I am beginning to think my car is not reliable!
Total electrical failure- ECU replaced
Supercharger pulley/clutch replaced
Intercooler pump replaced (at my request because I felt not working properly)
Gas tank seal replaced (gas pouring out back of car after filled up)
Suspension compressor replaced
Driver side door locking assembly repaired
Front struts replaced
With the exception of the front struts, the above work was covered 100% under either Mercedes of Mercury Platinum warranties. Still the after market warranty was over $3,000 (5 year/75,000 miles total). Add the cost of new PS'2 every 8,000 miles or so and normal maintenance and things are getting faily pricey.
Not that I am complaining, The hard on I get every time I step on the gas is worth the cost. But not exactly reliable.
What do you think?
But really, I think it is a common experience to have issues with these cars - I wouldn't necessarily call them unreliable, but they are finicky. A lot of advanced components, and electrical systems seem to give issues. There are a lot of members on here that have not had issues though - so sometimes it can be a bit luck of the draw, but over time and usage any car will need attention.
If I told you all of the stuff I've done with my S55 OUT of warranty, you'd probably sell your car, haha. But in the end...I love it. Everytime you drive it, you tend to forget the harder days when it gives you problems. I'm up to 144,000 miles, so it runs perfectly - but obviously with some good maintenance over time.
Last edited by rondocap; Aug 22, 2010 at 12:20 PM. Reason: a
Most of the things you reported are known issues for the cars, especially a 2003 model. So those things we are usually prepared for when we buy the car. Or at least understand that they can happen.
Compared to other Euro cars (Audi, BMW, Porsche, Volvo) I'd probably say that what you've gone through is about par for a 7-year old car. It's the high price of repairs that I think gets people wondering (although Porsche is about the same.)
You don't mention the mileage you have on it now (except that you bought it with 10k on it in 2005.) How many miles have you put on?
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Check out my thread on repeat fuel tank failures and post your account.
As for "should a 90k car be expected to fail on a routine basis?" My answer is no. It should not be expected to fail. If ours had the grocery list you have....it would be gone in a minute. The only problem we have is the gas leak and the return of the gas leak. I drive a Audi RS6 and many say that car is too expensive to maintain. Hogwash. I spend approx 700 a year to maintain the car and it never breaks down.
Total electrical failure- ECU replaced
Supercharger pulley/clutch replaced
Intercooler pump replaced (at my request because I felt not working properly)
Gas tank seal replaced (gas pouring out back of car after filled up)
Suspension compressor replaced
Driver side door locking assembly repaired
Front struts replaced
With the exception of the front struts, the above work was covered 100% under either Mercedes of Mercury Platinum warranties. Still the after market warranty was over $3,000 (5 year/75,000 miles total). Add the cost of new PS'2 every 8,000 miles or so and normal maintenance and things are getting faily pricey.
Not that I am complaining, The hard on I get every time I step on the gas is worth the cost. But not exactly reliable.
What do you think?
I do drive my car on a regular basis in the winter. I just cut out the cruising which is when I do most of my driving in the summer. But I appreciate your point on cars sitting for long periods of time. I don't know what to do about the gas leak. It was done a couple of years ago and I haven't had a problem since, so I hope its fixed.
I do drive my car on a regular basis in the winter. I just cut out the cruising which is when I do most of my driving in the summer. But I appreciate your point on cars sitting for long periods of time. I don't know what to do about the gas leak. It was done a couple of years ago and I haven't had a problem since, so I hope its fixed.
It's now almost at 40K in miles (I drive 100 miles to and from work everyday) and so far I've only had to replace the Powersteering pump, motor thingie.Like most of you I got the extended warranty good to 100K miles and I do agree it does, "feel" slighly less reliable, but if you have an extended warranty and AAA you really don't need to worry.
I'd say it's not as reliable as a Honda/Toyota but nor is it a Jaguar/Range Rover which are legendary for their lack of reliability. So on a scale of 1-10, 1 being a Jag and 10 being a Honda, I'd give our E55 a 5-6.
My $.02.
Alex
This was discussed a few years ago in the MBCA. The recall was a voluntary recall (#2008-020001) from MBUSA. It was issued in 2008 and covers certain 2003-2006 E Class and CLS Class cars. Apparently when MBUSA made the recall, the new unit was sometimes being installed incorrectly or a lot of dealers simply changed the gasket or attempted a fix. The consensus was that the "real" problem is that MBUSA let the dealer decide whether to repair the unit or actually replace it, and only "if necessary."
NHTSA wasn't involved because apparently there is no true fire hazard in relation to the design of the system.
They have made safety recalls when fuel tanks and systems don't perform properly during a crash, though. No car has caught on fire in 7 years (at least yet) and there are lots of cars potentially affected (it can develop the cracks in hot weather in heavy stop and go driving.) But according to MBUSA the part change recall campaign has resolved everything, and so it's been left in the dealer's hands. Is this maybe more of a dealer issue?

