BC928

Thanks again for your comments.

Its my car. I bought it for a bit too much at a dealer seeing the VMI with replaced airmatic in the front, new brakes, *extremely* clean, nearly unused interior - all that.

It doesn't have the distronic or side sunshades, but has the moving headlights, rear shade, dynamic seats, ect.

I bought it for my wife. I love the idea of her driving around 500hp. I am a Porsche guy - I am not faint of heart on buying expensive replacement parts.

BUT... TWICE the car has been down while I wait for replacement parts. And not just for a few days. She notices this when she is NOT driving *her* car because I have to fix it.

The oil lines blew. I spent 1500 dollars on all the front end rubber for coolant and oil - saying to myself "I will do this right, no more failures on this system" I did it right. All new parts, including consumables like lock pins and seals for the coolant line hard-ends.

That is how I work.

Then the fuel sender starts leaking. She can't fill it up full, which makes her nervous (I know, but that's the way it is).

950 in parts for that (doing that job this weekend) for both sides, new seals, new spin-cap so its all new pieces with new exit hose.

Last week, driving around a coworker, the pass-side shock goes. OKay, fine. Look at prices. Look at the vmi - THIS WAS REPLACED AT 47K. Other side at 57k I think.

Thinking - "I don't want this system to be a problem" - I look at PSS9 and all new front wear items. 3500 dollar question now.

So... I owe about 22k. So I stick a airtragic shock in and sell it with all the new fuel units installed? What is it worth with? Without?

I love this car. Its the family saloon (Sedan for those of you not married to a brit) But Jesus H Christ - Do I fold in my soul and get her a Honda accord that I hate driving?

Anyway. TMI for you people here. Money - can't take it with you - but there is something to be said for making sure you aren't wasting it. 5k in the first year and I haven't been able to modify it yet.


Or... Other than the stupid brake by wire - is this the last real system to be a problem?

Rob CL

FWIW, I found my '05 E55 with 24k on the clock (single owner) for about $20k. No dist/park/pano/side shades, but with logic/dynamic & pulse, rear shade, keyless go, etc.

BC928

But if it DID have a clean carfax, would it have been higher priced? That could be flipped for quite a bit for a quick fix.

SPatykAMG

Ya it was underpriced even with the issue. If I remember similar cars at the time ranged from 20-25. Although it still would not make much of a flip car since that will always be on its title even though it is not a current issue.

BC928

Wow. Any "Sitting too long" age issues? This happens on Porsches. Rubber, fluids, etc. Can be solved, obviously, but sometimes adds up as well.

Interesting.

SterlingE55

I'm with you. Cars that sit scare me.

SterlingE55

First I've heard of the oil lines being an issue. I feel like once you replace the crapmatic with coilovers you'll have covered the big stuff. Go with an Arnott strut if you do keep the airmatic. I do feel like these cars are either perfect or a nightmare. Doesn't seem to be much of an in between.

Rob CL

The dealership had it in on consignment for a while (buddy sale) but it wouldn't move at the original asking price. So the dealer bought the car, drove it once a week. Now, it's easy enough to say this, however as they were a high-end dealer (Morgan, Maserati, Porche, etc.) I was inclined to believe them.



I made sure to get a full service history from the Merc dealer nearby (the car stayed local). Everything looked on the up-and-up. The only issue I had was with the OE battery. It had never been replaced, and that put my charging system into a tailspin.

Other than that, the car has been a gem!

Hsg08

.

Damn. That was a steal!! The car is barely breaking in with that mileage.

skyhook

Hello All, this is my first post.
I purchased my car in September for $13k from a Mega Dealer in my state. It is a 2003, with no major options; it has 91k on the odometer.
At the time of the purchase there was just two W211 AMGs for sale that I know of in my state. (Washignton). The other one was a 2004 with 84k and the dealer would not budge below the asking price of $18,000.
So far, I have had no major problems (Thank God).
I still shake my head recalling the first time I smoked some Rice. A Honda and an Acura tried to beat from a light.
Instinctly and unknowingly, I left them a whole city block behind in a whirl of smoking fury-And I did not even have
my foot planted all the way down on the accelerator!
The E55 is the ultimate Q Ship and worth every penny..

60nomad

That is cheap and it has pretty much the only options that you would 'need'. I would have settled for a car with just keyless go and sunshade but wanted more. How long ago did you buy your car and you bought it from a dealer for that price?? Is it PINK? LOL

cetialpha5

What's the used car warranty like in your state? When I bought my car, I found out that 3 of the keyless door handles didn't work. The sales manager refused to fix it, but I talked to the GM and he covered it after I pointed out that the state law covers everything regarding use and safety, but doesn't cover appearance items. He ended up taking it to the Mercedes dealer and they paid $1500 to replace all 3 handles. If he had refused, I was just going to replace the driver side one, they're $150-$200 each depending on the color and about 1/2 hour to replace, I think they list for around $300 at the dealer. There's a long thread about it somewhere on here.

60nomad

Don't really know the law here but my buddy is going to scan it and be sure that the handle is the issue...95% it is! Then he will handle it for me along with a couple of other things.

SterlingE55

He will handle the handle....

boostiality

Just an FYI for anyone whose looking for low mileage 2006



$24,995 / silver / 49,000 miles

http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-s...83995925&Log=0


2006 / 43,000 / $22,725

http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-s...86697764&Log=0

BC928

Well, there you go. Real for sale prices. I only buy SoCal cars but someone not concerned over rust or corrosion these are great options.

60nomad

That's ridiculous as I sell old muscle cars and have seen rotted cars in the west and never rotted cars in the east! Don't get me wrong, for the most part, the western cars are usually good solid pieces. but it's just like the 40k mi amg and the 100k mi amg, many of the 40k mi cars have never been touched and needs everything to be serviced or repaired and the 100k mi car was owned by a fanatic and it has had everything done and needs nothing. Same with rotted cars, taken care of in NY and they are fine. I have a 1960 caddy that I bought out of PA (worse than NY) and it is 100% original and amazing! Just some actual and true scenarios!

pchuon

Thats an ok price. I wouldnt say its a deal or a rip off. For that price you should expect everything to work. Make sure you get a prepurchase inspection by a mercedes tech. Im looking at a car right now and its actually at benz dealership on a lift right now. They've already found an issue with the SBC unit. Luckily they are replacing it free of charge due to the open recall. They've also spotted a slight leak with the valve cover gasket and told me that the ball bearings are at a monitor stage. Once the SBC is replaced i am having the tech check all the other crap that usually breaks on the vehicle.