Hi - been poking around a few days checking out this informative site...

anyhoo - I'm considering an '06 E55 that has only 21k miles on it
it's listed for $37k (which I think is high, even given the mileage)

it's only had one owner in 5 years - the service records show that it's had the following:
1 tire at 10k
2 tires at 15k
alignment at 15k
drive belts replaced at 19k

so - what do you think? good deal? bad deal? indifferent?
I haven't even driven it yet, but dang these E55's are really growing on me!

the engine bay looks clean enough to eat off of!

 

I think 33-35k would be a good price. Go for it.

 

thx

what are the peculiar things that go wrong with these cars?

from what I can tell, it's the IC pump, air suspension, and brakes?

 

I've got an '06, currently at 29k miles.

Get a warranty! This car can eat you alive without it.

Some things I've already dealt with since April (most under warranty)

2 door handles (micro switch failures)
Rear battery
Front battery
Leaking valve covers


The fuel sender leak / gas tank issue is another big $$$ item if it happens to you.
If you want Bluetooth for your phone. Check for the armrest puck. If its not there, it's quite a bit of effort and cost to retrofit one.

I'd pay a premium for super-low miles, but not their asking price. A good warranty is going to add another $4000 or so...budget for that expense also. And low miles doesn't guarantee a problem-free car....just a really nice starting point with a "new car" feel.


-G

 

That car at $35K would be a solid buy...awesomeness with the low miles and near impossible.

What options are on it?

Brakes are not a weak point and the Airmatic struts may fail after 60K miles like any McPherson strut so it is a typical wear and tear item..no big deal.

 

while this list is quite "wordy" it doesn't say which packages, or much 'detail' (at least not to me)

Options

3 Point Rear Seatbelts
5 Passenger Seating
Active Suspension
Adjustable Suspension
Air Conditioning
Airbag Deactivation
Anti Theft/Security System
Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS)
Auto Headlight Delay
Auto Headlight On/Off
Auto-Dimming Mirrors
Automatic Leveling System
Beverage Holder (s)
Center Console
Child Safety Locks
Clock
Daytime Running Lights
Dual Air Bags
EBA Emergency Brake Asst
EBD Electronic Brake Dist
Electrochromatic Rear View Mirror
Emergency Trunk Release
Fog Lamps
Heated Drivers Seat
Heated Outside Mirror(s)
Heated Passenger Seat
Illuminated Entry System
Intermittent Wipers
Memory Seating
Multi-Function Steering Wheel
Outside Temperature Gauge
Passenger Seat Height Adjust
Power Door Locks
Power Drivers Seat
Power Headrest(s)
Power Lumbar Driver Seat
Power Lumbar Seat(s)
Power Mirrors
Power Outlet(s)
Power Passenger Seat
Power Steering
Power Sunroof
Power Windows
Rain Sensing Wipers
Reading Light(s)
Rear Bench Seat
Rear Center Armrest
Rear Wheel Drive
Rear Window Defroster
Remote Trunk Release
Rich Leather Upholstery
Side Air Bag System
Tachometer
Tele-Aid SOS System
Tire Pressure Monitor
Traction Control System
Trip Computer
Turn Signal Mirrors
Vehicle Stability Assist

ENTERTAINMENT FEATURES
Speakers: 12
Steering wheel mounted audio controls
1st row LCD monitors: 1
CD player
Weather band radio
Premium audio system
AM/FM radio

SEATS AND TRIM
Rear seat center armrest
Power driver seat
Leather shift knob
Heated front seats
Rear seats: bench
Genuine wood door panel insert
Power passenger seat
Sport steering wheel
Genuine wood dashboard insert
Genuine wood console insert
Leather steering wheel
Front center armrest: w/storage
Front seats: bucket
Leather upholstery
Max seating capacity: 5

CONVENIENCE FEATURES
Front cupholders
Auto-dimming rearview mirror
Remote keyless entry
Passenger door bin
HVAC memory
Passenger vanity mirror
Driver vanity mirror
Overhead console
Audio memory
Rear dual zone A/C
Memory seat
Steering wheel memory
Automatic temperature control
Emergency communication system
Illuminated entry
Power moonroof
Speed control
Auto tilt-away steering wheel
Driver door bin
Garage door transmitter
Power windows
Rear cupholders
Residual heat recirculation
1-touch down
Rear air conditioning
Telescoping steering wheel
1-touch up
Air conditioning
Front dual zone A/C
Tilt steering wheel
Head restraints memory
Rear door bins

BODY EXTERIOR
Power door mirrors
Turn signal indicator mirrors
Bumpers: body-color
Bodyside moldings
Auto-dimming door mirrors
Heated door mirrors

LIGHTING, VISIBILITY AND INSTRUMENTATION
Front reading lights
Low tire pressure warning
Front fog lights
Rear fog lights
Trip computer
Rain sensing wipers
Delay-off headlights
Variably intermittent wipers
Outside temperature display
Tachometer
Rear window defroster
Rear reading lights

SAFETY AND SECURITY
Brake assist
Overhead airbag
Electronic stability
Dual front impact airbags
Adjustable head restraints: driver and passenger, rear w/tilt
Rear side impact airbag
Occupant sensing airbag
Panic alarm
Power adjustable front head restraints
Dual front side impact airbags
Traction control
Ignition disable
ABS brakes
Power adjustable rear head restraints
Perimeter/approach lights
Security system
4 wheel disc brakes
Anti-whiplash front head restraints

 

I'd like to find an 06 with that mileage on it....

 

With the complete VIN you can decode all the options on EPC-NET

The link is buried somewhere on this site. Free to sign up (US only) and has lots of info including the original options list.

