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03-04 E55’s - Why The Bad Rap

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Old 06-09-2018, 04:56 PM
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2005 E55 AMG, 1991 MR2
Originally Posted by thtguy
You guys realize any 03s with bad rads would have been replaced by now 15 yts later
You hope. Low mileage very slow leaking ones are around.
Old 06-09-2018, 05:05 PM
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04 E55 AMG
Originally Posted by Strigoi
My E63 will blow the tires off for as long as I want with ESP off. I've never had ESP kick in when it's turned off.
with an ECU tune this will go away.
Old 06-09-2018, 05:06 PM
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04 E55 AMG
Seat belt chime

Also if I remember correctly the seatbelt chime wasn't on the 03-04 models only the 05-06. You can disable this feature in star though.
Old 06-09-2018, 06:11 PM
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Early 05 to me is best. AMG pedals were standard along with 200mph speedo. Not all 05 have the newer center non clamshell console, only late 05s. I prefer the clamshell. Also early 05s can easily do burnouts.
Old 06-12-2018, 11:24 AM
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'95 S320
If the radiator hasn’t been replaced at 125k, is there still a compelling reason to replace?
Old 06-12-2018, 03:04 PM
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2003 Mercedes E55 AMG
I love my 03 an nvr had a problem what so ever with it
Old 06-12-2018, 03:53 PM
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2005 E55 AMG, 1991 MR2
Originally Posted by XFXDX
If the radiator hasn’t been replaced at 125k, is there still a compelling reason to replace?
If you have an 03 with a valeo then piece of mind would be about the only reason and they are not hugely expensive for you guys in the US. It's not likely to leak now but not all of them started immediately after manufacture and as far as anyone knows it might be slowly contaminating the fluid already. You only know if you regularly test for glycol or experience failure.
Old 06-12-2018, 07:30 PM
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87 Grand National; 2006 e55
Hey all....newbie here, but longtime lurker. Fyi, I looked at a few 03's in my hunt. I eventually got an 06, but in reference to the 03 radiators, two of the 03's I looked at had the original Valeo radiator. I tested one of them with glycol test strips.....tested at 6%. Not good. Apparently they are still out there.

Just something to consider. It may be worth buying the test strips if your looking at 03's.
Old 06-13-2018, 01:39 AM
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'95 S320
Thanks! Is the damage done with ANY seepage, or what? I mean, if you have a car at 6% and you flush the trans, and install a new radiator, where does that leave you?
Old 06-13-2018, 01:43 AM
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CLS55
From what u recall it causes th3 clutch packs to fail. Not sure about exposure to damage correlation
Old 06-13-2018, 03:06 AM
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2005 E55 AMG, 1991 MR2
Originally Posted by XFXDX
Thanks! Is the damage done with ANY seepage, or what? I mean, if you have a car at 6% and you flush the trans, and install a new radiator, where does that leave you?
It dissolves the friction material on the clutch discs in the clutch packs. So exposure over a period will gradually lead closer and closer to failure and a rebuild. The glycol will enter the transmission fluid over I am guessing a somewhat long time but I doubt anyone knows exactly how much is required and for how long it takes with different contamination levels. I don't know about specific percentages except that is a lot. I would avoid any car with any detectable level. If I had a car with contamination I would swap the radiator, flush the transmission fluid and hope for the best while saving for a rebuild (been there, done that).
Old 06-13-2018, 09:17 AM
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'95 S320
That’s what I’m worried about. Just placed an order for the test strips... let’s find out if there’s any anti-freeze in the ATF.

Now, if I’m not mistaken there’s no dipstick on these cars. I see the red cap covering what looks like a dipstick tube, but no dipstick... or, am I in the wrong spot?

How will I take a sample of the fluid?
Old 06-13-2018, 03:52 PM
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2005 E55 AMG, 1991 MR2
Yes there is no dipstick, just order one from fcpeuro or even eBay. There are two dipstick holes. One obvious one in front with large red plug is for engine oil. The transmission one is further down the firewall behind the engine and has a plastic clip that needs to be broken off to gain access, it can be red or black.
Old 06-13-2018, 06:50 PM
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W210 DRFT BNZ
Originally Posted by Alex L
'03 are the fastest. Especially in silver.
Old 06-15-2018, 07:04 PM
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Originally Posted by Hotsauce55
I think biggest things are 03-04 rads can leak into tranny & slower steering rack?

other differences like rear axels, center consoles, few other things I’m sure
lol all this talk about 03-04 rads leaking and transmission failure

I blew my 2005 transmission at 65k and had to have a full rebuild
Old 06-16-2018, 01:43 AM
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Originally Posted by £ C43 £ AMG £
lol all this talk about 03-04 rads leaking and transmission failure

I blew my 2005 transmission at 65k and had to have a full rebuild
right... what was the cause of your failure?
Old 06-17-2018, 03:15 PM
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Originally Posted by XFXDX


right... what was the cause of your failure?
A few hundred burnouts and a fair amount of drifting.. Also ended up breaking the differential
Old 06-17-2018, 09:03 PM
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2005 E55
For the couple of guys saying a TCU tune allows for an 05/06 full burn out with ESP off, is that from experience or word of mouth? I was told from DTK that the what ever the burn out preventing ESP function is actually resides in the ABS Module and TCU tunes/changes do not get rid of it. An 03/04 ABS module has to be installed and re-vinned to your car.

Any experience with getting a TCU tune then being able to do burn outs or just second hand info?

Thanks
Old 06-17-2018, 10:32 PM
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CLS55
I never had problem doing burnouts skids or donuts in my cls55 2005 with or without tcu tune
if u bounce off rev limter in 1st as it tries to change gear it cuts power coz the wheels spinnin at diff speeds from what i cn tell. This doesnt happen if i keep the car straight during burnout but i usually hook second gear anyway.
Old 06-17-2018, 10:44 PM
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Originally Posted by Alex L
'03 are the fastest. Especially in silver.
Obviously
Old 07-20-2018, 06:32 PM
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2005 C55 AMG (sold), 2005 E55 AMG
Later (05 and 06?) cars also have the diff cooler and extra oil cooler under the heat exchanger, which can be annoying if you're planning to upgrade to a larger heat exchanger. Not sure when they added these coolers, but my 05 has both and my friend's 04 does not have the finned diff cooler

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