Would you take a chance on this lemon law E55?
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,436
Likes: 11
From: Treasure Coast
2018 Mclaren 720s, 2021 Aston Martin DBX
Would you take a chance on this lemon law E55?
It closed already but looked like a good deal.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...Inbox&frames=0
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...Inbox&frames=0
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 7,092
Likes: 13
From: Salt Lake City (but not Morm)
2003 E55 & 2014 GL550
Only thing I would want to do is speak to the previous owner.....
You would learn allllllll that was wrong with it then
"That friggin thing stalled..choked...surged...brakes failed...whad a piece of"
See if they would give you VIN, then Carfax that SOB and see if you could snag the old owner.
You would learn allllllll that was wrong with it then
"That friggin thing stalled..choked...surged...brakes failed...whad a piece of"
See if they would give you VIN, then Carfax that SOB and see if you could snag the old owner.
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 399
Likes: 1
From: Honolulu
I really wouldn't take a chance...
But like Jak said, run the vin: WDBUF76J24A499360 and see what problems it had.
If there has been major SBC problems, or any other safety defects, I would stay clear of the car. But then again, it's a balance of how much are you willing to deal with (problems wise) with the money you save.
You might catch a steal and there might not be anything wrong with the car, but that's hard to predict...
But like Jak said, run the vin: WDBUF76J24A499360 and see what problems it had.
If there has been major SBC problems, or any other safety defects, I would stay clear of the car. But then again, it's a balance of how much are you willing to deal with (problems wise) with the money you save.
You might catch a steal and there might not be anything wrong with the car, but that's hard to predict...
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 491
Likes: 0
2005 Brilliant Silver E55
I find it hard to believe that MB, for that matter, any car companies would buy the car back over the headlights not turning side to side with the car.
"...by the way, the car was bought back because of this, this, this, this, and that in addition to the headlights"
"...by the way, the car was bought back because of this, this, this, this, and that in addition to the headlights"
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,764
Likes: 3
From: El Paso, TX
'03 G500, '13 G63, '17 GLS63,
Originally Posted by E55_POWER
I find it hard to believe that MB, for that matter, any car companies would buy the car back over the headlights not turning side to side with the car.
"...by the way, the car was bought back because of this, this, this, this, and that in addition to the headlights"
"...by the way, the car was bought back because of this, this, this, this, and that in addition to the headlights"
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 2,923
Likes: 3
Mercedes Benz
It is crazy but MB does buy cars back for such small items. They are trying to keep customers happy in this time when their name is suffering from the ML quality syndrome.
I would buy that car for 60k in a heart beat. I would do it only if I planned to keep the car for a long time. It will be hard to sell it used but it should be a good car to have. The car is still under warranty so you are ok if it fails again.
MB's policy is very strict about fixing a lemon buy back. They give the car to a dealership and the dealership gets as long as they need to fix the car at any cost. They just want it workig again. At that point the service manager has to sign off on the car and confirm that it once again works perfectly. They keep the car and drive it for a week or so to ensure that nothing still is a miss.
I call that E55 a steal. @ 60k. Well maybe id offer 55k
THe car's paperwork shows every item that was claimed as an issue by the former owner and then shows what steps were taken to solve them. The law forces them to do so.
I would buy that car for 60k in a heart beat. I would do it only if I planned to keep the car for a long time. It will be hard to sell it used but it should be a good car to have. The car is still under warranty so you are ok if it fails again.
MB's policy is very strict about fixing a lemon buy back. They give the car to a dealership and the dealership gets as long as they need to fix the car at any cost. They just want it workig again. At that point the service manager has to sign off on the car and confirm that it once again works perfectly. They keep the car and drive it for a week or so to ensure that nothing still is a miss.
I call that E55 a steal. @ 60k. Well maybe id offer 55k
THe car's paperwork shows every item that was claimed as an issue by the former owner and then shows what steps were taken to solve them. The law forces them to do so.
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Almost a Member!
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 41
Likes: 0
From: Arizona
2004 E55, Hummer H2 SUT
Does anyone know the details of "the Lemon Law?" My 04 E55 is in for its 3rd visit to the dealer, for a problem they don't have a fix for. Now they won't give the car back until they can fix it. I'm worried they will keep it forever. It has a hard start issue that it won't start when you hit the start button. Sometimes it barely turns over and then eventually stalls. Not sure what to do... Maybe Lemon law???
Macmtr
Macmtr
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Member
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 120
Likes: 1
From: Florida
E500, Viper, and other less-fun stuff
The details vary from state to state, but are pretty easy to look up online through Google. Generally it's something like first 12-24 months of ownership, and in the shop more than X times over a given period of time for the same problem without resolution.
You also usually have to do certain things first, such as notify the manufacturer in writing of your intent to pursue a lemon law claim, and of course you must have documentation of the repair attempts.
(I recently helped a friend track down the lemon law rules in FL for his Mini Cooper S... getting BMW to do a buy back is like pulling teeth, but I hear MB is pretty easy going if you (1) give them a chance to do a buy back without taking it to court, and (2) intend to stick with another Benz as a replacement.)
You also usually have to do certain things first, such as notify the manufacturer in writing of your intent to pursue a lemon law claim, and of course you must have documentation of the repair attempts.
