BACK IN AN AMG.....AGAIN!!

[rockits]

So after a long time searching and waiting. Also having the E43 Estate last year that I wasn't happy with. Then an S211 E500 Estate this year that I wasn't 100% content with I have found what I was looking for. Took some time, patience and a little heartache missing out on some others recently but finally got there!

An example came on the market earlier in the week so contacted the seller, worked out a deal then collected yesterday. That is my daily all rounder done for the rest of my days now. No need to ever look for anything else again. I'm done and happy

 

[Felonious Crud]

Well done, Dean! What is it spec, year, what do you like about it etc?

 

[rockits]

Well done, Dean! What is it spec, year, what do you like about it etc?

Thanks Adam. After a few years of not having so much to smile about, such a simple thing has put a little smile on my face which is very welcomed of course.

It is a 2005 S211 E55K Estate. So an M113K 5.5 litre Supercharged V8 with conventional 5 speed auto and 796 lb/ft or 1,079 Nm of torque.
The brakes are 8 piston calliper fronts with 360mm discs and the rears are 4 piston callipers with 330mm discs.
Then 18" AMG alloys with 245/40/18 front tyres and 265/35/18 rears.

Documented with just under 500bhp but many have 500bhp and more as seemed to be understated by Mercedes as to not parallel the SL55 AMG at the time. So often 0-60mph in low 4's with a huge boot and load space seats down. Some have the 7 seat option too.
Just an amazingly comfortable, fast, capable practical car that glides along without effort. Safe and pretty reliable too with no major design flaws. For me it is the pinnacle of what has been built ever. It is the true all one car IMHO and I find it hard to fault anything. It drives well for comfort, is very interesting to drive for the driver, sounds great, slips a little under the radar, steers really well, tons of grip.

The example I have bought is a very very rare metallic Flint Grey as most are silver, then other black with a tiny handful in blue/grey. It has done 102k miles which is pretty low for a car like this as most have done 120k-180k. They feel like they will do 500k miles without a sweat. I cannot recommend them enough for anyone looking for something like this.

 

[lozcb]

So after a long time searching and waiting. Also having the E43 Estate last year that I wasn't happy with. Then an S211 E500 Estate this year that I wasn't 100% content with I have found what I was looking for. Took some time, patience and a little heartache missing out on some others recently but finally got there!

An example came on the market earlier in the week so contacted the seller, worked out a deal then collected yesterday. That is my daily all rounder done for the rest of my days now. No need to ever look for anything else again. I'm done and happy

Looks a beaut Dean , well done , you can now focus and start to finally work out what the real priorities are going forward

 

[lozcb]

Looks a beaut Dean , well done , you can now focus and start to finally work out what the real priorities are going forward

I suggest research and learn to become a prepper

 

[rockits]

Looks a beaut Dean , well done , you can now focus and start to finally work out what the real priorities are going forward

Thanks and agreed. Takes a lot of time to think, search and find the ideal car sometimes. I get many hours back now for good use.

 

[rockits]

I suggest research and learn to become a prepper

Prepper?

 

[CatmanV2]

What a fabulous beast

Prepper?

Someone who 'prepares' for the 'imminent' breakdown of society. Plenty other definitions out there

C

 

[rockits]

Someone who 'prepares' for the 'imminent' breakdown of society. Plenty other definitions out there

C

Ah, OK. Thanks.

Already making good progress there. Still plenty to do but need the national planning expectorate to pull their fingers out!

 

[rockits]

What a fabulous beast

C

Thanks. I think so. They have to be driven and owned I think to really be appreciated. Very under estimated or missed by most I believe.

 

[Andyk]

Nice one Dean. Looks a nice example that.

 

[Guy]

Thanks Adam. After a few years of not having so much to smile about, such a simple thing has put a little smile on my face which is very welcomed of course.

It is a 2005 S211 E55K Estate. So an M113K 5.5 litre Supercharged V8 with conventional 5 speed auto and 796 lb/ft or 1,079 Nm of torque.
The brakes are 8 piston calliper fronts with 360mm discs and the rears are 4 piston callipers with 330mm discs.
Then 18" AMG alloys with 245/40/18 front tyres and 265/35/18 rears.

Documented with just under 500bhp but many have 500bhp and more as seemed to be understated by Mercedes as to not parallel the SL55 AMG at the time. So often 0-60mph in low 4's with a huge boot and load space seats down. Some have the 7 seat option too.
Just an amazingly comfortable, fast, capable practical car that glides along without effort. Safe and pretty reliable too with no major design flaws. For me it is the pinnacle of what has been built ever. It is the true all one car IMHO and I find it hard to fault anything. It drives well for comfort, is very interesting to drive for the driver, sounds great, slips a little under the radar, steers really well, tons of grip.

The example I have bought is a very very rare metallic Flint Grey as most are silver, then other black with a tiny handful in blue/grey. It has done 102k miles which is pretty low for a car like this as most have done 120k-180k. They feel like they will do 500k miles without a sweat. I cannot recommend them enough for anyone looking for something like this.

