Good offer price?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 8,882
Likes: 1,212
From: In my garage
E55, GLS450, GL63, GLE350
The 2000-2002 210 E55 looks so much nicer inside an out. It really does. There is no doubt about that but, given the data, the 2002 is the least reliable from Consumer Reports, JD Powers, and Edmunds. Also, other than common issues, the more advanced technolgy in the 2000+ E55's and other Mercedes seems to add to the list of problems.
Mercedes really took a beating in reliability from 2000 - 2006. They were making highly advanced maintenance time bombs. Just a disaster. I noticed a huge improvement in reliability of my 2007 over my 2003 in all aspects. I bet you did too. It is night and day. I'd assume they are still making improvements but 2000-2006 will go down as the dark ages for Mercedes.
My next Mercedes will be either a 2013 or 2014 model with the TT V8. I will wait a year or two to see the reliability of the new engine. I love the V12 TT 230 SL's and the 215 CL's but the ABC suspension is a deal killer with those cars. They got the styling/engine right but that's it.
Mercedes really took a beating in reliability from 2000 - 2006. They were making highly advanced maintenance time bombs. Just a disaster. I noticed a huge improvement in reliability of my 2007 over my 2003 in all aspects. I bet you did too. It is night and day. I'd assume they are still making improvements but 2000-2006 will go down as the dark ages for Mercedes.
My next Mercedes will be either a 2013 or 2014 model with the TT V8. I will wait a year or two to see the reliability of the new engine. I love the V12 TT 230 SL's and the 215 CL's but the ABC suspension is a deal killer with those cars. They got the styling/engine right but that's it.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 4,411
Likes: 69
From: Socal, Chino
E55 2006 / CLS55 / S450 / Jag XKR2011
and I'll leave it be...but...
JD Powers (sic) knows as much about E55's as I know about flying the Space Shuttle. They may have lots of data, but I venture to say you can acquire more and more useful knowledge from half a dozen E55 owners than you can from them. No offense, it sounds like you trust them, but...
I can only say that you are the first person I've met that would say a 99 E55 is the one you want. Most any MB wrench that was working around these cars, as well as any car geek, would disagree. As a matter of fact, I bought my first one, a 99, from a guy that had a 500E, bought a 99 E55 to replace it, and traded me that 99 to buy another 500E that I had. He was so dissappointed in the 55 he just wanted out. (I didn't know any better, so..).
As far as the items that you mentioned, yes, window regulators, MAF sensors, and ECU's (as well as other things) are not indigenous to the 99. They are however, less common on the later ones. I don't think anyone has much difficulty repairing the air bladders in the seats (if one really wants to pursue it), and the instrument cluster repair exists all the way back to the 96 W210. It's no worse in the 2000 up models, and you do get much more info. Also, the proper repair (which is NOT buying a new cluster from the factory) is an easy, less than $200 repair from many reputable vendors, with a twice as long warranty as the MB one at $1200 for a new cluster.
In any event, if you've got a 99 that you love, all good. Between the body refresh (the 99 looks so plain), the 722 touchshift tranny, better steering wheel (and a leather airbag) with radio controls, a different radio than the guaranteed broken volume control 99 style, and the info in the instrument cluster. And I suppose we'll just agree to disagree on the build quality...but that's all good.
Sorry for the long response. Hope the original poster gets his car. For the $$, the 210 E55 is fun, and a real AMG.
JD Powers (sic) knows as much about E55's as I know about flying the Space Shuttle. They may have lots of data, but I venture to say you can acquire more and more useful knowledge from half a dozen E55 owners than you can from them. No offense, it sounds like you trust them, but...
I can only say that you are the first person I've met that would say a 99 E55 is the one you want. Most any MB wrench that was working around these cars, as well as any car geek, would disagree. As a matter of fact, I bought my first one, a 99, from a guy that had a 500E, bought a 99 E55 to replace it, and traded me that 99 to buy another 500E that I had. He was so dissappointed in the 55 he just wanted out. (I didn't know any better, so..).
As far as the items that you mentioned, yes, window regulators, MAF sensors, and ECU's (as well as other things) are not indigenous to the 99. They are however, less common on the later ones. I don't think anyone has much difficulty repairing the air bladders in the seats (if one really wants to pursue it), and the instrument cluster repair exists all the way back to the 96 W210. It's no worse in the 2000 up models, and you do get much more info. Also, the proper repair (which is NOT buying a new cluster from the factory) is an easy, less than $200 repair from many reputable vendors, with a twice as long warranty as the MB one at $1200 for a new cluster.
In any event, if you've got a 99 that you love, all good. Between the body refresh (the 99 looks so plain), the 722 touchshift tranny, better steering wheel (and a leather airbag) with radio controls, a different radio than the guaranteed broken volume control 99 style, and the info in the instrument cluster. And I suppose we'll just agree to disagree on the build quality...but that's all good.
Sorry for the long response. Hope the original poster gets his car. For the $$, the 210 E55 is fun, and a real AMG.
+1000 very well said. This is the true experience from real W210 55 owner. You really believe those datas from JD power.......... I own a 2000 E55 and i am telling you the 2000+ is much better looking inside out than 99.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 8,882
Likes: 1,212
From: In my garage
E55, GLS450, GL63, GLE350
No question, it is much better looking inside and out but not necessarily more dependable.
Super Member
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 998
Likes: 4
From: Central Connecticut
86 190D (Exported to the Nerderlands), 87 300TD (Sold), 82 Ford F150 3spd, 99 E300D (RIP), 02 E55
I own a 99 E300TD before getting the 02 E55 and I like the facelift bodystyle better. As far as electronics goes, my 99 have the window switch problems on all four doors but the 02 has the light cluster problem. My temp and clock has a few missing lines and I had replace the blub in the temp control module on the dash (that was a very quick 5 sec fix). Over all I like the W210. I wish they import the 2000-2002 turbo diesel back then.
