Advice on 1999 e55
Discussion
Fancy a change of car and really think I need to scratch the v8 itch. There is a e55 for sale described as "MINT" with the following work carried out
New Power Flow Exhaust From Cats Back With life Time Guarantee Cost £650, Superchip Fitted With Remap Cost £300, Full Service With New Radiator Cost £450, New Water Pump, Thermostat, Idlers & Belts Cost £250, Full Gearbox Service New Filters & Gaskets Cost £250, New Discs Pads & Brake Master Cylinder Cost £600, Two New Front Tyres Continental Contisportcontact 235/40R18Y (7mm Tread) Cost £250, Rear Tyres Pirelli PZero Rosso 265/35R18Y N/S/R (7mm) O/S/R (4mm).
Seems to me that major stuff has been recently seen to, but I'm wondering if there is anything else I should be looking out for / cash amount I should keep in reserve for fixing things. Only do around 4-5k miles a year so petrol is not a problem.
Are these a rewarding drive, or more autobahn cruiser? Either this or a e39 530/535i. Got around £5k to spend.
Ta
New Power Flow Exhaust From Cats Back With life Time Guarantee Cost £650, Superchip Fitted With Remap Cost £300, Full Service With New Radiator Cost £450, New Water Pump, Thermostat, Idlers & Belts Cost £250, Full Gearbox Service New Filters & Gaskets Cost £250, New Discs Pads & Brake Master Cylinder Cost £600, Two New Front Tyres Continental Contisportcontact 235/40R18Y (7mm Tread) Cost £250, Rear Tyres Pirelli PZero Rosso 265/35R18Y N/S/R (7mm) O/S/R (4mm).
Seems to me that major stuff has been recently seen to, but I'm wondering if there is anything else I should be looking out for / cash amount I should keep in reserve for fixing things. Only do around 4-5k miles a year so petrol is not a problem.
Are these a rewarding drive, or more autobahn cruiser? Either this or a e39 530/535i. Got around £5k to spend.
Ta
Rust is your main enemy.
Check wings, front spring perches, all around the inner wings, in the boot behind the trims, especially down in the wells and behind the bumper.
Doors and sills can rust as well.
Mechanically they are a strong car. The handling isn't as neutral as the E39 is, but they are rewarding to run as a daily driver.
Check wings, front spring perches, all around the inner wings, in the boot behind the trims, especially down in the wells and behind the bumper.
Doors and sills can rust as well.
Mechanically they are a strong car. The handling isn't as neutral as the E39 is, but they are rewarding to run as a daily driver.
V12 AMG said:
Rust is your main enemy.
Check wings, front spring perches, all around the inner wings, in the boot behind the trims, especially down in the wells and behind the bumper.
Doors and sills can rust as well.
Mechanically they are a strong car. The handling isn't as neutral as the E39 is, but they are rewarding to run as a daily driver.
Thanks for the advice. Advert claims it is rust free and the guy owns a garage so he says he has kept it in good condition. Seen a rather lovely e38 735i which I'm quite tempted by too. £2k cheaper as well which could be kept in the bank for kaboom moments.Check wings, front spring perches, all around the inner wings, in the boot behind the trims, especially down in the wells and behind the bumper.
Doors and sills can rust as well.
Mechanically they are a strong car. The handling isn't as neutral as the E39 is, but they are rewarding to run as a daily driver.
Full service and a radiator for £450??? that sounds way WAY too cheap.
a B service is around £400 on its own. Oil alone is should be over £100! Make sure the plugs have been changed on time, there are 16 of them and they are a b
d!! another £400 at an independent dealer.
Suspension parts can easily mount up in price so listen out for knocks and woolly handling. Wishbones on my CLK55 were £190 each + fitting.
IMO its a totally different car to a 7 series. 5 is more alike but 535/735 is also massively down on the power you'd get from a decent E55. Drive both if you can and you'll quickly see. It's like comparing a 535 and an M5.
They are awesome cars but go in with your eyes wide open, they cost money to keep on top of the Mtce. I have a C32 currently and have just been quoted £1200 for a service, all filters and 2 suspension bushes. My CLK went in for a B service and a check over, £2200 thank you!! As such there are a lot of abused ones out there, check SH like a hawk! Good luck!
a B service is around £400 on its own. Oil alone is should be over £100! Make sure the plugs have been changed on time, there are 16 of them and they are a b
d!! another £400 at an independent dealer.Suspension parts can easily mount up in price so listen out for knocks and woolly handling. Wishbones on my CLK55 were £190 each + fitting.
IMO its a totally different car to a 7 series. 5 is more alike but 535/735 is also massively down on the power you'd get from a decent E55. Drive both if you can and you'll quickly see. It's like comparing a 535 and an M5.
