RE: You Know You Want To: Mercedes E55 AMG (W210)
Discussion
405dogvan said:
what do you mean,i can afford £100 a week in fuel but would not to have a 14 year old car as a main car,fair enough if you always wanted this merc to use now and again,but its nothing special, to keep for that purpuse
I've got to reiterate what others have said - not every car is for driving to the end of the earth and back - you cannot even begin to understand man maths with your mindset either
I've got to reiterate what others have said - not every car is for driving to the end of the earth and back - you cannot even begin to understand man maths with your mindset either
To give you an idea of overall costs.
I bought a car with continuous history 1998 97k lots of specialist history. It is rusty on the front and rear wings. The fronts need replacing but I'm in no hurry. I paid 2700 for it. I then spent probably 2200 but got for my troubles new bushes, new discs and pads, full service in spark plugs and 4 new conti sport tyres. Nothing has gone wrong with it for the last 18months and it goes like a train. The ultimate station car but goes to show that even using an indy costs add up quickly if you get into brakes etc.
I don't regret spending that money in the slightest and am keeping it for the forseeable.
I bought a car with continuous history 1998 97k lots of specialist history. It is rusty on the front and rear wings. The fronts need replacing but I'm in no hurry. I paid 2700 for it. I then spent probably 2200 but got for my troubles new bushes, new discs and pads, full service in spark plugs and 4 new conti sport tyres. Nothing has gone wrong with it for the last 18months and it goes like a train. The ultimate station car but goes to show that even using an indy costs add up quickly if you get into brakes etc.
I don't regret spending that money in the slightest and am keeping it for the forseeable.
I had one new in 1998 @ £60K 
Kept it for about a year - it was always back in the dealer's for something -
1/running on 7 cyliders
2/engine cutting out if you drove over a speed bump ( diagnosed as a loose electronic "key" )
3/ Major problem in the top end on start up causing lots of clattering noises from the valve train ... Dealer claimed there wasn't much wrong with it !
4/ Collecting service for 3/ scraped the nearside sill/doors on a low wall while loading it onto a transporter.
Sold it after 3/ and 4/ were fixed for £42K
3 pointed star ? - Never again ...
Kept it for about a year - it was always back in the dealer's for something -
1/running on 7 cyliders
2/engine cutting out if you drove over a speed bump ( diagnosed as a loose electronic "key" )
3/ Major problem in the top end on start up causing lots of clattering noises from the valve train ... Dealer claimed there wasn't much wrong with it !
4/ Collecting service for 3/ scraped the nearside sill/doors on a low wall while loading it onto a transporter.
Sold it after 3/ and 4/ were fixed for £42K
3 pointed star ? - Never again ...
405dogvan said:
I can't fully describe how much more I want the E500 (tho I'd rather have a 500E for sheer kudos value and I suspect there's something badly wrong with that one anyway) than any W210 or later E - other than by placing those things on opposite ends of a very, very, very long line...
Even in Silver - because the original owner specced the interior to contrast with it to perfection - tho I'd take a black one ideally. The front wheelarches alone should be in a gallery...
I blame Droughty...
If it's a black 500E you're after....: http://www.ccbenz.co.uk/?page_id=1554Even in Silver - because the original owner specced the interior to contrast with it to perfection - tho I'd take a black one ideally. The front wheelarches alone should be in a gallery...
I blame Droughty...
Putting aside the rust issue, these are extraordinarily reliable and relatively simple cars. The engine is bullet proof, it really is. The only thing that ever goes wrong on the motor is the crankshaft position sensor and the MAF. The transmission likewise, so long as you get the updated diagnostic plug connector fitted and/or attend to any leak therefrom immediately (leak is cured by updated connector). They don't have much in the way of electronics compared to a car of today. They have steel springs and passive shocks (which will need replacing by now but that is not the car's fault).
Now think about the weaknesses of its supercharged successor, the W/S211 E55 K AMG. Those would be the supercharger, the airmatic suspension and the SBC brakes, none of which afflict the 210. The only downside to the 210--apart from the rust--is that any car on sale today is highly likely to have a long list of backlog suspension maintenance. They're at least 10 years old and most of them have had a tough 100,000miles. Inevitably all the bushes and mountings are knackered: again, not the car's fault.
Car Magazine to my surprise preferred the 210 E55 AMG to both the E39 M5 and the Alpina B10 and the preference was expressed in absolute terms, not it terms of it being a better all rounder. Key to this is the very surprising lack of weight.
The estate is obviously the one to go for. Not only is it more stealthy but it is also an extremely fine estate car.
Now think about the weaknesses of its supercharged successor, the W/S211 E55 K AMG. Those would be the supercharger, the airmatic suspension and the SBC brakes, none of which afflict the 210. The only downside to the 210--apart from the rust--is that any car on sale today is highly likely to have a long list of backlog suspension maintenance. They're at least 10 years old and most of them have had a tough 100,000miles. Inevitably all the bushes and mountings are knackered: again, not the car's fault.
