Interested in an E 550 but I have a dilemma...
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From: SoCal. Desert
'16 E350, gone: '03 c230k
I still have regrets not hopping on a low mileage 2014 E550 available at the time, vice my low mileage 2016 E350. The air shocks (airmatic) were something I wasn't sure about on the E550 because of maintenance and one of the reasons I went for the E350. If that one is sans air suspension IMO that's a plus +.
Last edited by mtnman82; Jan 25, 2021 at 10:58 PM.
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From: Pepper Pike Ohio
24 GLS580 '23 E450 4matic 12 E350 4Matic
I still have regrets not hopping on a low mileage 2014 E550 available at the time, vice my low mileage 2016 E350. The air shocks (airmatic) were something I wasn't sure about on the E550 because of maintenance and one of the reasons I went for the E350. If that one is sans air suspension IMO that's a plus +.
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'11 E350, '11 E550, '98 M3, '95 E320
Worst case airmatic scenario on E550 I'd ball-park $3k for struts, springs, compressor and valve body (no labor). Obviously, if you catch and fix leaks early... you'll likely save the compressor and valve body (~$1k). Seems like the rear springs (cheapest part) are the ones that fail the first or a broken airline... people ignore that $30-500 repair and then it becomes thousands.
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From: Pepper Pike Ohio
24 GLS580 '23 E450 4matic 12 E350 4Matic
Worst case airmatic scenario on E550 I'd ball-park $3k for struts, springs, compressor and valve body (no labor). Obviously, if you catch and fix leaks early... you'll likely save the compressor and valve body (~$1k). Seems like the rear springs (cheapest part) are the ones that fail the first or a broken airline... people ignore that $30-500 repair and then it becomes thousands.
Last edited by pierrejoliat; Jan 26, 2021 at 09:45 AM.
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'11 E350, '11 E550, '98 M3, '95 E320
Wow, I was on a trip home from Jersey, light came on as I crossed the Ohio line, by the time I drove the next 2 hours the compressor had run for hours, so I put one in, about two months later, I crossed a road construction site with uneven pavement and heard a very loud boom, right rear blew the airbag so I put two new rear struts on, four months later the front was sagging overnight, so I put a new valve body in, that slowed it way down but I had cracks in the top of the front strut mounts, so I replaced both fronts. Car was about ten years old at the time and around 56k miles. Lack of maintenance? I think not... Without going back through old invoices, I remember the parts were around 3700.00 labor on those four repairs was the rest.
*edit*
and to add, the maintenance or repair comment wasn't directed to you, just you brought up the cost of repair and with labor I could see it being a few more thousand for sure.
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Joined: May 2012
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From: Pepper Pike Ohio
24 GLS580 '23 E450 4matic 12 E350 4Matic
What's interesting here, the first issue... why did the compressor run for so long? I've noticed on the W212 there's a "lock-out" feature if the compressor runs for too long (duty-cycle). As I tripped it, while running a bunch of Xentry tests. Seems like a built-in feature to "preserve" the compressor to an extent... granted, how it actually work while driving I don't know. For example, you have a chronic leaking spring/s, will it sacrifice the compressor to allow for continued driving or does is bottom out because the compressor locks-out at a certain point and your being flat-beded.
*edit*
and to add, the maintenance or repair comment wasn't directed to you, just you brought up the cost of repair and with labor I could see it being a few more thousand for sure.
*edit*
and to add, the maintenance or repair comment wasn't directed to you, just you brought up the cost of repair and with labor I could see it being a few more thousand for sure.
As I'm corresponding here, I' m writing the maintenance procedures for a just completed 80 MGY ethanol plant just constructed, sorry, I get a little sensitive about Maintenance!
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From: Southern US
2010 E550, 273 Engine: 2012 S550, 278 Engine
Wow, I was on a trip home from Jersey, light came on as I crossed the Ohio line, by the time I drove the next 2 hours the compressor had run for hours, so I put one in, about two months later, I crossed a road construction site with uneven pavement and heard a very loud boom, right rear blew the airbag so I put two new rear struts on, four months later the front was sagging overnight, so I put a new valve body in, that slowed it way down but I had cracks in the top of the front strut mounts, so I replaced both fronts. Car was about ten years old at the time and around 56k miles. Lack of maintenance? I think not... Without going back through old invoices, I remember the parts were around 3700.00 labor on those four repairs was the rest.
I bought parts (no compressor) for about $2800 or so. Did the work myself, which is very easy job front and rear. Hardest part is to jack the car up and take the wheel off for the job.
