Mercedes E55 AMG Kompressor Estate 2004
Discussion
Well after many years of lurking around here I thought it was time to share some pics of my current daily love. Ive always been a hopeless car addict from very early years and started off being from Essex with Fords of course. My love for Sierra Cosworths was strong for many years and I owned multiple examples of 3 doors, saphs, a few Escort Cosworths and a beautiful Sierra RS500 Cosworth when they werent a million pounds. I dont keep my cars long and progressed very quickly through BMW M3s, M5s, Audi RS4 B5, Audi RS6 C5, Williams Clios, Focus RS - just about anything that was quick and cheap! Not that alot of that list are cheap anymore of course.
With the family growing as they do I stumbled upon a Mercedes E Class estate, a 2001 E320 CDi with 7 seats, alot of toys and a fair bit of rust that I bought for around £700. Despite it being a little wafty it was a fantastic family car and soon became an essential part of family life with 3 kids and everything that brings with it. There is also always appeal from driving a car that your not too obsessed with keeping immaculate, the odd dent and knock was acceptable and soon became part of her charm! However being obsessed with fast soon led me to the AMG version. I purchased a 210 series E55 AMG estate only a few years back and was really impressed from the off, old school grunt, handled like an old desk, supremely practical and comfortable. Joining the AMG forums of course led me to the 211 series E55 AMG Kompressor, the newer, faster, sleeker, better handling version of my old bus. I test drove a really nice Tectite Grey (?) saloon and knew i wanted one but didnt want to give up my estate so the wait began for the right car.
She had 157k miles on her and a service history that makes you think yep im happy to take a punt on this one. Sometimes as soon as you speak to certain car owners you know your going to be happy to buy and this was one of those situations, a Mercedes enthusiast that cared.
The current car you see here is actually my 2nd obsidian black e55k estate, I sold the first one for all the wrong reasons in only a few hours of it being advertised and instantly regretted it. A brief fling with a 211 E320 CDI estate led me back to this... but for the money there fantastic old family wagons and if you get a good one you will never look back. The AMG version is of course totally unnecessary, in E320 CDI estate format it does 95% of what the AMG does for a fraction of the cost but hey, we only live once right?
On to my daily - a 2004 E55 AMG Kompressor Estate. Harmon Kardon, command, keyless go, heated/cooled/massage/dynamic seats, heated rear seats, 7 seat option cargo seats, dvd, sat nav, electric tailgate and of course THAT engine. The 5.4 supercharged V8 is the greatest thing since Mr Hovis thought I know ill slice that loaf up ready for you. Grunt, torque, noise, surging relentless performance - ok a bit a drink problem ( i average around 12-15mpg). The LPG conversion almost put me off this particularly car but the previous owner assured me it was a good thing and wouldnt dampen the experience. 65p a litre cant be bad when your avergaing 12mpg, it doesnt feel quite as right on gas as it does on Super and switches back to petrol when your really pushing on but for everyday use its fine. So far in 6 months I have added 4k wonderful miles, shes eaten a pair of rear tyres and a battery and is coming up due a service.
I recently added a low mileage 986 Boxster S as a fun car but I seem to find myself reaching for the keys to my '55' more often than the Porsche...
previous owners must have really looked after her, 160k miles and still looking soooo good...
shiny...
school run - earning her keep...
thats an entire ensuite shower room in the back right there...
big ass brakes...
pretty little Boxster S, the story of the rhino and the wasp.
With the family growing as they do I stumbled upon a Mercedes E Class estate, a 2001 E320 CDi with 7 seats, alot of toys and a fair bit of rust that I bought for around £700. Despite it being a little wafty it was a fantastic family car and soon became an essential part of family life with 3 kids and everything that brings with it. There is also always appeal from driving a car that your not too obsessed with keeping immaculate, the odd dent and knock was acceptable and soon became part of her charm! However being obsessed with fast soon led me to the AMG version. I purchased a 210 series E55 AMG estate only a few years back and was really impressed from the off, old school grunt, handled like an old desk, supremely practical and comfortable. Joining the AMG forums of course led me to the 211 series E55 AMG Kompressor, the newer, faster, sleeker, better handling version of my old bus. I test drove a really nice Tectite Grey (?) saloon and knew i wanted one but didnt want to give up my estate so the wait began for the right car.