Car Magazine to my surprise preferred the 210 E55 AMG to both the E39 M5 and the Alpina B10 and the preference was expressed in absolute terms, not it terms of it being a better all rounder. Key to this is the very surprising lack of weight.
The estate is obviously the one to go for. Not only is it more stealthy but it is also an extremely fine estate car.
Love these. I heartily disagree with the article on the subject of looks. IMO, Mercedes styling went downhill after this era. The late '90s-early '00s CL is a personal favourite of mine.
I still have the issue of Automobile comparing the E55 to the e39 M5 and XJR. The M5 was (somewhat inevitably) chosen as the winner, but it was the Merc that I lusted after the most.
If I could afford parts, I'd have one in a heartbeat.
ETA: It was the January 1999 issue of Automobile. They reckoned the M5 was best, the E55 came in 2nd, while the XJR was last.
They cited the E55 as having "lifeless steering" and "harsh" suspension. The Jag is criticized as having "featherweight steering that lacks feedback and brakes that are just okay". Even in America in 1999 they called the design "dated" and complained about its lack of stability control and rear-side airbags.
I still have the issue of Automobile comparing the E55 to the e39 M5 and XJR. The M5 was (somewhat inevitably) chosen as the winner, but it was the Merc that I lusted after the most.
If I could afford parts, I'd have one in a heartbeat.
ETA: It was the January 1999 issue of Automobile. They reckoned the M5 was best, the E55 came in 2nd, while the XJR was last.
They cited the E55 as having "lifeless steering" and "harsh" suspension. The Jag is criticized as having "featherweight steering that lacks feedback and brakes that are just okay". Even in America in 1999 they called the design "dated" and complained about its lack of stability control and rear-side airbags.
Edited by bobberz on Thursday 18th October 21:54
The rusty model I nearly bought had 175,000 miles on it and drove pretty much without fault.
The 63,000 mile example I own, though, just feels more taught (no surprise there!) and sounds better. There's a 'whoosh' from the engine at low speeds, gradually opening up to a Spitfire-like bark when really on it.
The later supercharged replacement, as correctly pointed out, can suffer from serious problems and was, to me, a far riskier bet in terms of maintenance costs. The later ones, I believe, are better.
But there's something so appealing with a big-cube naturally aspirated V8. When it powers an estate body, even better.
The 63,000 mile example I own, though, just feels more taught (no surprise there!) and sounds better. There's a 'whoosh' from the engine at low speeds, gradually opening up to a Spitfire-like bark when really on it.
The later supercharged replacement, as correctly pointed out, can suffer from serious problems and was, to me, a far riskier bet in terms of maintenance costs. The later ones, I believe, are better.
But there's something so appealing with a big-cube naturally aspirated V8. When it powers an estate body, even better.
I got rid of a W140 S500, the electronics risk was too high, kept a W126 500 sel as it much more simplistic/agricultural/reliable as you wish. Enjoyed C43 for a while but found it too small for the power but it was probably me not settling to the car, it was rusting though.
Have had a E39 540iA Touring for a couple of years, very good, very reliable and cost effective means of carrying on old used car ownership.
Favourite is the RS2 - galvanised like the BMW and not a problem vehicle over 8 years.
Any old car from an expensive model range is a huge risk, thats why they are cheap.
I will not buy modern, tin boxes when superb old cars are around.
ditto - didn't buy new but had 2 mercs of this era one being an E210 and the other a CLK 430 build quality an absolute joke at any level let alone for a 'quality' car...let me down on all levels, thirsty and not even fast and then gave up the gearbox finally...how true 'never again the 3 pointed star...'
GranCab said:
I had one new in 1998 @ £60K
Kept it for about a year - it was always back in the dealer's for something -
1/running on 7 cyliders
2/engine cutting out if you drove over a speed bump ( diagnosed as a loose electronic "key" )
3/ Major problem in the top end on start up causing lots of clattering noises from the valve train ... Dealer claimed there wasn't much wrong with it !
4/ Collecting service for 3/ scraped the nearside sill/doors on a low wall while loading it onto a transporter.
Sold it after 3/ and 4/ were fixed for £42K
3 pointed star ? - Never again ...
Kept it for about a year - it was always back in the dealer's for something -
1/running on 7 cyliders
2/engine cutting out if you drove over a speed bump ( diagnosed as a loose electronic "key" )
3/ Major problem in the top end on start up causing lots of clattering noises from the valve train ... Dealer claimed there wasn't much wrong with it !
4/ Collecting service for 3/ scraped the nearside sill/doors on a low wall while loading it onto a transporter.
Sold it after 3/ and 4/ were fixed for £42K
3 pointed star ? - Never again ...
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