Hi there:

This is my first post. I have wanted an AMG wagon since I first saw it on one of the Top Gear episodes. My current vehicles are a 2009 Jeep Wrangler 4-door and a 2003 Mazda MPV. I have never owned but had ridden in a Mercedes . I wanted a wagon because I have 4 kids and a dog whom always seem to be attached to me like a drunk with a beer .

I have been looking for an '04+ AMG wagon for awhile and had no luck until I saw two '05s currently on sale on Ebay. Friends (wife has no opinion) said it would be a hell of a money pit given it is almost an 'exotic' (their word). Mechanic shops would surely overcharge you just because it is an AMG, they said.

So anyway, what does this group of owners think? Is it really expensive to maintain and run? I only do about 7000 miles a year. I would have to get rid of the Jeep to get it.

Thanks in advance for your advise ...

 

A warranty is highly recommended, not because the cars are unreliable, but because they can be costly to repair. Please do search for more details, there are numerous topics on this subject.

 

Wagons are a little harder to find as they didn't build and export as many. But they are the ultimate sleeper car.

It's not a 'money pit' any more than other high end Euro cars. And a good ethical mechanic isn't going to charge more because of the AMG badge. They are just as reliable as any Euro car (BMW, etc..)

As was already mentioned, get one with a warranty; it's really a good idea to get one that's a CPO by the dealer. You'll pay a bit more but it's less out of your pocket to get anything fixed.

They are expensive to repair. That's the stigma attached to them. So cover your bases best you can on that end.

 

One word: Warranty

I think I speak for everyone here when I say that I would hate for your first experience with a MB AMG is that of one that literally hacks your bank account and extracts all the money. I'm not saying that this is what will happen without a warranty. There are many many members who have E55's and have never had problems. Some have used their warranties to their extent while others have barely used them at all, but the peace of mind offered by them is by far worth it. Remember to read the conditions of the warranty as well.

Something to keep in mind: These were originally $90k cars, and their repair prices reflect it. Also remember that you are buying a used car. As with all used vehicles, it's often difficult to tell how the previous owner/s have treated the car.

Costs you may or may not know about: Tires, depending on how aggressive you drive and the roads you drive on, you could go between 7,000-15,000 on a set of rear tires. Some get more: I scrapped out 20k off of my last set of rears, even though they were completely bald when I turned them in. This is because of the torque of the car and the fact that you cannot rotate them (staggered wheels aka wheels in back wider than wheels in front)

Keep in mind what you use your Wrangler for that you may not be able to use the AMG for.

I'm not sure if you work on your MPV or Wrangler, but any MB isn't the easiest car to work on unless you really know what you are doing. Best thing to do is to find a good SA at the dealer or a good independent shop. I'm sure if you post where you're located, members will chime in with places they trust their cars to.

Also, be prepared for some judgement to come your way by others around you. Not everyone sees things the way you see them, nor do they know the situation before passing judgement.

Good luck, hope we are helping with your decision. We look forward to you becoming active in the community. Keep us up-to-date with your buying decision.

 

Insurance cost is very high, some insurance companies won't even cover it, gas mileage in the city is dismal especially when it's colder out and remember it requires premium. If you don't mind these things and what others have/will mention, it's the best car out there for the money.

Edit: Forgot to mention the most important thing, that is once the mod bug hits be prepared to spend a few nights in the doghouse.

 

^^ My insurance quoted me $90/month full coverage

 

fwiw, my insurance is no different than any other expensive car (and it's insured with a big name insurer.) It depends on what part of the world you live in (I'm in SoCal where insurance is highest in the US, but not as high as in the UK, for example.)

