smokin_buddha

Hi Everyone,

New to the MB world, coming out of a Lexus GS300. Im looking at purchasing a 2004 E500, in a Dark Blue on light interior with 161,000km.

The car is gorgeous, its loaded with almost every option.

The car does have some issues:
The Airmatic suspension has a Malfunction.
Once you drive for a couple mins, another malfunction comes up for brakes.

The bigges issue is when i push the c/s button in gear, the tranny makes this nasty clunking noise.
Also at crawling speed the tranny also makes a small clunk noise.

Has anyone had the same issues they can help me identify?

Thanks alot for your help, looking forward to being apart of the MB world.

AMGAffalterbach

Welcome to the forum! Thanks for choosing the MBWorld community, there are a lot of great people here that are willing to help you with all of your questions or needs as well as a little bit of humor every now and then. The E-Class is a wonderful car in my opinion. However I find it worth it to go with a 2007+ "facelift" model that lacks the shoddy SBC braking system and many of the issues with the early E-Classes. A few 2003/2004 models have been repeat offenders for horribly expensive issues on here. On the other had there are many that are happy with their pre-facelift E-Classes on this forum. (By facelift I mean the W211 model from 2007-2009 which was changed mechanically and boasted a more chiseled design with a pointier front end as you can see in my signature).

161,000km is nothing for these cars I've seen facelift models with more miles so that shouldn't be an issue. Can you elaborate on the AirMatic problem? If it takes a long time to pump up or won't rise up all the way you probably have a problem with the compressor, lines, or air struts. I will caution you here that if the car you are looking at buying has air-suspension problems you'll probably have to put several thousand in to fix it. I would recommend getting Arnott Industries parts to fix these problems as many have done.

The SBC braking system on these is another problem point and can cost quite a bit of money as well but that is all relative, again. Can you elaborate on the error?

As far as the transmission goes this could be something as simple as old/low transmission fluid to greater problems that could once again cost you several thousand and *could* necessitate a transmission rebuild. One known issue with the pre-facelift models is the issue of glycol contamination. You can have the fluid tested and see if it has greater underlying problems.

Your best bet is to take it to a dealer or independent Mercedes shop to have them diagnose it (usually free as you know) and quote the price of repair. This will give you a real estimate if you have to go with this car. If not, there are probably less problematic E500s out there. Overall though, still a great car but it did suffer from some early W211 model issues.

Joey

ozusa

as AMG says, take it to get it inspected. At an MB dealer, because it has SBC brakes, only they will tell you if they will repair it under the 10 year warranty. An Indie can't really promise a warranty brake job, though their opinion may be technically correct on all matters.

Best case at an independent:
- It needs a brake job for new pads at one end only ($300)
- It needs a new transmission filter and new fluid ($200)
- The air suspension has a minor fault (????)

Worst case:
- SBC brake system needs major work that MB decides not to cover ($3K+)
- Transmission needs a new control plate ($800) or even worse several thousand
- The air suspension is wrecked all around ($4K+)

The above numbers are just a rough guess. Odds are that at least one of your issues is serious.

And also check that the wonderful options that attracted you to the car all work!

I love my E320 and all its options, but do not buy an SBC, airmatic car with obvious faults without a repair quote.

AMGAffalterbach

^ 100% Agreed. Ozusa articulated that very well.

bkhk

Yes, you need help.

You need help to convince you that this is not a good decision. Move on to either a later model or stick with the Lex.

smokin_buddha

Thanks for your help so far. A little back story and more detail from having being able to drive the E500 since saturday.

The previous owner had said that he has been driving with the airmatic (visit shop) malfunction on for at least a couple months. After driving the vehicle myself the issues ive noticed is that the front passanger side compresser come on for 10 seconds or so which sounds like its adding air to that corner. also while driving over large bumps in the road it sometimes clunks in that same corner.

The brake malfunction only comes on after driving for a few mins, but i dont notice any difference in the performance of the vehicle.

the c/s button i dont even touch and previews owner didnt mention anything wrong with that function.

i have a appointment tomorrow at the local MB dealer which a friend happends to be a service manager. (hope that will help reduce costs of what ever repair it will need)

This vehicle is loaded with everything except the parktronic, distronic cruise, navigation. the fact that i will be purchasing this vehicle for $7500 makes me not able to really give it up.

I will let you helpfull MB world members know how the visit with MB service goes.

Thanks again.

AMGAffalterbach

We're glad to help. Just make sure you get a proper diagnosis as you're planning to so it doesn't become a money-pit. $7500 is a good deal IMO for an E500 so if you go through with it I can't wait to see the pics and/or any customizations you chose to make.

smokin_buddha

Got the diagnoses for the car from the MB dealer.
It needs the 2 rear air springs and rear left shock absorber
front lower ball joint and front upper control arm is loose
Oil leak from valance cover( no idea what that is)
Transmission control unit faulty

need to price out the parts becuase MB dealer wants like $6000 for all parts.

I will go pick up later today, what you guy think? Still a good deal?

Thanks

ozusa

I don't think it's a good deal.

