Hi,

I'm a bit worried and very piŁ$ed. My dad bought a '1999' 'black' E55 Amg from a local MB Main Dealer.
We were told it was a 1999, and we could see it was black.

When the vehicle registration document came through today, I was amazed to see that:

A) The car was 'Declared manufactured in 1998', maybe before?

B) It was a German car before it was imported and registered in the UK in 1999.

C) The colour should be 'Red'

D) Engine number is 'Unknown'

E) The model is a 2 - Axle - Rigid Body (it should say E55).

Also on the Vehicle Registration document it says the chassis number is WDB2100742A816711. When I open the hood and look at the printed number above the radiator, there is no WDB, and some of the numbers differ, ie instead of 742a it is 7422.

One question as well, on the side mouldings where it says 'Elegance' or 'Avantgarde', shouldn't mine say AMG? It says Avantgarde.

Can anyone help me with some advice, my dad is really pissed and I want to help him as much as possible.
I know US laws differ to UK, so hopefully there is someone here from the UK who can help too. Although any advice is welcomed.

Thanks

__________________
Oliver

Oliver,

I have to assume that Mercedes U.K. has the ability to verify year, make, model, colour, options, etc. upon presentation of the chassis number. If you have concerns about the honesty of your dealer, I assume that MB has a regional factory representative and/or a customer service telephone number that could be helpful.

I wouldn't be surprised if an error was made by the entity in charge of issuing registration papers.

Even if some of the information is incorrect, the fact that is was an import and it is older than we were told is an issue. I would have thought we will make a substantial loss when re-selling the car.
Surely it isn't up to me to ask the dealer if the car they are describing as a 1999 is infact a 1998?

I'll contact MBUK and tell you what happend.

__________________
Oliver

Isn't there a plate, perhaps on your door post, which has the build date (month and year)? It is possible to be built in '98 and still be a '99 model. If you give the VIN to the dealer, I would think they could tell you everything about that particular car, which should also tell you if it is in fact an E55. If you don't trust the dealer the car was purchased from, try another dealer for obtaining the info.

__________________
Mike Tangas
'73 280SEL 4.5 (9/72)- RIP
Only 8,173 units built from 5/71 thru 11/72

'02 CLK320 Cabriolet - wifey's mid-life crisis

2012 VW Jetta Sportwagon TDI...at least its a diesel

Non illegitemae carborundum.

Can’t speak to the rest but remember that the ’99 model year starts somewhere around August/September of ’98. Case in point, here we are in October of 2001 and the 2002 model year is being sold everywhere.

You can also find out some basic stuff about the car by looking at carfax.com

__________________
...Tracy

'00 ML320 "Casper"
'92 400E "Stella"

I'm curious about your statement that this was a "German car" i.e, registered for use in Germany prior to sale to your father. Is this car right-hand or left-hand drive? I can't imagine any one buying a new RHD car for use in Germany.

Not to be smart ass, but you should have checked things out a little better before buying it. I'm sorry, but when spending that kind of money, I know what I'm buying.

1st thing , What's the VIN #, as it compares to a true E55. The number on the plate under the hood is the Serial number of the chassis and is in the Build sheet listed as item # 3, I think, along with all the other info.

You should have gotten all the books, which there are specific ones just for a AMG E55, Owners Man, Quick Reference guide,etc.

In the maintenance/warranty Booklet the is a copy of the build sheet. does it match the labels in the door post, the stamp metal plate under the hood, the tags on all the sheet metal panels.

2nd. Get this beast out on the road and mash the gas pedal.
If it doesn't push you back in the seat and your eyeballs back in their sockets, your got taken, seriously though, Check out the Vin, Id Plate, a few other details like does it have the correct tires, AMG E55 floor mats, All the E55 items, (Birdseye maple wood trim, 18" AMG Wheels, Special leather trim colors, fog lights, Xeon lites, Heated Seats,etc. No one would have bought all these items to build a fake.

__________________
Mike Mullins
03 911 Targa 35K
07 MB C350 Sport (Mileage Sacrifice)
17 Sienna (Grandkids mobile movie Theatre)
17 Toyota Tacoma DBL Cab (YardBoy)
95 E420 (Chariot of Fire) 143K
11 ML350 (Recently Traded)
00 SL500 (Recently Sold)
08 E350 Sport 4Matic (great all round automobile)
90 944/S2 Cabriolet (Loved It)
02 986S (Road Scalpel)
97 E320 Great chassis
92 E420 Red Rider Whip
71 250C Restored MBCA Concours winner and Sold
72 450SEL The Gold Crown - MBCA Concours Winner

oliverp

suggest considering that the most appropriate initial path to address concerns of this nature- - is with your selling Factory Authorized MB Dealer....hopefully you have established a good business relationship with the franchise- and if not, now is an excellent opportunity to start

in the event that the data and/or information you seek is not readily available from the immediate MB hierarchy/ administration, it would be a reasonable course of action for MB and yourself to elevate it and to continue until a mutual resolve is met

(needless to say- - as hind sight is 100%, we buyers should obtain as much info on a used vehicle purchase candidate as entirely possible - - to mitigate these types risks...)

I hope all the pieces of the 'E55-yes/no?' puzzle will work out to be a non-issue but, let us know how this plays out in any case

oh, and you also may wish to dialogue with MBenz, as he appears to be particularly versed in Euro MB fact and fiction and/or he may be able to research some of the info you seek.

