Lot #213,768.

bringatrailer.com

1993 Mercedes-Benz 400E AMG 4.2

This 1993 Mercedes-Benz 400E was modified by AMG Japan and is powered by a 4.2-liter V8 paired with a four-speed automatic transmission. The car is finished in Blue Black Metallic over black leather and equipped with an AMG body kit, 17″ wheels, a sunroof, power-adjustable front seats, a Pioneer CD stereo, air conditioning, and cruise control. Imported from Japan to the US under previous ownership and acquired by the owner in 2024, this W124 shows 134k kilometers (~83k miles) and is now offered on dealer consignment in California at no reserve with a clean Carfax report and a clean Ohio title.

The car is finished in Blue Black Metallic, and its AMG body kit includes front and rear bumpers, side skirts, and a decklid spoiler. Further equipment includes fog lights, a sunroof, a power antenna, a mono-blade windshield wiper, and AMG badging. The mirrors were replaced in July 2025, and scrapes are present on the underside of the front bumper cover.

The 17″ AMG Aero I wheels are wrapped in Vredestein Hypertrac tires measuring 215/45. The car has four-wheel disc brakes, and the calipers have been painted red. According to the seller, the power steering fluid was flushed in July 2025.

The cabin features seating trimmed in black leather and red alcantara, along with a color-coordanted center console, wood trim, and a black dashboard. Interior appointments include power-adjustable front seats, a Pioneer CD stereo, air conditioning, and cruise control. Work in July 2025 reportedly included replacing the passenger window motor and recharging the air conditioning system. The mirror controls do not work, and the front passenger door features red stitching, while the driver’s door does not.

The four-spoke steering wheel frames AMG instrumentation, including a 260-kph speedometer and a tachometer, as well as an analog clock and gauges for coolant temperature, oil pressure, and fuel level. The six-digit odometer shows 134k kilometers (~83k miles), approximately 100km (62 miles) of which were added under current ownership. The seller reports that the odometer was repaired in July 2025, and total mileage is unknown. The fuel gauge works intermittently.

The AMG-modified 4.2-liter M119 V8 features aftermarket camshafts and a Billion VFC-Pro Dual digital variable fan controller. An oil change was performed in July 2025. Power is delivered to the rear wheels through a four-speed automatic transmission. An Echigoya engine cover and AMG exhaust tips are fitted.

The Carfax report is free of accidents or other damage and lists history in Ohio and California.

The vehicle has not been inspected by the California Bureau of Automotive Repair or Air Resources Board.

 

[High_Noon]

Too bad the interior has been all cocked-up, but otherwise a very nice 400E. I guess the owner is hoping to get a lot more than the previous selling price and he's likely to get it on BAT as a lot of vehicles on there sell for ridiculous $.

 

[duuder]

This car is so weird...

 

[gsxr]

Always cracks me up to see a car for sale at a California dealership, that cannot registered/titled in CA without forking over ~$10k to have it Federalized (and, probably, having the irreplaceable/unobtanium factory catalysts downgraded to aftermarket crap cats which are CARB-blessed and totally unnecessary).

So much weird & wrong on this car. Aftermarket fan controller above the left dash speaker (note relocated tweeters on the A-plillar), but it's for the stock twin fans which have no need for auxiliary control because the mechanical viscous fan clutch remains in place? Wait, the driver side fan appears non-stock... why, why, why?

Amplifier mounting in the spare tire well appears, uh, less than ideal. Bizarre to see a 5.7L claim on the airbox for a 4.2L engine. Exposed taillight wiring in the tunk is inexcusably sloppy work. Aftermarket headlights and rear boot lid filler panel are acquired tastes, but fixable. Headrest button on driver seat switch is missing. 215/45 tires are wrong size for the wheel width, and smaller diameter than stock (should be 225 on a 7.5 wheel, 235 on an 8.0 wheel). Not a fan of the 'stretched' tire look. Wrong/funky ZoomTubes®. Probably other stuff too.

On the plus side, there appears to be no visible rust, and it has the factory catalysts with heat shielding intact. The cat-back exhaust has the 036 resonator and AMG Japan 500E rear muffler, neither of which add a single horsepower, despite the seller's claim in the comments. The power gain is entirely from the camshafts and WOT enrichment LH module.

Would love to know if this car has the stock 2.24 differential (all Japan/USA 034's have this tall gearing), or if the diff was upgraded to Euro-spec 2.65, or something else. If the shift point indicators on the speedo are correct, it should have the 2.65 gears, which would be really nice.

 

[Bogeyman]

The kind of mods you would expect to see on a Chrysler 300...