I think I have come up with a reasonable E53 replacement, Don't shoot me

[Effduration]

I think this is the last winter for my '05 E53 3.0 auto w/ 175k, and I think I have found a replacement. Welcome any thoughts.

As for the E53, I bought it with an overheated engine 6-7 yrs ago at 125k miles..replaced the head gasket and have done all the work you know it takes to keep a 175k-mile E53 on the road in a salty climate. I live in the US Northeast.

I am on the backside of 60 yrs old and I am getting tired of the maintenance. Particularly when I have two E39's (soon to be 1) and an E46 to keep up with.

The replacement I am leaning towards is a 2017-18 Mercedes GLE 350 w/tow package and 80- 110k miles.

- Non-turbo M276 v6 engine with decent reliability and lifespan.
- Good engine access in the engine bay
- Good towing capacity 6600 lbs (RWD) and 7500 lbs (4-matic)
- The 4-matic system is pretty solid and trouble-less
- Similar height, weight, driver position, and cargo capacity as E53
- Wife has a '14 GLK 350 with same engine that I have been maintaining for 8 years*
- Most used GLE 350's were owned by a mom named Muffy who weighed 100 lbs and parked it in her garage.
- Most sellers are frightened by maintenance expenses at 90-115k miles...because they pay someone to do it.
- US made, but better build quality /parts quality than E53.
- Thought about the GLS 450, but that's a turbo V8 and they sold 2x as many GLE's as they sold GLS...more used cars and parts. I also don't need the size and weight of the GLS.

Prices seem to be $15,000 - $18,000 which seems to me to be about the same or less than a similar-vintage Ford explore, Chevy whatever, BMW X5, Jeep, etc.

*My wife only wants technicians in white lab coats working on her Mercedes. However, I have done oil changes, brakes, and several other more significant things when she wasn't looking. It's been pretty reliable.

[workingonit]

Originally Posted by Effduration

...I am on the backside of 60 yrs old and I am getting tired of the maintenance. Particularly when I have two E39's (soon to be 1) and an E46 to keep up with....

*My wife only wants technicians in white lab coats working on her Mercedes. However, I have done oil changes, brakes, and several other more significant things when she wasn't looking. It's been pretty reliable.

I'm way over 60 (75) and way past tired of the maintenance (whereas I used to love maintaining/building/driving/racing, or anything automotive), for the past 60 years. I have all elderly vehicles requiring my attention: '01 BMW X5 E53, '98 GMC Sierra, '04 Chevy Silverado 2500HD, and an '09 Chevy HHR Panel (all needing work of some sort, always...the X5 is out-of-service at present, but the others are OK, right now).

*My wife only wants technicians in white lab coats working on her '14 Lexus ES350 (I've only been asked to/allowed to drive it once in the 2 years she's had it, so I really have to rely on my experience as a passenger, to know what's going on with it). However, I have done oil changes, tire service, fluid checks, and pre-emptive Foxwell diagnostics on it, so I think it's OK, or at least reliable.

Good luck with your next Mercedes, may you enjoy the maintenace chores anew; I wish I had gotten my E53 when I was much younger, when I still had the get-up-and-go and desire I once had. Instead, I got the E53 (at age 70), when I traded away my unused drag car for it, straight-up, as my final "project car". And though I enjoy driving it, the chores it requires me to perform on it, especially while I have difficulties doing so, really take the fun out of it.

[motordavid]

Another Geezer/Boomer here, with similar old stuff and no more garage floor time for me...I enjoy your posts.

GL to OP on that used M-B!

[X5chemist]

A non-turbo M276 v6 would be my choice too. I worked on a friend's '18 GLC 350. <70K miles on it too. It developed a coolant leak on the upper coolant hose. I had to remove turbo intake hoses to reach the leaking hose. I thought it would be an easy fix. Replace the o ring over the hose. The upper hose o ring changed that year or earlier. The o ring is square! I took the hose and square o ring to a local dealership. The parts guys had never seen a square o ring. The only option, replace the entire hose. Only one was available and in Florida! It took a few days to receive and install it. Another common leak on those turbo 4 cylinders is under the intake. Similar to the 3.0, the intake has to come off to replace the block coolant pipe. You'll be in for fun to refresh coolant pipes and hoses eventually!

The spark plugs also require a special socket! A thin wall 12 point to fit into the tight head hole. A friend asked me to replace spark plugs on his older GLK. He ended ordering the tool and doing the work himself. The left side required moving the ECM aside to reach the spark plugs.

I'm fortunate, I'll be able to keep working on my X5 for a few more years.

[Salty B.]

Originally Posted by X5chemist

I'm fortunate, I'll be able to keep working on my X5 for a few more years.

63 here, 64 soon. I'm at the point in this life where I can afford to let a pro do the heavy repairs, but b-essy stuff I'll keep doing.