-G

 

(Pulled the add, updates below)

Options people like to see are:

Pano Roof - No
Parking Sensors - No
Dynamic Seats -
Heated / Cooled Seats - Heated yes/ Cooled No
Rear Sun Shade - No
Side Shades - No
TPMS - Tire Pressure Monitoring - Unk
Distronic (Adaptive Cruise Control) - No
Navigation - Unk
bi-xenon - No
Active Headlights - No


Addons which are nice:

Blue Tooth
Satellite Radio




The Good:
Low Mileage
Clean car fax
Good service records
Certified Pre-Owned: Warranty (Seller MB Dealer)
You can drive the ***** off of it, and still sell with original warranty (prior to 100K)

The Bad:
Base Model / Few options installed
Price is high end for given car
MB Dealer will get the MOST they can.. No deals at the "dealer"

Car was $41K in Nov, and it didn't move. They have dropped it $4K, so sooner or later they will get tired of sitting on it. If you really like it, give them an offer and walk away. They may be motivated.


I think given the mileage and (lack of) options + warranty, $30k - $32K would be fair both ways
Make a good drag racer though.. all those pesky options add weight to an already hefty eater

 

here's a VIN

WDBUF76J46A93xxxx

 

wow - thanks!
if I get the itch over Christmas - I just may do that!
so the CPO warranty is 12 months 100k miles? or up to 100k miles? (sorry, not familiar with MB CPO Warranty)

a bit of an upgrade over my Mazda 6

 

haha, "bit of an upgrade".........LOL, I like your sense of humor!
the price is high-Bramage broke it down incredibly well

 

It's the last 6 digits that are the important ones. This just tells us it is in fact a 2006 E55. With the full VIN you can get the build sheet with the exact colors and options content.

 

938996

where's the VIN lookup tool?

 

ok - so here's what I've found so far... (I'm learning, be nice)

WDB = Germany, Daimler-Benz
U =W211 E-Class
F76 = E-Series 55 Amg Passenger Car
J4 = 5.4 L Gasoline 8-cylinder
6 = model year (2006)
A = SINDELFINGEN (Assembly Plant)
production # = 938996

you guys must have special tools to lookup all the bits n stuff

 

oh - and I checked, my insurance will only go up $77/mo

 

the specs say it has COMMAND navigation - is that right on an '06?

also , how hard is it to update the NAV stuff? or am I better off with my Garmin?

 

got an EPC-net account (Free - yay!)

found these codes...




wow, pretty much like my Mazda6... I have the same bells and whistles, just no V8-supercharged (dang)

 

What you have there is the most basic E55 made. It is equipped with one option - the CD changer. Everything else listed is standard equipment on the E55. Basically, the car is a stripper.

The car is basic, non-clearcoat, non-metallic black. The interior is black nappa leather with a gray headliner.

It is not equipped with navigation, so you'll be needing that Garmin. (The Garmin is way better anyways...)

Given the major lack of optional equipment (xenon headlights, navigation, dynamic seats, cooled seats, power trunk, panoramic roof, metallic paint, keyless go) I think the car is significantly overpriced. Even if you are willing to pay a $3K-$4K premium over a 50K mile car, I'd say $32K tops. If they won't go that low, then you are better off scaring up a nice 50K mile car with a good aftermarket warranty in place and buying it for perhaps 27K.

My $.02

Oh, BTW - I owned literally the exact same car, down to the color and exact options content.

 

I wanted a car with all options, and frankly, most never get used..

The xenon hedlights are good (not great) but way better than halogen

Beyond that

Side sun shades, rarely use them
Rear Sun shade - Nice to have parked in the hot sun
Trunk closer / lock - Good
Cooled Seats - They don't do ****.. at all
Nav - Good, but Garmin of any aftermarket is WAY better
Pano - This looks great, but can creak and rattle. Every pano i have been in makes some noise, where regular sun roof is quiet.
Parking senors - I like these
TPMS - Tire Pressure monitors are a pain in the ***. lat set of wheels I bought I just did away with the sensors, and clear the notice when it pops up

In all, nothing on this list is a MUST have. The car would (as said before) be a great mod car since it as light as it gets (still a tank though)

Id buy this ($32k ish) add aftermarket Xenon (with better lenses than come stock) and then enjoy it.

Its still a $90K + car with only 20K miles. Someone ate $60K, and the motor is just now broken in.

 

 

Bare bones e55 and overpriced

 

how about this one?

who can run the VIN?

WDBUF76J66A882088

 

That is an early-ish build 2006 car (Sept. 15 2005 delivery date). Flint gray exterior over the usual charcoal interior. Options on this car are:
- Cooled seats (heated is standard)
- Drive dynamic seats
- Rear window roller blind
- Bi-xenon headlamps
- CD changer
- Keyless Go

Pretty typical option load for an AMG - Premium package + xenon lights + keyless go.

BTW, I am with the previous poster - the options really are not important or useful. The xenon headlamps are a bit better than the halogens, but nothing near a deal breaker. Keyless go and the power trunk seem to break on everybody that has them. Dynamic seats are silly, the nav system works but is long in the tooth, I can't tell if the cooled seats even do anything... You get the idea.

About the only option that is make or break is the panoramic roof. Some people gotta have it, others won't touch it. I'm in the latter group - living in the sun belt, I really don't want a glass roof.

Options content definately affects the market price of the car. But I don't find the options at all important to have. The 1st car you were looking at sounds like a great car, but it's important not to overpay due to the low options content.

 

well dang, those guys won't budge on price since they CPO'ed the car...

oh well, next in line!

anyone have some good leads on E55s in the NorCal area?