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2004 E 500 4MATIC Wagon; 2015 ML 350 4MATIC; †2003 C 240 4MATIC Wagon (2003-2022)
In the middle of September, I found and purchased a 2004 E 500 4MATIC estate/wagon in Tektite Gray Pearl/Metallic (753) over the two-tone interior of Stone/Pebble (205) Nappa leather and Amaretta/Almond beige. Here is the background story and before-photos from when the car was purchased by us. The photos below are from early November, after the full detailing (interior and exterior), paint decontamination, multi-stage paint correction, polishing of the glass and headlamps, and professional 9H ceramic coating application to all painted surfaces, trim, glass, lights, and wheels (in late September and early October, I already had the wagon sorted mechanically, all drivetrain and steering fluids changed, preventative mechanical maintenance performed, and an NH Oil Undercoating treatment applied to protect the underside from corrosion — more on the entire project later). I decided to leave the existing paint protection film installed by the previous owner on the front leading edges (including the side mirrors) and had the Ceramic Pro shop polish them prior to applying the coating. All body panels, doors, hatch/tailgate, roof, bumper covers, side mirror housings, and rims have their original factory paint and clearcoat — none of these have been repainted or reconditioned, as independently verified using paint meters by our detailers, the top pros in the region (their service is in the vehicle's Carfax report). Prior to the ceramic coating, I had replaced some of the black window pilar moulding trim with brand-new factory-painted parts from Mercedes-Benz (they were the only exterior parts that had some corrosion starting to bubble up beneath the paint), the front grill with a brand-new genuine Mercedes-Benz W211 grill (I sourced one from a specialist in the Netherlands for a fraction of what the dealerships were selling it for in the U.S.), both side mirrors with brand-new genuine Mercedes-Benz parts (the auto-dimming left/driver's side mirror was already bronzing, and the right/passenger-side had a malfunctioning heating element), and both chrome rails on the front bumper's impact strips (I also sourced these from Europe for cheap, since it seems that they have been discontinued in the U.S. and are only available from Mercedes-Benz as part of the entire impact strip assemblies). It has been our daily driver since then, including during the recent arctic bomb cyclone and polar vortex (-11 degrees Celsius). The wagon has started and run reliably, even though it is always kept outdoors and not connected to a trickle-charger (the previous owner already replaced the main battery this past summer). It was left outside with no trickle-charger for nearly two weeks in late November through freezing rain, light snow, and very cold conditions while I was out of town. When I came back, it was around -5 degrees Celsius, and the car started right up without any issues or warnings (e.g., no "Low Battery Convenience Functions Temporarily Unavailable" warning). It seems like we may have lucked out on this one. Heads-up for those interested (I'll be making a series of detailed YouTube videos about the car and the mini-restoration project in a few months): We might be moving in a year, so this car could be going up for auction at the end of next summer or early autumn.
I bought my first e55 last week. Then bought another 2 days later haha
Both pano roofs. The black e55 has 100k miles, with 10k in maintenance done at 82k miles. Distronic, parktronic, heated/cooled seats, tpms, bixenon, 77mm pulley. Mostly stock. The flint grey is 62k miles and has dynamic seats, heated/cooled seats, bixenon.
I have to sell one, not sure which yet. The grey is a 2 owner car and I bought it from an elderly couple for an amazing price. However I love the black and the distronic. I'm so torn 😂
Both pano roofs. The black e55 has 100k miles, with 10k in maintenance done at 82k miles. Distronic, parktronic, heated/cooled seats, tpms, bixenon, 77mm pulley. Mostly stock. The flint grey is 62k miles and has dynamic seats, heated/cooled seats, bixenon.
I have to sell one, not sure which yet. The grey is a 2 owner car and I bought it from an elderly couple for an amazing price. However I love the black and the distronic. I'm so torn 😂
What year are they? That's a nice positon to be in.lol
Both pano roofs. The black e55 has 100k miles, with 10k in maintenance done at 82k miles. Distronic, parktronic, heated/cooled seats, tpms, bixenon, 77mm pulley. Mostly stock. The flint grey is 62k miles and has dynamic seats, heated/cooled seats, bixenon.
I have to sell one, not sure which yet. The grey is a 2 owner car and I bought it from an elderly couple for an amazing price. However I love the black and the distronic. I'm so torn 😂
Do you have to sell one though? I think we are up to 7 cars now between my wife and I. Every time I say I'm going to sell something to get another one I end up not selling anything and it gets put into rotation..lol My wife likes to crash her NX each year so she is without it for at least a couple months throughout the year, so having a spare car of a spare is beneficial to her even though she says I have too many cars...lol
Seems like the black is better optioned and you dropped a lot of money in maintenance. But the flint gray is so much nicer looking to me personally. I'm just not a fan of black vehicles. Flint gray is such a pretty color.
What year are they? That's a nice positon to be in.lol
Thanks, they are both 05's with the updated center console.
Originally Posted by NewShockerGuy
Do you have to sell one though? I think we are up to 7 cars now between my wife and I. Every time I say I'm going to sell something to get another one I end up not selling anything and it gets put into rotation..lol My wife likes to crash her NX each year so she is without it for at least a couple months throughout the year, so having a spare car of a spare is beneficial to her even though she says I have too many cars...lol
Seems like the black is better optioned and you dropped a lot of money in maintenance. But the flint gray is so much nicer looking to me personally. I'm just not a fan of black vehicles. Flint gray is such a pretty color.
-Nigel
Haha. I'm trying to get my father to buy one and keep it as his weekend car. I already have a 1989 astro van as my 'spare fun vehicle' I'm definetely tempted to keep them both. The black is higher optioned. It also has the factory cell phone. The only options it's missing I believe are the solar pano roof and the dynamic seats. The flint grey is growing on me. The interior is a two tone color of black and dark blue, pretty unique. I wonder if I can just swap over the distronic modules somehow 😂
2007 e63 estate, 1998 ITB golf, ITE scirocco (sold to a collector in Japan)
nice
Originally Posted by STLAMG
06 E55 AMG on BBS’S and E63 front bumper and carbon Lip.
two questions--what lip spoiler are you using AND your foglamps look like they aren't halogen (are they LED and, if so, what are they and were they straight forward replacements?) BTW the BBS look great. i put AUDI R8 wheels on mine and i think they look fantastic.
two questions--what lip spoiler are you using AND your foglamps look like they aren't halogen (are they LED and, if so, what are they and were they straight forward replacements?) BTW the BBS look great. i put AUDI R8 wheels on mine and i think they look fantastic.
The Lip I think I got it from GermanMuscle site, I believe it’s a RW Carbon Lip. It’s been a while.. and fog lights are just oem Halogen. And thanks, yeah I had the BBS wheels on there for a little while, might switch them out this year. Probably going to go with CCW Classics in all black. Wider tires, I might have a local shop help me get some fender flares molded. I want to widen the car by 1/2-1”
06-05-2015, 06:55 PM
