getze55

Hey guys,

Thinking of pulling the trigger on a 06 E55 and need to know if theres anything I should look out for? Any issues I should be aware of when these AMG cars get closer to the 100k area?

looking to put some money out for mods, not to put money out for any surprises.

Thanks
kerry

skylinrcr01

Well, first of all this has been covered at length, do a search. Second of all, this is a high performance german luxury sedan, it's going to have issues, and they are going to be expensive. SBC is going to need attention if it hasn't gotten it yet, the airmatic shocks are most likely on their way out if they haven't been done, gaskets are going to start going bad, probably will need a trans service if it hasn't been done.

Make sure you pour over the service records and see how well it has been maintained and that it has had all of its service.

cetialpha5

Yeah, save your money for surprises. Depends on the options you have, noise from pano/motors, bad keyless go door handles/shifter, lots of other maintenance items. But yeah, airmatic and SBC are probably the two biggest items, then there's lots of smaller items.

bbirdwell

Fuel pumps, fuel filter/pressure regulator, fuel pump relay, O-ring seals on the tank, $1000 plus labor. Must be done every 60,000 miles or you will find your car shutting down in rush-hour traffic while you are traveling in the fast lane at 70 mph. Good luck finding a safe place to pull over with a dead engine. On the bright side, if you let the relay cool for 15 minutes, it will restart long enough to get you another 5-10 miles....

Plan on rebuilding the entire suspension (ball joints, bushings front and rear plus tie rods front) at 90,000 to 100,000 miles, $1000 plus labor.

Plan on replacing all air springs by 100,000 miles, $2,000 plus labor.

Plan on belts and pulleys as soon as you buy it; $435 if you do it yourself and rebuild the supercharger idler pulley; $950 if you buy a new supercharger idler pulley.

Spark plug wires and plugs at 100,000 miles, $230 plus labor.

Scattershield for the supercharger clutch. $110 now or trash your oil cooler for big bucks in heavy traffic. Think of it as insurance.

Get a Xentry or Star system to work on your car...you'll need it.

I really, really like my '05 E55 but I've learned lessons through the school of hard knocks; replace parts *before* they break! It's expensive, but not as expensive as being on the side of the road just after you flipped the bird at the Banditos on the Harley-Davidsons....

Edit: flex couplings and center bearing and support for driveshaft plus motor mounts and transmission mounts. $550 plus labor. Do NOT buy the cheap motor mounts. You'll just have to replace them as I am doing....

Davednconfused

Not sure if these prices aren't really too bad, or I've owned too many expensive cars...

RikTT

Bonus if the car comes with 3rd party warranty or if you're willing to purchase one. All depends on previous owner use & upkeep

StarvingArtist

Nicely covered. Oh, and don't forget tires. Every merc I've bought so far has needed new shoes.

getze55

Thank you guys so much!! I had a 04 E55 before but it was back in 2008 and i never had any issues.


It will be my everyday driver but i have only 10-20 min commutes and it will be my grocery getter. I will not be beating the car or driving it on long trips. I usually only put about 5-8k miles a year.


I keep going back and forth from a 06 E55 or a 2011 E350. My budget is $18k.

Thanks again
kerry

Here's a pic of my 04 when i had it, and yes that's me clicking a 180 over it off a jump ramp. I had 20' DPE's on it and my favorite were the 19' CLS55 wheels painted gloss blk.

skylinrcr01

Well, for reliability and gas mileage, I would go the E350 route. If I didn't have a motorcycle gas would be killing me, obviously you will be lacking in the power department, but that's not that big of a deal.

getze55

Yeah I'm definitely pulling more towards the E350 cause of the gas. I'm sure running to the gas station a ton will bum me out after a while.


Just wish I could lower the E350 as easy as lowering the E55 with lowering links. Most springs I see available for the E350 don't drop the car enough. Hate to have to put out $1k for another 1' drop.

StarvingArtist

If you don't get the amg, you'll wish you did. It's a gamble either way. The 350 could develop worse problems. At least an amg is worth fixing. If it comes down to money, make more.
Love the photo!
I think people who fly through the air are more suited to drive an amg. Just one opinion.

getze55

I hear yah!! I'd love to make more money but I'm a stay at home dad right now and work from home. I adopted 3 of my nieces and nephews and my wife and i had our first 2 children this past year. Went from 0-5 in less then 3 years time. Things are a hectic and I'm a very busy full time dad so I'm trying to avoid a car that will cost me tons of money in a year or 2. Like i said before, it will be my grocery getter and a car to pick up my kids from school and take them to dr appointments.

I just have a really bad modding problem. The mod disease!
Of course I wanna drop the car to have it sit right on top of the tires and to throw on some nice wheels, and maybe some exterior body mods.

looking to buy a car next week, so i'll check out all the service history and buy with caution.

Thanks guys for all your help.
kerry

AKnight55

You only live once get the Amg