-fad

Ok, I think I may have asked the wrong question in the heat of my rage. I'm sure it is probably an E55, but I'm not happy with the cars history.
I have found a few more bits of info out:

On the data card in the back of the log book, there are the options listed as three letter codes I believe. On the data plate above the radiator, thses codes don't tally. Some are missing, and some are extra. That can't be right can it?

The owners manual is just for a Mercedes E-Class, not AMG. I was also supprised to see it didn't come with parktronic or folding mirrors.

Please help!

__________________
Oliver

Thanks guys.

On the options list on the data card, I have these numbers:

059
205
461
551
617
809
882
984

I don't suppose anyone knows what options these are so I can check them out?

THanks again

__________________
Oliver

> On the data card in the back of the log book, there are the options listed as three letter codes I believe. On the data plate above the radiator, thses codes don't tally. Some are missing, and some are extra. That can't be right can it?

Yes it can be, as not all things listed on the plate, i.e. Country specific items, the amount of gas installed at the factory, etc.

What you should see are the Serial Number, Color Code (040 Black?) Interior color(s) code, major options, Heated Seats, Rear window shade, etc.

>The owners manual is just for a Mercedes E-Class, not AMG.
Was there not a supplement ?

> I was also supprised to see it didn't come with parktronic or folding mirrors.

Don't think Parktronic was available that year? Folding mirrors? Mine doesn't have them either, as these are the same for all 210's
Not sure what you are looking for here, My 124/400E did allow them to spring forward and back, but not hold in place.

__________________
Mike Mullins
03 911 Targa 35K
07 MB C350 Sport (Mileage Sacrifice)
17 Sienna (Grandkids mobile movie Theatre)
17 Toyota Tacoma DBL Cab (YardBoy)
95 E420 (Chariot of Fire) 143K
11 ML350 (Recently Traded)
00 SL500 (Recently Sold)
08 E350 Sport 4Matic (great all round automobile)
90 944/S2 Cabriolet (Loved It)
02 986S (Road Scalpel)
97 E320 Great chassis
92 E420 Red Rider Whip
71 250C Restored MBCA Concours winner and Sold
72 450SEL The Gold Crown - MBCA Concours Winner

OliverP- we here are just a 3rd party (peanut gallery) on this particular scenario....

go to the appropriate information source for this used car sale (the dealer) and behold a wealth of information/education should be available (this is an eventuality)

if the issue is pre-purchase non-disclosure by the selling dealer, there are remedies for that as well

some deals are too good to be true, hopefully this is not one of them

also, if you search here, there is a thread with a link to MB Codes

-fad

Maybe some of these


059 Don't know
205 owner's manual and maintenance booklet, English
461 instrument with mileage reading and English lettering
551 anti-theft warning system
617 xenon head-lamps, asymmetrically, L.H. traffic
809 change of model year, the last figure shows the new model year
882 passenger compartment protection / towing-off protection
984 elimination of ownership certificate but with COC papers


You get the windows sticker with this purchase? On it, should list the option code. But then again on this model almost everything standard it might not.

__________________
Mike Mullins
03 911 Targa 35K
07 MB C350 Sport (Mileage Sacrifice)
17 Sienna (Grandkids mobile movie Theatre)
17 Toyota Tacoma DBL Cab (YardBoy)
95 E420 (Chariot of Fire) 143K
11 ML350 (Recently Traded)
00 SL500 (Recently Sold)
08 E350 Sport 4Matic (great all round automobile)
90 944/S2 Cabriolet (Loved It)
02 986S (Road Scalpel)
97 E320 Great chassis
92 E420 Red Rider Whip
71 250C Restored MBCA Concours winner and Sold
72 450SEL The Gold Crown - MBCA Concours Winner

I'm not sure how to identify the paint code, but it's definately not 040. There are quite a few numbers.
On the vehicle reg document it says red, but the car is black. There are no signs of a re-spray though.
I've also noticed the gear knob says Avantgarde, shouldn't it say AMG?

Thanks

__________________
Oliver

My C43 AMG does not have a separate AMG maintenance/owner's manual -- the C class manuals (which came with the car) do have additional sections specific to the C43 AMG, but even C280 owners would have the same material in their manuals -- it just would not be relevant to their car.

See this link for E55 specifications and options (it may, however, only be relevant to the US models):

http://www.mbusa.com/brand/container.jsp?/overview/overview_engine.jsp&yearModelCode=99_E55&class=99_E&rnav=01234568&menu=4_3

The world-wide MB site: http://www.mercedes-benz.com/e/cars/e-class/lines.htm does appear to differentiate the AMG E class from the Avantgarde, which appears to be comparable to the US E430 Sport. The E430 Sport has badging (presumably similar to the "Avantgarde" on the side of your car) on the sides between the front wheels and the front doors.

My AMG gearshift says "Sport", and I have AMG-labeled white-faced instrumentation, AMG labeled oval exhaust tips, C43 AMG floor mats, AMG steering wheel with thumb pads and an AMG logo on the plastic engine cover, as well as AMG wheels. If it is like the US models, the car should have "E55" on the left boot face and "AMG" on the right boot face.

If you are missing many of these items (perhaps we can hear from an E55 owner), you may have only the Avantgarde model, in which case you may well have a claim for recission. In any event, you ought toi be able to feel the performance difference from an E430 sport.

As others have mentioned, I would not be concerned with the '98 build date, since '99 models came out in the fall of '98. There was not a '98 E55 (at least in the US).