Goodbye Odyssey, hello e550

CamasM3e93 · 08-09-2021, 11:43 AM

My family universally hated our '16 Honda Odyssey and we needed a sedan for the ease of entry/exiting for my aging in-laws. So I traded in the family van for a 2013 Mercedes E550. It's got a bi-turbo V8 with 400+ horsepower, tunable to 500+. The things we do for family....

Anyone with experience with the e550 and the things I need to address?

It's got 90k miles. I'm setting up for:

oil change
coolant flush
transmission fluid and filter
differential
brake fluid flush and pad/rotor inspection
spark plugs
air filters and cabin filter

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Foggins · 08-09-2021, 11:48 AM

What a great trade up! I’ve always liked they styling of those Mercedes models. Very classy.

Vivek. · 08-09-2021, 12:12 PM

Sharp looking car, 550 is no slouch either. Nice trade up from the minivan!

JamesGames · 08-09-2021, 12:16 PM

Check the suspension. My father owns a 2011 W212 550. E550 is notorious for issues with its airmatic suspension.. issue too is the parts aren't cheap even if you don't use OEM. But when your suspension starts sagging, typically the air suspension shocks need to be replaced, but the car also uses normal struts, which aren't cheap either because of them being electronically controlled.

Cost us about 5k with labor to replace everything (not all 4 corners!). Our air compressor for the shocks seemed to have issues as well.

Other than the costly airmatic suspension, the A/C compressor also went out, as well as the control for the navigation. Car currently sits at 70k miles. Hope you have better luck!

Can't say the car was cheap to maintain, hope you have better luck. As for the 16' odyssey.. you will miss those maintenance costs in comparison.

Fritzer · 08-09-2021, 04:17 PM

Camas! I was staying in Eastern Vancouver, WA Fall 2020 -> Early 2021. Loved it, great area.

I can sort of understand the appeal of Minivans, but honestly I could never buy one. The practicality is not worth all the other downsides, for me personally. The E550 is a great car! Quite rare, relative to the rest of the W212 models. Not sure about that particular engine, but W212 cars have seem to proven themselves in terms of reliability. Enjoy it! Weistec has some good tuning options for 550s I hear.

Germanauto · 08-09-2021, 04:21 PM

Congrats. Always liked those wheels. Proper executive sedan.

stein_325i · 08-09-2021, 04:29 PM

Congrats. The W212 is a great platform and the 550 is a strong engine. Enjoy the new Benz!

..Rush.. · 08-09-2021, 04:33 PM

Love Mercedes Benz! Congrats!

Fritzer · 08-10-2021, 02:57 PM

Gotta have some Munich love to our Benz brothers over in Stuttgart!

chassis · 08-10-2021, 09:20 PM

Great looking E-Class. Agree the V8 W212 is well loved. Suspension is an area to watch. Keep up with the maintenance. Take care of anything on the MB maintenance schedule that you don't have documented from the previous owner/dealer.

Your list of upcoming maintenance work is good.

