Nickbenz83

So I had a 05 E500 and absolutely LOVED the car. Unfortunately on October 31st I was hit by a driver that couldn't read the big red sign that says STOP...

Now I'm in the market and will be shopping around not really in a hurry but I do know I want another benz. I have a limit of 25k to spend. It has to be AWD living in Connecticut (USA new England). I'm very interested in the E550s and the E350s. I do want 4 door and want bluetooth capabilities. My E500 had the airomatic suspension witch was very comfortable but I do know how expensive they are when they go. Basically I'm looking for others thoughts and suggestions.

cetialpha5

Well bluetooth is pretty standard in the W212 and you might get lucky and find a 2010-2011 or even 2012, I don't think you'll find a 2013 for that price. Most W211's probably had bluetooth. I think for 2009, they went to a newer version of Comand so it was built in. For 2007/2008, it had to be wired for mobil phones and then you have to get the puck. I would think that most E550's had that, most E350's also had it but there were a few out there that weren't, you'd just have to run this VIN decoder and see if the option is mentioned.

http://www.vindecoderz.com/EN/Mercedes-Benz

One of the nice things about MB is having that vin decoder available, made it easy for me to find a car with all the options I wanted. As a minimum, I got P2 both times. Most E550's were a bit more loaded than E350's but there are a few base models out there that didn't really have anything.

Nickbenz83

My w211 was very well equipped for the year. It didn't have bluetooth or a phone installed to use the puck. But what's your thoughts with the airomatic suspension? The E500 was my first ever benz. So I'm not sure how the E350 rides. I do like the styling and looks but that's not what it's all about. I like the comfort and I like to get on the throttle some times lol. I'm gonna have to test drive a few and make up my mind lol.

cetialpha5

What options did you have? I think bluetooth was different in pre-2006 models. Most used cars sold didn't have the bluetooth puck, but it was wired for bluetooth and all you had to do was buy a bluetooth puck on ebay for around $100. As for the E350, there was the luxury model and the sports model. The sports model had a lower suspension by about an inch so I would think it'd be harsher than the luxury model. I have the sports suspension because most luxury models were basic and didn't have too many options. I'd say the ride is firm.

Nickbenz83

I have seen a few very sexy looking 2011 E550s. White with black interior. Not to bad with prices ether. But I have also seen many E350s. I see a bunch of them around but not many 550s. I like having a car that not to many people have lol. Idk sounds stupid but it's true. The 500 I had was very nice looking and ran very well. I only had it for 4 weeks before it got totaled. Didn't even make my first payment on it lol. But I have about a year to look around and see what I want to settle on. This time I'm just gonna buy it out right no loan lol. But I do want to purchase a extended warranty with it so definitely gonna be looking for pre owned certified.

Nickbenz83

That was my baby. My first benz. 05 E500.

cetialpha5

That's too bad, it didn't have parktronic or the pano roof. Did you get bixenons/keyless go, I see you had the headlamp washers which probably meant you had the bixenons. The only thing with an E550 is that the only way to tell is by looking at the trunk, otherwise, they're kinda identical to an E350. There's not a lot of E350's around to begin with, lots of Honda's and Toyota's.

Nickbenz83

Lol yeah Hondas and Toyota. Yes I had the HID head lights. I also changed the park lights to LED and 2 days before it was hit I changed out the amber bumper lenses to the clear and also put LED in aswell along with every interior light and licences plate lights. I have some time to do some looking around but like I said before I'm just concerned about the airomatic system as the w211 had some issues I read up on. But I am looking at a bit newer then 05 now and hopefully something that still has a manufacturer warranty with it. Not sure how that works but I know I can find a extended warranty with a purchase. Where abouts are you from?

cetialpha5

Standard manufacturers warranty was 4 years/50k. So that puts you at a 2012-2013 with under 50k depending on the in-service date. There was an option for an extended warranty which was good for up to 7 years 100k or the CPO warranty which was up to 3 years with unlimited miles. The CPO warranty expires if it gets traded into a dealer, not sure about the extended warranty, maybe the same thing but I think you could get a refund for the unused portion of the extended warranty but not for CPO. They're much harder to find with a factory warranty. I think it's just as well that neither of my cars has it, I haven't bothered to take it to the dealer for those $300 oil changes, I just DIY it. Airmatic had Arnott's available in the W211. I think for W212, they just have them available for the rears for now, they don't have them for the fronts so it's just OEM. I think you can send them off somewhere to get rebuilt, but you'd have to wait for them. In 2012, they became an option so you might find a 2012 without it.

Nickbenz83

Great thanks for the info. I'm still up in the air if I want a 2011 E550 4matic sport or a 2012. I'm also up in the air about the airomatic or just OEM Springs. I have seen a few 2011 online with the air in the front so kind of confused about what you mean by they where just in the back. Unless it was a package option for that year.

cetialpha5

It's Airmatic. All 2010-2011 E550's have airmatic in the front and rear. It became an option in 2012 so you may find an E550 that doesn't have airmatic. You can get aftermarket Arnott airmatic parts which are 1/2 the price of OEM. Unfortunately they only make them for the rears for the W212 so if you need the front ones, you'd have to pay OEM prices. They had them for both the front and rear for the W211.

2MERKS

First of all, glad you're ok, and it's only a vehicle. Now with that said, 25K is a decent amount , the 550 are nice, but if i have 25k I'll be in the market for a E55 sedan, or better yet the E55 wagon!
Pretty sure you'll find a nice E55, decent miles, and still have some loot to mod your newer car.
Now a wagon will definitely move you in a exclusive club, but either way your a in a win win situation!
Do you have plans to part out the other vehicle?

Nickbenz83

The insurance company has the car. And I would love to get a E55 but I need AWD.