w211 e55 buying guide

[Duff3103]

Done the usual and used the search button but the link for the buying guide seem to no longer there? has it been removed or am i being a nonce :S

thanks in advance

 

[John]

Seem to be a couple:

E55 buying guide | General Discussion

E55 AMG - Buying Guide? | General Discussion

I think you mean dunce?

Nonce is veeeeery different.

 

[Duff3103]

I’ll take any slagging if it helps me with a buying guide but Iv seen both of these and when you click the link it says it can’t be found

 

[BlackC55]

What do you need to know?

 

[Duff3103]

Just a list of what to watch out for, common faults etc, I’ll be looking to buy one finally later in the year after stupidly opting out last time and buying an Audi A8 4.2 tdi. Major mistake that was

 

[BlackC55]

There is lots and lots and lots.
Im thinking about doing a video on one as I have one and done lots to it.

 

[Duff3103]

When you say lots are they mandatory items like for instance air struts failing or also run of the mill service items like brakes, brake lines as you’d expect from age

 

[BlackC55]

The engine ad box are strong, very strong. They seem to wear out the suspension components rather quickly. The air struts are quite reliable on the whole.

I will try and do a video on Friday if thats any help?

 

[merc85]

Check everything,

Air suspension Raises / lowers
Heater blows cold or hot through vents evenly front and back as they have 4 zone
No SBC warnings infact find out the date when the pump was last changed and mileage
FSH i wouldnt buy one without
2 Keys also
Check Sport settings on the dash work ok
Check gear change from cold should be smooth and i mean STONE cold.
Check if the Radiator has ever been changed 2002-2004 (04) had issues, but id ask if a replacement has been fitted even after that they are getting old

Brake hard make sure theres no Brake judder they are hard on brakes.
Equire about any exhaust work (de cat) etc as most i think have had some sort of work.
Estates "soft close works ok"
Check oil level pref with a Dip stick when hot should be around 160 on the stick.
Oil smell from vents could when warm usually indicates Rocker cover gasket leak most do at some point.

Rust around the rear dog leg of the arch if there is it could be worse behind those arch liners
Brake pipe corrosion check mot advisories
Steering lock to lock see if you hear a clonk they are heavy on bottom ball joints and top.
Vibration under load and off propshaft couplings
Check engine mounts and gearbox mounts.
Door mirros fold in and out wires can break
Damp front floor mats they can let water in around the bulk head and sunroof channels if applicable
See when air struts were last replaced usually around 90k
Water in the boot on saloons
Boosts ok under heavy multiply accelerations not holding back
Full tank hard i know who sells a car with a full tank of fuel, !! Fuel vapour smell around rear arch or in the car, lift the rear seat and have a sniff!
Ac blows cold
Whistle from the belt area idlers, tensioners can fail.
Seats if dynamic inflate and deflate when driving they bolster up when cornering if applicable
No SRS light on dash, seat occupancy sensors can fail
Keyless if applicable working on all doors and boot.

Thats all off the top of my head. Buy on condition not age id have either, the later 2004 (54) have a slighter different supercharger and 200mph clocks.

 

[Duff3103]

Thankfully the engine and box being strong are my main key features, after owning a Passat w8 and finding out the hard way that the engines are made from cheese I want something that will get me where I want to go. Iv worked on many w211’s in the last but not the v8’s. Done plenty balljoints, arms, and springs and various other issues that you’d encounter but this being a bit different I just wanted to be sure I wasn’t going to miss anything.
Are any of these fixes major money ie the fuel smell from the rear seats or is it just a simple sealing ring issue?

Iv there is a company that can service the sbc for around £400 I’m sure it was so can budget for that if it hasn’t been changed already

tne car won’t be a daily driver as such that’s what my old skoda is for, so it will spend most of the week parked up anyway so hopefully if the car is good when it’s purchased it won’t break all too often but that’s never the case is it

 

[Duff3103]

The engine ad box are strong, very strong. They seem to wear out the suspension components rather quickly. The air struts are quite reliable on the whole.

I will try and do a video on Friday if thats any help?

Sounds good mate that would be ideal

 

[merc85]

Fuel smell could be the sendor or pump check each side the electrical plugs leak and also the lids crack, they are a superceeded part so you have to buy both aprox £1,200

Could also be the tank itself as in my case and was aprox 2k

 

[Duff3103]

wow that’s a sore bill, you’d think on failures such as that considering it’s fuel related that Mercedes would recall the units.

 

[merc85]

wow that’s a sore bill, you’d think on failures such as that considering it’s fuel related that Mercedes would recall the units.

They were in the USA and the DVSA in this country know about it, but Mercedes Benz fobbed them off. i had a 6 month conversation with them about it. Tbh they were helpfull.

 

[AMGeed]

The links in Post#2 work for me on a desktop PC.
Are you viewing on a PC or a mobile?

 

[AMGeed]

wow that’s a sore bill, you’d think on failures such as that considering it’s fuel related that Mercedes would recall the units.

The USA get a lot we don't see in the UK. Extended warranty on SBC pumps, fuel tank problems under warranty etc.
We get short shrift as far as warranty repairs go on older models.

 

[Duff3103]

Iv tried on both but both are Apple products not windows

 

[Duff3103]

They were in the USA and the DVSA in this country know about it, but Mercedes Benz fobbed them off. i had a 6 month conversation with them about it. Tbh they were helpfull.

I take it your problem was mostly when the tank was full?

 

[merc85]

Yes 3/4's full, The tank was replaced, then alittle while later when the car was hot i noticed another vapour smell from the arch, The tank sits above the exhausts!

My fuel sendor on the RH side was leaking vapour

 

[merc85]

Dam everyone likes a pic, here she is lol