She had 157k miles on her and a service history that makes you think yep im happy to take a punt on this one. Sometimes as soon as you speak to certain car owners you know your going to be happy to buy and this was one of those situations, a Mercedes enthusiast that cared.
The current car you see here is actually my 2nd obsidian black e55k estate, I sold the first one for all the wrong reasons in only a few hours of it being advertised and instantly regretted it. A brief fling with a 211 E320 CDI estate led me back to this... but for the money there fantastic old family wagons and if you get a good one you will never look back. The AMG version is of course totally unnecessary, in E320 CDI estate format it does 95% of what the AMG does for a fraction of the cost but hey, we only live once right?
On to my daily - a 2004 E55 AMG Kompressor Estate. Harmon Kardon, command, keyless go, heated/cooled/massage/dynamic seats, heated rear seats, 7 seat option cargo seats, dvd, sat nav, electric tailgate and of course THAT engine. The 5.4 supercharged V8 is the greatest thing since Mr Hovis thought I know ill slice that loaf up ready for you. Grunt, torque, noise, surging relentless performance - ok a bit a drink problem ( i average around 12-15mpg). The LPG conversion almost put me off this particularly car but the previous owner assured me it was a good thing and wouldnt dampen the experience. 65p a litre cant be bad when your avergaing 12mpg, it doesnt feel quite as right on gas as it does on Super and switches back to petrol when your really pushing on but for everyday use its fine. So far in 6 months I have added 4k wonderful miles, shes eaten a pair of rear tyres and a battery and is coming up due a service.
I recently added a low mileage 986 Boxster S as a fun car but I seem to find myself reaching for the keys to my '55' more often than the Porsche...
previous owners must have really looked after her, 160k miles and still looking soooo good...
shiny...
school run - earning her keep...
thats an entire ensuite shower room in the back right there...
big ass brakes...
pretty little Boxster S, the story of the rhino and the wasp.
Edited by RossOCD on Friday 10th January 09:22
BrettMRC said:
Very nice OP!
Be intresting to know how they hold up with that sort of mileage? I've been looking for lower mileage ones, but if they are a good prospect with higher mileage then thats worth knowing
From what ive experienced they hold up very well, engines are allegedly bomb proof. Issues tend to arise around the complicated SBC brake system and air suspensions struts but neither are as expensive to fix as they once were. Theres quite a few on 200k plus and one on youtube on 400k miles plus i believe. There a bit of a performance bargain at the moment in my opinion! Be intresting to know how they hold up with that sort of mileage? I've been looking for lower mileage ones, but if they are a good prospect with higher mileage then thats worth knowing
Ah man, thats awesome. I wanted a fast estate a few months ago but just didn't have the balls to get something like this, i nearly did but the prospect of saving a little bit of money won over and i decided to get my first more modern car, a Golf R Estate and whilst its fast and massively capable, it doesnt have a big stonking V8!
I do around 1k a month, sometimes more so i dont feel so bad hearing you're getting 12-15mpg but the itch is definitely still there!
I do around 1k a month, sometimes more so i dont feel so bad hearing you're getting 12-15mpg but the itch is definitely still there!
scottos said:
Ah man, thats awesome. I wanted a fast estate a few months ago but just didn't have the balls to get something like this, i nearly did but the prospect of saving a little bit of money won over and i decided to get my first more modern car, a Golf R Estate and whilst its fast and massively capable, it doesnt have a big stonking V8!
I do around 1k a month, sometimes more so i dont feel so bad hearing you're getting 12-15mpg but the itch is definitely still there!
Yeah i sometimes think I should move with the times but i paid less than £7k for this and it sounds soooooo good... plus i have a soft spot for ropey old high milers I do around 1k a month, sometimes more so i dont feel so bad hearing you're getting 12-15mpg but the itch is definitely still there!
d_a_n1979 said:
Superb car OP; very jealous 
These are on my want list for when I start looking at selling my current BMW touring and move onto another... Audi's leave me cold, but the Merc estates with the big V8s in them really appeal
I had a C5 RS6 estate and a B5 RS4 estate, both great cars that I enjoyed but I never LOVED them... I do generally prefer rear wheel drive though.These are on my want list for when I start looking at selling my current BMW touring and move onto another... Audi's leave me cold, but the Merc estates with the big V8s in them really appeal
RossOCD said:
I had a C5 RS6 estate and a B5 RS4 estate, both great cars that I enjoyed but I never LOVED them... I do generally prefer rear wheel drive though.
