blackers10

Hey guys,
I have been searching and reading threads and trawling the internet for information.. but coming up unsatisfied...

E55s are fairly thin on the ground here in Australia and even more scarce per State/capital city.

Now that these cars are 10yo would the 03 models be pretty well updated with any fixes and recalls and warranty claims for all the "dud parts" they came with ??

Would you consider them safe buying now ? (talking 80-140k km on the clock)
They go from 32k-50k AUD depending on the usual variations in year model, km and options)
Obviously a few things are going to be starting to wear out but that is just more excuses for upgrades?

Any thoughts or opinions?

Cheers
Brenden

forcefed4door

To be perfectly honest I wouldn't buy one... Best bang for bucks 05+

Ls1toAMG

Any year is good bang for the buck. I found an 04 for 15k . There isn't much difference between them. Age records and condition are much more important. A one owner car like mine is a safer bet. I found way too many 6'and 8 owner cars. Couldn't believe that.

blackers10

so there aren't really any significant pitfalls at this age/km to buying an 03 model ??

Obviously the 06 would be the best one to buy but for the extra 10-20k is it worth it?

I read about the SBC issue and I read something about some electrical issues with the body control module in the dash that can go bad in the early W211's? would this have been fixed more than likely this far on? (obviously avoiding the garage queens with minimal usage)

edgarO

I just picked up an 03 with 82k on the clock. Super clean. Have had it for about a month. So far so good. Daily drive it with no issues. I would definitely do it again.

Yacht Master

I think you are referring to ABC, "active body control" that is in the S class not E class.

Avoid the garage queen? ya spend your money on a 130.000 mile run out sun baked parking lot dinged 8 owner (2 that were younger than 20) no records, cracked leather funny smelling, modded-un modded, remodded ECU flashed lord knows how many times,TCU same as ECU used and abused 12 year old car.

I would be looking for the first or second owner enthusiast car, temperature controlled garaged kept, only Sunday driven (50 miles or less), never in the rain or snow, waxed every month. Leather fed every year, flawless paint.
100% documented service, fuel records and every mile recorded.
So a 100 point concourse car with less than 30K miles, is worth the 15%premium.

Nothing costs more than a cheap Mercedes

blackers10

I don't mean a ****box abused neglected junker..

But a car that sits in a garage or anywhere and only driven 20-40k km in 10 years is gonna have all sorts of weird problems due to lack of use. Anybody who has purchased old cars with low miles knows that.

Sosa

I agree 100%

blackers10

With who ?

Sosa

Garage queens cost more most of the time, if you buy one and decide your going to drive them often. I have bought three garage queens that all had extremely low miles and it cost me (seals dried up, carbon buildup, fuel problems from gas sitting in the lines, etc.)

Momentum123

I would gladly take the chance to deal with 22,000 mile problems for a change. IMHO there is no substitute for low miles. I have a different opinion it seems, but replacing or repairing things would be a secondary consideration for me as I was mesmerized looking at my pristine car. This is assuming the car was in near mint condition cosmetically of course. To each his own.

sexyxe

Mine is an 01/05 built 2004 model. Would buy again. Has just under 130km on it.

*knocks on wood* *fingers crossed* no issues yet.

forcefed4door

Surprised no one mentioned about the possible radiator issue in 03. Only reason I'de say 05+ would be for the minor interior change. The console sold it for me lol

blackers10

thanks guys

a radiator wouldn't be that $$ or hard to replace?

I am a DIY kinda guy so shouldn't have too many dramas.. just getting parts ex US is the painful part as the big stuff costs $$ to freight

CharlyE500

Late 05 and 06 has better handling too.

Shifter

How is this?

CharlyE500

new steering rack (from CLS)

https://mbworld.org/forums/w211-amg/...-2006-e55.html

I used to have 04 E500 and my 06 E55 handle much better...

Ls1toAMG

Depends on service records and price, over what year. Not much of a difference. FWIW I hate the sliding console in the 06, looks cheap IMO.Love my 04 console.

E55BOF

Depends whether you want the car to drive, or as a posemobile, I suppose.

Should you buy an '03? Not if you must have low running costs, quite apart from the fuel. The three major problems the W211 has are airmatic (if fitted) problems, the Valeo radiator leak issue (which will wreck the transmission if not fixed fairly quickly...), and SBC. The later cars do not have SBC, but unless it goes wrong, SBC gives you very good brakes indeed.

All of these can cost an Armannaleg to fix; the car was expensive and sophisticated when new, and maintenance costs for such a car will be just as high when it gets old. You might not need any of them fixed, but if you do, it won't be cheap...

The engines are bombproof, and (Valeo rad issue aside) so is the rest of the power train.

tobination

Mate

Bought an 03 last year - 150k km. Didn't know about radiator issue (which is that the trans oil cooler is inside radiator, lets go, trans is stuffed).

Did buncha tweaks and upgrades, 560hp on dyno, awesome. 24 hours later, trans gone. $6k later, trans rebuilt. So check the timing (pre Sept 03) of your Merc.

Other than that - this thing is a monster. Awesomely satisfying to modify and wipe smiles off pretty much anyone's face (or put them on, if watching you drive past).

Good luck.

E55BOF

My '03 now has 140k miles (224k km) on it (136k miles when I bought it). It still has a Valeo rad, but the view from a couple of pros on MB Club UK is that if it hasn't gone pop yet, it probably won't, and just to be constantly alert for any sort of transmission misbehaviour and get it checked pronto if necessary.

Yes, the 55K is something else to drive; instant, quite intimidating power delivery and crushing, relentless acceleration. You don't meet much you can't leave for dead if the need arises...