blackhecilopter

Hey all, just signed up, first post.

I am currently looking into a w210 e55 for a daily driver and came across and '01 with 96,000 miles being offered at wholesale for $7500. The dealership told me it has a lifter tick. I read around the forums and found this seems to be somewhat common.

My question is, how hard would it be to replace the lifters if it cannot be remedied with any other method? I am very mechanically inclined and do all my own work.

Think this is a good deal or should I stay away?

Similarly, another dealer has pretty much the same car in clean condition for $10k.

What do you all think?

Schweinhund

Lifter tick is OK but it can be an indication of a few things:

1. The car has been sitting a long time
2. The oil in the car got "thin" before it got changed.
3. The oil level is low.

blackhecilopter

I know for a fact that the car has been sitting for a while. It was sold at an auction and sitting at this dealer for a little bit. It also had its hood, front left headlight, and radiator condenser replaced in 2007 so sounds like someone rear ended somebody with it. Also, 3 owners. As an alternative I found an identical in mileage one owner e55 with no accident history and full dealer service for $10k.

I feel I should pony up the extra dough for the cleaner car.

Thoughts?

tsquare

I would pay up for the one owner car, assuming it has a good maintenance record and it passes a through PPI. Do not like the prospects of a car that has front end damange and a noisy motor - I would spend the extra 2K.

-fad

Hi, I'd suggest purchasing the cleaner well maintained no accident one-owner car for the most rewarding ownership experience. Maintaining that type of vehicle is also more economical.

RE: Lifter-Ticking Noise
The noise appears to be common to M113 engines and can be attributed to: 1) the magnetic clutch on the aircon, 2) the coil packs for the 16 spark plugs as there are no distributors on this engine, 3) lifters, 4) dirty internals in the head & oil passages (clogged-blocked), 5) weak oil pump, 6) improper oil, 7) timing chain stretch....+++ A great suggestion has been provided to diagnoise the noise(es) since it may be sourced to a number of culprits (it may even be due to the tensioner pulley or loose pulley).

If the noise is due to the lifters, the repair job should include cleaning the oil passages top down from the head to the oil pan together with replacing MB reccomended parts.

As an FYI- I have witnessed M113 engined AMG cars that do not exhibit Lifter-Ticking noise even if left sitting over 30 days.

Hope this helps.

snooozie

I think, for 10k, you should be able to get one without ticking but with more miles on the engine. Mileage doesnot matter if it is maintain properly. In the long run, its less headache. My two cents.

saintz

Are you sure it's lifter tick? There's a solenoid on the driver side towards the front that makes a ticking noise. You can feel it with your hand and it will vibrate in rhythm to the ticking noise. A lot of people think they have lifter tick when it's really that.

blackhecilopter

I havent actually gotten to look at the car yet, just calling around to available ones in the area.

I am looking at the 1 owner car tomorrow. 106kmi, full service history, looks real clean.