Familiar with 2003 Mercedes E500 (V-8)?

HardDrive · 02-25-2006, 05:57 PM

Anyone have any experience with this strain of V-8 Mercedes? I found one in great condition. Price ($35k) seems too cheap. Are these engines mechanical nightmares?

Its through a dealer, so I have the option of extending the warranty for about $2k a year.

mike f · 02-25-2006, 08:04 PM

Run!! Run I tell you and don't look back!! I have one and it is a nightmare. Bad year for this car. Where to start? Ticking from motor when first purchased. That was due to engine mounts that the factory knew were problematic. After a few months, a rear taillight assembly went. LEDs, so they replaced the unit. I am on my 3rd CD player (at least this one finally-for now- works). AC control unit replaced twice. Upper and lower control arm bushings, front struts, rear shocks, all replaced . Repair of transmission mount. Most recently an idler pulley froze, car was towed to shop for repair. Luckily after most of this went wrong, I was able to get the extended warranty at no charge to me. 4 yrs, 100,000 mies. The car is 3 yrs old and currently has 55k miles. I am trading it in and buying a Infiiniti FX 35 (or at least that's what I am thinking of getting).
My father-in-law has the same car. Car overheated on the initial ride home from the dealer-problem with radiator fan electricals. Transmission needed to be replaced at approx 30k miles.

Did I say RUN???

nostatic · nostatic's Garage

what kinda wheels does it have on it?

island911 · 02-25-2006, 08:30 PM

I took the advice of others here, almost. The word being MBz started going cheap around 1996. I looked at a lot of the 90's S models (W140 S320, 420 & 500's) and could certainly see what they mean. MBz started taking out a lot of cool little features. to cut costs. (I ended up with a 1997 anyway) For a data point, the model replacing the W140, in 2000, weighed ~800lbs less. (not from a a switch to CF

) Though I vaguely remember hearing they used more alloys on the engine.

I can tell you that the 90's 500's can have some seriously high milage and still run great. ( I looked at one w/ 273K, just for a data point)

In reviewing various repair histories, i saw no big gotchas.

The market on used Mercedes is hyper-soft. Apparently because people do just what you have done; freak at the prospects of repair$$$$.

Definitely check out some of the Benz boards - tho, for the most part, asking about a 2003 E500 there, is like asking about a 2003 Boxster here. (newer, more complicated = crap)

island911 · 08:50 PM

FWIW, the pricing should be about right, per Edmunds.com

. . .tho, when you go to license it, the State will likely tax you on ~50k

HardDrive · 02-25-2006, 09:28 PM

Thanks guys.

That what I suspected.

It explains why a car that cost over $60k new, only 3 years ago, is now available for only $35k. Edmunds said that is on target.

Maybe if they throw in another 3 years of warranty.....drive that puppy 4 years then dump it the day before the warranty expires.

HardDrive · 02-25-2006, 09:32 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mike f
Run!! Run I tell you and don't look back!! I have one and it is a nightmare. Bad year for this car. Where to start? Ticking from motor when first purchased. That was due to engine mounts that the factory knew were problematic. After a few months, a rear taillight assembly went. LEDs, so they replaced the unit. I am on my 3rd CD player (at least this one finally-for now- works). AC control unit replaced twice. Upper and lower control arm bushings, front struts, rear shocks, all replaced . Repair of transmission mount. Most recently an idler pulley froze, car was towed to shop for repair. Luckily after most of this went wrong, I was able to get the extended warranty at no charge to me. 4 yrs, 100,000 mies. The car is 3 yrs old and currently has 55k miles. I am trading it in and buying a Infiiniti FX 35 (or at least that's what I am thinking of getting).
My father-in-law has the same car. Car overheated on the initial ride home from the dealer-problem with radiator fan electricals. Transmission needed to be replaced at approx 30k miles.

Did I say RUN???

That is just scary. Hell, I complain about a few sensors going out in my VW. The biggest thing I have had to do is replace the rear rotors. 62K. Maybe that GTI is a good idea.....