Hotkeys

My_E350

At that mileage the car will need new suspension (control arm bushings, steering rack bushings, tie rods, ect.), new motor mounts (Assuming this wasn't done prior). You should verify that the car has gone through basic maintenance as well.

Hotkeys

My_E350

Are you talking about from a DIY perspective or at a shop? Its definitely something you can change yourself if your mechanically inclined. Otherwise a shop would charge anywhere from 600-1000 for the job depending on part/labor rates in your area. If they are the original ones you can count on them being bad.

Hotkeys

rodneypierce

Hotkeys DO NOT BUY THE CAR WITHOUT TAKING IT FOR A PRE PURCHASE INSPECTION by a certified MB shop. PERIOD.

Hotkeys

rodneypierce

Suspension is the largest issue IMO. Airmatic can be problematic and expensive. Conductor plate issues are pretty common (transmission). Make sure routine maintenance has been done. But a PPI will make things MUCH easier for you. I would never buy a benz without one. And not some cheap shop, someone who has experience with MB day in and day out.

2MERKS

+1!

e350forme

to answers OP question, the motor mounts can be done by a DIY just like any V6 engine. They are pricey. if they are "bad " you feel vibration easily at stop and go traffic.

if this is a "cheap" priced car, like 3,4,5k max, then sure, you can budget for replacement parts that you deem need replacing. dont worry about the mileage.

look at the E350 also, it is "plenty" big without the fancy suspension

rodneypierce

But down on power considerably compared to the e550.

S70Houston

Correct!
However, as we are not driving Autobahn Speeds here in the States, the E350 is plenty.
Had an S550 not too long ago and never truly used the power of this considerably heavier than the "E" car.

I am much happier in the E350 myself.

rodneypierce

Agree to disagree. You don't need an Autobahn to use the power or appreciate it.

S70Houston

However, agree to disagree with you as well, as you make it sound if the E350 was underpowered, which it by far is NOT! HOW OFTEN will you truly use your power of your E550 compared to the power of the E350 in every day driving conditions, where I would feel really bad that I did not have the power of your car? Maybe you live in an area where this can be done and matters, but here in CA with traffic as we have, it will not matter to most.

On top of it all, cheaper insurance and better gas mileage on the E350.

If you really need that much Power, get a Porsche.

rodneypierce

Lol. I use the power on a daily basis. No need for a Porsche. The e550 suites me just fine!

Justify it all you must.. I'll stick with my e550. 😊

S70Houston

It's all good my friend, I hope you enjoy your car as I am sure most (if not all) of us do.

rodneypierce

Oh, definitely!! We wouldn't be driving them if we didn't brother!

C280 Sport

Get PPI and make sure the Airmatic is working correctly

ncsucooper

I bought an 2007 E550 in October for $5850. It had 126k miles on it when I got it and this is what I have done or ahead of me (most of which I knew mostly form lurking here).

Air Springs in the rear. Mine would leak down overnight. They would always pump back up but that is hard on the pump to run that much
Ball Joints and Control Arm Bushings. I have a little clunking up front
One of my rear shocks was blown. You could see the fluid seepage.
If it has the panoramic sunroof make sure it opens smoothly. There is a grommet that will get worn out and make it sound like gears grinding from the inside of the switch motor. There is a youtube video on how to fix it cheap.
If it has the dual 10 spoke wheels (18x8.5 front and 18x9 rear) check them for cracks. Those wheel have a history. I had one on mine. You can see them from inside of the wheel but not always looking at it from the outside.

I made a post about doing my air springs and that is when I discovered the shock. I went ahead and put in the new air springs knowing I will have to do part of it again to do the shocks (but I wanted to drive it).

In the perfect pre purchase world you would be able to put it on jack stands remove the wheels, check them for cracks and take a look at the air suspension/shocks.

ncsucooper

+1

I bet I drove 10 diff E350's and they were fine, good acceleration and great ride. Then my buddy with an E55 kept in my ear about the V8. When I did find one and went to drive it there was no way I was going to go with the E350. do I use the power daily... nope... but it takes so little pedal to pass on the highway. I frequently enjoy feeling the pull coming down an entrance ramp onto the highway. I will readily admit I love when a little tuner car get in the lane that is going to end thinking he will take me off the stop light. At times I would pay the xtra cost of the 550 just to see that.

And really we cannot "justify" even the E350 if we want to be true to ourselves. A corolla will do the job comfortably for most, get better mileage than almost any Benz, lesser emissions, cheaper and far less maintenance.

Go big or go home!!! (not really but I bet some see my point)

S70Houston

I get your point, but will not go home, as I LOVE my E350!!!!!!

rodneypierce

My man!!

Hotkeys

Thanks for the feedback guys, they sold it while I was in my research mode aka procrastination mode. I am back to the drawing board and going to go look at a 2005 E55 AMG and a 2007 E63 AMG this week. I知 thinking that I値l keep my 2003 E500 as a winter driver and the new to me car for the summer.

cetialpha5

Well good luck in the AMG forums. Off the bat, the E63 has head bolt issues so that's usually the number one question to ask, were the head bolts replaced. Didn't get fixed til 2011. Plus wait til you see the cost of the brakes, a few thousand if you go oem.

Strigoi

You do realize it was a fairly small amount of M156 engines that were affected by that. It's a known problem but not any where near as bad people would have you believe.

Brakes are expensive, but not horrible when going aftermarket.

Got to love people spreading hate about a car they don't own.