What was your most expensive (non-accident) repair bill???
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2011
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From: The Granite State
.
What was your most expensive (non-accident) repair bill???
From the reading I've been doing so far, I'm going to guess that it will be an AIRMATIC failure....
Please share your experiences with repair costs (whether they were covered by warranty or not). My objective is to buy a an E55 with an existing warranty, but if I find a car that looks great for the right price (without a warranty) I could just create a "slush fund" for repairs and deal with issues out-of-pocket when they occur.
Without a lot to base it on (yet), I thought a cash reserve of around $5000 would be reasonable starting point for my "self-warranty repair" account.
Obviously, it's a crapshoot.....just like buying warranty insurance; you might need it...but then again you might not.
Either way, I'd be interested in expanding my search to include not only CPO / 3rd-Party Warranty cars, but also the nice, low-mileage examples that aren't offered with a warranty.
Appreciate any help. I did some searching already on this, and am reading the forum archives as quickly as I can....
-G
Please share your experiences with repair costs (whether they were covered by warranty or not). My objective is to buy a an E55 with an existing warranty, but if I find a car that looks great for the right price (without a warranty) I could just create a "slush fund" for repairs and deal with issues out-of-pocket when they occur.
Without a lot to base it on (yet), I thought a cash reserve of around $5000 would be reasonable starting point for my "self-warranty repair" account.
Obviously, it's a crapshoot.....just like buying warranty insurance; you might need it...but then again you might not.Either way, I'd be interested in expanding my search to include not only CPO / 3rd-Party Warranty cars, but also the nice, low-mileage examples that aren't offered with a warranty.
Appreciate any help. I did some searching already on this, and am reading the forum archives as quickly as I can....
-G
Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 102
Likes: 2
From: Astoria, NY
2005 Stage I RennTech E55
I have an 05 E55, with stage one evosport. No warranty, 57k miles if youre interested. i have wheel &tire warranty for 2+ years left and i replaced my fuel sending unit in sept so thats $989 saved :-)
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Joined: Jul 2010
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E55 AMG
So far I had to replace a ton of parts on my E55. The car has cost me a small fortune.
Let's see, the stock crank pulley was too small. Replaced it with a larger ASP, now it makes enough boost. The heat exchanger was too small, replaced that. The stock exhaust manifolds were junk. New stainless Eurocharged Long Tubes and removed all four cats. Now it flows!
What else, oh, trips to the track, dyno time. Stock rims were too heavy, replaced with Forgestars.
All of this "trouble" the car put me through...only runs low 11's.
Let's see, the stock crank pulley was too small. Replaced it with a larger ASP, now it makes enough boost. The heat exchanger was too small, replaced that. The stock exhaust manifolds were junk. New stainless Eurocharged Long Tubes and removed all four cats. Now it flows!
What else, oh, trips to the track, dyno time. Stock rims were too heavy, replaced with Forgestars.
All of this "trouble" the car put me through...only runs low 11's.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,835
Likes: 12
From: The Granite State
.
So far I had to replace a ton of parts on my E55. The car has cost me a small fortune.
Let's see, the stock crank pulley was too small. Replaced it with a larger ASP, now it makes enough boost. The heat exchanger was too small, replaced that. The stock exhaust manifolds were junk. New stainless Eurocharged Long Tubes and removed all four cats. Now it flows!
What else, oh, trips to the track, dyno time. Stock rims were too heavy, replaced with Forgestars.
All of this "trouble" the car put me through...only runs low 11's.
Let's see, the stock crank pulley was too small. Replaced it with a larger ASP, now it makes enough boost. The heat exchanger was too small, replaced that. The stock exhaust manifolds were junk. New stainless Eurocharged Long Tubes and removed all four cats. Now it flows!
What else, oh, trips to the track, dyno time. Stock rims were too heavy, replaced with Forgestars.
All of this "trouble" the car put me through...only runs low 11's.
-G
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Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 363
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Honda Metropolitan
Just purchased an E500 and I have learned so much about these cars since I have joined. Anyways, I set $5000 aside for the "Just In Case" repairs. 
I noticed that majoirity of the issues with the E500's are the airmatics. Fingers crossed!
Duc1098
I noticed that majoirity of the issues with the E500's are the airmatics. Fingers crossed!Duc1098
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Joined: Sep 2010
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From: HTX-->ATL -->CHI
2015 E63S 4Matic
I don't know what it would have cost me, but I had both front airmatic struts fail last week and they were replaced under warranty.
A month before that, I took my car in for Service B which ended up being $1100 for basically an oil change. They found a rear main seal leak and replaced that under warranty, which saved me the $20 part and 7 hours worth of $100 labor.
A month before that, I took my car in for Service B which ended up being $1100 for basically an oil change. They found a rear main seal leak and replaced that under warranty, which saved me the $20 part and 7 hours worth of $100 labor.
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Joined: Nov 2006
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From: California, USA
E63 P30, CL500 Sport
Single repair bills probably average around $1500 and lower, it's just how many times do you end up visiting the shop for repair and how fast would it take to accrue the $5,000
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Joined: Oct 2009
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From: Jacksonville, Florida
2006 E55 AMG --old cars -- E39 M5, 2.7tt Audi S4, E36 M3 **Ducati 996, 748
It depends on what shop you take your car to.. dealer will be much more expensive... I have a warranty but biggest repairs were: alternator it died - oil pump dealer thought it needed replacing but i never knew it was bad - CPS because i didnt disconnect the batteries when a shop was welding on my exhuast --auto trunk failed -- motor mounts -- belt tensioner pulley --- and other little things i cant recall at the moment
most of these were not required repairs but opted by the dealer who had a blank check from my warranty -- this is over 1 year and 3 seperate trips for a total of +14 grand
most of these were not required repairs but opted by the dealer who had a blank check from my warranty -- this is over 1 year and 3 seperate trips for a total of +14 grand
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Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 781
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From: Bay Area, CA
E55 AMG, 72' Toyota Carina, 63' Ford F100, 72' Mercedes 250c, 15' Harley Davidson Softail
So far I had to replace a ton of parts on my E55. The car has cost me a small fortune.