$7K + $6K = #=$13K

Did the 6K include labor?

That is not remarkably good.

And what about the brake malfunction. What was the story with that? That is really important for you to know and understand. And you said the front airmatic was making noise, yet it's the rear that needs the work?

smokin_buddha

The brake issue is because the previous owner had installed aftermarket brakes. The air springs i will most likely change with arnott industries rear air springs for 715, the first thing i will change is the balljoint and control arm. The tranny seems to be fine in sport mode, but I will have to look into the control unit.
This car drives to nice not to keep, and most of the work i can get done at reasnable prices, maybe even do the air spring install myself (ive installed lowering spring on my old lexus)

Thanks.

06E5004ME

Welcome! As far as issues with your car go, the SBC unit might be replaced my Mercedes under the recalls. You are on your own with air springs. If you have 3 of them that are bad, might as well replace all 4 as the last one is probably on its last breath. Control unit for the transmission is not a big deal. It is basically a curcuit board that is replacable. Last time I checked it is around $150 new. The reason it goes is because the transmission plug starts to leak and oil starts going UP to the transmission module, so you might want to replace the plug, oil and the oil filter. The plug is around $10 from the dealer, oil filter with gasket is something like $15 and oil is about $15-$20/quart. $6k is too much IMO. I'd say maybe around $3K for all air springs (OEM Bilstein is like $700/piece for the rear). Front springs might be a little bit more expensive but not that much. Ball joints are relatively cheap, around $50 for Lemforder. Control arms are probably around $150. I am not sure, where the prices above came from, especially the $800 for transmisson control module.

http://www.fcpeuro.com/products/merc...e-1402700861oe <----- Transmission Electrical Plate
http://www.fcpeuro.com/products/merc...0-2113209613oe <----- Front Strut
http://www.fcpeuro.com/products/merc...0-e550-klf7661 <----- Rear Spring
http://www.fcpeuro.com/products/merc...t-2103300035my <----- Ball Joint

These guys don't even have the best prices.

As others have said, $7500 with the above mentioned probems is a bit too much especially for an 04. I would not look at the miles as a decision point, as higher mileage W211s probably had these problems addressed already. Personally, I'd go for 05 and up. Good luck!

ozusa

a

vettdvr

RUN!

AMGAffalterbach

Yeah $6k for repair, at $13k you can find a better deal.

smokin_buddha

As far a cost estimates go, i would not be doing the work at Mercedes. I figure I will put around 2000 to 3000 in parts and labour.
There is another issue ive been noticing, when the car is cold and im just starting to drive it clunks when it shifts from 1st to 2nd gear, Im hoping a tranny fluid flush will correct that issue.
Let me know if you guys have seen this 1st to 2nd issue before and what you did you correct it.

I just cant pass this car up, here in canada the prices for these vehicles is high, and a E500 is pretty rare.

Quick question, do you guys know if the car has a timming belt or timming chain?
Thanks.

ozusa

there is an accessory belt visible on the front of the engine that drives the alternator, water pump, aircon and power steering, but it does not effect the valve timing. Valve timing/camshaft rotation is by chain.

As for the transmission, if you have bought the car already, then change the transmission filter and fluid. Your issue may be the fluid is low, but since you feel you got a bargain, spend some money on proper transmission maintenance and don't just pour some more fluid into the hole at the top. (and do get the electric connector plug changed at the same time. It's cheap.) If you have not bought the car yet, insist the seller replaces the filter and fluid (even if they don't do a full flush).

smokin_buddha

Thank you for the help.
I have bought the car, it drives so nicely. There are those issues but i will be getting everything done.
I will change the fluid and filter at the dealer shortly. I have to change that faulty control unit at the same time. I also noticed the valve cover gasket is done so will have to replace that shortly.
This car is such a nice platform that i think it will be worth it.

Thanks again for all your help, I look forward to being a part of the MB world.

Jake

C280 Sport

Well you are in it now! Hope to God everything works out well from here once everything on your list in taken care of at the dealer.

Flash Gordon

Ditto. Just sold my 2003 E500 for the problems you mentioned. Sold it before any of those became a heavy baggage for me. I would not touch that car with all the problems already there and there is more to come! Trust me!

smokin_buddha

@Flash Gordon : How much did you sell yours for?

This car has less then 100,000miles (160,000km) and it feels like it has lots of life left in it.

Plus i already did some work on it:

AMGAffalterbach

These engines will go forever, I know two E-class owners that have over 230,000 miles (former owner of my car and another gentleman I ran into at MB Littleton) and still going strong.

Flash Gordon

I traded mine for $9700 when an Acura dealer in Virginia gave me a huge discount on the MDX I could not refuse. I had 70K miles. Engine was never the issue, it's SBC, Airmatic, and the dreaded gas odor which is a common problem. I traded before any of those major problems surface.

smokin_buddha

You are right about that, its all the other things that can go on these vehicles. I just ran into another issue with the washer fluid not sparying, now i have to see what i can do to repair this new issue.

Still love driving this car. Cant wait for the spring so i can get some 19's for it, hopefully its going to last till spring!