'98 E55 estate - to buy or not, at what price?

[E55BOF]

Well, now I know most of the story, I think. The car is a 1998 E55 AMG estate, with 106K miles on it. It was definitely serviced by MB dealers annually until (and including) 75000 miles in '06, and then again at 86000 miles in January '09. There may be other service receipts, but definitely not main dealer receipts. That'll be why there's no service book, then, though all the other manuals are apparently there. If it's been clocked, it was probably done before '09. How easy are they to clock?

HPI check is fine.

Worst case, no service for the last 20,000 miles/four years (until two weeks ago - oil change at Kwikfit), and before that, 10,000 miles/three years between services. It had new rear springs at 98,00 miles in December 2010. New MoT, and the last one had no worrying advisories.

If it doesn't smoke, bang, rattle or knock, do I give the vendor £3200 and drive it away with a song in my heart, or not? It's a helluva lot of car for that money, but I don't want a(nother - long story...) money pit. My heart says go for it, my head says ask for advice. Does anyone have any?

Please help.

E55BOF

 

[Will]

Could you take it to a local MB specialist for a check over if you're not comfortable with knowing a good one from a bad example?

I wouldn't really be too worried about clocking. It's got full MB history from 98-06. No one is likely to start clocking a car at eight years onwards with 75k genuine already proven.

If it runs/drives ok, isn't too rusty and everything works ok £3200 is a pretty good price for an E55 estate IMHO

 

[E55BOF]

That's what my heart says...

I can generally tell a good 'un from a bad, but after I've paid for it is too late to have it checked out by a specialist. I won't know the mileage at the '06 service until tomorrow; the MoT was at the end of the year in Linslade, the service was at MB Knightsbridge earlier in the year. If it HAS been clocked, it will probably have been done after the service, and before the MoT, in '06.

I'll sleep on it, but I suspect I'll have it...unless someone strongly advises me not to.

E55BOF

 

[bolide]

I think you've made your mind up already

One thing to bear in mind with a W210 is that it will be worth the square root of sod-all in three years time. Buying something with a bit more or, preferably, a lot more classic potential would make things easier when you come to sell

Nick Froome

 

[billywhiz]

see I think that the price now will be reflective still in a few years - these cars have reached near the bottom of where they are going to be, new circa £65k, now a tad over £3k - crazy stuff. - You could break up a 210 55 and get over 3k for all the parts if you had the inclination/time etc.

But - all I'd say is don't 'rush' buy, you need to 'feel' it's the one so to speak.

From when I first started looking for my 55, it took me 6 months and saw loads of messed up cars : ( - eventually stuck it out and found a one owner from new car in excellent condition and history.

If it feels right then get it but I'd certainly recommend you spend the ££ on a decent service inc, plugs, ATF filters etc.

Grab some pics of it if you decide to go for it : )

 

[Will]

One thing to bear in mind with a W210 is that it will be worth the square root of sod-all in three years time.

They're worth pretty much that now

If the OP scrapped the car off in three years he'll have had his money's worth - what's that, under £90 a month for a ~ 350bhp 5.4 V8 luxury estate car? £3 a day

Realistically speaking, aside from rust, tyres and brakes/plugs servicing wise they are cheap to run (did someone mention fuel..?)

You only live once

 

[bolide]

If the OP scrapped the car off in three years he'll have had his money's worth - what's that, under £90 a month for a ~ 350bhp 5.4 V8 luxury estate car? £3 a day

Can't argue with that!

Nick Froome

 

[E55BOF]

Thank you one and all. Slept on it, and nobody came down against it, so I'm going to pick it up tomorrow. I'll be doing my own maintenance (I do oil and filter every six months on all my cars and bikes), so it will only be the cost of fuel and tyres, and any unexpected repairs, that will cripple me. Sod's law, it probably needs filters, ATF change, brake fluid change, and plugs and pads soon as well......

Two immediate questions come to mind that I will need to know tomorrow. Is there any benefit in putting 98 octane in it as opposed to 95, and where will I find the VIN? Well, three, now I think about it; what tyre pressures should I use?

E55BOF

 

[Will]

Tyre pressures are on a sticker inside the fuel flap.

Oil and filter changes every six months totally uneccessary with normal use - 2-years/10k miles on my '55.

I use V-power in my AMG (don't care about cost in the slightest, don't do enough miles in my '55 to worry). Supposedly a cleaner fuel and the ECU should adjust timing to suit but at the end of the day I doubt it makes a huge difference on a lazy 5.4 V8. I dont think you're going to damage it using RON95 fuel if that's what you're asking.

VIN will be on the slam panel under the bonnet, also at the bottom of the windscreen and printed on the V5/log book of course.

Good luck with it all, let us know how you get on - and don't forget plenty of pics!

 

[E55BOF]

Thanks Will.

"Oil and filter changes every six months totally uneccessary with normal use"

Maybe so, but it doesn't do any harm, keeps 'em in sync with the bikes, and as an old engineer once said to me, oil is cheap, engines isn't.

I'll let you know how I get on.

BOF

 

[Will]

Thanks Will.

"Oil and filter changes every six months totally uneccessary with normal use"

Maybe so, but it doesn't do any harm, keeps 'em in sync with the bikes, and as an old engineer once said to me, oil is cheap, engines isn't.

I'll let you know how I get on.

BOF

I'd spend the extra cash on other stuff maintenance wise personally. MB engines like these just do not fail due to lubrication related issues when serviced to schedule. Premium oil (Mobil 1 0W-40) and OE/MB filter best though.

You'll lunch the gearbox or the body will have rotted away long before you wear out an M113.

Crank pulleys, water pumps etc more of an issue. Expect 300k+ miles otherwise

 

[Dieselman]

I agree with Will, oil at 6 months is too often.

W210 are solid cars apart from obvious rust and the V8 engine is tried and tested.

 

[billywhiz]

^^ Indeed

Inside mine at 102k miles. - when rocker gaskets were done. - Been fed Mobil Gold 0-40 all it's life and serviced at normal intervals > looks pretty decent in there.

 

[Will]

You've also got to consider, Mobil 1 is between £30-60 a can and you'll need a couple of them for an M113 (8 litres approx?).

~ £100 for an oil change every six months...really?!

Absolutely no point at all. And a bit late to start getting obsessive now it's already done 100k+ and is fiteen years old

Spend a bit more time on the rust hunt and I'd look at suspension/brakes etc more closely - likely to be getting tired at that age/mileage in places

 

[E55BOF]

OK, I give in; I'll change the oil and filter annually, then.

Reasons to be cheerful: It's had all four springs, the rear shockers (and so was the price...), the bottom ball joints, the front discs, and the front lower wishbones replaced in the last 30K miles.

There MAY be a minor problem with the transmission (see my post in Engine if you're interested), but I'm hopeful (I always am; I never learn..) that it's just a characteristic. There are one or two very minor electrical problems (more anon as I get into them), but nothing I'm worried about.

The vendor (trader posing as private seller, as I thought, but I can see why and I'm not fussed) let me have it for £3150 including six months' tax, and I reckon I did all right.

It's nice; very nice. About 25 mpg on the return journey (130 miles, mostly motorway); I can live with that. And when I press the loud pedal all the way down, Woo HOOOOOOOOOOOO!

E55 BOF

 

[MD5]

It's nice; very nice. About 25 mpg on the return journey (130 miles, mostly motorway); I can live with that. And when I press the loud pedal all the way down, Woo HOOOOOOOOOOOO!

E55 BOF

Good luck with the car, and enjoy!