e500 02-05 buying help
Discussion
Fine cars though they are, the w211 e500 has little in common with the driving experience of the 55. They're a good 170bhp less powerful for the age of car you're talking about.
Rust can be an issue, but it's mainly cosmetic. Biggest issue will be finding a low-ownership, sympathetically maintained car.
The MB club might be a good place to start your quest.
Rust can be an issue, but it's mainly cosmetic. Biggest issue will be finding a low-ownership, sympathetically maintained car.
The MB club might be a good place to start your quest.
mickyveloce said:
Fine cars though they are, the w211 e500 has little in common with the driving experience of the 55. They're a good 170bhp less powerful for the age of car you're talking about.
Rust can be an issue, but it's mainly cosmetic. Biggest issue will be finding a low-ownership, sympathetically maintained car.
The MB club might be a good place to start your quest.
Thanks,nice user name by the way Rust can be an issue, but it's mainly cosmetic. Biggest issue will be finding a low-ownership, sympathetically maintained car.
The MB club might be a good place to start your quest.
Yes i understand they are approx 300bhp and not 470bhp but thats fine with me,i just want a roomy wafty cruiser.....ive a few other cars to think about but im in no rush to find the right car (my 156v6 is staying until next summer)
You too!
They're a pretty robust old thing. Air suspension issues can be griefy though, Estates are quite sought after amongst the cognoscenti here.
I must say I love my Alfas too, although it's a while since I've spent my own money on one. The V6 can be a wonderful device in the right hands.
They're a pretty robust old thing. Air suspension issues can be griefy though, Estates are quite sought after amongst the cognoscenti here.
I must say I love my Alfas too, although it's a while since I've spent my own money on one. The V6 can be a wonderful device in the right hands.
I bought one about 2 months ago as a commuter to keep the weather off the other wagons.
Absolutely love it - refined, poweful (enough), economical (enough) and a great companion for those motorway trips.
Mine has the light interior, sat nav, panoramic roof and keyless entry and start as the biggest extras.
Happy to answer any questions.
Absolutely love it - refined, poweful (enough), economical (enough) and a great companion for those motorway trips.
Mine has the light interior, sat nav, panoramic roof and keyless entry and start as the biggest extras.
Happy to answer any questions.
junglie said:
I bought one about 2 months ago as a commuter to keep the weather off the other wagons.
Absolutely love it - refined, poweful (enough), economical (enough) and a great companion for those motorway trips.
Mine has the light interior, sat nav, panoramic roof and keyless entry and start as the biggest extras.
Happy to answer any questions.
You are brave using a e500 as your commuter but im used to 60+mpg from my commuter Absolutely love it - refined, poweful (enough), economical (enough) and a great companion for those motorway trips.
Mine has the light interior, sat nav, panoramic roof and keyless entry and start as the biggest extras.
Happy to answer any questions.
I guess only having owned your car a couple of months you hopefully havent needed to spend anything so far but i will be using one for weekend outings only...im hopeing to get the best i can and have a decent fund set aside for servicing etc.Have you thought of doing a readers car thread?
I will at some stage.
I have always had big engined petrols as dislike the 4 cylinder diesel incarnations.
My thought process is big engine petrols are cheaper to buy, more reliable (hopefully), more refined and powerful. Fuel economy is not really the issue.
Mine had newish Sport Contact 5s, new Arnott struts all round, serviced, all little bits done (lamps etc) and nicely under £3000.
I have always had big engined petrols as dislike the 4 cylinder diesel incarnations.
My thought process is big engine petrols are cheaper to buy, more reliable (hopefully), more refined and powerful. Fuel economy is not really the issue.
Mine had newish Sport Contact 5s, new Arnott struts all round, serviced, all little bits done (lamps etc) and nicely under £3000.
junglie said:
I will at some stage.
I have always had big engined petrols as dislike the 4 cylinder diesel incarnations.
My thought process is big engine petrols are cheaper to buy, more reliable (hopefully), more refined and powerful. Fuel economy is not really the issue.
Mine had newish Sport Contact 5s, new Arnott struts all round, serviced, all little bits done (lamps etc) and nicely under £3000.
Sounds very nice,hope it serves you well and if you decide to sell drop me a pm as im only a little way away in Kent....I have always had big engined petrols as dislike the 4 cylinder diesel incarnations.
My thought process is big engine petrols are cheaper to buy, more reliable (hopefully), more refined and powerful. Fuel economy is not really the issue.
Mine had newish Sport Contact 5s, new Arnott struts all round, serviced, all little bits done (lamps etc) and nicely under £3000.
I have an E500 estate that I bought about 6 months ago. I love it. Powerful and refined. Amazing amount of car for the money.
The air suspension is really impressive although costly if it goes wrong. It is a heavy car and so suspension components, tyres and brakes will be regular consumables. SBC braking system should also be budgeted for as this has a finite life span. Big service is the spark plug change so see if this has been done in the he recent past. Gearbox ATF change will prolong the gearbox life but was not part of the scheduled servicing. Not too expensive and a good idea if you are planning to keep the car for a while.
They are usually very well specified so will have plenty of options. No ‘must have’ options but I do really like the dynamic seats on mine.
All in all. a hugely capable all rounder. However, I wonder if it is special enough for a weekend car? I think if I was in your place I would either go for the AMG or look at a something like a jag xk or quattroporte for a little more occasion. I get my fun by running an mx5 alongside the merc. The merc is my daily the mx5 my weekend fun.