They are awesome cars but go in with your eyes wide open, they cost money to keep on top of the Mtce. I have a C32 currently and have just been quoted £1200 for a service, all filters and 2 suspension bushes. My CLK went in for a B service and a check over, £2200 thank you!! As such there are a lot of abused ones out there, check SH like a hawk! Good luck!
S3_Graham said:
Full service and a radiator for £450??? that sounds way WAY too cheap.
a B service is around £400 on its own. Oil alone is should be over £100! Make sure the plugs have been changed on time, there are 16 of them and they are a bd!! another £400 at an independent dealer.
Suspension parts can easily mount up in price so listen out for knocks and woolly handling. Wishbones on my CLK55 were £190 each + fitting.
IMO its a totally different car to a 7 series. 5 is more alike but 535/735 is also massively down on the power you'd get from a decent E55. Drive both if you can and you'll quickly see. It's like comparing a 535 and an M5.
They are awesome cars but go in with your eyes wide open, they cost money to keep on top of the Mtce. I have a C32 currently and have just been quoted £1200 for a service, all filters and 2 suspension bushes. My CLK went in for a B service and a check over, £2200 thank you!! As such there are a lot of abused ones out there, check SH like a hawk! Good luck!
Thanks for the reply. The guys who is selling it owns a garage so I reckon the prices quoted are for parts only, and he has not factored his time in. Think I'm edging towards the 735i as its £2k less and I want to waft rather than hammer it everywhere. Rented an RS Camero in the states. 6 litres of V8 fun but you never get to put it down on the road, and then had an Infiniti SUV which was a lovely place to sit and you drove everywhere in a relaxed fashion. Made me switch my views on driving styles, and think its best to get a track toy for the silly stuffa B service is around £400 on its own. Oil alone is should be over £100! Make sure the plugs have been changed on time, there are 16 of them and they are a b
d!! another £400 at an independent dealer.Suspension parts can easily mount up in price so listen out for knocks and woolly handling. Wishbones on my CLK55 were £190 each + fitting.
IMO its a totally different car to a 7 series. 5 is more alike but 535/735 is also massively down on the power you'd get from a decent E55. Drive both if you can and you'll quickly see. It's like comparing a 535 and an M5.
They are awesome cars but go in with your eyes wide open, they cost money to keep on top of the Mtce. I have a C32 currently and have just been quoted £1200 for a service, all filters and 2 suspension bushes. My CLK went in for a B service and a check over, £2200 thank you!! As such there are a lot of abused ones out there, check SH like a hawk! Good luck!
We've owned a 2000 E55 for 5 years. They're great cars with a bulletproof engine.
As said above, rust is your main enemy. I've seen some truly awful examples around. I imagine many have been cheaply resprayed to sell and the rust in those instances WILL reappear.
I note the rear tyre make. We recently replaced the Pirellis on the rear of ours. They're terrible in the wet when cold and not brilliant in the dry when cold. When I say this, I mean they wheelspin easily. It's a lot of fun but I've had many frustrating moments when I've gone to accelerate out of a junction and didn't quite get away as cleanly as I'd intended.
Watch the gearbox for poor changes as these 'boxes need their oil changing.
Dodgy electrics, especially with the rear lights, have plagued the two W210's we've owned over the past 12 years.
And find a good specialist. One who knows the E55 model well. Servicing needn't be too costly but you'll reap the rewards of having it maintained properly.
Ours regularly returns nearly 30mpg on motorway trips. They are a car of two halves. On one hand, they're great cruisers with loads of torque, but on the other they're exhibitors of the AMG split personality and they wake up when prodded. The throttle has a 'typical' (according to a Chris Harris video I once saw) wooden feel to it where it initially feels flat but push further and it comes alive.
As said above, rust is your main enemy. I've seen some truly awful examples around. I imagine many have been cheaply resprayed to sell and the rust in those instances WILL reappear.
I note the rear tyre make. We recently replaced the Pirellis on the rear of ours. They're terrible in the wet when cold and not brilliant in the dry when cold. When I say this, I mean they wheelspin easily. It's a lot of fun but I've had many frustrating moments when I've gone to accelerate out of a junction and didn't quite get away as cleanly as I'd intended.
Watch the gearbox for poor changes as these 'boxes need their oil changing.
Dodgy electrics, especially with the rear lights, have plagued the two W210's we've owned over the past 12 years.
And find a good specialist. One who knows the E55 model well. Servicing needn't be too costly but you'll reap the rewards of having it maintained properly.
Ours regularly returns nearly 30mpg on motorway trips. They are a car of two halves. On one hand, they're great cruisers with loads of torque, but on the other they're exhibitors of the AMG split personality and they wake up when prodded. The throttle has a 'typical' (according to a Chris Harris video I once saw) wooden feel to it where it initially feels flat but push further and it comes alive.
Edited by SimesJH on Thursday 15th October 13:21
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