Apology - Question - E500 Estate

[regbuser]

anyone who actually needs an estate that can pull the flesh off their face as a second car isn't right in the head.

:d

 

[Deleted member 37751]

Seems as though you have a very wide budget, what is the 'ideal' amount you'd prefer to spend?

I'm a big fan of the W211 in both saloon and estate form, I've owned seven in total, and judging by what I think are your requirements I would recommend the facelift (06 plate onwards) E500 5.5; with 388bhp it should be more than ample power-wise.

 

[Ben Kenobi]

Anyone who actually needs an estate that can pull the flesh off their face as a second car isn't right in the head.

I resemble that remark.

Didn't even know they made the R36 as an estate.

RS6 and RS4 OK but again attract too much of the wrong kind of attention, S4, S6 overpriced, underspec'd and not particularly comfortable.

Comfortable and sedate but with attitude where (when) needed.

 

[Ben Kenobi]

I guess the budget depends on the car, haven't actually made up my mind to do this yet. I guess 10k would be my ceiling, that seems to be where I'm losing interest in whats being offered - ex lease, 2.1 etc etc of which there is loads, as I've said I really don't want 'new', to be honest not sure, case of if the right car came along I think.

 

[Deleted member 37751]

Anyone who actually needs an estate that can pull the flesh off their face as a second car isn't right in the head.

I love ridiculously fast estates, the ultimate Q-Cars

 

[C36fan]

I swapped a Passat estate (always missed the Audi) for my lowly E350 estate. The only competition for my money was an A6 Quattro, On paper it is every bit as quick in all departments as the Golf GTI I had at the same time. In practice, if I want it to do so, it will just gobble tarmac as quick as the Golf but with no drama, no screaming & shouting, nobody wanting to race me at the lights. My missus is absolutely relaxed with it - something she never was with the GTI even though she's got the same turbo 4 pot tFSI engine in her own car. Anyone who actually needs an estate that can pull the flesh off their face as a second car isn't right in the head. .

hello!!

 

[sallison1504]

OP.

Last year, my friend had a 3.7 D3 A8, and got rid of it for a convertible. He says this was the worst decision he ever made. Yeah, his Audi needed new tyres every 6000 miles, and sometimes the transmission would go into limp mode, but he loved it.

He has now sold his convertible and has got a D2 S8. I'd stick with your Audi if I could give any advice. Nothing will compare to your A8 unless you get an S-Class.

Sean

 

[Ben Kenobi]

The Audi experience is very hard to explain to anyone that hasn't actually driven one - especially the A8, I was smitten from the test drive, it's like driving a sofa, so quiet but it handles like a car half its size - and if you push the loud pedal it isn't, it just takes off like a scorched cat, as has been said no screaming, no fuss, nobody trying it on at the lights (but you know full well that you could thrash most of them should you choose). If they did an Audi A8 estate I wouldn't be here , the A6 is a bit 'unrefined'.

I am now looking into S class also.

Hmm S class estates - more for the hens teeth list.

 

[regbuser]

Hmm S class estates - more for the hens teeth list.

yes, especially as never made

CLS SB out of your price range, so W211 E500 estate would be the default offering from MB

 

[Herishi]

I had a 2003 passat estate, loved it. Then changed to a 2007 Honda CRV, hated it.
Just got a 2007 E280 estate and so far its great.
Much nicer than the passat

 

[tron]

Estates with lots of power don't notice the load in the back and are therefore a Good Thing.
If you think that Big Money Wasted dealers are thieves, though, I would counsel that you stick with the Audi.

 

[Ben Kenobi]

I don't need VAG dealers - I'm BTech and C&G certified, time served with armed forces, Rolls Royce and Caterpillar - I have the VAG diagnostic software. The only jobs I don't do myself are those that require stupidly expensive special tools - and hopefully don't need those so often.

Audi are similar to BMW when it comes to excrement extraction - £155 per hour plus VAT and most of their techs are nothing more than part replacers, I sure wouldn't class a lot of them as mechanics these days. The difference between VAG and BMW is that DIY is a whole lot easier, diagnostic software doesn't cost more than the car.

I've already looked into the availability of diagnostic stuff for the Merc.

 

[regbuser]

another suggestion (non-estate mind) - phaeton?