Let's see, the stock crank pulley was too small. Replaced it with a larger ASP, now it makes enough boost. The heat exchanger was too small, replaced that. The stock exhaust manifolds were junk. New stainless Eurocharged Long Tubes and removed all four cats. Now it flows!
What else, oh, trips to the track, dyno time. Stock rims were too heavy, replaced with Forgestars.
All of this "trouble" the car put me through...only runs low 11's.
Let's see, the stock crank pulley was too small. Replaced it with a larger ASP, now it makes enough boost. The heat exchanger was too small, replaced that. The stock exhaust manifolds were junk. New stainless Eurocharged Long Tubes and removed all four cats. Now it flows!
What else, oh, trips to the track, dyno time. Stock rims were too heavy, replaced with Forgestars.
All of this "trouble" the car put me through...only runs low 11's.
sounds like most of that is just mods you felt were necessary to make the car faster rather than "repair bills."
I'm pretty mechanically inclined so I do alot of the maintence stuff myself (oil changes, spark plugs,valve cover gaskets...etc) so my bills have never been too high even with 81k miles. Most I spent so far was $850 for a malfunctioning headlight control module for the bi-xenons.
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From: San Diego, CA
'13 GT-R AMS Alpha 9+, CLA45, E55
So far I had to replace a ton of parts on my E55. The car has cost me a small fortune.
Let's see, the stock crank pulley was too small. Replaced it with a larger ASP, now it makes enough boost. The heat exchanger was too small, replaced that. The stock exhaust manifolds were junk. New stainless Eurocharged Long Tubes and removed all four cats. Now it flows!
What else, oh, trips to the track, dyno time. Stock rims were too heavy, replaced with Forgestars.
All of this "trouble" the car put me through...only runs low 11's.
Let's see, the stock crank pulley was too small. Replaced it with a larger ASP, now it makes enough boost. The heat exchanger was too small, replaced that. The stock exhaust manifolds were junk. New stainless Eurocharged Long Tubes and removed all four cats. Now it flows!
What else, oh, trips to the track, dyno time. Stock rims were too heavy, replaced with Forgestars.
All of this "trouble" the car put me through...only runs low 11's.
Member
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 178
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E55 AMG
Bottom line is I think these cars are more reliable that what people think. Sure parts and labor is expensive but if you do your own work, it's manageable.
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Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 539
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From: Planet Earth
2006 CLS500 - Iridium Silver w/ AMG Sportline
It was warrantied, but I had a $4,500 repair bill on my 99 C280 Sport. A carrier bearing in the tranny let go when I was accelerating onto the freeway from an on-ramp. It locked up the back wheels and sent me into opposite lock 2X before she settled down. It almost hit the center divide and a few other cars too. Dealer brought in some MBZ top trained mechanic who said he'd never seen before.
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Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 2,127
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From: Chicagoland
AMG
the thing that gets me is 1 hour of labor changing the aux battery and 15 mins to change the air filters? seems backwards. and even then, battery is 10 min job max, unless you cant lift 70lbs. rofl
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From: Alpharetta Georgia
2006 E55, 2006 saab 93 aero, 2010 glk 4m
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From: BC
Haters crazy
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Joined: Sep 2009
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2006 CL600
Buddy of mine has an '03. He bought it used and got the Chrysler warranty. First repair included:
Whole Front of Supercharger Clutch/Bearing Unit replaced
2 TPMS sensors
Idler Pully (supercharger)
Leaking Valve Cover replaced
Electronic Plate(transmission) replaced
Right Front Strut replaced
Left Front Tie Rod replaced
Engine Mounts replaced
Transmission Mount replaced
May have been a few other items that were small, but the total was almost $10k, like $9978 or something retarded. Chrysler paid it. Second trip in was like $3341 and some change, Chrysler paid it. It's been good now for over a year but god in heaven! No wonder Chrysler stopped selling warranties on these things. Glad I got mine before they stopped.
Regards
Whole Front of Supercharger Clutch/Bearing Unit replaced
2 TPMS sensors
Idler Pully (supercharger)
Leaking Valve Cover replaced
Electronic Plate(transmission) replaced
Right Front Strut replaced
Left Front Tie Rod replaced
Engine Mounts replaced
Transmission Mount replaced
May have been a few other items that were small, but the total was almost $10k, like $9978 or something retarded. Chrysler paid it. Second trip in was like $3341 and some change, Chrysler paid it. It's been good now for over a year but god in heaven! No wonder Chrysler stopped selling warranties on these things. Glad I got mine before they stopped.
Regards
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Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 923
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From: Jacksonville, Florida
2006 E55 AMG --old cars -- E39 M5, 2.7tt Audi S4, E36 M3 **Ducati 996, 748
Our cars have tons of electronics and sensors -- Welding can surge and break them -- it is best to disconnect the battery on any car... but this is the first time i had anything blow up. It was my fault and partially the shop.
Warranty's can find a way to not cover repairs -- after market mods are the most popular but I am not voluntering info to them -- nor is my dealership.
Warranty's can find a way to not cover repairs -- after market mods are the most popular but I am not voluntering info to them -- nor is my dealership.
