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I was in CA last week and found a 1992 400E at a local Pick & Pull. I thought, "Score! I can get a set of metal oil tubes!" Well, I was quite disappointed to discover the car had the plastic tubes. I thought the breakpoint was in the middle of 1993 model year production, but apparently not. This car was a very late 1992 model year, so the change had to occur somewhere in the 1992 production. I got the VIN but must have made a typo when I wrote it down, as it doesn't come up in the EPC. Anyway:

VIN: WDBEA34EXNB832935
Engine: 119975-xx-006034
Production: 08-1992

Apparently, the plastic tubes were phased in prior to this production date. Note that the 4.2L engine numbers are different than the 5.0L so that number cannot be cross-referenced with 500E numbers. Anyone have additional data points for late 1992-build 500E's or 400E's?

From 400Eric:

[My 1993 400E] has metal oil tubes and is an early 93, born 9/92, engine # 6316, and has the 11.0 compression symbol after the engine # which is proof it really is a true 93. I still believe the switch took place in about 3/93. Something else is up with that 92.

On a thread at Mercedesshop, there was a guy with a 500E (who I'm sure is here as well) that is adamant his 4/92 build date car came from the factory with plastic oil tubes. There is also a guy there with a 93 400E, engine number 6764 (over 400 units later than mine), that came with metal oil tubes. Even you may never be able to fully solve this one Dave!



Very weird. The '92 car in question had a rebuilt tranny (bright blue torque converter) and 250kmi on the odometer. Perhaps it had a valve job or something? I really didn't think so, as the top chain guides (between cam sprockets) were very brittle, and one of the upper guides at the inside of the head was broken. Both heads had the plastic tubes, btw.

It's a myth that '92s have metal tubes. My '92 500E with original motor has plastic tubes. There's no clear break point. It's always worth a look if you see one in a yard though!

Gregg