Hello

First post here, so hopefully I won't embarass myself. I am not an owner yet, but I am seriously considering a 2003 E55 AMG.

The seller is not local to me so I want to make sure the plane flight to check it out is worth it before I go. What are some things I should "look out" for? I am thinking about issues with electronic systems, supercharger or similar items that can be prone to failure.

Any good keywords to search the forum for on this topic?

The car has 36K miles and is listed on ebay here.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2003-...item43a3f03379

Thanks for your help and I look forward to hopefully joining your ranks as a proud owner.

 

https://mbworld.org/forums/mercedes-...35k-miles.html ???

 

Yes, that's it

 

If I lived closer I would be glad to take a look at it for you, maybe somebody else will chime in that lives closer?
Remember this is the first year of the w211.
The car looks clean and it certainly has low milage.
Do a car fax.
Good luck

 

If it passes an inspection, I say go for it! Some of the best cars I ever owned are ones I had inspected and flew out to buy and drive home. That first long drive home is a great way to get to know your car, and usually you will have a smile plastered on your face the entire time. Ask me how I know?

 

That would be fantastic is someone local could take a look - I live in Colorado.

The avatar for the owner lists his location as Stratford, CT. He has the car cross posted on rennlist.

Thanks again, very considerate. Especially considering I have zero history on this site............

 

That really is an unbelievable deal. Get a local shop to do a inspection, or just buy it, and love it.. I bought mine sight unseen (after an inpection).. no issue what so ever.. and maybe even a mod or two now

 

Looks like it would be worth the trip.

 

low miles for 03... looks like a good deal!

 

it might be worth 21k if that.
Worst year recall model in Mercedes history.
sbc airmatic valeo radiator be sure you have it inspected fully by a pro
if you do decide you want to overpay for your whistle(Ben franklin)
3 owner car
W211 run or not you need to really decide if you can afford all the things about it that tend to go wrong.
$26k a steal? That's thousands over dealer retail
02's are in the 12's
04's are selling for less than 26k with the 3500 buck dynamic seat option
there's an 05 brabus going for 29k with 52k miles
there's an 05 going for 27k in denver
add in the cost of flying and transport and you would be getting hosed even more.
My two cents(Only)

 

IMO it depends on the car. I just got an 04 w/ 37,000 miles and paid $32k. But that was after new tires, service, and a 2 year 100,000 miles warranty. The biggest piece of advice I can give you as a new owner of an E55 is that you would be very foolish not to buy a warranty. There is no such thing as a cheap repair. Even though mine made it through the CPO inspection and was described as perfect by the dealer, it still needed a lot of work and was in the shop for 10 days this month. If I didn't have the CPO warranty I would have never been able to afford the repairs.

All that aside, if you do get one, it will ne a fantastic car. They are amazing to drive!

 

11k more for a warranty and 10 days in the shop after less than 2 months ownership.
Wow all I can say

 

Im selling my 04 cpo e55 for 24,500. Pm me for info.

 

I don't know where you're getting your nembers, but KBB price for an 04 CPO E55 with 37K on it is $34,000.

All I can say is that you get what you pay for, if you can get an E55 for $20K go for it, but I could almost guarantee that you'll end up with high repairs bills. There is a reason that dealers are paying $15,000 to $29,000 at auction for E55's. The condition of the car obviously dictates its price.

 

I suggest 04's and up..CPO'd

 

I agree with you. I spent a year trying to find the right e55. I drove 5 hours to get it. Im only selling because I want the cls.

 

use KBB are dealers and chumps that the dealer rips off.
TMV edmunds is a real survey of all markets and true sale prices.
even adjusted for 700bucks mile adjustment for the low miles an 04 comes in at under 23grand. 2006 don't even demand much over 30K
It is wonderful that it is a car to enjoy when it is not busted and in the shop
That still won't change the fact that most are a pricey time bomb waiting for the next break down. Proof? Look at the bottom line of your profile..........oh wait you removed the line about"when it's not in the shop"
Make sure your steering wheel nut has the recall performed on it,that will really be one amazing ride

why do you think the car linked to at the top of the forum has dropped from 30k asking to 26k over 3 months and still not sold? It will keep dropping till it hits the true market price or some poor slump that listens to someone say 26k is a steal and jumps to buy it at the wrong price often uninspected no warranty price.
BTW there's an 06 for sale with 60k miles remaining warranty pano roof dynamic seat $4200 626 option package selling for under 31K in the S.E.
and if you think an 04 for 34 is the going price why is taso selling his for 10k under book? Probably because he knows what the market is.

 

I think we are getting off the OP's original question.... but, I have Manheim (Dealer Auto Auction) access. An 04 with low miles was just bought at auction for $28,200. That being said, there was also one that sold for $18,900 that was in below average condition... -So again, you get what you pay for.

Mine was a CPO that I bought out of state and had delivered to my house sight unseen. When I had it inspected by my local MB dealer there were oil leaks, transmission leaks, ball joints were questionable, etc. I'm glad I had the CPO warranty as it covered everything. I paid $32k to include a 2 year 100,000 mile warranty for mine (New tires, new brakes, B Service, New SC belt) but if it weren't a CPO I wouldn't have paid nearly that much. So, to the OP, you will pay more for CPO, but I think it's worth it for the piece of mind knowing that you have Mercedes basically certifying that the car is in good order.... and if it's not (as it was in my case- they will fix it)

 

Buy this one!

 

By my brothers cpo its clean and priced to sell.I don't know about those cheap cars at the auctions but I wouldn't take anything less than 33k for my car and it has warranty till 2013

His car is a cpo for under 25k