W211 AMG Discuss the W211 AMG's such as the E55 and the E63
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04 e55 250k miles: chance it?

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Old 07-27-2018, 03:30 PM
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2004 E55
04 e55 250k miles: chance it?

I have been wanting to buy a e55. My partner is a licensed car broker gave word of a 2004 e55 with a clean title up for sale. Details given so far, 250k on the clock, currently slammed suspension, clean title, service soon engine light active. The car has been at this dealer only auction for 2 weeks with no bids. I can bring it home for $2200 + tax/fees if I dare. This is a repo that is running. If the car is still there this next Tuesday I will take a look. But for now, any insigh would be appreciated.
Old 07-27-2018, 03:38 PM
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C300 sport 2008
Originally Posted by joeysE55
I have been wanting to buy a e55. My partner is a licensed car broker gave word of a 2004 e55 with a clean title up for sale. Details given so far, 250k on the clock, currently slammed suspension, clean title, service soon engine light active. The car has been at this dealer only auction for 2 weeks with no bids. I can bring it home for $2200 + tax/fees if I dare. This is a repo that is running. If the car is still there this next Tuesday I will take a look. But for now, any insigh would be appreciated.
my 0.02, you’re a fool if you buy it!
Old 07-27-2018, 04:19 PM
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2019 Jeep Trackhawk, 2002 CLK55, 2014 911 Carrera
Will this be your sole daily driver? If so, then NO.

If you are buying an extra car to play around with, or you at least have a backup car you can drive, then it may be worth considering. What condition are the body and interior in? What are your plans for the car?
Old 07-27-2018, 05:13 PM
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2004 E55
Will not be a daily. A luxury hot rod on the cheap. Picture I have included is all I have so far.

Old 07-27-2018, 05:56 PM
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2019 Jeep Trackhawk, 2002 CLK55, 2014 911 Carrera
Do you have the option of seeing it run, or at least scanning for stored codes? The high mileage would not scare me off (I take my 220k mile CLK55 to the dragstrip about twice a month), but if the engine is burning oil or if the transmission has stored codes I might think twice, even at that price.
Old 07-27-2018, 05:57 PM
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2005 Mercedes E55 AMG
1) Repo - A broke kid couldn't afford the car. Which usually means they couldn't afford the maintenance on it either.

2) Mods - I see the car has a hood emblem delete, aftermarket steering wheel and pedals. These are cheap mods and although aren't performance related still indicates the car was raced around.

3) Mileage - 250k miles on any car is high, especially a hot rod that's been owned by a bum and you don't know the history.

4) Market - I bought my 2005 E55 with 120k for $8k.

"For these reasons..... I'm out"
Old 07-27-2018, 07:40 PM
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2005 E55 AMG
S h i t ...$2200. That’s a cheap weekend of tire burning fun. I say run it til the engine gives up.
Old 07-27-2018, 08:01 PM
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2001 E320 Wagon, 2006 LBZ Silverado, 2007 E63 (sold), 2001 E55 (sold)
I'd buy it for sure at that price and just beat on it until it died. It'd be easy enough to do a partial part out at that point and make your money back.
Old 07-27-2018, 08:50 PM
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2005 E55 AMG, 2017 E400 Wagon, 2018 C350e hybrid
If you're mechanically inclined, and don't mind a bit of a project, that's probably a great deal. If you would need to take it to a shop or dealer for all repairs, it's probably a money pit and not worth fixing it up (unless you just want to beat on it until it stops going).
Old 07-27-2018, 11:23 PM
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2004 E55
$2200 is starting to look like a gamble worth taking. I am mechanically inclined, mostly American vehicles, capable. The car runs, service engine soon light in effect, no code reader allowed in auction grounds.
Old 07-28-2018, 12:29 AM
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2005 E55 AMG
Originally Posted by 03renntechamg
2) Mods - I see the car has a hood emblem delete, aftermarket steering wheel and pedals. These are cheap mods and although aren't performance related still indicates the car was raced around.
The emblems are cosmetic. The steering wheel is $800-1000. The pedals are OEM upgrades.

