E55K estate

[E55BOF]

Not eBay, but what does the forum think of this one?

Used Mercedes-benz E Class Estate 5.4 E55 Amg 5dr in Bedford, Bedfordshire | Bedford Specialist Cars

My only must-haves are Comand and parking sensors, and it has both. It looks pretty good, the price seems reasonable-ish for the mileage, and I'm looking for a keeper for a few years at least, so I'm not bothered by the Cat D (assuming the description is accurate). Even though it's not Tanzanite, I'm drawn to it...

Go on, pick holes in it. That's why I'm posting it on here...

 

[JohnBell]

Bit rich on £ for a cat D.

 

[DavidL]

I don't think its too far out price wise. It would be 10-11 if it was not on vcar. 20% deduction is 8.5. Spec looks ok. Obvious error is that the load cover is down with the boot lid up. A pita fix if its broken.

 

[E55BOF]

The dealer thinks it's priced fairly; well, he would, wouldn't he? We'd have to discuss the price...

He states he has evidence of the Cat D repair, but I've yet to see that. I'm slightly suspicious of a Cat D write-off of a nine-year-old E55 that supposedly required only a bumper, wing and headlight, but I haven't seen the car in the metal yet.

However, I had a Cat C Saab 9-5, bought very cheaply, for three years; it accelerated, drove and braked straight, so I took the risk. It was absolutely fine.

One of the previous owners must have had a sense of humour similar to mine; it was sporting the plate SL03ENZ (which Dinoy will tell you reads SLO BENZ...) at one stage.

 

[E55BOF]

I don't think its too far out price wise. It would be 10-11 if it was not on vcar. 20% deduction is 8.5. Spec looks ok. Obvious error is that the load cover is down with the boot lid up. A pita fix if its broken.

As you say, the spec is OK; mid-range, I'd describe it as. It's not lacking anything I'd really miss, though the powered tailgate would be nice. The load cover may just have been moved down to show it off, but I only have an estate for my dogs, who are usually with me, so very rarely have the load cover out anyway.

 

[merc85]

I personally would never buy a Cat car, Fair play to people who do but not for me.

 

[DavidL]

Isn't the tailgate/cargo cover a stock item?

 

[E55BOF]

Yes, but when it is extended it should rise automatically when the tailgate is opened. It can all be done manually, of course, and when retracted it just sits there in its housing.

 

[Will]

Looks like a decent car and good value to me

I think it's fair to say if it wasn't cat-D it would be more expensive. I sold my 2004 E55 estate for £10k with higher mileage (113k IIRC) just under a year ago, so this one with 83k would probably be in the low teens retailed by a garage. Pity it's not a seven seater as although you may not use them it's a popular selling point (the buyer for my car *specifically* wanted a seven seater)

I wouldn't be too put off by the CAT-D - it was fairly recently (when the car was nine years old) so book price against repairs using new parts (AMG bumper, Bi-Xenon light, wing plus whatever else not listed) might well have been enough to write it off when combined with bodyshop costs/hire car expenses etc.

Go and have a look - it can't be more than an hour away from you?

I'd want to see evidence of the service history, tyre/brake condition, any airmatic faults etc. Probably worth paying for a specialist to give it a once over - if not to assess the repair then to check for any known issues.

Really are such good all round cars, I'd gladly upgrade mine but there's nothing out there that ticks the same boxes for me currently

 

[E55BOF]

If I buy it, it will go into Terry Gates for a once-over soon after. If it's not gone by next Tuesday, which is the earliest I can go to see it, I dare say I probably will buy it. The Need for Speed...

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

Reasonable price - 5 years since Cat D - last owner 3 years

Looks very nice to me.

Photos aren't as clear as they could be (resolution issue) but what we can see is excellent. - no untoward wear on the seating / wheel / buttons / touchpoints. Maybe just a bit of feed required to the drivers base, but really insignificant on a 113k car.

Five year old Cat 5 - well, if there were any gremlins they'd be out and fettled by now, or there would have been a stream of owners. Last owner for 3 years sounds good. And poor paint matching would be showing after 5 years, and I can't see it on these photos.

I suspect the load cover question is a red herring - to photograph the car he has probably just put it into the down position.

So it's a question of how does it drive, what's the underside like, how are the brakes, what's the mileage progression (any sign of a haircut), what's the service history and how long since the last proper service (not just oil)

Pricing, well, it's always negotiable. Depends how long he's had it and what his general stock situation is like.

Well worth a proper visit.

 

[Deleted member 37751]

I've owned numerous Cat-D and Cat-C cars in the past but they've all been under 200bhp, I wouldn't dream of owning anything with an E55K's kind of bhp that is on the register.

And I know that there'll be plenty out there that's had a bump and not been written off but I'd like to stay ignorant to that!

 

[Londonscottish]

the need for speed...

lol.

 

[DavidL]

Any news?

 

[E55BOF]

Sold over the weekend. It was silver anyway, so I'm not heartbroken. I'm still looking...

 

[ftb]

Sold over the weekend. It was silver anyway, so I'm not heartbroken. I'm still looking...

You had silver, sold it for blue (?), sold it for 350 to keep the licence, now hunting for 55 again? All within a year or so?

 

[tanuie]

i personally would never buy a cat car, fair play to people who do but not for me.

+1

 

[Will]

Well someone obviously liked it and bought it

Funny enough I know of *at least* three damaged-repaired/categorised silver E55 estates in the UK so I would wager there's a few more out there along with plenty that have had the odd repair unrecorded over the years

Remember when these were young cars they would have routinely been repaired with new panels under insurance. I know this has been mentioned already but it's really worth a proper thought.

I've driven past a local MB main dealer bodyshop plenty of times on the way to the parts counter and seen dozens of smashed up £50K+ Mercs being repaired with new wings/bumpers/bonnets etc. It happens

 

[merc85]

Would they replace the seat belts? even if the Pretensioners haven't gone off?

 

[E55BOF]

You had silver, sold it for blue (?), sold it for 350 to keep the licence, now hunting for 55 again? All within a year or so?

Close-ish. I've had the 350 for six months, though; I bought it as an antidote to a 55K. It hasn't worked......