Is buying a cheap old Mercedes-AMG as financially unwise as it sounds? – Jalopnik

Not all used Mercedes-AMG cars are money suckers that will force you to dig into your kids’ college fund. Some are cheap to purchase and reasonable to maintain. Consider these three factors in your budget AMG search: which old Mercedes-Benz AMG model you want, how well it’s been cared for, and whether you should rely on it for everyday transportation. Plus, some increase in value, so you might even get lucky and buy a valuable asset.

As nice as it would be to include ultra-rare AMG hammers that can run you $4 million a pair, let’s focus on models that came out after Mercedes and AMG (Aufrecht Melcher Großaspach) became financial bedfellows in 1990. That way you don’t need a time machine to invest in pre-merger Mercedes-AMG cars or sell vital organs. Whichever AMG you choose, always seek advice from an expert Mercedes-AMG workshop for a pre-purchase inspection.

Let’s say you want to find an older AMG for under $25,000. Without a doubt, the most reliable and durable model you can find is the 362 hp M113 V8-powered W203 C55 from 2005-2006. An example with 35,000 kilometers sold Bring a trailer for $14,500 in October, and one with 155,000 miles sold $7,500 in November.

The main problems with C55s are the crankshaft position sensor RepairPal estimates that it will cost about $300 to replace (or less than $200 if you do it yourself) and consumable suspension parts, such as ball joints and control arm bushings. Everything else will be typical 20 year old automotive stuff, like window regulators or dead pixels in the now primitive gauge cluster screen. In total, RepairPal says annual repair costs for a C55 averages $1,166.

Now, specific models with M113/M113K V8s can still send your paycheck to a wood chipper. W220 S55s can suffer from frequent, crippling electronic failures and breaks in the hydraulic pumps. W210 E55s are known for their tendency to rust even when their drivetrains are left ticking. This is why low-mileage, rust-free examples make money, like the 41,000-mile example that sold Bring a trailer for $34,000 in October, while Kelley Blue Book says a 2002 E55 should ask less than $10,000.

Another common, surprisingly reliable old Mercedes-AMG model is the 469 hp M113K-powered W211 E55 from 2003-2006. KBB shows a typical list price for a 2005 model around $14,700. An ’04 with only 55,000 miles sold on Bring A Trailer in December $17,800.

W211s don’t have the same rust problems as W210s, but buyers should still be assured that the car has been properly cared for. There are extensive aftermarket parts from Arnott to maintain the pneumatic suspension, and there are coilover conversion kits for people who don’t want to worry about that. The problem-sensitive Sensotronic Brake Control is a bigger problem, especially from the age of 20. E55s began using this electronic braking system since the 2003 model year, and repairing or replacing the brake module can cost more than $1,000. Still, RepairPal estimates the E55’s annual repair and maintenance costs at just $1,073.

The predecessor of the C43, the 268 hp strong six-in-line W202 C36, is certainly cheaper. Excellent condition examples are only available in the $25,000 range, but rust is still a problem and C36s are known to require frequent head gasket replacements.

The 2002–2004 W203 C32s and SLK32s with the 349 hp supercharged M112K 3.2-liter V6 are quite cheap, with the typical KBB retail price for a 2002 C32 being about $6,400 and a 2002 SLK32 being about $10,250. Watch out for rust and faulty Valeo radiators, and be wary of SLK32s with non-functioning Vario-Roof retractable hardtops, as the hydraulic pump alone could cost you $500. But if you address these issues, you’ll be in good hands with cars that do that RepairPal estimates will require less than $1,000 per year to keep running.

If you don’t need rock-solid everyday reliability but just want a cheap weekend toy, you can find a 2009 W204 C63 with the 450-hp M156 6.2-liter for under $17,000, and decent 2007 W211 E63s can be had for under $12,000. However, the M156 6.2 is the opposite of the M113 5.4 in terms of durability, due to the problems with head bolt clicking and camshaft wear. Still, many owners have avoided catastrophic failure, and RepairPal estimates the annual average repair cost of an ’09 C63 at just $926and ’07 E63s on $1,449.