[smart_guy]

You're playing with fire. Just find a clean 1995 E420 to use on purchase. It is V8.

Trust me, I know.

But to answer you're questions, 400E up to 1992, E420 up to 1995 after it, 500E up to 1992 and E500 up to 1995 after it are the V8 W124's. To put any V8 MB engine up to ~1998, you better have one of those. Not sure about the transmission.

 

[smart_guy]

Imagine a V8 W124 with (practical) manual transmission tho. That would be legendary