Again, it would be nice to have actual numbers of failures before and after the recall has been performed. That's the only way to know what's really going on. But none of us will get to see those figures.
My question, what is the first symptom of the IC pump going bad? We use Shell premium but its hot outside. 107 this week. I also add a fuel catalyst that helps octane and lubricity but I have this ping on the E55. I would also think the ecu would pull timing asap but the ping keeps coming back on throttle over 75% or initial hit from such a throttle attempt.
My RS6 has no ping at all. I have some tricks performed on the RS6 and puts down more hp that the E but I need to look into the ping situation. I dont like it at all.
Thanks...I did a quick search for E55 and ping but found little.
Did you read my thread? If you had, you would have seen that my car was LEAKING when the recall was performed at 52k in the summer of 08. Then in the fall of 09 at 61k we got another LEAK. The dealer made the decision to replace the seals of this particular component and that stopped the leak for 4k miles. Now in the summer of 10 at 65k miles our car is LEAKING and gas is pouring out under the car. The same fuel level sensor that was replaced in 08 was bad again and the whole thing was changed again. Leak stopped.
We are talking about E55s from 2003-2006. Approx 4300 vehicles.
Did you see the picture I posted?
We are up to 8 owners and counting with the exact same problems. The scope of this forum only goes so far but clearly there is a defect that will explode. Just because it has not happened yet means nothing. Did you see my picture? If that car was driven on the hwy I would not be here. So, let me now ask you this. Do you still think this is a dealer level concern? sir.
As for MB USA having actual numbers. Hogwash. If the dealers are not covering the fuel level sensors and making the owners pay or running them thru extended warranties....MB USA has no data. However, MB USA now has data becase I'm crawling down their backs as are the other owners with the EXACT SAME REPEAT FAILURE.
This was discussed a few years ago in the MBCA. The recall was a voluntary recall (#2008-020001) from MBUSA. It was issued in 2008 and covers certain 2003-2006 E Class and CLS Class cars. Apparently when MBUSA made the recall, the new unit was sometimes being installed incorrectly or a lot of dealers simply changed the gasket or attempted a fix. The consensus was that the "real" problem is that MBUSA let the dealer decide whether to repair the unit or actually replace it, and only "if necessary."
NHTSA wasn't involved because apparently there is no true fire hazard in relation to the design of the system.
They have made safety recalls when fuel tanks and systems don't perform properly during a crash, though. No car has caught on fire in 7 years (at least yet) and there are lots of cars potentially affected (it can develop the cracks in hot weather in heavy stop and go driving.) But according to MBUSA the part change recall campaign has resolved everything, and so it's been left in the dealer's hands. Is this maybe more of a dealer issue?

Again, it would be nice to have actual numbers of failures before and after the recall has been performed. That's the only way to know what's really going on. But none of us will get to see those figures.
Last edited by 03RSTT; Aug 24, 2010 at 04:20 PM.
My question, what is the first symptom of the IC pump going bad? We use Shell premium but its hot outside. 107 this week. I also add a fuel catalyst that helps octane and lubricity but I have this ping on the E55. I would also think the ecu would pull timing asap but the ping keeps coming back on throttle over 75% or initial hit from such a throttle attempt.
My RS6 has no ping at all. I have some tricks performed on the RS6 and puts down more hp that the E but I need to look into the ping situation. I dont like it at all.
Thanks...I did a quick search for E55 and ping but found little.
Did you read my thread? If you had, you would have seen that my car was LEAKING when the recall was performed at 52k in the summer of 08. Then in the fall of 09 at 61k we got another LEAK. The dealer made the decision to replace the seals of this particular component and that stopped the leak for 4k miles. Now in the summer of 10 at 65k miles our car is LEAKING and gas is pouring out under the car. The same fuel level sensor that was replaced in 08 was bad again and the whole thing was changed again. Leak stopped.
We are talking about E55s from 2003-2006. Approx 4300 vehicles.
Did you see the picture I posted?
We are up to 8 owners and counting with the exact same problems. The scope of this forum only goes so far but clearly there is a defect that will explode. Just because it has not happened yet means nothing. Did you see my picture? If that car was driven on the hwy I would not be here. So, let me now ask you this. Do you still think this is a dealer level concern? sir.
As for MB USA having actual numbers. Hogwash. If the dealers are not covering the fuel level sensors and making the owners pay or running them thru extended warranties....MB USA has no data. However, MB USA now has data becase I'm crawling down their backs as are the other owners with the EXACT SAME REPEAT FAILURE.
Why the hostility?

I want to know what's going on, too. And so that's why I asked.

Yes, I saw your post, but I do think that MBUSA has data, but of course won't ever say anything.
Why the hostility?

I want to know what's going on, too. And so that's why I asked.

Yes, I saw your post, but I do think that MBUSA has data, but of course won't ever say anything.


