moneys

iTrader: (5)

I was going to save up and trade the hawk in next year for an M5 but i cant seem to get away from the horror stories of gearboxes and vanos systems and everything else breaking and basically writing a 20k car off if they go wrong.

So my thinking is not having to save up as much and getting myself a nice 54 or 05 plate E-class amg merc, from everything I've read, its been a lot haha, the worst that seems to happen is the suspension at a cost of no more than 2k. Ill be after the facelift, slightly, model which apparently is the late 04 year. The performance is not far off a M5 so I'll be happy there and I may even stretch the budget a bit more an go for the estate so we get 7 seats which would be handy for some days out with the ever growing family of nieces and nephews everywhere haha


So anyone any experience of these cars first hand? I like the idea of still having the big mad engine but also a bit of comfort to go with it, plus the general running costs dont put me off as at the end of the day running a scoob isnt cheap cos i think everyone of us not only pays out a fortune on fuel but also on modding each year, oh and one final thing, its 0ver £200 a year less to insure which surprised me haha

marshall332bhp

Have you considered an RS4? Sure f1-fan i think his unsername is will be along soon sure he knows these cars.

moneys

iTrader: (5)

I dont like Audi's if I'm honest, had a A4 before and I hated it, ok it was the 2ltr turbo but I just hated it, in fact i think it was the shortest time ive ever owned a car

Busterbulldog

iTrader: (1)

Have you tried out a type R Jag?

wilko_150

iTrader: (1)

I thought my impreza sounded nice till I was taken out in an e63 amg. I know it doesn't help but

marshall332bhp

Am the same with Mercs I hate them. Granted never
Driven or Been in an AMG but I just hate Mercs.

moneys

iTrader: (5)

someone i know had a c63 and i swear i had a little wee when he started it up, never have i heard a sound like it.

From what ive read though the 5.4 supercharged engine is fantastic .

moneys

iTrader: (5)

Yep, also drove a xf supercharged. dont like the jag type r and cant afford the xf without saving for longer and i dont like saving haha

thenewgalaxy

Have experience of the W210 (1999 onwards) and W211 (2003 onwards) cars.

The W210 was a car from a different era, big brute of an engine in a boggo E class with lowered suspension and fat tyres! Was something of a retrograde step from the W124 E500 IMHO. Great fun surprising motorbikes and Porsches at the lights, a great cruiser and quite able for its time but not a focussed drivers car in any way. Horrendous appetite for comsumables such as brake pads/discs, tyres and petrol but mechanically sound. Only problem we had was leaves kept getting caught in the air vents causing the cabin to mist up in wet weather, and the tracking was terrible when we picked it up and had to be corrected.

The W211 was brilliant until the M5 came along. It was brutally quick, and I mean ****-me fast. I remember sticking to the rear end of a 996 911 Turbo in one of these on the Toll and he was trying very hard to get away. Up to the speed limit of course.

The issue with these is bills bills bills. German cars of the noughties are temperamental (as I am also finding with my R32) they had a lot of electronics fitted which can play up. Things like tyre pressure sensors and door open sensors, and on ours we had a problem where it used to think the engine fan wasn't working (when it was) and occasionally would read very high engine temperatures when in fact they were absolutely normal. We also had a gearbox go, repaired under warranty - it left bits of metal down the road with little three pointed stars on bits of the casing.

I would watch out for cars that have been abused - plenty have had the opportunity to fall into the wrong hands, and I have seen plenty in the wrong hands - and get something that has been seen by a specialist or main dealer ahead of service intervals. Do not scrimp on these cars or you'll be badly bitten.

Get a good one and it'll be one hell of a car. Oh and by the way, if you thought an Impreza was bad on fuel...

SRSport

I would avoid German cars of the naughties era. Only consider current ones if as they are generally in warranty. If you are set on a Merc dont forget to check for rust as their warranties are for appearance sake only.

500

Ste, we had the CLK500 5.5 before the C63 and in the year it cost about 4k in maintanance! we looked at the E55's and E63's but decided to stay away from them. I'd say go for it if you want one but make sure it has an iron clad warranty if you do!

Have a look at the 550i, make sure it has dynamic drive though, and ideally comfort seats. we had them in the 545i and it made the car!. in 80k and 3 years Jen spent about £700 exculding tyres, even they lasted though..

sti-04!!

