W211 AMG Discuss the W211 AMG's such as the E55 and the E63
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just bought an 03 e55

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Old 03-22-2017, 07:38 AM
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C32 AMG
just bought an 03 e55

hey yall.. used to be around here alot with my cla45...sold that awhile ago and now have an 03 e55 amg...

paid decent money for it.. 3 owners no accidents 85k miles...

i am going to take it to mercedes dealer to get a used car inspection before i do anything crazy...

from just a week of browsing i am thinking new heat exchange, ic pump, tune, and pulley and that is pretty much the only things i have planned as far as performance goes...

will definitely have fun with appearance stuff too

any major things YOU think i should know about like asap?

the dash says service F is due in 6500 miles.

is it safe to mod this car starting at 80k miles with those relatively lighter mods?

i would expect it to run 50k miles on those mods without any major issues...is this out of the question
Old 03-22-2017, 08:32 AM
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2005 E55 | 1968 Road Runner
Congrats and welcome. Post some pics if you have time.

Before modding begins, I would suggest (as many others here have with members before) to do a compression or even a leak-down test to see how healthy she is. Get all maintenance up to date and then begin modding.

As for mods, I like your list. If I were to add one thing, it would be headers. It's the single mod that goes the furthest with these cars in my opinion.

Good luck!
Old 03-22-2017, 06:27 PM
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2005 e55 AMG
Get an external trans cooler or swap out radiator if it has not been done. There known "radiators" for leaking into the trans.
Old 03-22-2017, 06:44 PM
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2012 E63 AMG
Originally Posted by dblock110
i would expect it to run 50k miles on those mods without any major issues...is this out of the question
Hmmm... I bought my '06 E55 17 months ago. It had 137k miles and I have added over 25k miles since then. It's my daily driver.

New control arms
New ball joints
New suspension (went with Strutmasters)
New alternator
New radiator
Pads and rotors
New fuel tank and fuel pumps (under warranty!)
New double idler pulley
Plus ordinary stuff like both batteries, tires, major service (plugs and fluids), etc.
Some other minor issues like a thermostat and welding a crack in the exhaust.

Every time I drop another thousand on this car, I think "Okay, it should be good to run 20k miles with no more issues." I was so confident I paid for a new head unit and amp, too.

Still driving it. Waiting for that magic period when it doesn't keep sucking up $$$ like a sailboat.

Every mechanic who has seen the car, including the dealer, has said, "This car was very well maintained."

Last edited by Blade Canyon; 03-22-2017 at 06:46 PM.
Old 03-22-2017, 08:42 PM
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2005 CL55 (sold) C63 Coupe 2012 p31(sold) Audi 330awhp E55 511WHP(sold)Z06C6 550whp C63 LTH
Originally Posted by Blade Canyon
Hmmm... I bought my '06 E55 17 months ago. It had 137k miles and I have added over 25k miles since then. It's my daily driver.

New control arms
New ball joints
New suspension (went with Strutmasters)
New alternator
New radiator
Pads and rotors
New fuel tank and fuel pumps (under warranty!)
New double idler pulley
Plus ordinary stuff like both batteries, tires, major service (plugs and fluids), etc.
Some other minor issues like a thermostat and welding a crack in the exhaust.

Every time I drop another thousand on this car, I think "Okay, it should be good to run 20k miles with no more issues." I was so confident I paid for a new head unit and amp, too.

Still driving it. Waiting for that magic period when it doesn't keep sucking up $$$ like a sailboat.

Every mechanic who has seen the car, including the dealer, has said, "This car was very well maintained."
Was that a MB warranty for the fuel pump and tank?
Old 03-22-2017, 10:03 PM
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2004 E55.98 SS Camaro.Jetta TDI. Expedition
Originally Posted by Blade Canyon
Hmmm... I bought my '06 E55 17 months ago. It had 137k miles and I have added over 25k miles since then. It's my daily driver.

New control arms
New ball joints
New suspension (went with Strutmasters)
New alternator
New radiator
Pads and rotors
New fuel tank and fuel pumps (under warranty!)
New double idler pulley
Plus ordinary stuff like both batteries, tires, major service (plugs and fluids), etc.
Some other minor issues like a thermostat and welding a crack in the exhaust.

Every time I drop another thousand on this car, I think "Okay, it should be good to run 20k miles with no more issues." I was so confident I paid for a new head unit and amp, too.

Still driving it. Waiting for that magic period when it doesn't keep sucking up $$$ like a sailboat.