(I recently helped a friend track down the lemon law rules in FL for his Mini Cooper S... getting BMW to do a buy back is like pulling teeth, but I hear MB is pretty easy going if you (1) give them a chance to do a buy back without taking it to court, and (2) intend to stick with another Benz as a replacement.)
Almost a Member!
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 41
Likes: 0
From: Arizona
2004 E55, Hummer H2 SUT
I just picked up today. Drove it from the dealer to a restaurant, let it sit for a couple of hours, got back in it and the first time starting it since I left the dealer and it failed. I left a message for my service rep and told him to get me another car.
It's been in the shop almost a month total, and I fed up w/ driving a C240 when I paid for the E55... I think I'm going to explore the Lemon Law option and see what happens. I sold my 360 Spider to get this car, and I love it so much... I just hate having issues that cannot be resolved... I want a different one!
Macmtr
It's been in the shop almost a month total, and I fed up w/ driving a C240 when I paid for the E55... I think I'm going to explore the Lemon Law option and see what happens. I sold my 360 Spider to get this car, and I love it so much... I just hate having issues that cannot be resolved... I want a different one!
Macmtr
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 467
Likes: 1
From: WESTPORT CT
488 GTB
Here guys, this the car fax
CARFAX searched more than 3 billion records from over 5,300 sources and found 12 record(s) for this 2004 MERCEDES-BENZ E55 (WDBUF76J24A499360).
Date:
Mileage Reading:
Source:
General Comments:
02/24/2004 7 Dealer Inventory
Virginia
Vehicle sold
02/24/2004 Virginia
Motor Vehicle Dept.
Roanoke, TX
Registered as
corporate lease vehicle
02/27/2004 Service Facility
Vehicle serviced
Miscellaneous service performed
Suspension system serviced
Engine serviced
03/17/2004 Virginia
Motor Vehicle Dept.
Roanoke, TX
Title or registration issued
First owner reported
04/08/2004 2,621 Service Facility
Vehicle serviced
05/12/2004 3,678 Service Facility
Vehicle serviced
06/25/2004 6,018 Service Facility
Vehicle serviced
11/30/2004 7,734 New Jersey
Motor Vehicle Dept.
Montvale, NJ
Title #V320043350344
New owner reported
MANUFACTURER BUYBACK
(LEMON) REPORTED
11/30/2004 New Jersey
Motor Vehicle Dept.
MANUFACTURER BUYBACK
(LEMON) REPORTED
01/11/2005 Auto Auction
Sold at auction
in Eastern Region
Listed as
a manufacturer vehicle
01/23/2005 Dealer Inventory
Jacksonville, FL
Vehicle offered for sale
02/15/2005 7,972 Service Facility
Vehicle serviced
Engine serviced
Tell us what you know about this vehicle
Detailed Vehicle History Definitions:
CARFAX searched more than 3 billion records from over 5,300 sources and found 12 record(s) for this 2004 MERCEDES-BENZ E55 (WDBUF76J24A499360).
Date:
Mileage Reading:
Source:
General Comments:
02/24/2004 7 Dealer Inventory
Virginia
Vehicle sold
02/24/2004 Virginia
Motor Vehicle Dept.
Roanoke, TX
Registered as
corporate lease vehicle
02/27/2004 Service Facility
Vehicle serviced
Miscellaneous service performed
Suspension system serviced
Engine serviced
03/17/2004 Virginia
Motor Vehicle Dept.
Roanoke, TX
Title or registration issued
First owner reported
04/08/2004 2,621 Service Facility
Vehicle serviced
05/12/2004 3,678 Service Facility
Vehicle serviced
06/25/2004 6,018 Service Facility
Vehicle serviced
11/30/2004 7,734 New Jersey
Motor Vehicle Dept.
Montvale, NJ
Title #V320043350344
New owner reported
MANUFACTURER BUYBACK
(LEMON) REPORTED
11/30/2004 New Jersey
Motor Vehicle Dept.
MANUFACTURER BUYBACK
(LEMON) REPORTED
01/11/2005 Auto Auction
Sold at auction
in Eastern Region
Listed as
a manufacturer vehicle
01/23/2005 Dealer Inventory
Jacksonville, FL
Vehicle offered for sale
02/15/2005 7,972 Service Facility
Vehicle serviced
Engine serviced
Tell us what you know about this vehicle
Detailed Vehicle History Definitions:
Newbie
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
I believe in most cases it is worth it to get a lemon law vehicle for yourself, if you don't plan to sell it for a while, as someone else said. Then again, if you get it for cheap, having to sell it for cheap later won't be any worse then buying a more expensive car and be able to sell it for more later. If I get something from the auction for myself I might go this way. I have thought of buying a car to sell that has been a lemon law but fixed obviously, but its hard enough to sell a perfect car, let alone a lemon law branded titled vehicle. A few weeks ago a lemon lawed silver 2004 Audi S4 6 speed wagon with only 5000 miles on it went for $36,000. Certainly is tempting.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 8,882
Likes: 1,214
From: In my garage
E55, GLS450, GL63, GLE350
Does anyone know the details of "the Lemon Law?" My 04 E55 is in for its 3rd visit to the dealer, for a problem they don't have a fix for. Now they won't give the car back until they can fix it.