Was in Mercedes Glasgow a couple of weeks ago for a C63 but nearly took this as it was incredible value. Was slightly put off with the drive as i preferred the nimbleness of the C compared to it, hence why i've got the C ... anyway have a look.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/search/u...earlynew%2Cnew

moneys

iTrader: (5)

Adam. From what I've read they sorted a lot of issues out from 2004 onwards with the elec gremlins an the likes. Been trawling all the forums for weeks now an the worst that can happen is the suspension which is better than when my hg went on the hawk. I've also read that depending on the model depends on reliability issues. The e-class apparently was built very well. This is all from forums and you usually find out the worst of the issues on these as we all very well know.

Don't really want the 550 BMW as I want something a bit mental but with the ability to carry me round in comfort as the scion is not doing my back much good now haha. I'd set my heart on the m5 as well but I just can't take the risk of it all going wrong whereas the merc seems to go forever with no issues on the engine or box. I'm going to take my time sourcing one an may try for a ex owners club or one with a top warranty

Thanks for the replies so far

thenewgalaxy

If you expecting very high running costs that is fine, but you will have to expect higher running costs than an Impreza. Things like tyres on these are not £150 per corner!

I get what you're saying but if you can't afford to take the risk I would consider something else.

I assure you these cars are temperamental even if the major components are generally okay. However, if something big goes wrong on one of these it is an absolute nightmare to sort out financially. We had a gearbox go on one of these within warranty, had it happened outside I shudder to think of what the bill would have been.

moneys

iTrader: (5)

Yes I'm expecting higher running costs. Only thing I'm not sure of is servicing prices. I know tyres are 200 + an mpg can be as low as 7 or 8. I only do 80 ish miles a week an the worse comes to the worse then I get rid.

In all honesty though what else is there that has that speed an that luxury for around 10-15k

f1_fan

iTrader: (9)

Hi mate,

I know a bit about these and your research is about right. The suspension is your only real worry at that age, but do keep an eye on the bodywork as Mercedes still had bodywork issues in 2004 albeit not as bad as around the 1999/2000 years.

The running costs aren't crippling, but they are high. Budget £1K a year for a good service at an independent specialist.

The engine and gearbox are very sturdy with the only thing on the engine needing attention being the breathers which tend to age and crack.

The rear gearbox mount is usually worth replacing on a car with more than 50K as it makes it a lot smoother.

You will see 12mpg round town, but may get as much as 26/27 on a long run as long as you don't go mental.

If you want any more performance then uprated supercharger pulleys, a bigger heat exchanger, a Johnson SC pump, a map and an X pipe in the exhaust will set you back around £2K at a respected tuner like MSL in Birmingham, but you will get around 575bhp and 600 lbft of torque!

Mine is being done a in a fortnightor so's time so will let you know the results!

Not everyone's cup of tea Mercs, but if you like that sort of thing they are very nice cars, you won't be disappointed!

moneys

iTrader: (5)

Thanks, which one have you got? Some lovely spec'd ones about and ive got to say as a gimmick i love the solar panel for the air con haha. Do i need to be weary of certain mileage or are they generally ok? seen a fair few high milage ones which tells me they keep going but ideally id like a lowish mileage one, going to take my time and ideally if i could id get an estate

f1_fan

iTrader: (9)

Mine's an SL55, but very similar engine/gearbox to the E55. Was looking at E55s at one time so did some homework on them like you have done!

They do take high mileage pretty well, but when something major does go through wear and tear the bills will be big so best look for something with less than 75K on it IMO

tony de wonderful

Coupled with the fuel costs this sounds like a good way to end up bankrupt and living in a skip lol.

moneys

iTrader: (5)

Bought my scoob 18 months ago, just out of its 3 month warranty the HG went, got it uprated as well as the studs and new clutch and major service to cover my backside, then had a remap due to the head skimmed, 2k

4 new tyres £500

Full new suspension set up of tein super street coil overs and uprated arg,s and drop links 1k

other servicing costs £500

Petrol, ive actually averaged close on 25mpg

so in all apart from my actual purchase price the scoob has cost me without fuel costs 4k over 18 months.

Im looking at either getting one with one or purchasing a after market merc warranty so if that costs me 1k a year but covers my **** then i reckon a 5.4 ltr supercharged cruiser will actually cost me less to run as the insurance is also less.