W211 E55 - Predicting Value over the next few years

[flowrider]

As for E10 compatibility, its good news for nearly all of us!

https://www.acea.be/uploads/publications/ACEA_E10_compatibility.pdf

Not great for AMG cars, non are compatible! That can't be right.

 

[Neiltodd]

Not great for AMG cars, non are compatible! That can't be right.

Am I misreading the compatible Mercs, looks like most except a few specifically listed and those older than 25 years or do AMGs not have 3 way catalysts ?

 

[John]

Having owned a 211 55 for 5.5 years, I have to say it was by far and away one of the greatest cars I've owned and ever will own.

However, as already alluded to, they are very expensive to run and are ageing now - the newest being 14 years old now.

Will they appreciate like some of the other popular classic fast cars?

No.

The difference is over stuff like E39 M5s etc. is the 211 55 has AirMATIC, very-complicated electronics as well as SBC (somewhat over-engineered).

It is a great car and even in standard form, will see of plenty of stuff even now, as you have stated OP.

But I don't see it ever hitting anything higher than now and if anything, they will drop and become even more of a bargain (if you can stomach the running costs).

 

[flowrider]

Am I misreading the compatible Mercs, looks like most except a few specifically listed and those older than 25 years or do AMGs not have 3 way catalysts ?

Ignore me,. I need to learn to read better.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

My advice would be to never buy or hold on to a car as an investment unless you are genuinely doing it for fun and can afford to either hold onfor the long term without affecting your ability to buy other cars.

There’s a heap of luck involved in investing in the right car at the right time, and to get top money then you need to pour as much - or even more - money into the car in repairs and maintenance than it will appreciate.

Rather than an investment, think of it as a pension. You’ll pour money into it for years on the promise of a big reward, only to thing “bugger” every time you look at the annual statement of value and payments!

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

The E55 is no E39 M5. That M5 was legendary in terms of performance and appearance, and their crazy values reflect their rarity in the hands of "only used for going to church on Sunday" owners.

Where are W211 E55's going? Look at prices ACTUALLY achieved at auction for W210 E55's of comparable mileage to where you expect your car to be. Don't kid yourself that high asking prices in Autotrader result in sales.

Here's a typical 150k mile example REF 51 2001 Mercedes-Benz E55 AMG

The good news: they're well-built cars that will roll on for ever, if you can be bothered to maintain them.

But they're not heading to the big money which is reserved for immaculate, ultra low mileage, garaged cars which were much rarer "back in the day."

 

[Major774]

Problem with the W210’s... they are rust buckets.

 

[Deleted member 37751]

The E55 is no E39 M5. That M5 was legendary in terms of performance and appearance, and their crazy values reflect their rarity in the hands of "only used for going to church on Sunday" owners.

Where are W211 E55's going? Look at prices ACTUALLY achieved at auction for W210 E55's of comparable mileage to where you expect your car to be. Don't kid yourself that high asking prices in Autotrader result in sales.

Here's a typical 150k mile example REF 51 2001 Mercedes-Benz E55 AMG

The good news: they're well-built cars that will roll on for ever, if you can be bothered to maintain them.

But they're not heading to the big money which is reserved for immaculate, ultra low mileage, garaged cars which were much rarer "back in the day."

Very different proposition to the W211 - the W210 was universally derided for its looks and was a rust bucket making a very small potential market even thinner!

 

[Will]

That auction was four years ago.

And that car is missing it’s 18” AMG Monoblock wheels, worth a fair chunk of the value of cars like that.

Sadly the car is no longer on the road, I expect it’s 5.4 litre heart has been transplanted into something more desirable now

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

That auction was four years ago. And that car is missing it’s 18” AMG Monoblock wheels, worth a fair chunk of the value of cars like that.
Sadly the car is no longer on the road, I expect it’s 5.4 litre heart has been transplanted into something more desirable now

Understood. The challenge was to find an E55 that had actually been sold at auction with a six figure number on the odometer, and that was NOT a Japanese import.