08-09-2021, 11:43 AM	#1
CamasM3e93 Friends don't let friends ESS 3185 Rep 875 Posts Drives: '11 Lemans Blue 6mt Harrop e90 Join Date: Dec 2020 Location: Camas, WA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2011 E90 M3 [9.00] 2003 Porsche 911 Turbo [9.75] 2019 BMW X5 xDrive40i [0.00] 2013 Mercedes E550 ... [0.00]	Goodbye Odyssey, hello e550 My family universally hated our '16 Honda Odyssey and we needed a sedan for the ease of entry/exiting for my aging in-laws. So I traded in the family van for a 2013 Mercedes E550. It's got a bi-turbo V8 with 400+ horsepower, tunable to 500+. The things we do for family.... Anyone with experience with the e550 and the things I need to address? It's got 90k miles. I'm setting up for: oil change coolant flush transmission fluid and filter differential brake fluid flush and pad/rotor inspection spark plugs air filters and cabin filter
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08-09-2021, 11:48 AM	#2
Foggins Restless 1335 Rep 1,031 Posts Drives: M2C Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Dallas & Toronto iTrader: (0)	What a great trade up! I’ve always liked they styling of those Mercedes models. Very classy.
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08-09-2021, 12:16 PM	#4
JamesGames Major 1326 Rep 1,481 Posts Drives: E60 550i\|F82 M4\|F48 X1\|VA STi Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: SOCAL iTrader: (0)	Check the suspension. My father owns a 2011 W212 550. E550 is notorious for issues with its airmatic suspension.. issue too is the parts aren't cheap even if you don't use OEM. But when your suspension starts sagging, typically the air suspension shocks need to be replaced, but the car also uses normal struts, which aren't cheap either because of them being electronically controlled. Cost us about 5k with labor to replace everything (not all 4 corners!). Our air compressor for the shocks seemed to have issues as well. Other than the costly airmatic suspension, the A/C compressor also went out, as well as the control for the navigation. Car currently sits at 70k miles. Hope you have better luck! Can't say the car was cheap to maintain, hope you have better luck. As for the 16' odyssey.. you will miss those maintenance costs in comparison.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-09-2021, 04:17 PM	#5
Fritzer No one sleep in Tokyo 945 Rep 1,507 Posts Drives: 2011 E90 328i//1995 E34 530i Join Date: Oct 2018 Location: San Diego, California -> Austin, Texas iTrader: (3)	Camas! I was staying in Eastern Vancouver, WA Fall 2020 -> Early 2021. Loved it, great area. I can sort of understand the appeal of Minivans, but honestly I could never buy one. The practicality is not worth all the other downsides, for me personally. The E550 is a great car! Quite rare, relative to the rest of the W212 models. Not sure about that particular engine, but W212 cars have seem to proven themselves in terms of reliability. Enjoy it! Weistec has some good tuning options for 550s I hear. __________________ 2011 E90 328i, 1995 E34 530i, 1992 E32 740i, 1991 E34 525i
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08-09-2021, 04:21 PM	#6
Germanauto Major General 9715 Rep 6,087 Posts Drives: Alfa Romeo Giulia, Rosso Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: LA iTrader: (0)	Congrats. Always liked those wheels. Proper executive sedan. __________________ Former -2008 E90 328 black/brown -2012 Lexus IS250 black/black
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08-09-2021, 04:29 PM	#7
stein_325i Ring Leader of G8X Haters 25086 Rep 8,762 Posts Drives: A Car Join Date: Dec 2017 Location: All-Around iTrader: (0)	Congrats. The W212 is a great platform and the 550 is a strong engine. Enjoy the new Benz! __________________ Current Garage: 2022 Mercedes-Benz S 580 / 2023 Genesis GV70 2.5T / 2007 Mercedes-Benz E 350 / 1999 Mazda MX-5 Miata Retired: '95 E36 325i 5MT / '04 E46 330i 6MT / '05 E83 X3 3.0i / '11 E90 335xi / '17 G30 540i / '19 F87 M2C 6MT / '19 MB CLS 53 / '20 MB GLC 300
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08-09-2021, 04:33 PM	#8
..Rush.. Captain 974 Rep 928 Posts Drives: AW E88 Join Date: Mar 2019 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	Love Mercedes Benz! Congrats!
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08-10-2021, 02:57 PM	#9
Fritzer No one sleep in Tokyo 945 Rep 1,507 Posts Drives: 2011 E90 328i//1995 E34 530i Join Date: Oct 2018 Location: San Diego, California -> Austin, Texas iTrader: (3)	Gotta have some Munich love to our Benz brothers over in Stuttgart! __________________ 2011 E90 328i, 1995 E34 530i, 1992 E32 740i, 1991 E34 525i
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08-10-2021, 09:20 PM	#10
chassis Colonel 6591 Rep 2,315 Posts Drives: 9Y0 Cayenne S Join Date: Mar 2019 Location: Einbahnstraße iTrader: (0) Garage List 2020 Porsche Cayenne S [7.69]	Great looking E-Class. Agree the V8 W212 is well loved. Suspension is an area to watch. Keep up with the maintenance. Take care of anything on the MB maintenance schedule that you don't have documented from the previous owner/dealer. Your list of upcoming maintenance work is good.
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