When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
i'm currently looking at a 2013 e550 4matic. Has 51k miles on it. Dealer had it listed around $26k. Car has a lot of options and I think I'd pull the trigger if I can get them down a few thousand bucks.
what are some major issues I should look for before purchasing? I would have a mechanic give it a once over, but any specific areas they should be checking out? Looking forward to learning a lot! Thanks!
Well the only things that come to mind are probably the motor mounts and check to see if the wood is faded. Open the doors and see if the wood is the same color as the bit hidden by the door when it's closed.
Well the only things that come to mind are probably the motor mounts and check to see if the wood is faded. Open the doors and see if the wood is the same color as the bit hidden by the door when it's closed.
thanks for the info alpha! Motor mounts are obviously a problem if they're bad, but what would the faded wood indicate? Also, how would I tell if this car has the airmatic suspension or not? Based on what I've read, that can be a real headache if it breaks.
Faded wood is a cosmetic problem. Good as a negotiating tool, but you probably won't replace it because the kit alone lists for 3k although you can get it online for around 2k. Post the vin or run it through a vin decoder like this one and see if airmatic is listed as an option or not. Arnott makes aftermarket springs that are a bit cheaper, but I believe they only have have the rears and not the front available. Also pads/rotors are also a bit more money than an E350.
Faded wood is a cosmetic problem. Good as a negotiating tool, but you probably won't replace it because the kit alone lists for 3k although you can get it online for around 2k. Post the vin or run it through a vin decoder like this one and see if airmatic is listed as an option or not. Arnott makes aftermarket springs that are a bit cheaper, but I believe they only have have the rears and not the front available. Also pads/rotors are also a bit more money than an E350.
great info again! Thanks! Under suspension it says "avantgarde/standard" so no airmatic. Probably a good thing. I don't mind if the breaks cost a little more, I'd be spending more on oil changes and other stuff too, but I plan on doing as much maintenance as possible myself. I was looking at the e350s initially but I'm not sure i can pass up the TTV8. I think 2014 was the last year for the V8 in non-AMG cars, so might be my best chance at a V8 Benz.
2014 was indeed the last year of this model. $26K is a great price if it is as loaded as you say. Full driver assist and Full LED lighting? Buy it. The TTV8 is amazing
2014 was indeed the last year of this model. $26K is a great price if it is as loaded as you say. Full driver assist and Full LED lighting? Buy it. The TTV8 is amazing
full driver assist, yes. LED daytime lights, with bi-xenon headlights with active curve assist, night view assist, etc. Dynamic front seats with massaging driver's seat... lots of fun stuff!
one area of concern is the passenger side has what looks like some overspray around the gas door, and the door mouldings don't line up quite as nice on that side either. Of course the carfax is "clean" but it's clearly had some work done. Might at least be a bargaining chip for me. Everything I've read points to the 4.7L motors being pretty solid despite the fact that they were new in 20...12? So far, all good things.
One thing to consider is a radar detector because you'll most likely be flying in that rocket.
lol you ain't kidding! There's a place near me that does custom "stealth" radar installs, but since they're not illegal here I may just have to pick up an Escort Passport. Pays for itself before long!
I will most certainly do that, but that brings up another question... seeing as these are somewhat rare cars, are the parts for them hard to find?
Well you can always find dealers that will discount OEM parts online so the parts aren't hard to find. But in some cases you'll be stuck with OEM parts like the wood trim kit, no one makes an aftermarket one.
If I were going to get an E550, I'd get the 2014 as it's the last year it was made and it had the refreshed body style with LED instead of bixenon headlights. There were lots of changes between 2013 and 2014. The 2014 had collision prevention, active parking assist (actually parks the car instead of just guidance). The 2014's are a bit more money though.
The 2014s are nice, and the added technology is definitely a plus, but what has me leaning towards 2013 is the consumer reports ratings for reliability in a couple spots. The 2014 had worse ratings, of course to be taken with a grain of salt.
Consumer Reports would be one of the last places I'd rely on for a low volume car. Just not enough data to support their conclusions and it's a self selected group, subscribers to Consumer reports.
Consumer Reports would be one of the last places I'd rely on for a low volume car. Just not enough data to support their conclusions and it's a self selected group, subscribers to Consumer reports.
+1 on that. Their reliability rating swings from different years within the same body style are somewhat perplexing.
+1 on that. Their reliability rating swings from different years within the same body style are somewhat perplexing.
Agreed! Hence my grain of salt comment. The other major factor leaning me towards the 13s is the price, as someone mentioned earlier. The only 2014s I've seen under 30k either have high miles or God awful interior colors
+1 on that. Their reliability rating swings from different years within the same body style are somewhat perplexing.
Yeah, it's just the randomness of whether a bunch of subscribers for that particular year responded or not. I couldn't really find solid number but E class sales are typically in the 50-60k range and that includes all of them. Most of them are probably the E350 so for an E550, I can't see more than a few thousand of them being sold. If you look for used ones, there's a lot fewer than there are E350's. The data is probably more solid for something like a Toyota Camry or a Honda Accord.
And yes, it's a Mercedes, it's not going to be as cheap as a Toyota or Honda. That's why I'd prefer a 2014 over the 2013, has a lot more new toys that the 2013 didn't have although as always, they got rid of a few things to add more things.
09-23-2018, 04:35 PM