OK, here's one from 2017 auction, with 80k on the clock that sold for £9,500.
This appears to be a two owner car that claims to have a "full Mercedes Benz history"

Ref 103 2000 Mercedes-Benz E55 AMG

 

[Will]

I think part of the difficulty in valuing a W210 E55, is that they’re not really classics and hence the slightly newer W211 E55 is just a better car all round.

Better looking (subjective) and they don’t really rust either
Better to drive
Better performance

Not saying the earlier cars don’t have their place, but you’ve really got to want one these days with that in mind. Something that that rusts quicker than anything on the road and gets beaten off the lights by a 2.0 Golf

£9500 for that one is strong money IMHO, and I think it’s mainly the mileage that helped it achieve that. I would also expect that the bodywork would have been exceptional to achieve a figure like that for a W210

 

[buccal]

I didn’t realise the W211 was much better than the 210 rust wise.

Do they feel much faster than the N/A lump?

 

[John]

I didn’t realise the W211 was much better than the 210 rust wise.

Do they feel much faster than the N/A lump?

Yes, a lot and more so when cold-galvanising came in. It wasn't a silver bullet but it did well to stem the tide. If you look around now, see how many rust-bucket 211s you can find. There were plenty of 210s not so long ago.

I've never driven both but having owned an Alpina B10 V8, running 347BHP which is probably about the same performance as a 210 55, the difference is night and day!

I'm also not sure one could compare a 210 as they are a hell of a lot more ugly and rust-buckets - not to mention quite a bit slower as above.

However, I still don't think the 211 will ever reach "up there".

 

[buccal]

Yes, a lot and more so when cold-galvanising came in. It wasn't a silver bullet but it did well to stem the tide. If you look around now, see how many rust-bucket 211s you can find. There were plenty of 210s not so long ago.

I've never driven both but having owned an Alpina B10 V8, running 347BHP which is probably about the same performance as a 210 55, the difference is night and day!

I'm also not sure one could compare a 210 as they are a hell of a lot more ugly and rust-buckets - not to mention quite a bit slower as above.

However, I still don't think the 211 will ever reach "up there".

Cheers John,

Funnily enough I nearly bought a V8s back in the day. Wish I had now as it was about 11k iirc at the time.

 

[John]

Cheers John,

Funnily enough I nearly bought a V8s back in the day. Wish I had now as it was about 11k iirc at the time.

There weren't many and I think you could do a bit better on resale because of that - £11k was not a bad price if it was a good one.

Not a big difference between a V8 and S though.

 

[E55BOF]

I replaced a W210 E55 with a W211 E55; the performance was in a totally different league. Coming from a Saab 9-5 Aero, I thought the W210 was fast...

It all depends what you're used to.

 

[buccal]

I replaced a W210 E55 with a W211 E55; the performance was in a totally different league. Coming from a Saab 9-5 Aero, I thought the W210 was fast...

It all depends what you're used to.

Ten years in my 55 (W208) means I’m complete used to the performance.
Still love the car but I do fancy a bit more ooomph

 

[Will]

I didn’t realise the W211 was much better than the 210 rust wise.

Do they feel much faster than the N/A lump?

W211s don’t really have a problem with rust, if you’re unlucky you can get one with slight blistering on the rear arches and/or the tailgate (not sure on the saloons though). I’ve never heard of any structural rust issues though and the earliest ones are getting on for 18 years old now?

By comparison, the W210s were pretty bad at half this age, they were going frilly around the edges when they were still quite new, and many had new panels (wings/doors etc) and resprays under warranty etc but they still rusted again and again. I think many have been scrapped now - spring perches used to come away, and the front cross members used to rot out. The majority of 210s will be toast under those sill covers now as well I reckon, holes in the boot floors and behind the bumpers on the wagons was common years back so not going to be pretty there either. Over the last few years they’ve just about disappeared - considering how many they made that is a pity. There’s a few tatty ones hanging in there and no doubt some garage queens too, but not as common a site as they were 5-10 years back. Can’t remember the last time I saw a 210 E55 on the road come to think of it - maybe their rarity will boost values in the future!