Check it out in person. Doesn't look like its in too bad of shape, by the pictures. If the car runs and drives fine, then why not? These cars are extremely robust. I see 80s BMWs with 200k+ driving around regularly, these are certainly more reliable than those cars.
Old 07-28-2018, 08:52 AM
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2004 E55
I will not be able to drive the e55 (auction rules). I will be able to start and inspect as much as possible in person. Tuesday or Wednesday should be the day of inspection.
Old 07-28-2018, 09:50 AM
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As long as you're willing to part it out, it's not a huge gamble. Of course the transmission could be shot, the engine could be shot, or the suspension could be broken -- all of which put it at losing odds vs a 150k-mi E55.
Old 07-28-2018, 04:17 PM
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Is it slammed or have the air bags collapsed?
Old 07-28-2018, 05:29 PM
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I'd absolutely pull the trigger on it.

It's really clean and even if it needs a new motor, you'd still only have about $7500 in a clean E55
Old 07-28-2018, 05:32 PM
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Not much downside - people spend more than $2,200 just on headers.
Old 07-28-2018, 05:51 PM
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2004 E55
I haven’t seen the car in person yet. I have heard that the car was slammed. Going to bring a scanner with me.
Old 07-29-2018, 10:05 PM
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2005 E55
I’m going to bet within 3 years or 40k miles you’ll be into $7k+
Old 07-30-2018, 07:40 AM
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05 E55, 98 CLK320
That's super cheap but it will probably be in ****ty shape. Def a fun project car if you like wrenching.
Old 07-30-2018, 07:41 AM
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05 E55, 98 CLK320
Originally Posted by Hotsauce55
I’m going to bet within 3 years or 40k miles you’ll be into $7k+
I'm 7k in on mine and it was already in "good" condition, I bought it a year ago for 14.5k. Granted a lot of it was in mods and work done at mechanics that I could have done myself in hindsight.
Old 07-30-2018, 07:52 AM
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07 E63 AMG, 10 C63 AMG, 07 E63 Designo, 07 E350, 09 C300, 07 C230
The way I see it, this could either be a terd, in which case will cost your tons of money to address its many issues now and in the future.
Or could be a jewel, that just needs some TLC. But the choice is yours, and yours alone. But I would take some advice from those that own E55's.
Old 07-30-2018, 08:05 AM
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'06 E55 K2
I say go for it! This will be a testament to the next chapter in the car's life to determine what wears out next and what components are still strong\healthy. You could blog it on YouTube and share it with the world along the way, which would be a valuable resource for all owners after all the cars are not getting any younger.
Old 08-01-2018, 08:05 PM
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E55 2006 / CLS55 / S450 / Jag XKR2011
Originally Posted by MACEDON
I'm 7k in on mine and it was already in "good" condition, I bought it a year ago for 14.5k. Granted a lot of it was in mods and work done at mechanics that I could have done myself in hindsight.
I bought mine almost 10 years ago other than regular maintenance brakes, tires, oil, filter, I only spent $2000 (ABC brake, water pump brake switch, valve gasket and CPS). Plus about $2K to convert coilover so no suspension issue at all. My car has 115K miles now !
Old 08-01-2018, 08:35 PM
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2005 E55
Originally Posted by CharlyE500
I bought mine almost 10 years ago other than regular maintenance brakes, tires, oil, filter, I only spent $2000 (ABC brake, water pump brake switch, valve gasket and CPS). Plus about $2K to convert coilover so no suspension issue at all. My car has 115K miles now !
I am over $10k in 3 years
150k miles
your day will come
Old 08-03-2018, 07:10 PM
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E55 2006 / CLS55 / S450 / Jag XKR2011
Every car will need repair just matter of time. Even Toyota and Honda will have problems after 100K miles.
And my CLS55 for the last 3 years only oil and filter change.


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