Newbe Needs help buying a E55 AMG

[PAUL V]

Hi all first post from me.
I am looking for some more info on the E55 AMG compressor. I have been searching but only find the odd road test. I am looking at buying one and would like to know if there are any know issues with the model and what changes to the spec if any there were.
I will start of with my a few questions if any one can help?
What year did they start from?
Is there a E55 AMG model but non supercharged?
Thanks in advance
Paul V

 

[jberks]

I'm not aware of any major issues with the E55. The older one in the 210 shell was non supercharged and a lot less powerful (not what you'd call slow though ), the current shell (211) model was supercharged. Aside from the obvious running costs, why not?

 

[ricky s]

As per Jberks comments, the Kompressor engined W211 from 02 on is approx 100 plus BPH more powerful than its W210 predecessor, running costs are high, depreciation very high, but I have no horrible stories to tell from my knowledge regarding unrealiabilty, however as I have commented before I personally would not buy one of these without an MB warranty, be it MB factory or MB extended, but then only my opinion!

 

[MarkCL]

Right - the E55 first came out around the end of 1997 and went on sale in the UK around April of 1998, along with the C43. That first incarnation had a 5.5 litre V8 with 354bhp and 391 lbft of torque, so not slow by any means It was the top of its class at the time, great build quality, ride etc and not that evil on fuel consumption either all things considered. That model continued on to around early 2001 as far as I know. The next version was introduced in 2002 and that had the supercharged 5.5L v8 with 469bhp and a whopping 516 lbft of torque, so even more evil that the previous version to say the least Again I've heard no horror stories about build quality or anything to be honest and again it was up to usual E class standards for build and comfort etc though with all that power it kept the traction control in high employment a lot of the time That model stayed in till around 2006. Next AMG E class was the E63 which came in last year and is even more of an animal

Prices, well £8-12k for the 1998-2001 models and then anything from mid teens to £20-40k for the models up to 2006 - maybe even as much as £50k for one of the last E55's before the E63 came in.

So, hope that helps somewhat? Me, if I can afford the daft road tax etc when I come to buy a replacement for my C43 then either a C55 or S/E55 will be my next buy - once bitten by the AMG bug anything else simply won't do

Cheers,
Mark

 

[PAUL V]

Right - the E55 first came out around the end of 1997 and went on sale in the UK around April of 1998, along with the C43. That first incarnation had a 5.5 litre V8 with 354bhp and 391 lbft of torque, so not slow by any means It was the top of its class at the time, great build quality, ride etc and not that evil on fuel consumption either all things considered. That model continued on to around early 2001 as far as I know. The next version was introduced in 2002 and that had the supercharged 5.5L v8 with 469bhp and a whopping 516 lbft of torque, so even more evil that the previous version to say the least Again I've heard no horror stories about build quality or anything to be honest and again it was up to usual E class standards for build and comfort etc though with all that power it kept the traction control in high employment a lot of the time That model stayed in till around 2006. Next AMG E class was the E63 which came in last year and is even more of an animal

Prices, well £8-12k for the 1998-2001 models and then anything from mid teens to £20-40k for the models up to 2006 - maybe even as much as £50k for one of the last E55's before the E63 came in.

So, hope that helps somewhat? Me, if I can afford the daft road tax etc when I come to buy a replacement for my C43 then either a C55 or S/E55 will be my next buy - once bitten by the AMG bug anything else simply won't do

Cheers,
Mark

Thanks all for your help.
Mark so when i see say a 2004 E55 AMG on the Auto trader but with no reference to a “supercharger” it will have one fitted?
Or put it another way the all E55 AMG from 2002-2003 onwards came with the supercharged 469 BHP engine ?
As for running costs we are used to high maintenance cars as i am looking to chop in a Mitsubishi EVO9 FQ340. This is my wife’s car and i think the E55 would be more suited to our/ her needs.

Thanks Again

 

[hawk20]

Partly because AMGs are addictive, the best ones are often with MB dealers, IMO the prices are pretty competitive, and you get a full 12 month MB warranty. See the Approved Used search engine on the MB website. Quite a few E55's on offer. Here is a sample: -


E 55 AMG 2003 37k miles £25,995 Aberdeen
http://www.mercedes-benz.motortrak....3021011,13795327,13670607,13321888&vidindex=4

E 55 AMG 2003 47k miles £26,450 Northampton

http://www.mercedes-benz.motortrak....3021011,13795327,13670607,13321888&vidindex=5

E 55 AMG 2004 28k miles £34,500 BIG SPEC Beaconsfield
http://www.mercedes-benz.motortrak....021011,13795327,13670607,13321888&vidindex=11

 

[MarkCL]

Mark so when i see say a 2004 E55 AMG on the Auto trader but with no reference to a “supercharger” it will have one fitted?
Or put it another way the all E55 AMG from 2002-2003 onwards came with the supercharged 469 BHP engine ?

Yes, they all have the supercharged V8 from 2002 onwards

As for running costs we are used to high maintenance cars as i am looking to chop in a Mitsubishi EVO9 FQ340. This is my wife’s car and i think the E55 would be more suited to our/ her needs.

