bbirdwell

100,000 mile (162,000 kilometer) major maintenance on my W211 E55. I'm of the school of thought, "replace it before it breaks leaving one stranded on the side of the road 200 miles from the nearest dealer". I performed all work on the rear of the car but took it to an independent Mercedes mechanic for the front-end work.

Final determination of failure modes already underway:
-Bad ball joints on front thrust arms (both sides ~0.3mm movement plus dry sockets)
-Worn front control arm bushings (ball joints okay)
-Worn rear control arm outboard bushings
-Rear air springs leaking

Work performed:
-Arnott air springs on all four corners. $1900
-Rear control arms. $500
-Front thrust arms and control arms. $400
-Motor mounts and transmission mount. $110
-KMac bushings, all four corners, purchased from forum member, $540
-Tires to replace the ones destroyed by bad bushings and ball joints. $740
-Alignment. $110
-Labor for front end and mounts. $1650 (No way I was going to attempt to replace those motor mounts!)
-Replace cracked rear wheel. $400
-Replace rear toe arm. $50

Total: approximately $6400.

Ls1toAMG

This a big bill all at one time. Sorry. Should be good to go for years though

eightyseven

At least yours was at 100K!

This past December At 30K my Airmatic struts in the front failed while my wife was parking. She drove the car about 50 feet while the fenders were stuck on the front tires.

I used to run 255/35-19 on SL65 wheels which are pretty wide, and they got caught on the fenders. So I needed to get new fenders.

$3000 for KW V2 coil-overs, LCAs, STAR coding and install (I don't want to worry about it ever again)
$350 for new tranny gasket, sensor and fluid (because leak apparently... at 30K)
$200 brake flush
$200 coolant flush

$1200 installed for new Michelin Pilot Super Sports (in slightly thinner sizes 245/35-19 and 275/30-19. No more rubbing!)

$500 for deductible for new fenders ($5000 job total, shop replaced front bumper too at my request due to torn mounts)

These cars are not cheap to keep up!

e500slr

How does it feel now with all the upgraded stuff? At least you can have piece of mind for "a little while" as Ls1toAMG said.

bbirdwell

I can probably best describe it as "less slop"; car tracks more accurately on the highway and in curves and it just feels "firmer". I didn't realize how loose everything was until I got it back on the road with the new parts installed.

The alignment was fine when checked under static load, but under dynamic conditions, the wheels and tires were moving forward and backward and toe was moving between positive and negative. Inside and outside edges of 3 of the 4 tires were just being ripped off in chunks.

I do anticipate driving it 60,000 miles or so before going back in to swap belts, pulleys, and fuel filter.

I really do like driving this car.

realien

I think I'm in for that suspension work, rear bottoms out after a few days (comes back) but they are leaking, and car feels "raggedy" to drive over rough roads or small pot holes, like I have no shocks, assume thats a bunch of worn out parts.

Bean93x

I wouldn't go 60k on a pair of belts.. Maybe 30k tops. Even less if you really like to step on it.

Ls1toAMG

Belts are cheap. Replace every 2-3 oil changes.

e500slr

Well at least your car drives better now. I think that's one of the aspects of buying a high mileage "supercar", they get cheaper but the maintenance gets WAY more expensive.

SL65amg

Agreed, the 113k cars are so awesome but very expensive to fix...I feel your pain also...my 2005 SL 55 is in the shop now and my bill will be total over $10k or more not sure yet...lot of stuff done but it needed it badly....I budget about $15,000 per year for fixes/repairs/maintenance/etc.. and it still shocks me how expensive it all adds up to be...but when I step on the gas and I feel that power from all the upgrades/mods and that very loud FI V-8 sound it does help me feel better....lol.....

e500slr

$15k a year.....isn't a little too much. I know you ment you put it aside, not necessarily actually equating to that much but honestly if a car got up to $10k in maintenance a year I'd sell it and RUN!!