finally mine, 2005 Mercedes E55 AMG
#16
Lead Lap
Thread Starter
i hear where you're coming from lol, but i can do much of the work myself or at the dealership i work at. depending on how you approach it, these don't need to be THAT expensive to keep running. i'd be kidding myself to say it's a cheap car to own, but considering how affordable the initial cost is it definitely works itself out. but yes, if you were to just go to the dealership and say "fix it" you'll get quite a bill...
#17
Lexus Fanatic
iTrader: (20)
Awesome car. And yes, for only $11k even if you put $10k into it over a few years, WHO CARES, you're driving an epic legendary beaast
#18
Lexus Fanatic
You're at the right stage of your life to deal with it that's for sure lol. Enjoy!
#19
Lexus Fanatic
iTrader: (1)
buddy of mind has a 04 SL55 AMG, if you fix the common issues its actually quite reliable. Change out the fluid in the ABC suspension (does E have it?) quick or it will become an expensive repair, despite Benz saying there is no change interval. Replace bearing like you have mentioned with metal one, plastic one thats on it now can fail catastrophically. Can change the supercharger fluid also for extra peace of mind also
#22
Lead Lap
Thread Starter
buddy of mind has a 04 SL55 AMG, if you fix the common issues its actually quite reliable. Change out the fluid in the ABC suspension (does E have it?) quick or it will become an expensive repair, despite Benz saying there is no change interval. Replace bearing like you have mentioned with metal one, plastic one thats on it now can fail catastrophically. Can change the supercharger fluid also for extra peace of mind also
#24
Lexus Champion
Beautiful car and congrats! She looks mean, and man I bet she turns heads and sounds great. Plus there's always the clout of that 3 pointed star.
The packaging you mention is part of what makes these cars so hard to work on, and therefore expensive for people who aren't DIY inclined. And they also run hottt because they're so crammed in there. I'm glad you are DIY inclined, lol that will mitigate a chunk of the ownership cost. But still, be a little weary. If a Mercedes is expensive to keep running an AMG is INSANE to keep running. Have you followed the blog where the guy had an R55 and the engine went due to a bolt and the bill was like $57k (IIRC)?
All in all congrats though and look forward to seeing updates! She's a beauty!!
All in all congrats though and look forward to seeing updates! She's a beauty!!
#25
Does this car have air suspension???? If it does, how much of a PITA is it to convert it to steel springs and conventional shocks? As I've owned a couple Cadillacs with the rear load leveling suspension(mafia guys love it, stuff the trunk with 3 bodies, the rear doesn't sag and give you away to the cops), it wasn't that hard to or expensive to switch to regular shocks/springs(take your pick of other GM RWD springs/shocks, they bolt right in)
I know on some luxury cars it isn't the engine/trans that gets you on the repair bills, its the overly complex suspension bits that make your hair turn grey.
I know on some luxury cars it isn't the engine/trans that gets you on the repair bills, its the overly complex suspension bits that make your hair turn grey.
#26
Lead Lap
Thread Starter
Beautiful car and congrats! She looks mean, and man I bet she turns heads and sounds great. Plus there's always the clout of that 3 pointed star.
The packaging you mention is part of what makes these cars so hard to work on, and therefore expensive for people who aren't DIY inclined. And they also run hottt because they're so crammed in there. I'm glad you are DIY inclined, lol that will mitigate a chunk of the ownership cost. But still, be a little weary. If a Mercedes is expensive to keep running an AMG is INSANE to keep running. Have you followed the blog where the guy had an R55 and the engine went due to a bolt and the bill was like $57k (IIRC)?
All in all congrats though and look forward to seeing updates! She's a beauty!!
The packaging you mention is part of what makes these cars so hard to work on, and therefore expensive for people who aren't DIY inclined. And they also run hottt because they're so crammed in there. I'm glad you are DIY inclined, lol that will mitigate a chunk of the ownership cost. But still, be a little weary. If a Mercedes is expensive to keep running an AMG is INSANE to keep running. Have you followed the blog where the guy had an R55 and the engine went due to a bolt and the bill was like $57k (IIRC)?
All in all congrats though and look forward to seeing updates! She's a beauty!!
#27
Lead Lap
Thread Starter
Does this car have air suspension???? If it does, how much of a PITA is it to convert it to steel springs and conventional shocks? As I've owned a couple Cadillacs with the rear load leveling suspension(mafia guys love it, stuff the trunk with 3 bodies, the rear doesn't sag and give you away to the cops), it wasn't that hard to or expensive to switch to regular shocks/springs(take your pick of other GM RWD springs/shocks, they bolt right in)
I know on some luxury cars it isn't the engine/trans that gets you on the repair bills, its the overly complex suspension bits that make your hair turn grey.
I know on some luxury cars it isn't the engine/trans that gets you on the repair bills, its the overly complex suspension bits that make your hair turn grey.
#28
I'm just asking, because I've thought about buying one of these cars. I'd like to get back into the "hotrod" scene, last fast car I had was a 1998 Camaro Z28 drop top, and that was 7 years ago. I want something a bit nicer/more refined than a 4th gen Fbody, but at my price point(15kish), I really don't like the GM options, which are a C5 Vette, a GTO, a slow RCSB truck that would need a turbo build to be fast, or a junky POS 1st gen CTS-V. Been maybe thinking about a 2nd gen Charger or Challenger, but at that price I'm hard pressed to get the big 6.1 or 6.4 Hemi V8 that I'd want.
#30
Lead Lap
Thread Starter
*slight update*
last night i replaced that idler pulley bearing i mentioned earlier that was going clackity clackity, had to borrow my mechanic friend's snap ring pliers and T50 torx bit but all in all saved about $470 in parts alone by replacing just the bearing and not the entire pulley assembly and no more clackity clackity! only the intercooler pump remains and i'll probably get the chance to put that in tuesday... so far things have been good with the car (knock on wood) and i'm happy with it
last night i replaced that idler pulley bearing i mentioned earlier that was going clackity clackity, had to borrow my mechanic friend's snap ring pliers and T50 torx bit but all in all saved about $470 in parts alone by replacing just the bearing and not the entire pulley assembly and no more clackity clackity! only the intercooler pump remains and i'll probably get the chance to put that in tuesday... so far things have been good with the car (knock on wood) and i'm happy with it