 

[Ben Kenobi]

Poor mans A8 - nah if I change it will be an estate - although I just spent 20 minutes drooling on an SL55 ...

 

[MD5]

I've been running an 04 E500 estate for a little over three years now, and it works for me. Rear underside rust is something to check for, as exhaust mountings can deteriorate, but that could be the same for a lot of pre-facelift 211 models.

They are not nimble cars, but are great motorway cruisers, and dropping from 7th to 3rd gear leaves a fairly clear path behind you, so there's fun to be had, and it stops as quickly as it goes! As already mentioned, A8s and S classes are in the same refinement stable for fair comparison, but I would so much prefer an E to an A6. The E will fare better in the long run, but the interiors look more dated compared to the Audi. That said, if you like the look, then it's just different (Avantgarde models have white dials, whilst the Elegance models have black ones).

At 70k I'd hope that the SBC pump, spark plugs and perhaps a strut here and there would have been replaced. At 118k, I've done about 30k odd miles in mine, and enjoyed every one. With the 7 seat option, it's a useful, spacious hack with great performance, and a comfortable, quiet place to be, even with my roof box on, which is more or less a permanent fixture now. I've replaced rear brake flexi hoses and a sticky rear caliper, and I need to get the exhaust brackets welded back, but I don't want to tempt fate with my trouble free electrics. The motorised luggage cover never worked until about 5 months ago, after the car had been standing for a couple of months, and needed a jump start!? It then just came to life! Other than that, just regular servicing so far.

As for the design, I think they are one of the best looking estates out there, and great value for money. Perfect for trips to the weekend retreat! Shameless and gratuitous pic!:

Edit: just read your drooling over an SL55 post! I'm also on the lookout for either a non AMG replacement for the estate or an AMG replacement for the SL!

 

[Ben Kenobi]

What sort of price are parts, what kind of sources. The rear calipers on the A8 cost £600 each, but you can get cheaper aftermarket ones - the problem is they are 'unknowns' - buy cheap pay twice. As it happens I replaced them because they were 'binding' also.

I'm very tempted by the E500, it is silly low money < 6k I've seen similar with twice the miles for the same price.

The SL55 was an AMG - 2003 plate £15k 80k miles - but I already have a convertible in the garage that guaranteed is more fun - 185bhp per ton, no traction control, no ABS, no power steering - no driver aids except what you sit on ... Scimitar Sabre 1.8Ti, made for the company owner and the only one of its kind.

Shameless picture - wheels have been professionally sorted since this was taken.

 

[C36fan]

I've had an S500 W220 back in a day and it was a awesome car ,done many trips to my country(Portugal) and never missed a bit also after 1650 miles I never felt that tired most times they were done in 18h to 20 h depending on the traffic .
Buy the mercedes most suit you and enjoy !

 

[MD5]

Suspension parts from Arnotts are probably the best way to go, with (I believe) a lifetime warranty. Everything else I buy is genuine parts. When I bought mine from the second owner, an American, he had brought 2 front struts and a compressor back with him from a trip back home. The n/s he had replaced, and I have the other and the compressor as spares.

We're actually at the 'van at the moment, enjoying the rain, so don't have receipts to hand. Iirc, the main dealer price matched a local indy, and supplied and fitted the caliper for under £400, which included the SBC pump system bleed. A bargain, I hear you say!

The Sabre looks sweet. I had an uncle who was the MD of a fibreglass company that supplied Scimitar, and he had one of the first GTEs off the line!

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Anyone who actually needs an estate that can pull the flesh off their face as a second car isn't right in the head.

Ours can't quite manage that, but our first, second and third cars can all do 62 mph in 5 seconds or less, which probably isn't strictly necessary

People who have super SUVs, they're the really unhinged ones. Like Mrs D

A faster car is a safer car, surely.

The SL55 was an AMG - 2003 plate £15k 80k miles - but I already have a convertible in the garage that guaranteed is more fun - 185bhp per ton, no traction control, no ABS, no power steering - no driver aids except what you sit on ... Scimitar Sabre 1.8Ti, made for the company owner and the only one of its kind.

Shameless picture - wheels have been professionally sorted since this was taken.

Always had a soft spot for those. Lovely cars. More photos please

 

[merc85]

Cracking looking s211 you have there bud