Good luck with your decision and feel free to ask any questions
The air suspension is really impressive although costly if it goes wrong. It is a heavy car and so suspension components, tyres and brakes will be regular consumables. SBC braking system should also be budgeted for as this has a finite life span. Big service is the spark plug change so see if this has been done in the he recent past. Gearbox ATF change will prolong the gearbox life but was not part of the scheduled servicing. Not too expensive and a good idea if you are planning to keep the car for a while.
They are usually very well specified so will have plenty of options. No ‘must have’ options but I do really like the dynamic seats on mine.
All in all. a hugely capable all rounder. However, I wonder if it is special enough for a weekend car? I think if I was in your place I would either go for the AMG or look at a something like a jag xk or quattroporte for a little more occasion. I get my fun by running an mx5 alongside the merc. The merc is my daily the mx5 my weekend fun.
Good luck with your decision and feel free to ask any questions
Biglips said:
I have an E500 estate that I bought about 6 months ago. I love it. Powerful and refined. Amazing amount of car for the money.
The air suspension is really impressive although costly if it goes wrong. It is a heavy car and so suspension components, tyres and brakes will be regular consumables. SBC braking system should also be budgeted for as this has a finite life span. Big service is the spark plug change so see if this has been done in the he recent past. Gearbox ATF change will prolong the gearbox life but was not part of the scheduled servicing. Not too expensive and a good idea if you are planning to keep the car for a while.
They are usually very well specified so will have plenty of options. No ‘must have’ options but I do really like the dynamic seats on mine.
All in all. a hugely capable all rounder. However, I wonder if it is special enough for a weekend car? I think if I was in your place I would either go for the AMG or look at a something like a jag xk or quattroporte for a little more occasion. I get my fun by running an mx5 alongside the merc. The merc is my daily the mx5 my weekend fun.
Good luck with your decision and feel free to ask any questions
Thanks for the info,while it may not be special enough for a weekend car i need something that i can throw the dog in but have some decent oomph..if you drove a 2017 Aygo as a daily most cars would work as a weekend car The air suspension is really impressive although costly if it goes wrong. It is a heavy car and so suspension components, tyres and brakes will be regular consumables. SBC braking system should also be budgeted for as this has a finite life span. Big service is the spark plug change so see if this has been done in the he recent past. Gearbox ATF change will prolong the gearbox life but was not part of the scheduled servicing. Not too expensive and a good idea if you are planning to keep the car for a while.
They are usually very well specified so will have plenty of options. No ‘must have’ options but I do really like the dynamic seats on mine.
All in all. a hugely capable all rounder. However, I wonder if it is special enough for a weekend car? I think if I was in your place I would either go for the AMG or look at a something like a jag xk or quattroporte for a little more occasion. I get my fun by running an mx5 alongside the merc. The merc is my daily the mx5 my weekend fun.
Good luck with your decision and feel free to ask any questions
and the e500 looks great value.I have a 2004 E500 saloon that i use for commuting as well as pleasure. 12k miles per year. Awesome car if you consider it as intended: it is a luxurious cruiser, it isn't an AMG (even if you buy the AMG badges off ebay and hoon it round McDonald's, as a friend of a friend did).
Much more economical than you might think, i average 21mpg with a mix of motorway and town. A 70mph run will see a smidge over 30mpg (31mpg over a 700 mile trip i think was my best) but only town driving will see you into the mid-teens. A 1 mile drive from cold will see 9mpg average!!!
E500 well-specd as standard. I have the Harmon Kardon stereo, which is nice. Budget for a bluetooth adaptor (fits into the Nokia-shaped hole) and new Satnav disc.
16 plugs is indeed an expensive job, but easy if you buy the cranked spanner for removing the conbectors.
Also, remove the plastic engine cover and look around the spark plugs for oil - the breather cover sealant can fail and oil ends up here. DIY job to remove and reseal but time consuming i understand (i need to do mine!).
It's a barge and in comfort mode is wallowy, but in Sport2 suspension mode can be hustled round the lanes and will allow a certain amount of tail-out action before reigning it in. It is in no way a sportscar though!!! It is awesome on straights.
Much more economical than you might think, i average 21mpg with a mix of motorway and town. A 70mph run will see a smidge over 30mpg (31mpg over a 700 mile trip i think was my best) but only town driving will see you into the mid-teens. A 1 mile drive from cold will see 9mpg average!!!
E500 well-specd as standard. I have the Harmon Kardon stereo, which is nice. Budget for a bluetooth adaptor (fits into the Nokia-shaped hole) and new Satnav disc.
16 plugs is indeed an expensive job, but easy if you buy the cranked spanner for removing the conbectors.
Also, remove the plastic engine cover and look around the spark plugs for oil - the breather cover sealant can fail and oil ends up here. DIY job to remove and reseal but time consuming i understand (i need to do mine!).
It's a barge and in comfort mode is wallowy, but in Sport2 suspension mode can be hustled round the lanes and will allow a certain amount of tail-out action before reigning it in. It is in no way a sportscar though!!! It is awesome on straights.
blueveloce said:
Thanks for the info,while it may not be special enough for a weekend car i need something that i can throw the dog in but have some decent oomph..if you drove a 2017 Aygo as a daily most cars would work as a weekend car and the e500 looks great value.
It should fit the bill very nicely then and the e500 looks great value. good luck with the hunt for one.Gassing Station | Mercedes | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff