2006 e500 opinion
09-17-2018, 10:51 PM
#1
2006 e500 opinion
looking at possible purchase of a 2006 e500 4matic.
the air suspension is shot so I’d be looking at the conversion kit to repair that. It had 250,000 miles on it and they’re asking $1700. Is it worth the money at that price? Considering the conversion kit is $1000. Also, what are the common issues with this model? Should I just stay away from it? Thank you.
the air suspension is shot so I’d be looking at the conversion kit to repair that. It had 250,000 miles on it and they’re asking $1700. Is it worth the money at that price? Considering the conversion kit is $1000. Also, what are the common issues with this model? Should I just stay away from it? Thank you.
09-18-2018, 11:19 AM
#2
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2005 E500 Wagon
Honestly, the Airmatic is the main issue now. The SBC Warranty has been extended as well as the fuel tank warranty so those icebergs have been taken out of the equation. I will say it makes me happy that the vehicle has made it to 250K. I'm hoping I can get mine that far. I've done a lot of things on my car in the 18 months I had it:
Myself:
Myself:
- Front Air Struts / Compressor
- Rebuilt Front Axles
- Alternator
- Crank position sensor
- SBC
- Fuel Tank
09-18-2018, 11:45 AM
#3
Honestly, the Airmatic is the main issue now. The SBC Warranty has been extended as well as the fuel tank warranty so those icebergs have been taken out of the equation. I will say it makes me happy that the vehicle has made it to 250K. I'm hoping I can get mine that far. I've done a lot of things on my car in the 18 months I had it:
Myself:
Myself:
- Front Air Struts / Compressor
- Rebuilt Front Axles
- Alternator
- Crank position sensor
- SBC
- Fuel Tank
09-18-2018, 11:46 AM
#4
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2010 E63 AMG, 2003 E500
I've got a 2003 E500 that I purchased almost two years ago with 86k miles on the clock. She's been a great car to own and drive the last 25k miles. Minor maintenance repairs but overall a very solid and reliable highway cruiser. I got bit early on by the performance bug and did mid-length headers, AMG exhaust, ECU tune and Sprint Booster. Car hauls *** (for an E500).
09-18-2018, 11:50 AM
#5
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2005 E500 Wagon
09-18-2018, 12:00 PM
#6
theres a company called strutmasters that sells the kit with a module to turn off the error. But do you guys think it’s worth the time and money on a car with 250k miles?
09-18-2018, 12:06 PM
#7
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2005 E500 Wagon
Strutmasters doesn't show a kit for the E500 models. Just S-class models at least from what I have found. Either way, one of the main points of buying this car was because of the air suspension and the comfort. With a conversion, I might as well buy something much less finnicky.
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09-18-2018, 12:11 PM
#8
Just checked their site again and they do in fact have a kit for e500. You have to select Mercedes, not merced s Benz. This car is a 4matic by the way. But do you guys think it’s worth the time and money on a car with this much mileage?
09-18-2018, 12:16 PM
#9
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These kits on their site are for RWD and 2WD models. They do not make anything to retrofit the front of the 4matic cars. The front struts on the 4matic cars have a large fork because the axle goes through the middle of the strut. They don't have any parts for that.
09-18-2018, 12:22 PM
#10
sorry, but you’re still incorrect. The kit on their site for e500 4matic lists in the box: front and rear struts, springs, and error module. Bottom line, is this worth it to you guys?
09-18-2018, 12:27 PM
#12
Oh my god! Can someone just answer my question instead of trying to impress me with what they think they know. Strutmastet sells a kit for the e500 4matic. All I want to know is if this car is worth the time and money
09-18-2018, 12:32 PM
#13
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You're on a car site full of people who own these cars. Yes, we think they're worth the time and money. But for $1700 you could buy a ****ing Camry that would drive until the end of time with almost zero maintenance. You're going to put the same amount of money you spent on the car into some shoddy suspension modification that I wouldn't go anywhere near. You're the only one who can make that decision but at 250K miles, you're staring down the barrel of WAY more than just converting the air suspension.
09-18-2018, 12:38 PM
#14
You're on a car site full of people who own these cars. Yes, we think they're worth the time and money. But for $1700 you could buy a ****ing Camry that would drive until the end of time with almost zero maintenance. You're going to put the same amount of money you spent on the car into some shoddy suspension modification that I wouldn't go anywhere near. You're the only one who can make that decision but at 250K miles, you're staring down the barrel of WAY more than just converting the air suspension.
09-18-2018, 01:17 PM
#16
09-18-2018, 02:38 PM
#17
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My replacements were Arnott as well. Prepare yourself for low availability and trying a lot of different providers to find both front struts for a 4matic car. I got both from RockAuto at first...but one showed up damaged. They did not have another strut. I tried Amazon and that didn't work out. I then found an alternate part number at Pelican Parts. That one finally showed up and worked great.
09-18-2018, 02:47 PM
#18
Good info folks. Thanks going to look at it tomorrow. Currently, all 4 corners are aired out and the whole car is on lowered. Is this a problem common to the air springs or compressor?
09-18-2018, 03:19 PM
#19
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2010 E63 AMG, 2003 E500
Check all four struts before ordering new. Maybe you have a leak in one of the lines and that could be part of the issue. It could be a combination of bad struts and/or leaky lines.
09-18-2018, 04:32 PM
#20
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Yeah, the frustrating part is that there are a fair amount of variables. The compressor can leak. The valve block can leak. The struts themselves can leak. The air lines. After I replaced my fronts I still had an airmatic error until I realized the fitting on the compressor was loose and was leaking air.
09-18-2018, 06:32 PM
#21
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thank you. I’m no stranger to working on cars. Have owned a few bmw and Mercedes and worked on bmws for several years. I’m not afraid of doing the work or maintenance, have actually swapped my bmw from automatic to manual. Was just curious if a 250k car was worth getting into
Even if you put $2000 - 3000 worth of repairs in it it's still going to be more or less a $1700 car which you will be stuck with!
How do I know ...
09-25-2018, 05:48 PM
#25
im going to look at it tomorrow. The guy said that Airmatic compressor is bad, but that it runs and drives fine otherwise.
