NewMoses

Hi folks. I'm new here. I'm pretty active on a Porsche BBS as I have an old 911 that I have needed a lot of technical advice on restoration and performance upgrades. Anyway, I'm ordering a new E55 today. Flint grey. I will get the premium package, too. Anything else I should consider? Do I need the lighting package? I guess the only interior available is charcoal (but that's OK). Will the '06 models come iPod ready?

Thanks for your help!

JAY55

Welcome Moses,
Premium package come with Keyless Go? If not, you should consider that as an option, very useful. I just wish mine came with pano roof, good luck!

NewMoses

No keyless go. There are two premium packages. The more expensive one has the pano roof. Is it that much better?

Can Drive 55

Congratulations. I am sure you will enjoy it.

You definitely need the lighting package. As far as anything else, I ordered everything else, but the pano roof. I am extremely happy with that decision. I absolutely love the keyless go (would not have another without it) distronic, parktronic, electronic trunk closer hands-free communication with voice control, and Sirius radio. I also have the rear side shades. They are nice, but something I could live without. I could also live without the voice control. It is nice, but pushing a couple of buttons to make a phone call or change the radio, etc. is not out of the question.

Charcoal is the only color, but you can order merlot or blue inserts. I have the blue and they look great. I think the merlot would be a better choice for some exterior colors, yours included.

There is an aux input jack in the glove box that you could probably plug in an ipod. I would not know; I have not even thought about listening to anything but the sattelite radio.

Good luck.

Archi

I went witht the premium package with pano, lighting package, keyless, sirius and integrated phone. The lighting and keyless are must haves IMO. I really like the look of the pano from the outside (white car) but it is pretty useless. I skipped the parktronic (dont like the sensors and Im relatively good a parking lol). Good luck with the purchase.

medici78

At a minimum get the lighting package. It's been discussed many times how pitiful it is to pay $80-90k for a car and not get xenon headlamps. Mine came without them, so I retrofitted OEM lamps to it. I'm happy, but I'd have been much happier if they were standard.

oblax4

The guy who did my etched mirror in Atlanta is also a wizard at after-market iPod dock installations. PM me if you want the contact info.

Skip the pano roof and get everything else.

NewMoses

Red calipers? Nice touch!

Thanks everyone for your replies. Guess I'll order the keyless-go!

MB Fanatic

You have to get the Lighting package. This is the only way to get the Xenon lights on the car. They are a great safety feature and really brighten up the road. I would not buy another car without Xenons.

WayneE

I went with Premium w/pano, lighting and keyless go. Good luck, you'll love the car!!

brt3

Keyless entry: never thought I'd want it, but can't live without it after using it on my E55 wagon...

Xenons: absolutely critical...

Pano roof: I still don't like this option, but can see why people would. It seems to add unnecessary complexity, might add a small amount of weight and raise the CG of the car, and is very likely to reduce the torsional rigidity of the car. Just my $.02...

oldgixxer

NewMoses,congrats on a excellent car&a great color choice!
Mines Flint Grey with the Lighting Package,etc,etc,heres a pic for ya

neutronium

I have an 04, Premium, Lighting, Keyless, Pano, Parktronic.

I didn't think I really needed the last three, but they were on the car... and I'm really glad. The wife and I both love the Keyless and the Parktronic because of the little guy... not having to fumble for keys holding a child... worth the weight in gold. I like it with just general packages.

He loves, LOVES the roof in the back to look around.

Jakpro1

Yes, MUST have lighting.....MUST.

Also get Keyless....great for resale and just so flipping great to use.

Other than the Panarama roof which I just think is killer looking....I totally agree with Can Drive

Pbglas

Don't forget Nav unless it is included in one of the packages. Sat radio is nice too.

IanSL55

I have a 2005 in Flint Grey w/ lighting, nav, and pano roof. Lighting package is a MUST MUST MUST have. Why it's not standard on a $80K+ car boggles the mind. MB's Nav is a pain in the ***, but at this trim level it's also a must in my book. Keyless-Go, active ventalated seats, and parktronic are pretty nifty features, as are the drive dynamic seats and the pano roof - but if I could do it all again, it would be in this order:

- Lighting Package 319 (must)
- Navigation (must)
- Parktronic
- Keyless Go
- Driving Dynamic Seats
- Active Ventalated Seats
- Pano Roof

You can add Sirius later at a cost that's below what the dealership will charge you.

~ Ian

NewMoses

Thanks so much for all the responses and great pictures. I'm 47 years old and have never really indulged myself with a really nice car. My Porsche in the pic below is 23 years old and was a gift from my college roommate.

I've been in love with the E55 since it's introduction. I finally took one for a test drive and I knew I had to have the car.

So far I've ordered the Nav system, xenon lights, and keyless go. hope I don't have to wait too long for the car.

Thanks again for your help!

mrankovic

Damn dude. I want to know what you did for/to your college roommate for him to give you a Porsche??

