Should I buy an '01 E55?
 

I am considering the purchase of a 2001 Mercedes-Benz E55 AMG. The car has about 43K miles on it. It’s silver with the grey/black two-tone leather and black walnut dash. It has just received a new instrument cluster at a local MB dealer. The price is $31K. My questions are as follows:

1. Does this represent a Designo Edition? Two tone seats and black walnut dash? What's the difference between silver and brillant silver?
2. What are the factory options for the 2001 Mercedes-Benz E55 AMG? Is there a true comprehensive list available? I want to compare.
3. Since the instrument cluster has been replaced, which apparently is a common problem, I don’t think that will be an issue . . . BUT can you trust the mileage at this point? Doesn’t the mileage need to updated via version coding? How can you verify that?
4. Is the navigation worth holding out for?
5. What are the recalls that I should be aware of?
6. Any other problems or issues that I should address prior to closing?

All input and suggestions are greatly appreciated.

2-tone seats do not indicate a "designo", although that's optional.
If the instrument cluster was replaced by the dealer, there's no way they "fudged" the mileage.
Options for US cars were few, Designo, nav, power rear shade, side air bags, ventilated seats. Never saw one with parktronic, although I was told there were a couple for the U.S. that had it.
Very little difference in Silver. 75%+ of all U.S. W210 E55's were silver.
The issues are common to all W210's, fuel tank sending units, MAF's, RUST!!!, cracked dash, steering racks, motor mounts, window regulators. It isn't as bad as it sounds. I had 2 W210's. Only issues were the gas tank sending unit on the E430 (replaced under warranty), motor mount and MAF on the E55, but the MAF was due to sorting out the blower. Great cars.

Thank you so much for the insight!! :zoom:

information from MBUSA:

http://www.mbusa.com/pre-owned/2001/...=01_E55&class=

MBUSA/AMG:

http://www.mbusa.com/amg/model-inc.j...modelsection=E