High mileage E500 reliability?
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
From: Los Angeles,CA
01 CLK55, 04 CLK320, 03 E500, 16 BMW 320i
High mileage E500 reliability?
recently i found a 2006 E500 sedan, and it was exactly what i was looking for, well equipped, clean, one owner, etc.
But it has 212k miles...
I went to see the car in person, and its absolutely clean all around...apart from some wear on the wood trim on the shift knob and the chrome on the drivers side door handle peeling you cant tell the car has anywhere near the amount of miles the odometer reads.
what kind of problems should i expect with a car like this?
But it has 212k miles...
I went to see the car in person, and its absolutely clean all around...apart from some wear on the wood trim on the shift knob and the chrome on the drivers side door handle peeling you cant tell the car has anywhere near the amount of miles the odometer reads.
what kind of problems should i expect with a car like this?
Last edited by jaxtheax; Apr 12, 2015 at 05:49 PM.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 6,189
Likes: 1,549
From: MA
2008 E350 4Matic, 2011 E350 4matic
The usual suspects, airmatic and SBC brakes. At that mileage pretty much anything else could be ready to go, hope it's a really good price. Just get the service history. What options does it have? Bixenon? Make sure that they still autolevel. Panorama roof? Make sure it opens and closes without making noise, motor can go. Power trunk closer? Opens and closes, wires can get cut in the trunk. Keyless go? Check that all door handles work to open and lock the car and that the push button start works. Rear sunshade? That it goes up and down, motor can get stuck. Parktronic? All front and rear sensors should work. Bluetooth? Check for bluetooth puck. Ipod? Check for cable in glove box.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 3,133
Likes: 134
From: Down Unda
W204 C63 AMG, W212 E250 CGI, C207 E250 CGI
23,500 miles a year is a lot!!! if that was me, i wouldnt even give it a second look. E500's are not very rare so im sure ill find a better optioned E with lower mileage. i was recently on the market and came across a 2009 CLS500 with 160k's on it. didnt even bother clicking on the ad. but thats just me. goodluck!
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 3,254
Likes: 15
From: Louisiana
03 E500 and Corvette
recently i found a 2006 E500 sedan, and it was exactly what i was looking for, well equipped, clean, one owner, etc.
But it has 212k miles...
I went to see the car in person, and its absolutely clean all around...apart from some wear on the wood trim on the shift knob and the chrome on the drivers side door handle peeling you cant tell the car has anywhere near the amount of miles the odometer reads.
what kind of problems should i expect with a car like this?
But it has 212k miles...
I went to see the car in person, and its absolutely clean all around...apart from some wear on the wood trim on the shift knob and the chrome on the drivers side door handle peeling you cant tell the car has anywhere near the amount of miles the odometer reads.
what kind of problems should i expect with a car like this?
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 308
Likes: 8
I just purchased a 2006 E500 4matic wagon with 200k in it. It is a 1 owner with the most impecable service history I have seen. The car looks better in,out,and under than cars with 60k miles. I have zero issues driving and owning it.
I would rather have this than a 75k mile car with 4 owners and no service history.
Plus what I paid leaves tooonnnns of $ for any issues that do pop up.
Look on ebay you can buy low mileage engines all day long for $1500-2000, so if a major motor issue arises just replace the whole thing instead of fixing what broke.
I would rather have this than a 75k mile car with 4 owners and no service history.
Plus what I paid leaves tooonnnns of $ for any issues that do pop up.
Look on ebay you can buy low mileage engines all day long for $1500-2000, so if a major motor issue arises just replace the whole thing instead of fixing what broke.
Newbie
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
From: San Diego, CA
'07 E550
Thank you Bryan
Just having that information makes me so glad that as long as I keep up with the service and maintenance 200k miles is not unheard of. I'm really looking forward to the next 150k miles that I get to put on my new toy.
Thanks,
Scott.
Thanks,
Scott.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
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C320
If you're leaving it parked for an extended period of time make sure its hooked up to a trickle charger. Low voltage does terrible things to this car's computers. When you come back to it after weeks or months don't be surprised if you find the air suspension collapsed. It's normal. It should pump right back up when you turn it on. You might be better served by an E320 with coil spring suspension.
Super Member
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 545
Likes: 87
From: Southern California
If you're leaving it parked for an extended period of time make sure its hooked up to a trickle charger. Low voltage does terrible things to this car's computers. When you come back to it after weeks or months don't be surprised if you find the air suspension collapsed. It's normal. It should pump right back up when you turn it on. You might be better served by an E320 with coil spring suspension.
Lastly, the Florida sun can be brutal. Are you going to be keeping the car outside or will you have the car in a parking garage?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 6,189
Likes: 1,549
From: MA
2008 E350 4Matic, 2011 E350 4matic
You could just switch to coil springs or you can get Arnott replacement air springs which have a lifetime warranty. Two other factors would be SBC brakes which have a 25 year extended warranty but when the pump fails, you will basically lose 90% of your braking. But hopefully the counter trips before then and the pump gets replaced on MB's dime before that happens. Also there's a 15 year extended warranty on the fuel tank, but it would probably be expired on the model you're looking at. You end up smelling gas in the cabin when it leaks. Try testing it with a full tank of gas. Later 2007-2009 model E350/E550 might still have the fuel tank covered and no SBC. No airmatic on E350 too but the E350 has intake manifold issues, but under 1k to replace the intake manifold.
Member
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 248
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From: L.A., Moscow, NYC, San Diego, Baja
1998 E320 Wagon, 2003 W211 E500, 2003 W211 E500, 1999 W210 E55 AMG
I had an '03 E500 with 250K on it when I sold it due to what was likely an easy trans fix. Aside from a few airmatic repairs, an alternator, and routine maint ran flawlessly.
I now have another '03 E500 that I bought with 175K, now has 184K. Aside from regular maint like changing out the engine, differential, and trand oils, plus radiator flush, it was necessary to replace a number of engine vacuum lines, clean out the intake - MAF, EGR, throttle, etc... - replaced a single height sensor, flex disc, idler pully. It doesn't burn oil, but needs a rear main seal. There's an issue with the airmatic compressor mount.
Otherwise the car runs very well, responsive, agile, and fast.
I now have another '03 E500 that I bought with 175K, now has 184K. Aside from regular maint like changing out the engine, differential, and trand oils, plus radiator flush, it was necessary to replace a number of engine vacuum lines, clean out the intake - MAF, EGR, throttle, etc... - replaced a single height sensor, flex disc, idler pully. It doesn't burn oil, but needs a rear main seal. There's an issue with the airmatic compressor mount.
Otherwise the car runs very well, responsive, agile, and fast.
