Hello guys I need some advice about a 2001 E55 that I'm looking to buy. I've own 2 Mercedes in the past with no issue however the E55 that I'm looking at buying has 182,000 miles that's a lot of miles and honestly I don't know if that is to much for the car. Does anyone own a high mileage e55 and can please give me some advice. Thank you!

 

I bought mine with 173,000 miles and it has been good to me, but not without needing repairs. My first recommendation would be to not overpay. I bought mine at a wholesale price after months of communication with the PO who started off not wanting to budge on price but then finally relented after nearly 6 months of little to no interest. I personally wouldn't pay more than $4,500 for that car unless it is the cleanest, most well maintained (with all service records), 182,000 mile E55 you have ever seen.

Second would be stay away if it has rust. Mine had no rust when I bought it and that would have been a deal breaker for me.

Third would be see about service records, particularly transmission fluid changes (you should be able to confirm at least one change with that mileage, although if it was kept up properly the fluid should have been changed at least 3-4 times by now), oil changes secondly, and any other wear items.

When I purchased mine it needed two new wheel hubs in the front, new front lower control arms and ball joints (still haven't gotten around to it), new headliner, it had the dreaded cracked dash which I have just lived with, new belt, new idler and tensioner pulleys, and all sorts of small odds and ends that got messed up over the 170,000 miles the car had been driven. If you have owned Mercedes before (you say you did) and can do some of this work yourself, then you should be in good shape. Also keep in mind most of the suspension bits will be worn out. I have yet to replace my shocks and other components such as the subframe bushings, differential bushing, etc., and it drives fine - but those parts could used to be replaced by that mileage.

I personally think buying a car with higher miles can be beneficial in that the car was actually "driven" - however, the critical component is how well it was maintained. A car driven to 182,000 miles like the one you are looking at can easily make it to 250K - 350K if properly maintained and not abused in a prior life.

Good luck making your decision.

 

Thank yoU for your insight the car is being sold for 3,400 so that's a pretty good deal but I'm going to try to make them going down on price. I'll keep everything in mind tomorrow when I go see the car. I love Mercedes I just don't want this car to be a money pit.

 

I don't recommend it even with low price. 180K miles tranny need to rebuild very soon. Those car can last 250K miles if you own it since low mileage with good maintenance. Just my opinion since I had 2 E55 W210 before. BTW, those rims are not original E55 W210 in the pix.

 

I will be asking to see if they have any service records of the vehicle and I'll check what has been done to it but if there isn't no service records I might have to pass on the vehicle. I am going to be very careful before buying this car and will have it checked out by my mechanic too. Hopefully everything major that had to be changed or worked on has already been done.

 

I would shop around for lower miles if you can afford it. Imho

 

Frankly a few dollars off the price has nothing to do with anything.

A W210 E55 that has been maintained can go well OVER 250K miles realitvely trouble free.

1) Tranny - the most sensitive spot - if the tranny has been maitained and serviced properly can easily go over 250K - if it has not been that is the #1 sensitive spot for W210 E55's. If purchasing the car - ASSUME it is in your best interest to properly service the tranny including replacement tranny adapter plug - as soon as possible to protect that inveestment

2) Front brakes - E55's have a doubled sided front brake disc - last time I checked around $450 for the pair - so condition/remaining front disc is another sensitive spot specific to W210 E55's. If/when you replace front discs it will be a investment.

3) At 170K - you can assume either some front end work has been done - or will be coming up - the front end components especially rubber are subject to wear. I have seen "some" front hub bearings start failing - I have seen many others go the full distance

4) In general - other than "double" air filters - then other maintenance parts are the same as standard W210

5) Often overlooked in our older W210's - fresh/correct coolant - if mixining use distilled water only - restore ph neutral ph.

6) Check water pump for signs of "weepage" - with age/mileage another sensitive spot usally encountered 150K +

7) Valve cover seepage - quite common - however some seepage is always normal at age/mileage - clean both valve cover areas since road dirt can make seepage look more dramatic than it really is.

Have fun with it - keep the beat !

 

Take Charley's word he knows a lot about these cars