NewMoses

We are great friends. We named our first sons after each other. Rather than trade in his 911, he sent it to me for Christmas one year. It's an amazing car. Heavily modded. Fast, fast, fast.

medici78

Personally, I feel NAV is a total waste of $$$ in the E55. My brother's Infiniti NAV makes the E55's NAV look like a cruel joke.

brt3

Agreed. The Germans are SO far behind the Japanese, and won't outsource the NAV systems beyond their usual suppliers. The best NAV system I've ever had was on my 2001 Honda Odyssey minivan. Why the $60-$120K plus German über-cars can't match a $30K Japanese minivan is beyond me. I like some aspects of the E55s NAV system, but others just drive me...

MB Fanatic

Haha my new RL that I am picking up on Friday will kill any other NAV on the market. Realtime traffic updates with automatic re-routing, XM, DVD-NAV with Voice command standard, bluetooth, and a few other things. Oh and it tells me the exact address unlike the MBZ nav which just gives you street blocks. I can't wait haha. Its going to be a blast.

mick1

my view is bad navigation system is better than no navigation system

oldgixxer

Damn,thats a great system!
Do you think that MB could upgrade our Nav's with a new DVD or the system is just old technology,& were stuck with what we have?

stevebez

Seems euro models have Bi-Xenons as standard ... but not active light system.. which is around $500 option...

Wierd how options differ region to region.

Rgds Steve.

Below standard UK Spec and options - if it too long guys I will edit and delete - let me know.

UK Standard Spec is :
Exterior and Transmission
5-speed automatic transmission with AMG Speedshift function with steering wheel shifting
80 litre fuel tank
AMG bodystyling
AMG sports exhaust system with two twin chrome tailpipes
AMG twin spoke alloy wheels (4) -
Front: 8J x 18 with 245/40 tyres
Rear: 9J x 18 with 265/35 tyres
AMG sports suspension based on AirMATIC DC,
AMG version
Bi-Xenon headlamps with headlamp wash and dynamic range adjustment
Electric folding mirrors
Heated windscreen wash system
Metallic paint
Remote boot release
Space saver spare wheel
Tinted glass - blue

Interior
12V socket in rear
Ambient interior lighting front and rear, dimmable
AMG door sills
AMG instrument cluster
AMG leather interior
AMG sports multi-function steering wheel
AMG sports seats
Bird's eye maple wood trim
CD-changer in centre console - 6 disc
Courtesy lights and reflector lights (4)
Driver's seat, passenger's seat, steering column and exterior mirrors - electrically adjustable with memory
Electric Windows (4)
Front centre armrest with storage
Heated front seats
Interior lighting in rear with integralreading lights
Luxury climate control
Load anchors in boot
Map pockets on front seat backrests
Mercedes-Benz Audio 20 radio/single CD,telephone keypad with 9 speakers
Multi-contour front seat backrests with seat squab adjustment
Outside temperature gauge
Rear armrest with stowage compartment and cupholders
Service Indicator "ASSYST PLUS"
Storage compartment below the front seats
Sun visors with illuminated vanity mirrors - extendable

Safety & Security
Airbags - dual-stage, driver & front passenger
Airbags - front sidebags
Airbags - windowbags
Alarm system with immobiliser and interior protection (MBSS3)
AMG high performance brake system
AMG tuned Electronic Stability Programme (ESP®)with Acceleration Skid Control (ASR)
AMG tuned Sensotronic Brake Control (SBCTM)
Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with Brake Assist
Automatic child seat recognition sensor only works in conjunction with Mercedes-Benz child seats fitted with transponder
Automatically dimming rear-view mirror and driver's exterior mirror
Front seat belts - height adjustable with two stage belt force limiters
Headlamp Assist (automatic headlamp activation)
ISOFIX child seat fastenings in rear
Neck Pro active head restraints - front seats - adjustable for height and angle
Parameter steering
Rain sensing wipers with one-touch wiper function
Rear head restraints (3) and three-point seat belts (3)
Seat belt pre-tensioners - front


UK Options are:
Comfort
Ashtray with 12V socket in place of front stowage compartment
Comfort ventilated front seats
Distronic - radar assisted cruise control
Driving dynamic multi-contour seats
Electric glass sunroof
Electric rear roller blind
Garage door opener1
Heated rear seats
Infrared protective glass
Keyless-Go
Panoramic glass sunroof
Parktronic (PTS)
Remote boot closing
Skibag with through-loading facility reduces boot space
Split folding rear seats 1/3:2/3
Sunblinds for rear side windows - manual

Security and Safety
Airbags - rear sidebags and belt tensioners
Bi-Xenon headlamps with Active Light System
Fire extinguisher
Tyre pressure monitoring

In-Car Entertainment
****pit Management and Navigation Display (COMAND APS) - incorporating radio, single CD/DVD* drive in centre console and DVD navigation in luggage compartment*Region 2 DVDs only
harman/kardon LOGIC 7 surround sound system
Mercedes-Benz Audio 50 APS radio/single CD player with CD-ROM navigation
TV screen in rear
Remote control for COMAND APS
TV tuner
Linguatronic
Telephone prewiring
Telephone cradles