OWNER 1993 400E in Signal red, possibly sketchy car

[gsxr]

1992 400E's use thinner 22mm rotors and different calipers. It's possible like your car has the 1992 front calipers... OR, you got the wrong pads (thinner pads are used with the 25mm thick rotors).

Did you have to Dremel the caliper to make the 25mm rotor fit? If so, can you post a photo of the face of the caliper? The numbers on the front will confirm if they are 22mm or 25mm.

Also, what brand / part number pads did you buy?

 

[93-400E]

The caliper says ate 39 2162 and the rotor was too thick. The pads seem fine in there, just the caliper was too thin. I really should have taken pictures but did not. And they are akebono pads 005420012041

 

[gsxr]

Yep, those are the wrong calipers, you have the 22mm thick version.

The correct 294x25mm calipers have numbers 57 and 58 on them. Look for a good used set in a junkyard or on eBay.

 

[93-400E]

Fun fun, any idea how? I know 9/92 is a transitional phase for these but it seems odd.

 

[gsxr]

Fun fun, any idea how? I know 9/92 is a transitional phase for these but it seems odd.

A previous owner or shop likely replaced the front calipers with the wrong ones... or, they had an earlier car and swapped for some reason. EPC says all 1993 USA model year 400E should have the larger brakes.

 

[emerydc8]

FWIW, I had a 1993 400E than was made in the fall of 1992 and it took the smaller brakes.

 

[gsxr]

FWIW, I had a 1993 400E than was made in the fall of 1992 and it took the smaller brakes.

Interesting data point - thanks for sharing, Jon! It's possible that early production 1993 USA model year 400E's came with the smaller brakes, and that the EPC is wrong... wouldn't be the first time. Oddly, the EPC also shows Euro-spec 034's never received the 22mm-thick front brakes.

Either way, I'd upgrade to the 25mm-thick brake calipers. Here's a pair for $100/pair with a "make offer" option... no affiliation, etc etc:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/177216009825
https://www.ebay.com/itm/187357863082

 

[TimL]

Dave, if I recall it correctly, the 400E in Germany always had the larger brake discs. Let me see if I can dig up one of the contemporary tests from a German car magazine to see if my memory serves me well.

 

[gsxr]

Dave, if I recall it correctly, the 400E in Germany always had the larger brake discs. Let me see if I can dig up one of the contemporary tests from a German car magazine to see if my memory serves me well.

Tim, yes, the Euro-spec 034 appears to have started production with the 294x25 brakes. Around the facelift timeframe (MOPF2), Euro 034 then got another upgrade to 320x30mm front brakes, AND also 16" wheels & tires. USA and Japan markets never got the 320mm upgrade though.

USA only, for reasons I'll never understand, started out with the dinky 295x22 brakes which promptly warped at warp speed, which prompted MB to upgrade USA/Japan 034's to the thicker 25mm size.

 

[93-400E]

I ordered those calipers

 

[93-400E]

My car has been getting really bad on warm up with intermittent misfires, code 7 has been popping but it i unplug the battery its pretty fine for a while. I ordered new spark plug wires, but i dont know what else it could be.

 

[gsxr]

My car has been getting really bad on warm up with intermittent misfires, code 7 has been popping but it i unplug the battery its pretty fine for a while. I ordered new spark plug wires, but i dont know what else it could be.

scroll back and read post #'s 88-90.

 

[93-400E]

Makes sense. Im sorry about all of this. I just keep trying, and it keeps not wanting to.

 

[gsxr]

Misfire shortly after reaching operating temp is almost always moisture in the distributors caps. On a budget, cut additional vent slots as shown here. If new Bosch caps are in the budget, cut the slots in new caps (and install new rotors too).

This will only partially help if you have any trace of engine oil at the lower edge of the cap. As mentioned previously, even with slotted caps, the oil leaks must be 100% eliminated to cure the misfire permanently.

 

[93-400E]

Do I need new backing caps as well? So I just need a camshaft end seal replaced?

 

[gsxr]

Do I need new backing caps as well?

The insulators would be good to replace as well, but if the back side is dry (no liquid residue), you can probably leave them alone.

So I just need a camshaft end seal replaced?

Only if leaking. The cam seals are not a common leak point, but check to make sure.

The cam advance solenoids, however, are leaking on pretty much every M119 that hasn't yet had them replaced or resealed as shown here. It's not expensive but requires a lot of hours of labor.

 

[93-400E]

Although I think I just need to check the part, it seems like I might need a new rotor bracke for proper fitment. Is this true?

 

[gsxr]

Although I think I just need to check the part, it seems like I might need a new rotor bracke for proper fitment. Is this true?

This is VERY unlikely. Search the forum for photos of the old-style rotor bracket. The old ones are crazy rare. Most cars were upgraded to the late style rotor bracket many years ago. Easy enough to find out, remove a rotor and check the bracket part number. They are visibly different.

 

[93-400E]

Changed caps, rotors and wires. So for so good. Caps and rotors are bosch, wires are beru. Getting the wires in was a pain and had to slightly lift the fuel rail.