Ready to Buy E55 Motor Question, Reliable?
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 254
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e46 m3
Ready to Buy E55 Motor Question, Reliable?
i am ready to really start looking for an e55 i see any year above 04 is fine.
so i will be in the market for 2004-05
my question is this everyone i spoke to said that e55`s do have problems like any benz but motor and tranny are pretty much bullet proof.
now recently i started seeing threads about how 55 motors blow? which is very weird any help please
i currently own an e46 m3 and the car is a very reliable car all around and i dont want to enter a world of problems
so i will be in the market for 2004-05
my question is this everyone i spoke to said that e55`s do have problems like any benz but motor and tranny are pretty much bullet proof.
now recently i started seeing threads about how 55 motors blow? which is very weird any help please
i currently own an e46 m3 and the car is a very reliable car all around and i dont want to enter a world of problems
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,359
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ML550
I've been driving my '05 four years now, and have found it to be very reliable. Mine gets regular maintenance and attention. I can't help but think that some of the problem cars you read about suffered from neglect since so many of these cars were originally lease vehicles. Lessees are notorious for not really maintaining their lease vehicles.
You've probably read it elsewhere, but for God's sake, buy one with a warranty the owner can transfer to you (confirm before you buy), and even better, find one that has MB CPO warranty remaining on it. At this point, the latter category cars are the cream of the crop.
You've probably read it elsewhere, but for God's sake, buy one with a warranty the owner can transfer to you (confirm before you buy), and even better, find one that has MB CPO warranty remaining on it. At this point, the latter category cars are the cream of the crop.
Last edited by komp55; Oct 21, 2010 at 06:04 PM.
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From: California, USA
E63 P30, CL500 Sport
i am ready to really start looking for an e55 i see any year above 04 is fine.
so i will be in the market for 2004-05
my question is this everyone i spoke to said that e55`s do have problems like any benz but motor and tranny are pretty much bullet proof.
now recently i started seeing threads about how 55 motors blow? which is very weird any help please
i currently own an e46 m3 and the car is a very reliable car all around and i dont want to enter a world of problems
so i will be in the market for 2004-05
my question is this everyone i spoke to said that e55`s do have problems like any benz but motor and tranny are pretty much bullet proof.
now recently i started seeing threads about how 55 motors blow? which is very weird any help please
i currently own an e46 m3 and the car is a very reliable car all around and i dont want to enter a world of problems
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 2,771
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From: San Diego, CA
'13 GT-R AMS Alpha 9+, CLA45, E55
Member
Joined: Sep 2010
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2004 E55
I've got a warranty through a company called Continental Warranty Inc. I paid 3k for 2yrs/24k miles and my policy is the best one that they offer. I've made one claim so far. It was for my drivers side control arm/ball joint. It's a pretty decent policy and the $100 deductible is waived if I get the repairs done at the the dealership that I purchased the car.
MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: Salt Lake City (but not Morm)
2003 E55 & 2014 GL550
2 Bottom lines.
1) Get a warranty. Blower alone on these is 3-4K refurbd.
2) Have a piston compression test done, even if you are paying out of pocket a hundred or 2. Sad statement on mankind, but it's just the truth.....some losers feel a piston going on them and hurry and ditch the car. Would almost guarantee that is what happened to poor KleemanRob (think that was his name)
55 motors are very solid for what is being asked of them. I have been pushing mine hard for years now (wayyyyy above what it was designed for) and no big problems as of yet.
1) Get a warranty. Blower alone on these is 3-4K refurbd.
2) Have a piston compression test done, even if you are paying out of pocket a hundred or 2. Sad statement on mankind, but it's just the truth.....some losers feel a piston going on them and hurry and ditch the car. Would almost guarantee that is what happened to poor KleemanRob (think that was his name)
55 motors are very solid for what is being asked of them. I have been pushing mine hard for years now (wayyyyy above what it was designed for) and no big problems as of yet.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: Caribbean/Florida/Colorado
E-ZGO 53hp., 1999 E 430 sport, 2004 E 55, 2008 Tahoe LTZ on 24"s
Stock 55K motors are bullet proof.
As you search blown motors you will find, mods and tunes in the mix.
Detonation in the 55 will break the piston lands, and detonation happens on a bad tune.
Yes warranty is a must, search airmatic.....
As you search blown motors you will find, mods and tunes in the mix.
Detonation in the 55 will break the piston lands, and detonation happens on a bad tune.
Yes warranty is a must, search airmatic.....
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Newbie
Joined: Apr 2010
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From: Hong Kong + LMU
'04 E55 AMG
ive had mine since we got it in '04 and it's been perfectly fine (it's also bone stock). you definitely need a warranty though. i had a regular maintenence check last year that cost me around $5k. i had my steering column replaced or something along with some other stuff, but with the warranty i only paid like $50. 
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2004
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2005 E55
The k4 car had a dead pump and was driven hard with it.I told him to fix the pump or he will blow it up.I scaned his intake temps at the track and was over 150 idle and he still did like 4 passes with the car.
A k4 car that's rated at 640 with a dead pump will detonate and blow up.
A k4 car that's rated at 640 with a dead pump will detonate and blow up.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2010
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e46 m3
Kleeman55Rob is that who you are talking about? if yes i was unaware it was a modded e55 and i didnt know he tracked it before it blew up lol
but yeah threads like his is what buggs me and makes me think twice about getting it but if the car isnt stock then yeah i can understand why
but yeah threads like his is what buggs me and makes me think twice about getting it but if the car isnt stock then yeah i can understand why
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05 E55 AMG, E320 CDI, Turbo E46 M3,IS300 2JZGTE,VQ35 Turbo Maxima, Mercedes 300D
I'm on the fence here about the reliability of the E55... A car that requires you to count on a warranty to pay the bills is not one I would consider to be ideal. I feel relying on warranties is like social welfare system ... someone somewhere is going to be paying for it! My E46 M3 has been great ... no issues at all really and quite fun, it's just not nearly as refined as the E55 and not nearly as fast in stock form. My E55 has had a few issues since the day I got it ... but then most of my past cars have been super reliable until I put boost to them. I cannot say that I would do it again if I were given the choice. Between gas leaking issues, transmission shifting issues, supercharger issues, pulley issues, IC pump, airmatic suspension (not all issues I have faced) but others have, I am not sure I am looking forward to the headaches ahead ... For now, I am enjoying it while I can. Love the car, the performance and refinement ... just not there on the reliability especially where parts for these things are not what I would call cheap!
Last edited by turbo97se; Oct 24, 2010 at 07:57 AM.
