My E38 750il will probably need replacement in the next 12 months. So I'm looking at W211 E500 wagons. There are not many for sale and all the ones I find are 4matic. Does anyone know if these were offered stateside without 4matic? I live in South Carolina and have another capable 4wd Mercedes so I really don't have a need or desire for 4matic.

__________________
--------------------------------------------
Old Blue - '83 240D 6 speed manual trans, OM648
Green Machine - 2001 Europa G500
'87 300SDL Bought on Peachparts
'02 E320 4matic wagon

Patchouli Wagon - 2004 E500 - SOLD
333k mile 97 BMW 750il V12. - SOLD
The Californian - 85 300TD - SOLD
Daily Super Sedan - 03 Audi S8 - SOLD
Family Truckster - 2012 VW Touareg TDI - SOLD

All the W211 E500 wagons sold in the US had 4matic and air suspension with electronically controlled shocks at all 4 wheels. I was shopping for an E500 wagon too until i priced out the air ride suspension repairs. I ended up buying an E320 RWD wagon which has airbags in the back only with conventional shocks. If the rear airbags ever fail an Arnott coil spring conversion kit is $200. The coil spring conversion on the E500 is much more expensive because of the electronic shocks that also need to be replaced.

__________________
CENSORED due to not family friendly words

Thanks! Air suspension and 4matic are two things I'm looking to avoid. I tend to buy cars with super high mileage and put 35k plus miles on them a year. I want less opportunity for component failure wherever possible.

__________________
--------------------------------------------
Old Blue - '83 240D 6 speed manual trans, OM648
Green Machine - 2001 Europa G500
'87 300SDL Bought on Peachparts
'02 E320 4matic wagon

Patchouli Wagon - 2004 E500 - SOLD
333k mile 97 BMW 750il V12. - SOLD
The Californian - 85 300TD - SOLD
Daily Super Sedan - 03 Audi S8 - SOLD
Family Truckster - 2012 VW Touareg TDI - SOLD