The main issue for me is that I don't fit in them well; the're a weird design inside and being 6ft 4 and wide with it, they're not comfy. A pal has an RS6 and the drivers position, for me, is terribleI've sat in a few Mercs though and they're very good.. Like you, an E55 AMG would need to be the estate for me; they look the best IMO
djtom said:
Cracking car - I have one too, few more miles than yours though and just about to hit 170k. Mine's also a lot less shiny! Sounds like you got a bargain there at under £7k, that's one of the cheapest I've ever seen.
Yeah i was surprised at how cheap it was, id never seen an estate at that money. I sold my previous black estate for nearly £5k more!! Only half the miles of this one though. Glad to hear there are more knocking about with proper mileages like yours, have you had it long?d_a_n1979 said:
The main issue for me is that I don't fit in them well; the're a weird design inside and being 6ft 4 and wide with it, they're not comfy. A pal has an RS6 and the drivers position, for me, is terrible
I've sat in a few Mercs though and they're very good.. Like you, an E55 AMG would need to be the estate for me; they look the best IMO
Yep im a big lump, Merc definitely the comfiest of that era of supersaloons/estates for me... I love the practicality of the estate, there doesnt seem to be anything it cant manage. It has the boot seats but my 9 year old twins are getting to the point where there a bit big for them and they would rather sit in the 'normal' back seats but I prefer the estate still like you say! I've sat in a few Mercs though and they're very good.. Like you, an E55 AMG would need to be the estate for me; they look the best IMO
LetsTryAgain said:
I have the E200, 2003, really like it.
This looks an absolute beauty and must sound emmense!
We do a run down to Paris most years, ive done it in all sorts of different cars from Range Rovers, E39 M5, RS4, Toyota Verso (dont ask!!) and actually one of the best was my 2004 180k mile E320 CDi estate, paid about £1200 for it and it was fantastic, swallowed a family of 5, suitcases, food and a plastic 6 foot christmas tree, did 1k miles, averaged about 45mpg, comfortable and pokey enough to overtake and feel great at speed. Im a big fan of the 211 E class This looks an absolute beauty and must sound emmense!
RossOCD said:
Yeah i was surprised at how cheap it was, id never seen an estate at that money. I sold my previous black estate for nearly £5k more!! Only half the miles of this one though. Glad to hear there are more knocking about with proper mileages like yours, have you had it long?
I’ve had it for two and a bit years now, bought it at 157k with zero service history for just over £5k. Brave pills needed - at the time it was under half the price of the next cheapest one in the country! That nearly put me off even going to see it, but when I did I found it was being sold by the owner of a specialist Porsche garage. He’d used it as a daily for a couple of years after someone traded it in, but never received the history that the tradee promised him. He’d had his mechanics service it regularly but as it was through his business he didn’t have invoices etc. Seemed kosher so I bought it, and glad I did!
Only one issue to date where I had to replace one airmatic strut, otherwise it’s been great.
I’m going to LPG it this summer - I’ve got a kit but am waiting for the weather to warm up a bit first. Think I’m doing a bit better than you on fuel (19mpg avg over 12k miles with lots of short runs), but it’d be nice to spend less on fuel!
I love it, it’s an absolute weapon. Super comfortable but rocketship quick and it makes the best noise.
Edited by djtom on Friday 10th January 20:00
I don't have any real knowledge of LPG (but I am a truck mechanic, so majority diesel work obviously) but I wouldn't recommend running a nice car that you may have to sell in the future on it.
It just can't be good for the engine; medium to long term.
If Mercedes could have sold these where they owners could fuel them for half the price, they would have.
It just can't be good for the engine; medium to long term.
If Mercedes could have sold these where they owners could fuel them for half the price, they would have.
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