Power/performance wise I would say there’s a pretty huge difference. The N/A 5.4 is still a champ but once you’ve driven the 5.4K it’s just a different league. They have a about a third more power and torque (about 130hp more - the same amount extra as a decent family car engine?!), but the way in which it’s delivered just pins you back from a couple of thousand RPM onwards and they keep pulling. Feels like they can hit a ton by the time the NA is pulling 80. The torque improvement is unreal from such low revs. I’m sure there will be stats out there for 1/4 mile, 0-100mph etc but I think to be fair, the 55K is still a pretty quick car even today - in the real world they just dig their heels in and shoot off at almost any gear or speed.

I think you’d like them if you tried one - everything you love about your current ‘55 but with the extra surge from the supercharger

 

[buccal]

W211s don’t really have a problem with rust, if you’re unlucky you can get one with slight blistering on the rear arches and/or the tailgate (not sure on the saloons though). I’ve never heard of any structural rust issues though and the earliest ones are getting on for 18 years old now?

By comparison, the W210s were pretty bad at half this age, they were going frilly around the edges when they were still quite new, and many had new panels (wings/doors etc) and resprays under warranty etc but they still rusted again and again. I think many have been scrapped now - spring perches used to come away, and the front cross members used to rot out. The majority of 210s will be toast under those sill covers now as well I reckon, holes in the boot floors and behind the bumpers on the wagons was common years back so not going to be pretty there either. Over the last few years they’ve just about disappeared - considering how many they made that is a pity. There’s a few tatty ones hanging in there and no doubt some garage queens too, but not as common a site as they were 5-10 years back. Can’t remember the last time I saw a 210 E55 on the road come to think of it - maybe their rarity will boost values in the future!

Power/performance wise I would say there’s a pretty huge difference. The N/A 5.4 is still a champ but once you’ve driven the 5.4K it’s just a different league. They have a about a third more power and torque (about 130hp more - the same amount extra as a decent family car engine?!), but the way in which it’s delivered just pins you back from a couple of thousand RPM onwards and they keep pulling. Feels like they can hit a ton by the time the NA is pulling 80. The torque improvement is unreal from such low revs. I’m sure there will be stats out there for 1/4 mile, 0-100mph etc but I think to be fair, the 55K is still a pretty quick car even today - in the real world they just dig their heels in and shoot off at almost any gear or speed.

I think you’d like them if you tried one - everything you love about your current ‘55 but with the extra surge from the supercharger

Cheers Will, all good advice.

Meant to text you last weekend: I did check the garage and a 211 would fit no problem

 

[John]

Aside from the technical differences I mentioned above, the W211 E55 is slightly oddball which is another reason I don't think it will reach the great heights in terms of value.

With an E39, you know you are getting a thoroughbred racing saloon with the abilities that go along with it based on years of evolution from the first M5 (which in reality was an E12 M535i I believe).

The 211 E55 is too soft for that. It has the pace and does handle well but for me, it never really quite fit into any category although that's one thing I really loved.

One day I could be chauffeuring someone through London at 30mph in immense-comfort, the next day I could be on a runway trying to beat the 179mph I just clocked up at Vmax.

Not to mention the intoxicating sound of the car, the comfy seats and the fact it was very practical and safe as an everyday proposition.

So they are more of a 4 door GT which just randomly rocked up with masses of power.

I just don't think they have the following because of that and they have never really reached a mass popularity like some cars, even though I also enjoyed that exclusivity too.

They are also a bit "old man / airport run taxi" too for most people but I also loved the fact people saw a smelly old taxi-looking thing, of which mine easily showed a clean pair of heels to a Ferrari California and Audi R8 V10 once upon a time.

So a mixed bag and perhaps even a bit nerdy but I can totally see why they are/were very popular but only appealing to a small niche - because I love all the aspects that made them so.