Thoughts on this E53 estate!

[Woodleigh]

it is 77,500 miles regardless of time. Mercedes refused to do it under a service plan at 5 years,

If I had my transmission serviced at 77,500 miles, the ATF would be 10 years old. I doubt if fresh ATF has a shelf life that long.

 

[malcolm E53 AMG]

Just back from a 500+ mile trip, a week in Keswick, a week in Scarborough and then back to Leicester. This is the first time I’ve had chance to put some real mileage on the car and as expected it’s a fantastic tourer and better than I expected on economy at an average of 36mpg.

The more I drive the M256 engine coupled with the 9 speed box the more impressed I am, cruising at 70mph the engine revs sit at 1200rpm occasionally on inclines the box drops a gear but other than that copes well.

So far the car has been reliable it‘s currently on 46k miles and goes in for its MOT and service beginning of October so we’ll see what that throws up if anything. I seem to have resolved the very occasional cracking noise from the front suspension which was the result of massively over torquing the wheel bolts and due to this I’ve replaced the wheel bolts with new. While I was investigating this I noticed the front right air suspension strut was misting oil coming from the adaptive damping valve so I’ll point this out when the car goes in to see what MB have to say.

 

[Dean Fletcher]

Just back from a 500+ mile trip, a week in Keswick, a week in Scarborough and then back to Leicester. This is the first time I’ve had chance to put some real mileage on the car and as expected it’s a fantastic tourer and better than I expected on economy at an average of 36mpg.

The more I drive the M256 engine coupled with the 9 speed box the more impressed I am, cruising at 70mph the engine revs sit at 1200rpm occasionally on inclines the box drops a gear but other than that copes well.

So far the car has been reliable it‘s currently on 46k miles and goes in for its MOT and service beginning of October so we’ll see what that throws up if anything. I seem to have resolved the very occasional cracking noise from the front suspension which was the result of massively over torquing the wheel bolts and due to this I’ve replaced the wheel bolts with new. While I was investigating this I noticed the front right air suspension strut was misting oil coming from the adaptive damping valve so I’ll point this out when the car goes in to see what MB have to say.

Keswick rather you than me.

 

[gianton]

Keswick what a lovely countryside been there for a week in 1990. Hope I can make it again to travel to Keswick!
Enjoy your new car my friend.

 

[malcolm E53 AMG]

Keswick rather you than me.

Keswick is Keswick I suppose but the real reason we go there is the walks around Derwent Water one of our favourites.

 

[Woodleigh]

Hi Malcolm, did you go to Wast Water over the Hardknotte Pass? Best place in the Lakes.

 

[malcolm E53 AMG]

Hi Malcolm, did you go to Wast Water over the Hardknotte Pass? Best place in the Lakes.

Hi Mike,

I’ve spent a few hours at Wast Water when I was working up there it’s a hidden gem. I’ve travelled the Hardknotte Pass once certainly entertaining lol

 

[malcolm E53 AMG]

Second service and MOT in my ownership done this week.

MOT threw up 1 fail and 2 advisories.

The fail and one of the advisories relate to the front camber arms ball joint, I’ve been expecting this as they are a common failure on the W/S213, my son’s W213 went at 50k miles and mine have gone at 46k miles. Both replaced under the second year AMG warranty at a cost of £1100 so not a cheap failure.

The second advisory relates to the front R/H air strut adaptive damping valve misting with oil no doubt it will want replacing at the next MOT at a cost of £1700 not sure whether that will be remanufactured/exchanged possibly. My warranty runs to January 26 so whether I’ll be able to extend at a reasonable price remains to be seen.

 

[Woodleigh]

What a difference tyres can make to economy. The best I managed on a long run with my dreadful Yokohama’s was 33 mpg; however, I recently replaced them with Goodyear Eagle F1’s and achieved 38.7 mpg. I stand to be corrected, but I think this is better than Mercedes official economy figures.
Same car, same journey, different tyres.



Outward and return journeys.

 

[malcolm E53 AMG]

Mike, just remind which version of Goodyear F1 tyres you fitted I need a new set of tyres for the BMW. Do they have a rim protector moulded into the sidewall of the tyre? A picture would tell me all I need to know when you get chance. I would have fitted Michelin PS4 again but the tyres are cracking around the tread edge so won’t be fitting them again they will fail the MOT next time as an advisory this time.

 

[Woodleigh]

Assy 5 (MO) Malcolm

 

[JBell]

Mike, just remind which version of Goodyear F1 tyres you fitted I need a new set of tyres for the BMW. Do they have a rim protector moulded into the sidewall of the tyre? A picture would tell me all I need to know when you get chance.

All the Eagle F1 Assy 5 and 6 have a decent rim protector on, coded "FP (Fringe Protector) or RFP (Rim Fringe Protector)" on the tyre description

 

[malcolm E53 AMG]

All the Eagle F1 Assy 5 and 6 have a decent rim protector on, coded "FP (Fringe Protector) or RFP (Rim Fringe Protector)" on the tyre description

Thanks, just ordered a set of F1 Assy 5 for the BMW the Michelin PS4 tyres on the car at the moment are dated 23/19 and cracking on the edge (MOT advisory) which is very disappointing.

 

[JBell]

Thanks, just ordered a set of F1 Assy 5 for the BMW the Michelin PS4 tyres on the car at the moment are dated 23/19 and cracking on the edge (MOT advisory) which is very disappointing.

I have used them on my Merc, they are very good, just put Efficient Grip Performance 2 on the X1 and really can't complain, they feel much better than the Pirelli on before

 

[JBell]

Michelin PS4 tyres on the car at the moment are dated 23/19 and cracking on the edge (MOT advisory)

6 years old and the rubber will be degrading

 

[grayb]

6 years old and the rubber will be degrading

A McLaren development engineer (road cars) once told me that they bin tyres after three years - particularly Michelin Sport Cup 2's - as they go hard. That's obviously excessive for us mere mortals, but it gives pause for thought.

 

[grayb]

What a difference tyres can make to economy. The best I managed on a long run with my dreadful Yokohama’s was 33 mpg; however, I recently replaced them with Goodyear Eagle F1’s and achieved 38.7 mpg. I stand to be corrected, but I think this is better than Mercedes official economy figures.
Same car, same journey, different tyres.
View attachment 97007


Outward and return journeys.

View attachment 97008

I wish we could average 50mph more often. Nearly impossible when you have to use the M25 to get anywhere...

 

[Woodleigh]

I wish we could average 50mph more often. Nearly impossible when you have to use the M25 to get anywhere...

57 MPH coming bak and that included B roads in the Highlands.

 

[grayb]

57 MPH coming bak and that included B roads in the Highlands.

SE England is just too crowded... We go to Europe to enjoy driving now!

 

[sonic]

If I had my transmission serviced at 77,500 miles, the ATF would be 10 years old. I doubt if fresh ATF has a shelf life that long.

Its a bit late only just seen this. Our SLC250d had a 9 speed auto box oil change at 5 years under a Merc service plan.