AZRealtor

Hey all. This is my first post here. I currently drive a 2008 BMW 135i. My warranty is about to expire (I'm a 47,500 miles) and because I'm a Realtor, I need something with 4 doors. I just came across a good deal on a 2004 e55 with 52k miles for sale in my area. I'm wondering what you can tell me about reliability and price of owning an AMG out of warranty vs. potential costs on my current car. My 135 hasn't been the most reliable car I've ever owned, so I'm just wondering if people here think cost of ownership would increase dramatically for me. Thanks in advance.

emoving

Solid as a rock. About as good as driving a Honda. Search and this should be confirmed!

Hotrod-Realtor

Better than Honda reliability Emoving, because it can turn rubber tires into smoke!

220S

Go for it.

Confucius once said: "A cheap Mercedes will be the most expensive car you'll ever own."

btw, the same goes for an expensive Mercedes....

wayneside

lawguy

The dudes are right - if you want to find reliable, buy a Lexus. I'd you want to enjoy time behind the wheel even more than in your Bimmer, buy an AMG car. But don't do it because you think it will be practical.

German cars are the essence of a love/hate relationship. You gotta pay to play, my man.

turbo97se

LOL! Despite its faults, it has been worth it so far ... you need to be an enthusiast to enjoy these cars .. especially out of warranty!

novae500

Buy the AMG, but you should:

-be mechanically inclined to do basic DIY repairs to save money
-keep a nice cushion for repairs that you cant do
-save $$ on tires since you will go through them fast
-save $$ for future mods
-and lastly, enjoy the car and glances you get from a car that is over 6-7yrs old

moosejaw

Get a Lexus IS-F for a DD esp if you are a realtor.
You would hate the gas mileage on a E55.
Esp in city driving, youre in traffic in a ten minute period and you see youre getting 8mpg.

Something that may be easier on the wallet and is still a AMG is an old C32 or C55?

aghakauve

Go with a E46 M3! Easy to maintain, good on gas, and its fun to drive!

emoving

Buy a Honda, if you were a big time realtor you would not be here asking this dumb question, you would be buying the new TTE63.

grantwoodtx

CLASSIC! Thanks I need that today Marcus!!!

emoving

Seriously.....right!

grantwoodtx

My 04 has had it's issues, most of which were covered under warranty but I can tell you my daugthers A4 has cost more to maintain than my beast!

emoving

Your car is looking sweet by the way!

chawkins2001

Get a Lotus, problem solved

moosejaw

Dealer charges $800+ to do the front brakes
You mean E46 M3 = easy to let $$$$ fly out of your wallet.

Besides he needs a 4-Door.

Arizona Realtor= LS400, GS300, M35
Stick to cars you will need to measure radiation levels with a geiger counter every morning, not a car which will resort to limp mode or airmatic failure while you are out with potential clients showing homes in Scottsdale

turbo97se

Agree with the fun to drive ... Easy to maintain? Early S54 engine failures common, failing Vanos is a common issue, use anything other than the recommended Castrol syn and you risk engine failure, rear subframe cracking issues, oil leaks, SMG failures fairly common, rear lights fall apart and interior falls apart after a couple of years ... hmmm ... as someone said, with German cars, pay to play ..

Lexus for awesome reliability for the most part.

AZRealtor

Thanks for all of the feedback. I'm not looking for the most reliable car in the world. I understand that no matter what it is, you have to pay to play. BMW's aren't that cheap out of warranty and I know an AMG MB won't be either. I just don't want to be spending $5-6k every year to keep the thing running. That's my only fear. I can sell my car and buy the e55 and put a few thousand in my pocket right now and use it for service or repair down the road.

I also love the idea of having a practical car when the time calls for it, but still have something sporty (or at least fast). My 135i, which has a tune and intake is pretty good at that unless I need to cram someone in the back seat. I suppose a 335 sedan would do the trick, but I find them to be hideous.

Some day! I'm not sure people would like to ride around in that or try to get in and out of it for that matter, while looking at homes. And Lexus is a no go. I have a strong dislike for Lexus.

Anyways, thanks again for the help.

moosejaw

Would you feel differently if you spend that much on the E in the first year?
I've always had the opinion (and maybe some of you would disagree) a AMG is no more costly to own than your typical MB. The stuff that breaks down on our cars is no different than the regular models.


A Cadillac perhaps? One that zings?
I honestly think in your line of work...... you should look into something that is reliable and practical.

From the customer's perspective and i honestly dont know what type of your market you work in but being in Arizona i would imagine it has to do with the multitude of abandoned homes going for cheap. Myself, I would shy away from choosing a relator who drove a AMG or a M Car. My first impression is this jerkoff makes too much money.

I bought a beater for $2k so my bosses at work wouldnt guess i drive a nice car (thats the only reason). As they say "Image is everything."
AMG is a panty dropper, not to impress potential clients.

moosejaw

Sorry.......Double Post!

AZRealtor

Interestingly enough, my target market is finding homes for car enthusiasts, so I cater to a crowd that likes that sort of thing. I go to a lot of car meets and the like, so having a performance car is a nice conversations starter.

I do see your point though. There's a fine line in real estate between driving something that makes you appear successful and gives the aura that you are good at your job and driving something that makes you seem arrogant. I definitely don't want to cross into the latter.

lawguy

While your point is true, its quite unfair. As a young professional, i was chastized by peers for driving a Lexus ES300 (when they first came out) because folks thought it was too nice, and suggested I either was paid too much or a show off. Always irked me, since its my business how I spent my own money.

The funny reverse of that is true as well. After rather unexpectedly selling my last 7-series BMW (private sale to an enthusiast who made an offer I couldnt refuse), I was without a car, and trying to figure out what to do rather quickly. A friend of mine took me to an MB dealer a town over to look at a CLK63 convert. I wasnt wild about it, but while there, saw a Mini Cooper S - 6mt, loaded, etc., with very low miles. It was "only" $15k, as they'd had it for 90 days after a trade and were ready to send it to auction. The price was actually $2k less than NADA trade value (as they had hosed the guy who traded it to them...lol). After driving it for 15 minutes, I bought it and LOVED driving it for the 6 months I owned it [and I got more money at a different MB dealer on trade than I paid 6 mos earlier). Really a fun little car for the money. However, I bet I had 15 people ask me if things were okay with my business, as they didnt percieve it to be a car suggesting professional success, and presumed I must be having money issues to be driving such a car. How funny was that? Anyhow, once I found the e63 which I had been searching for, I ended all the speculation that I was broke. (Even thought the e63 was used, people still assumed it was a new $100k car...and my image as a "baller" was quickly restored, for whatever its worth.) Funny thing is now I have people tell me they've heard about my car and want to see it....its the only AMG car in my little sleepy midwestern town.

Anyhow, I digress.

moosejaw

Ahh you must be doing okay then.
I personally know (in Miami) what used to be $100K/yr realtors now serving drinks at my bar. About time they learned to hustle.

AZRealtor

Oh, there's a lot of that here as well. Fortunately, I'm only 26 and I got into Real Estate during the bad times, so I've never known what it's like during the good times. I'm also not married and don't have much living overhead, so that helps my situation compared to most Realtors who have families.