E55K AMG Estate

[Mike finch]

Hi there
i am new to the site today and was wondring if anyone had any advice on buying a used E55K AMG Estate, as i am looking at buying a sporty but smooth riding estate for around £25k -£30k.
What should i look out for ?
What are they like to own from a cost pont of view servicing etc.
I will try and test drive one during the xmas break, but any info. would be greatly appreciated.
I have had an E320 CDI Avantgarde saloon - 06 plate, and thoroughly enjoyed the car,but this was a lease car.

Mike

 

[Bolide]

Welcome... There have been lots of similar threads on here recently so have a good trawl through them. There's also plenty of experience of the AMG models here on the Forum

Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

 

[Uncle Benz]

The supercharged V8 is a beautiful thing to experience, but these cars do cost quite a bit more to run than your average E class. Common failures are intercooler pumps, charge air cooler, idler bearings for supercharger drivebelt, supercharger front bearing, as well as the cars having a healthy appetite for fuel...

Brakes and tyres are obviously in a higher price bracket than the standard models too.

I own the lesser C class equivalent - basically a V6 version of the same engine, with cheaper brakes and tyres, and I have the added advantage of owning my own garage, and my car has cost me £2000+ in parts alone this year to keep it in fine fettle.

At the end of the day, you will have supercar performance with room for the kids and 2 dogs too...
A Ferrari 355, whilst a gorgeous thing, will in the real world be no quicker, and will cost you considerably more to maintain properly. (don't ask how I know!)

By all means have a look at them, but you need to have your eyes and wallet open, as well as your heart.

(and the exhaust note is more addictive than heroin!!!)

 

[Cole@MBS]

Was hoping Dave55amg come on line today, he is prob the best info on this as he runs a saloon of the same!!!

 

[Dave's E55 AMG]

Was hoping Dave55amg come on line today, he is prob the best info on this as he runs a saloon of the same!!!

Here I am, cheap to buy dear to run - to get any 55 kompressor you buy with the heart and not your head.

for example a red warning light has come telling to "visit workshop".

I'm fortunate that I have a very good indie who's also a member on here close by so I'll nip in to see him tomorrow to see what the problem is.

As an owner of such a car I would say get one but then I'm in a position to claim all my motoring expenses back through my company so it's easy for me to say buy one.

Regarding problems this is my second one in 30 months and 60K miles the car is 5 1/2 years old now with nearly 100K on the clock - it get's through 2 sets of rear tyres a years 25K miles, front pads need doing shortly that's a second set for me and it's on it's 2nd set of disks front and rear.

A set of plugs are £200 ish, service is very expensive if you go to a dealer, but don't get one without history.

Watch this space to find out my "visit workshop" error.

 

[television]

for example a red warning light has come telling to "visit workshop".
.


Watch this space to find out my "visit workshop" error.

Just ignore it Dave,,I get those all the time,, it s like the little boy who called wolf

 

[Dave's E55 AMG]

Just ignore it Dave,,I get those all the time,, it s like the little boy who called wolf

It keeps flashing red at me all the time and saying it's reducing conveneince functions etc

 

[Dave's E55 AMG]

This morning the "visit workshop" message shut down the command unit, parking sensors, some interior lighting and dimmed down the dash board illumination so I'll have to do something - also there's a battery symbol showing with the message

 

[Cole@MBS]

It keeps flashing red at me all the time and saying it's reducing conveneince functions etc

Sounds like the alternators not charging !!!

 

[Dave's E55 AMG]

Sounds like the alternators not charging !!!

That's what I was thinking - don't these have 2 power units one for the engine which started fine and 1 in the boot for the electrics which I suspect is the one playing up.

I'd have thought that only one alternator would charger both units but the secondery unit isn't holding it's charge - what do you think?

 

[Cole@MBS]

Our replys crossed Dave, i think you need a new regulator in your altenator!!!

 

[Cole@MBS]

Crossed again, there's a relay which switches the charge from the main battery (boot) to the front one, thats there just as a back up for the SBC so you dont loose your brakes!!! that wouldn't be any fun!

 

[Dave's E55 AMG]

Our replys crossed Dave, i think you need a new regulator in your altenator!!!

is it a big job?

 

[Cole@MBS]

No, on some engines it can be done in place, dont think yours can though! sorry, just re-read your last reply, the front battery would start the car as well if the rear was to go flat or fail!!

 

[Dave's E55 AMG]

MB tech are open today, I've just spoken to shane - I'll nip in there around 9ish - see what he finds

 

[Cole@MBS]

Common fault across the range Dave!!

 

[Dave's E55 AMG]

Our replys crossed Dave, i think you need a new regulator in your altenator!!!

spot on SAM

 

[Cole@MBS]

spot on SAM

Nice one Dave, thats the cheaper option for you!!

 

[Cole@MBS]

spot on SAM

Did you get it fixed today Dave???

 

[Dave's E55 AMG]

Did you get it fixed today Dave???

No - on my way home both batterys died I lost all safety features; ABS etc.. the car had no brakes on 2 occassions. I had to knock the car in neutral and coast up to lights etc.. finally got home and it wouldn't start - just had enough power left to check battery voltage by pressing the reset on the dash and it said 6 volts.

So both batteries are flat - alternator knacked - new one on order £380 it's being fitted and a D service done on 5th Jan.

is the alternator cooled?