Great choice, I have had two of them (sadly both silver) and the 7 seater option (4 kids) made a much better alternative to a Disco 3 or MPV of any description at the time. Sold both to friends who added another 100k miles to them and were delighted. Issues were not the important stuff but all the ecu stuff for Distronic and electrical paraphernalia. Tech was ahead of its time. Both mine had 700 Nm and 596ft/lbs of torque. Have you squeezed a hybrid power unit in the back?!!

 

[rockits]

Great choice, I have had two of them (sadly both silver) and the 7 seater option (4 kids) made a much better alternative to a Disco 3 or MPV of any description at the time. Sold both to friends who added another 100k miles to them and were delighted. Issues were not the important stuff but all the ecu stuff for Distronic and electrical paraphernalia. Tech was ahead of its time. Both mine had 700 Nm and 596ft/lbs of torque. Have you squeezed a hybrid power unit in the back?!!

Nice work and agreed on all fronts. I've had one with 5 seats and one with 7 seats. The current E500 I have has the 7 seats but the new E55K is just the 5 seater. Suits me now as we wouldn't use those seats now as the kids are too big really.

LOL, you are quite correct on the power/torque figures. It was a Wikipedia extract......for the gearbox
It is indeed 516 lb/ft & 700 Nm of torque for the engine. Although not sure if that is right either.

 

[lozcb]

Thanks and agreed. Takes a lot of time to think, search and find the ideal car sometimes. I get many hours back now for good use.

My brother had one and swore by it , ( not at it lol ) didnt miss a beat for over 10 years , but when it went wrong bills were on the heavy side

 

[rockits]

My brother had one and swore by it , ( not at it lol ) didnt miss a beat for over 10 years , but when it went wrong bills were on the heavy side

Sounds about right. The SBC pump can go but oddly that can be still a Mercedes contributed or paid for claim as was a safety issue or recall I think. The airmatic pump/system can have some issues same as the suspension air bags but all the same as all systems really. A big community of both 3rd paty non-OEM alternatives and refurb options these days so nothing is really that horrendous. The main engine, gearbox and SC running gear is all very hardy and pretty bulletproof. Keyless Go handles go at about £120 each but still work fine anyway.

Brakes are epic and not silly silly expensive. Tyres not too ruinous. Also buy in prices are not too silly either. I looked at an S^ and RS6 but entry cost was higher than I really wanted and they are still quite dull essentially.

Any AMG of this era still has a little something about it you can't quite describe or put your finger on.

If anyone is after a cheap well spec'd Mercedes E500 Avantgarde 7 Seater Estate it will be exiting at some point.

 

[Oneball]

I don’t think you can get a contribution for the SBC from Merc as it has a service life number of cycles when it needs replacing. They rarely actually go wrong.

Have you got the secret 6 cd changer above the ashtray?

 

[Guy]

Sounds about right. The SBC pump can go but oddly that can be still a Mercedes contributed or paid for claim as was a safety issue or recall I think. The airmatic pump/system can have some issues same as the suspension air bags but all the same as all systems really. A big community of both 3rd paty non-OEM alternatives and refurb options these days so nothing is really that horrendous. The main engine, gearbox and SC running gear is all very hardy and pretty bulletproof. Keyless Go handles go at about £120 each but still work fine anyway.

Brakes are epic and not silly silly expensive. Tyres not too ruinous. Also buy in prices are not too silly either. I looked at an S^ and RS6 but entry cost was higher than I really wanted and they are still quite dull essentially.

Any AMG of this era still has a little something about it you can't quite describe or put your finger on.

If anyone is after a cheap well spec'd Mercedes E500 Avantgarde 7 Seater Estate it will be exiting at some point.

One of my E55Ks replaced an RS6 Avant. Great car and wonderful soundtrack but the Merc ride was significantly better and running costs much cheaper!

 

[rockits]

I don’t think you can get a contribution for the SBC from Merc as it has a service life number of cycles when it needs replacing. They rarely actually go wrong.

Have you got the secret 6 cd changer above the ashtray?

Maybe it is dependant on the car for the SBC. I lost out on one the other week and the seller had mentioned he had got a new SBC pump and even all new callipers from his local MB dealer all covered by MB which I found amazing.

Yes, the secret 6 disc CD changer is there. Came filled with Les Misérables Discs 1 & 2 in the first 2 slots

 

[rockits]

One of my E55Ks replaced an RS6 Avant. Great car and wonderful soundtrack but the Merc ride was significantly better and running costs much cheaper!

Yes, I'd agree with that. Found the S6 and RS6 I looked at and drove perfectly fine. However the ride in the E55K is certainly better. Just wafts, floats and glides along but still decent enough in Sports 1 and Sports 2 if you want a bit more control. I'd even go as far to say it even just pips the XJL SuperSport I had for ride quality too. Close but the E55K just feels so solid and so planted at all times with a more flowing ride quality top it.

 

[Oneball]

Yes, the secret 6 disc CD changer is there. Came filled with Les Misérables Discs 1 & 2 in the first 2 slots

Is there still time to get a refund!!