Help for E55 price to buy
Member
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 181
Likes: 7
From: Dallas, TX
1999 E55 AMG, 2004 Big Turbo A4; 2005 C240 Wagon 4matic; 2003 G500; 2013 Sprinter 172
Geez; you'd need to buy a couple of salvage cars just to rebuild that thing. I spent twice that for a car that's 10x better condition and half the miles.
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 478
Likes: 13
From: Chicago
2008 E63 AMG, 2018 VW Golf R
I see what you guys are saying , it's going to be a money pit. And I don't have 10g's to drop on a nice e55, otherwise I would clearly get a better one. I'm not even sure if I want to restore it. I just want to replace the little things. I mean if I were to buy 69 mustang that's all original and been hiding for a long time I'm going to be dumping money into that too. Any car you look at will have problems. I look at this car and I see so much potential, not to turn it into a show car.... Once the trans goes, time for a manual swap. See what I'm saying. I'm not going to go back to original. I'm going to upgrade. maybe I'm over my head. Maybe it's a diamond in the rough. I guess we will find out if I screwed myself or if I got a steal. If I get it, I look forward to seeing y'all on this forum for repairs. Hahaha
Cheers!
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 41
Likes: 1
1999 E55 AMG
I was recently wondering what circumstance, other than an accident, would send an E55 to the junk yard. I was suspecting terminal engine failure, but I can't recall ever seeing that on the forums. Now I know. This car is so neglected, I cringe when I think of the other problems that will be lurking. I'm with the others, you can be a very good, well loved, E55 for close to six grand now. I'd save my money for that.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 3,249
Likes: 257
From: Richmond, CA
2001 E320 Wagon, 2006 LBZ Silverado, 2007 E63 (sold), 2001 E55 (sold)
I would not even consider buying that car. Even if it was fixed up it still has a salvage title which effectively cuts it's value in half.
I sold my Tectite Grey 2001 E55 with 115,000 miles (I think, it's been awhile) for $6,000. It was in perfect mechanical condition, clean interior and just needed minor cosmetics (mainly paint on the bumper/hood). I paid $12,000 for the car and was almost $20,000 into after a year and a half. A large chunk of that was just getting it up to date on regular maintenance and tires/brakes (rotors/pads will run you $800+ just in parts). These cars also go through tires quick with the staggered setup. I put 2 or 3 sets on mine in the year and a half I owned it.
**** adds up really fast on these cars, especially if you're paying a shop to do the work. My roommate is a MB/BMW mechanic and did all of mine on the side (I'd pay him $40 an hour). When it was all done, it would have been well over $6,000 at normal shop prices. Good luck finding a bumper cover. Even a lightly damaged one will still probably cost $1,000+.
Mercedes also said these were a "lifetime" transmission in the car, meaning the fluid didn't need changing. That wasn't the case, if you find a higher mileage one you better hope the fluid was changed before 100,000 miles.
That's a parts car at best at this point.
I sold my Tectite Grey 2001 E55 with 115,000 miles (I think, it's been awhile) for $6,000. It was in perfect mechanical condition, clean interior and just needed minor cosmetics (mainly paint on the bumper/hood). I paid $12,000 for the car and was almost $20,000 into after a year and a half. A large chunk of that was just getting it up to date on regular maintenance and tires/brakes (rotors/pads will run you $800+ just in parts). These cars also go through tires quick with the staggered setup. I put 2 or 3 sets on mine in the year and a half I owned it.
**** adds up really fast on these cars, especially if you're paying a shop to do the work. My roommate is a MB/BMW mechanic and did all of mine on the side (I'd pay him $40 an hour). When it was all done, it would have been well over $6,000 at normal shop prices. Good luck finding a bumper cover. Even a lightly damaged one will still probably cost $1,000+.
Mercedes also said these were a "lifetime" transmission in the car, meaning the fluid didn't need changing. That wasn't the case, if you find a higher mileage one you better hope the fluid was changed before 100,000 miles.
That's a parts car at best at this point.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 4,411
Likes: 69
From: Socal, Chino
E55 2006 / CLS55 / S450 / Jag XKR2011
I kiiiiinda see why you asked for our opinion... but I really think you had your mind made up before you asked. The vast majority of us told you to walk away (you now have a +55 from me on that) but in the end, you know what you want to get into. I'm too old for $#!+@ like that now, but I remember when I was in my 20's and I get into a old rusted out VW bug... man, my friends couldn't tell me NOTHING! I ignored them and bought it anyway. I did regret it, in the end.. spent way too much "restoring" and ended up selling it not nearly making my money back. It's really about what you can afford and are willing to dump money into. It IS a money pit, there's no doubt about it. I say go for it... since I know you will anyway.
Cheers!
Cheers!
I know how you feel man ! 1 year ago I bought a 2005 G35 coupe manual for fun with only 100K miles but need some body work. I sold the car in 3 months and lost $4K. Never again buying a project car like that. Not worth it. Save money and buy better condition one. This car might need $10K to restore. Just wait for next one.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,280
Likes: 4
From: Bostonian Ma
2012 CLS63 AMG
@CharlyE500 - Come on now, you can't leave us hanging with just 25% of the story 
. How bad was it? and what kinda body work ?any pics of said G35.
Agree though project cars can be fun when you have the $$$ and time but that's about it.
Armani
. How bad was it? and what kinda body work ?any pics of said G35.Agree though project cars can be fun when you have the $$$ and time but that's about it.
Armani
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 4,411
Likes: 69
From: Socal, Chino
E55 2006 / CLS55 / S450 / Jag XKR2011
It was a very very sad story.... I had to change the shocks, battery, repaint the car, the engine make ticking noise ($1K to fix)... just too much to deal with it. Plus, it's not as fast than I expected... and the ride is not as comfortable... anyways, just bad memory. Lost $$$ and sold it never again.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,280
Likes: 4
From: Bostonian Ma
2012 CLS63 AMG
Yup.. sounds pretty bad. At least you have a nice stable
It was a very very sad story.... I had to change the shocks, battery, repaint the car, the engine make ticking noise ($1K to fix)... just too much to deal with it. Plus, it's not as fast than I expected... and the ride is not as comfortable... anyways, just bad memory. Lost $$$ and sold it never again.
Banned
Joined: Feb 2006
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@ mercedesman425
this will be the AMG from hell for you!
if you buy this car, some day you'll feel like a jacka$$ and you'll regret you bought this car.
this car would better be off to the junkyard where it belongs.
when you say you wanna save and restore it?
you going to do this to every car you see which is for sale?
it's like saving stray dogs and cats, it's going to cost you a fortune.
don't be foolish listen to your forum buddies!
this will be the AMG from hell for you!
if you buy this car, some day you'll feel like a jacka$$ and you'll regret you bought this car.
this car would better be off to the junkyard where it belongs.
when you say you wanna save and restore it?
you going to do this to every car you see which is for sale?
it's like saving stray dogs and cats, it's going to cost you a fortune.
don't be foolish listen to your forum buddies!
