OWNER Karmann_20v (400E)

[Karmann_20v]

Hello all, I have recently joined the 500E Board (I did read many posts here for years though). I am no stranger to Classic Benz ownership, having owned multiple examples in the past and present. I was and still am a fan of the big body cars (S Class) and had zero plans to get another "toy", let alone a midsize one but my friend from LA informed me in February that a car has found me, through him. Long story short his neighbor was looking to sell the 93 400E that was in the family since new and before he had a chance to list the car I had my friend look at it and take it for a drive. His feedback was very positive, he video called me during the test drive and I quickly realized this is my car. But I am close to Toronto and the car was in Los Angeles, I am familiar with the import process but the added costs for transport and fees meant I had to pretty much get the car for a song and asked my friend to make a very aggressive offer, which he did after the test drive. Then I received a picture of the car in front of his house...

The car is a 93 400E (10/92), 199 black on black.

The good:
CA car since new, zero rust
Original paint
Original condition/no mods (including orig radio)
Car sat for an extended time and didn't mark the spot
Working A/C
Upper/lower engine harnesses done (upper one label is Delphi/2009 I believe)
64k mi
The car feels solid, as it should
Interior looks great except for one detail below
Trunk full of parts that were changed recently (noticed all ignition parts including the coil, MAF and a few others)
Michelin tires (2020 and less than 1k mi ago)
AC Delco battery is less than 2 years old
No ASR

The not so good:
Car was driven by elderly folks, there are a few battle scars that I will have to correct, all seem to be doable with paintless dent removal
Headliner is sagging
Headlight doors are not in the best shape
Tail light lens cracked
Flimsy rearview mirror

I asked my friend to drive the car to work a few days before having it shipped and he reported that the car is driving very well. He noticed coolant weeping from the top rad removable plastic elbow, but we have scheduled the pickup already, so he had no time to order it and change it for me. My friend is an aeronautical engineer and a German car fan, with a nice collection of his own - he has bought the W116 from San Francisco 8 years ago for me.

Car was picked up from LA on Mar 5, arrived in Buffalo NY on the 9th. I brought it to Canada on the 15th and it is currently parked close to Niagara, I plan on getting it home within the next couple weeks.

During the drive on the 15th I noticed it is struggling to get up to normal operating temperature and stay there, if I am to trust the gauge. I suspect the thermostat is not doing its job and will have to change it, this was probably more difficult to notice in LA weather conditions, but in freezing temps it becomes more obvious.

I have to drive the car a bit more and have it home to go over and start putting together a proper to do list.

So far I am very happy with the purchase and the few areas that need attention aren't a show stopper to me.

 

[gsxr]

Congrats on the purchase, and welcome aboard!

 

[a777fan]

Awesome find! These are great machines when they aren’t misfiring.

 

[Jlaa]

Oh wow, that's a license plate starting with 3C --- that car has been in California for its entire life....!

 

[TerryA]

Congrats, It looks like you found a nice example. These are great cars when all is working well.

Good Luck w/ your new drive.

 

[a777fan]

Oh wow, that's a license plate starting with 3C --- that car has been in California for its entire life....!

BLOCK lettering ftw!

 

[Gatorblue92]

Awesome find! Enjoy

 

[nocfn]

Very nice find. I think you will find that if you dont have records of a 5 year change of Tstat, it is time to change it, and while you are there drain radiator, change the temp sensors on the intake and check that off the list.

 

[744Brillantsilber]

Very nice

 

[Karmann_20v]

Thanks for the warm welcome, folks! Luckily there are no misfires and I am planning to do a mild cooling system refresh, but I do have a question: The upper rad hose feels as if it has some sort of "ribs" for reinforcement, when I tried to squeeze it, it felt like it has some sort of inner structure - weird, is that normal? And it is a Mercedes original hose.

I forgot to add a picture of 124's stablemates, my Milanbraun 77 450SEL and Dunkelblau 88 560SEC - both bought on the West Coast and brought to Ontario by yours truly (the only classic Benz I bought locally is one that I bought to be parted out, a Euro 280SE W116).

 

[gsxr]

The original hose may have an internal spring for support. It isn't necessary and the new OE replacement will not have this, or need it.

 

[Karmann_20v]

Thanks Dave, that explains it. So that upper rad hose may be from 1993, eh??? Good thing Mercedes still carries them.

 

[Karmann_20v]

It's been a while since I posted an update, the car is finally running very well and to my liking. Got it registered and insured back in April and drove it a bit in May, when it started running rough, misfiring and refusing to restart hot. On top of this it had 2 leaks from the radiator and another one from the trans cooler line. I was not happy, neither was the California car being in Canada. Long story short, did the following:

• Spark plugs (Bosch non-resistor), dist. caps, rotors, ign. wires
• Behr radiator, thermostat, temp sensors, rad hoses and exp tank cap
• Ignition switch
• Trans cooler lines
• The PO changed the injectors to a mystery set that "kinda fit", thew were slightly off size wise and were not seated properly, some of the seals were pinched. Thankfully the original set was in the trunk and after some time in an ultrasonic cleaner they tested great, so they went back on. New seals went in
• Fuel filter
• Fuel filler cap and vent hoses
• Steering drag link and steering shock
• Upper strut mounts and bellows
• Some other miscellaneous stuff (windshield washer pump and seal, etc)

I still have some things to do, mostly cosmetic but the car is going to sleep in an underground garage for the winter.