Every mechanic who has seen the car, including the dealer, has said, "This car was very well maintained."
Man, bummer. I have gone 2 years 10k miles I'm at 95k and have been problem free. Added headers pulley tune etc. besides front tires oil change and Sbc fluid change all timed maintenance it's been great
Old 03-22-2017, 10:41 PM
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Eurocharged Performance ML63 and TT lambo
you will be fine modding, just as indicated do the proper maintenance and check compression and leak

I can hook you up with mods if needed. Let me know
Old 03-22-2017, 11:50 PM
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E63, 300GD
Congrats on the new addition. I miss my old E55. Great cars.
Old 03-23-2017, 09:06 AM
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E63 AMG 2007
Blade Canyon: "Still driving it. Waiting for that magic period when it doesn't keep sucking up money like a sail boat."

Very funny...still waiting myself. But loving it none the less.
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Old 03-23-2017, 09:12 AM
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2012 E63 AMG
Originally Posted by alenpepic
Was that a MB warranty for the fuel pump and tank?
Yes, it was a free replacement, and the dealer gave me a loaner for the whole time they had the car.
Old 03-23-2017, 09:58 AM
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2012 E63 AMG
Originally Posted by Ls1toAMG
Man, bummer. I have gone 2 years 10k miles I'm at 95k and have been problem free. Added headers pulley tune etc. besides front tires oil change and Sbc fluid change all timed maintenance it's been great
Well I'm hoping to go 10k miles before the next service, and that will include a coast-to-coast round trip from NC to California two months from now.

Anyone want to recommend some good audio books?
Old 03-23-2017, 11:09 AM
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'99 and '05 E55 AMG
So I do not have to type it again...

https://mbworld.org/forums/w211-amg/...ml#post7081784

And as Hulk added, "Perform a compression test".

PM me your email address.
Old 03-24-2017, 11:50 AM
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E55 C63
You will love your E55! They are awesome cars and very easy to modify. E63 conversion makes them a real head turner too!

One thing to note on your 03 is that it has the pre-revised radiator which can cause coolant to get into the trans. Thats bad juju.

As far as performance mods go, if youd like to just give it a little extra pep checkout our
Stage 0 Power Package
we consider it basically a factory Update.

If youre looking for a little more there the

Stage 1 Power Package


That will take care of the heat exchanger aswell!

Feel free to PM us if you have any questions
Old 03-25-2017, 09:37 PM
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C32 AMG
didn't know about that radiator issue until your post... is that bad ? is there a permanent solution ?
Old 03-25-2017, 11:55 PM
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'99 and '05 E55 AMG
Originally Posted by dblock110
didn't know about that radiator issue until your post... is that bad ? is there a permanent solution ?
Replace the radiator with the upgraded version.
Old 03-29-2017, 06:28 AM
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04 E55
Some people are luckier than others with maintenance. I have done fuel pumps, and then I broke my clock spring and steering angle sensor 'doh!' whilst I had my headers out and steering column disconnected. Besides that it had just been basic stuff. No more than any other car with a good service history. I am now FBO and love it.
Old 03-29-2017, 12:42 PM
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2003 Mercedes E55 AMG
I got mine for 7500 2 owner car and have the vehicle history report ..... I kinda lucked out I think with mine. this is how I got it

just over 100k
New bridgestone tires
New brake pads and new frt rotors
New fuel pumps, filters, wiring, fuse, and relay (MB warranty they did it 2 weeks before i got it and warranted til 2018)
New passanger manifold
New transmission MB reman and torque converter less than 10k ago
New rear air springs less than 10K ( I removed it all and converted to the arnott air to coil conversion best thing ever no more airmatic probs)

Things I have done
New nissens radiator
New alt
New tune up NGK plugs and new wires
New supercharger oil
New trans flush and filter (didnt need it was a precaution)
New eurocharged tuned TCU and ECU
77mm clutched pulley
New VRP heat exchanger
New bosch 010 pump
Belt wrap kit
New drivers side inlet tube
New arnott air to coil conversion
An need to do the SBC accumulator ( will be doing myself as Im a tech $105 part)
Gunna do the front lower control arms they are showing their wear

These cars are amazing cars even by todays standards they still turn heads and will kill most anything on the street. I mean of course there are faster cars but these cars are extremely fast even now adays stock .... modded even more so

Last edited by E55amg0220; 03-29-2017 at 01:09 PM.
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