Finding a good independant local to you can help keep the costs manageable despite the inherant high maintenance costs of running an AMG - certainly its not costing me any more than I used to spend on my Celica GT-Four, and in most cases it's costing less, but then I'm lucky to have Oliver at Prestige Autos not far from where I live to look after mine

Thanks Again

No problem - let us know how you get on! Am sure you'll love it when you get one

Cheers,
Mark

 

[PAUL V]

Partly because AMGs are addictive, the best ones are often with MB dealers, IMO the prices are pretty competitive, and you get a full 12 month MB warranty. See the Approved Used search engine on the MB website. Quite a few E55's on offer. Here is a sample: -


E 55 AMG 2003 37k miles £25,995 Aberdeen
http://www.mercedes-benz.motortrak....3021011,13795327,13670607,13321888&vidindex=4

E 55 AMG 2003 47k miles £26,450 Northampton

http://www.mercedes-benz.motortrak....3021011,13795327,13670607,13321888&vidindex=5

E 55 AMG 2004 28k miles £34,500 BIG SPEC Beaconsfield
http://www.mercedes-benz.motortrak....021011,13795327,13670607,13321888&vidindex=11

Thanks for that, i have looked at the Mercedes used car site but did not notice the 12 months warranty :!:

They all range from £25k to £35K but there is not trend IE a 03 is £25 and a o4-05 is £35 ? nore does mileage affect the price.

Is there any extras that i need to look out for IE Must haves
Thanks Again all

 

[Dave's E55 AMG]

Buying one of these is the cheaper end of owning one, runing one is very expensive and it's 476 BHP & 700 Nm torque 0 -60 in 4.7 secs. average 20 miles to the gallon and 12K-15K miles on a set of tyres. Very heavy on brakes pads and discs can warp easly due to heat. servicing is expensive I wouldn't go to anybody with no AMG experience if you intend on using an indie. I wouldn't be without mine it is expensive motoring I'm clocking up about 30K a year and it cost around £140 a week in fuel, I do have a lot of Nectar points though. "Go for it"

 

[PAUL V]

Buying one of these is the cheaper end of owning one, runing one is very expensive and it's 476 BHP & 700 Nm torque 0 -60 in 4.7 secs. average 20 miles to the gallon and 12K-15K miles on a set of tyres. Very heavy on brakes pads and discs can warp easly due to heat. servicing is expensive I wouldn't go to anybody with no AMG experience if you intend on using an indie. I wouldn't be without mine it is expensive motoring I'm clocking up about 30K a year and it cost around £140 a week in fuel, I do have a lot of Nectar points though. "Go for it"

Hi dave thanks for your input, High running costs and Low MPG is something i am used to not a problem my eyes are wide open on this one.

Just need to find one for the wife to have a look at to see if she likes it

 

[Dave's E55 AMG]

Hi dave thanks for your input, High running costs and Low MPG is something i am used to not a problem my eyes are wide open on this one.

Just need to find one for the wife to have a look at to see if she likes it

My wife can't even start mine - she doesn't understand keyless go - which is good.

 

[hawk20]

Just need to find one for the wife to have a look at to see if she likes it

Here's one in the Midlands: Northampton
http://www.mercedes-benz.motortrak....3758406,13632056,13670607,13321888&vidindex=2

 

[ricky s]

If you buy from a full MB car dealership I believe the years warrenty is included. There are 8 E55 on Compucars site at present. might be worth a look, albeit, all appear to be independants, so dont know about warrenty?

 

[MarkCL]

and it's 476 BHP

Ah, now you're just bein' picky

& 700 Nm torque

Which is 516 lbft in real money so at least I got that bit right

0 -60 in 4.7 secs.

Please stop...you're making me want one now instead of later! :lol: :twisted:

Cheers,
Mark

 

[Dave's E55 AMG]

Please stop...you're making me want one now instead of later! :lol: :twisted:

"Later" I'll have an SLR by then

 

[hawk20]

Hi dave thanks for your input, High running costs and Low MPG is something i am used to not a problem my eyes are wide open on this one.

Just need to find one for the wife to have a look at to see if she likes it

Did you get to the one in the Midlands I posted or ANO?

 

[PAUL V]

Did you get to the one in the Midlands I posted or ANO?

yes thanks will try and make it over there the weekend

 

[hawk20]

yes thanks will try and make it over there the weekend

Good luck convincing the missus.

 

[sound 8]

sound 8

Hi, I had a E55 amg 2002.
It must have started when the new shape E class started around 99-2000.
The only fault I found was on sharp corners it's a bit front heavy with
turn in not as good as a E320 for instance. Fitting good tyres helped,
I put Continental on and took Dunlop off.
The rest of the car was great.
Cheers
sound 8

 

[nick-E55]

I didnt have my E55 for long, but they're awesome cars, and i would imagine your Mrs will like it more than the EVO. Just tell her it's a diesel and she'll think you're being very sensible! I would guess the main diff with the evo in terms of running costs is depreciation. On E55's it;s fierce. Yes, buy from a main dealer, but their bid/offer is 6+ grand... so chopping it in again quickly is an expensive exercise. I found insurance very cheap, and fuel economy (that's a misnomer!) was about 18 over short runs... but could get to single digits if i put some effort in Handling is very poor, but that's not why u buy one. Power delivery is simply awesome however, the main criticism i had was the lack of traction, and in the wet it was a nightmare. Brakes tho are unbelievable. The buttons on the s/wheel for chg gear work well too. The basic spec is really high and inside is a great place to be... knocks spots of BMW's in my view.

Good luck with the search, and given where petrol is now (thanks to Gordon Brown and Mr bush...), and the recession we're about to have, you should be able to drive a hard bargain and get a good deal.

cheers
Nick