used E63 as single car at home

[Roadie79]

Mercedes sells approved E63 from around 30K. The huge depreciation made it an attractive buy. Can anyone please help with the queries

1)When travelling with family can a comfortable drive can be achieved, especially the noise levels?

2)All E63 comes with a sunroof. Can we fit a roof rack with this?

3)For a household with 50K annual income does the running cost/ potential repair cost can work out? I had an insurance quote for 711 per year, tax 540 per year. I am worried about potential fuel costs, maintenance costs(especially a service where a major component need to be changed) and repair cost.

4)The tyres cost minimum 250 per tyre. How many miles the tyres are good for? I understand it depends on driving, but for comparison please assume the car is always driven conservatively.

[popeyewhite]

Roadie79 said:

.

4)The tyres cost minimum 250 per tyre. How many miles the tyres are good for? I understand it depends on driving, but for comparison please assume the car is always driven conservatively.

I've just changed all four for £510. Internet price was £600, local tyre place promised to beat the internet and offered a £90 reduction. Goodyear Eagles. Got about 10,000 miles on the previous Pirellis which all wore massively on the inside edge. Tracking/camber/toe etc and fitting cost £90 (!), so ready to go for £600 ish.

[Roadie79]

" Internet price was £600"

Can you tell me the website please. I tried in ats euromaster and min I got was 250 per tyre

Edited by Roadie79 on Saturday 23 June 12:12

[popeyewhite]

It was Oponeo, about 9 weeks ago. Just had a quick look, prices look the same-ish - £598 for all four.

[RSTurboPaul]

Also:

Blackcircles
mytyres
Camskill
ProTyre
F1 Autocentres (who seem to have much cheaper prices when ordering online)


How much of your £50k household income is actually available to run a car with potentially high 'bork factor'?

If you're fully committed, buying a large-engined, expensive-to-fix German luxobarge probably isn't the wisest of moves in purely financial terms.

Edited by RSTurboPaul on Saturday 23 June 13:36

[mcg_]

Is the annual income of 50 before or after tax? If before, I personally wouldn't even consider it. Spend your spare money on enjoying life, not a worry on the drive.

If after tax, maybe, man maths would make it work

[dfen5]

Been looking at the same. Once I sat in the e63 that killed it for me, just didn’t like it. Felt like I was in my Vito. Monthly service plan and extend the warranty. If service not done at Merc’ you’re going to have fun selling it.

E63 you’re looking at about £890+ just for the front brakes. If you’ve got a slush fund might be worth the experience. If not, it’d be a nervous ride..

[Countdown]

mcg_ said:

Is the annual income of 50 before or after tax? If before, I personally wouldn't even consider it. Spend your spare money on enjoying life, not a worry on the drive.

If after tax, maybe, man maths would make it work

I agree with you but, playing Devil's avocado, to some people spending money they can only just afford on something like an E63 IS enjoying life - horses for courses

[popeyewhite]

dfen5 said:

If service not done at Merc’ you’re going to have fun selling it.

My last E63 I sold privately and no one was bothered the service history was part specialist. Think times have moved on a bit. Provided you're out of the warranty period (and even within with some), it's just a full history people are after.

[ZX10R NIN]

Comprehensive history from a specialist will be fine, running one doesn't have to be super expensive when it comes to parts (the engine/drivetrain is pretty much bulletproof) as long as you shop around.

Comfort will be fine the big expense will be fuel depending on your annual/type of journeys you do will be anything from 14-33mpg.

[Pistonheader101]

How many in the household? Any dependents?

Are you looking to keep the e63 short term or long term?

[Angpozzuto]

If you need to worry about the cost of maintenance it's probably not a good idea to run a high end car. It's a £70k+ car expect the bills to reflect that

Edited by Angpozzuto on Saturday 23 June 17:18

[sparks_E46]

I don’t know the specifics of your situation but you haven’t divulged a lot, but put simply if two people earn £25k each, 9 times out of 10 an E63 or similar will be a car one or two pegs above your station. I can easily see it costing £2-£3k a year in maintenance alone. We earn around £40k between us pre tax and there have been months where near payday we have barely a pot to piss in, and we have no kids!

Can you do with an E350 or something similar? I’d love an M3 or M5 but I know my £1500 take home wouldn’t cut it, so I settle for a 330ci knowing it’s a car I can comfortably run. Like I said I don’t know the full specifics of your living costs/outgoings, but that’s my take on it.

[ZX10R NIN]

If you want a V8 family saloon then why not look at the E500, it has a 5.5 N/A with just under 390bhp has more sensible running costs than the 63 & they're cheaper to buy but are a lot more rare.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Or if it has to be a 63 go for the N/A 6.2 version with sensible miles buy a warranty & drive that.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Also look at the Jaguars they have some very good performance saloons for sensible numbers:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

[Roadie79]

Just to clarify. We are a couple with one kid and income 50k is after tax.

[sparks_E46]

Roadie79 said:

Just to clarify. We are a couple with one kid and income 50k is after tax.

Still not convinced it’s the right decision but you could always sell it.

[AAD44H]

YOLO, I would say its affordable, my only concern is that you say you are worried about certain costs, if you are worried then I probably wouldn't buy it as you cannot enjoy a car if all you do is worry about it!

[Roadie79]

Thank you everyone for the suggestions so far. I think the common opinion is against the expensive car. However, if I go for a Merc it has to be e63. It looks like I have to look into a different brand. Jaguar is suggested, but I wouldn't want one because of the reliability issues.

[Pistonheader101]

Roadie79 said:

Just to clarify. We are a couple with one kid and income 50k is after tax.

In all honesty id say go for it. Depreciation will be minimal - lower than leasing a bog standard German car.

[Roadie79]

AAD44H said:

YOLO, I would say its affordable, my only concern is that you say you are worried about certain costs, if you are worried then I probably wouldn't buy it as you cannot enjoy a car if all you do is worry about it!

Costs per year

Insurance 711
Tax. 550
Service. 1000?
Petrol for approx 8000 miles 2000 approx

Almost 4k per year. That is actually doable if not faced with an unexpected repair bill in thousands