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A lot of people knock the early year E500s, especially the 2003.
I've had mine for a year and a half now, bought it for $5k with 86,000 miles and put almost 20,000 on it myself.
Rides smooth as silk, has plenty of power and stops on a dime.
I've replaced all of the fluids and done a few regular maintenance items like front air shocks and motor mounts, but all in all it's been a FANTASTIC and reliable car.
One of my buddies from college who lives in Gainesville used to own a classic BMW 5 series and is a big car nut.
I visit him once a year and he always gets to drive my vehicles.
Each of the last two years he's said the exact same thing to me after climbing out of the cockpit, "amazing that you can get a car like this for five thousand dollars."
Take one of these V8 machines out on the interstate into triple digits and you'll understand.
Last edited by Bahnstormer; 03-22-2018 at 07:53 AM.
I don't think I've put anywhere near 6k in maintenance, maybe about 1k or so in the last 3 years, not including tires, those 18 inch rims love potholes and cracks/bends/flats were common so maybe I spent another 1k+ on tires/rims. But hey, it's still a fun car to drive.
Maintenance wise, in a year and a half and 20,000km I've done:
-Oil change~$130 (Independent shop)
-Replace serpentine belt/tensioner/idlers $160 (DIY)
-Air filters $40 (DIY)
-Cabin filter $50 (DIY)
-Oil change, brake fluid change, caliper service, safety inspection $400 (independent shop)
I also had to replace both rear springs, have a wheel repaired, and have the alignment reset to the tune of nearly $1100 at the MB dealer after hitting a sunken manhole lid with my right rear tire.
I'm planning on downsizing to 17" wheels this summer because the roads in my area are in such bad shape. Even the main roads are a minefield of potholes, cracks, crumbling patches, and manhole lids that don't sit flush with the road surface. I mostly drive around town so I'm willing to give up a little bit of handling for the smoother ride and increased protection for the rim.
Good luck with your 17 inch rims, but I have the 245/45/17 tires on my W212 and also had two bent rims on that one. Never had a bent rim when I had 60 series tires on a previous car.
I would try and find out if the following major ticket items have been replaced:
- SBC hydraulic unit
- Airmatic shocks and pump
- Fuel tank (factory recall)
- Motor mounts
Check the maintenance history for transmission fluid changes at recommended intervals.
If the car was maintained properly 123k miles is nothing on these motors.
I second this. I recently picked up a 2005 E500 4Matic with only 94k on it. SBC is bad (in process of rebuilding) and the rear air suspension has a slow leak
03-21-2018, 05:20 PM