 

My advice would be to keep posting your questions, to the forum. Knowledge is power, the more you're inform the better you are to make the correct decision. AMG's are beautiful cars, with tremendous hp and torque, and alot of prestige surrounding them. You've couldn't have picked a better car. As mentioned earlier they can be costly to repair, but cost is relative. A Ferrari would definitely cost you more to repair, then say a Yugo. But don't let that frighten you off. Warranty, warranty and warranty. Cover your butt. If your looking for a good commuter car, these aren't it, average 13 city 19 highway on premium gas. Be prepared to replace your share of rear tires, oil changes every 6000 miles or so. Depending how aggressive your are, maybe sooner. Brakes aren't a issue, rotor are cheap on the E55 compared to the E63, now their expensive. Don't let these expenses scare you, this is the price we all pay for having a four door, tire burning, monster under the hood corvette killer. Not many people can say that they have 500+ hp under their hood. Oh, I almost failed to mention some of the issues surrounding the airmatic suspension, (air bag struts) without a warranty these struts will most certainly kill your wallet, hence warranty. Most importantly, find a one owner car, with as little miles as possible. And get a CPO car whenever possible, let Mercedes pay for the certification process. They will check the history and maintenance records to ensure the car is flawless, before offering it up for sale. Then you can buy with confidence, besides they add and additional year on the warranty. You only live once. So buy the dam thing already, and join our community of AMG enthusiasts. Okay, I'm getting off my soap box now.

 

My insurance on the E55 is the lowest of my cars, which includes a 2002 Pontiac Bonneville that is driven by my daughter.

 

That's why it's higher than your E55

 

Here's my current 6 month policy. This is with a good driver and multi-car discount in the Bay Area where insurance is higher than anywhere else I've been. I had a domestic s/c coupe in Honolulu and paid < $400 for same coverage; had two domestic s/c coupes plus a sport SUV in Illinois and paid about the same for full coverage on all 3 as I now do on only the E55. I'm not going to thread jack so if anyone finds a better deal in the Bay Area pm me. I've searched hi and lo 4 months ago, and there were places quoting well over $1000 for a 6 month policy.

Coverage Name Limits/Deductibles Premiums MRCDS BENZ E55 6MONTHS
Bodily Injury Liability $100,000 per person/$300,000 per accident: $205.00
Property Damage Liability $100,000: $138.00
Medical Payments: No Coverage
Uninsured Motorists Bodily Inj (UM-BI) $25,000 prsn/$50,000 accdnt: $31.00
Uninsured Motorists Property Damage: No Coverage
Other Than Collision: Actual Cash Value less deductibles $1,000 $112.00
Collision Actual Cash Value less deductibles $1,000: $343.00
Towing and Labor: No Coverage
Optional Transportation Expenses: No Coverage
TOTAL: $829.00

 

You don't say where you live, but I think that is important. I absolutely love my wagon and will never sell it, but we consider it a summer car. Even though it has snow tires on it, I don't like driving it in the snow as it is just not as safe as our other cars. Heck, it's touch to get out of our driveway.

That said, I love the wagon and will never sell ours. It is just too much fun. I bought my 05 in the summer of 07 and have put 35K miles on it. Other than routine maintenance (a bit steep, but expected), I've had only minor problems, all fixed under the CPO warranty.

You mention four kids. Just remember the third seat is small, so once they're past about 6, they won't fit very well.

If you can find one, buy it. You won't regret it.
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Thanks everyone for the advice. I guess dreaming about owning one is not the same when you guys putting up good points.

I live right outside Washington DC in Old Town Alexandria. I did check my insurance and shockingly found out that it would cost me an extra $700.00 a year even after selling off the Jeep . Then more disappointment sets in when Tirerack.com said it might cost a little less than $1000.00 for four all-season tires ... and I would not believe what the local Mercedes dealer (Mercedes of Alexandria) said it would cost for oil change etc.

.. then my wife told me that my 15 years old boy WILL want to drive next year then his sister 1.5 years after and it goes on a couple more times ... then college . It looks like it owning an AMG is just a pipe dream for me right now

Thanks everyone again for everything.

 

Don't be too disappointed, you can always look into another E-class. Or even pick up a clean W210 AMG (although brakes are outrageous on 210's and tires/oil changes are the same).

 

You did some research outside of this site and I commend you on that. I used to bend over everytime I took my car into the dealership for an oil change. These cars will continue to drop in value, as will those cars that are suitable for your teens as a first car (aka beaters). Maybe you will eventually get an AMG and two beaters for the teens.