Question for C55 owners who...
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2020 BMW X3M Comp
Question for C55 owners who...
previously owned a C32.
I'm thinking about selling my C32 and getting a CPO C55. Please give me your feedback...I want the good and bads.
Thanks!
I'm thinking about selling my C32 and getting a CPO C55. Please give me your feedback...I want the good and bads.
Thanks!
Last edited by NY C32; Oct 29, 2005 at 11:32 AM.
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I owned a 2004 C32 for 12,000 miles (20 months) and a C55 for about 3,000 (4 months) miles. I owned a C5 ZO6 between these two Mercs and two others prior to that. Here are my thoughts in no particular order.
The C55 has more SOTP torque.
Heat does not seem to affect the C55 performance as much (this is my own SOTP and not verified at the track).
I like the wheels a bit more on the C55.
The gauge clusters of the C55 is a bit nicer in my opinion.
The ride is much firmer in the C55. More jarring. The 32 rides a bit nicer if that is impportant to you.
The manual shift mode of the C55 is great.
The ESP on both cars interferes with our driving far to much. MB could learn a lot from Corvette here.
The C55 sounds great inside and out (better than the 32). My collegues suggest that the C55 sounds better than the Z06 but I have not listened to the C55 outside.
The C55 will bounce off the rev limiter and cut out in certain situations that I never seemed to expereince in the C32. Members here have told me that this is normal in the C55 in certain situations.
Both cars are awesome, I probably should have kept the 32 and bought a C6 ZO6 for track days. I would prefer to have both of these cars. Just having the Z was not satisfying and I sold the Z for a C55 after just 3 months and have no desire to go back to just a Z.
I hope and did not intend to offend anyone with my comments.
The C55 has more SOTP torque.
Heat does not seem to affect the C55 performance as much (this is my own SOTP and not verified at the track).
I like the wheels a bit more on the C55.
The gauge clusters of the C55 is a bit nicer in my opinion.
The ride is much firmer in the C55. More jarring. The 32 rides a bit nicer if that is impportant to you.
The manual shift mode of the C55 is great.
The ESP on both cars interferes with our driving far to much. MB could learn a lot from Corvette here.
The C55 sounds great inside and out (better than the 32). My collegues suggest that the C55 sounds better than the Z06 but I have not listened to the C55 outside.
The C55 will bounce off the rev limiter and cut out in certain situations that I never seemed to expereince in the C32. Members here have told me that this is normal in the C55 in certain situations.
Both cars are awesome, I probably should have kept the 32 and bought a C6 ZO6 for track days. I would prefer to have both of these cars. Just having the Z was not satisfying and I sold the Z for a C55 after just 3 months and have no desire to go back to just a Z.
I hope and did not intend to offend anyone with my comments.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2004
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From: NYC / Miami
2020 BMW X3M Comp
Originally Posted by MAXC55
I owned a 2004 C32 for 12,000 miles (20 months) and a C55 for about 3,000 (4 months) miles. I owned a C5 ZO6 between these two Mercs and two others prior to that. Here are my thoughts in no particular order.
The C55 has more SOTP torque.
Heat does not seem to affect the C55 performance as much (this is my own SOTP and not verified at the track).
I like the wheels a bit more on the C55.
The gauge clusters of the C55 is a bit nicer in my opinion.
The ride is much firmer in the C55. More jarring. The 32 rides a bit nicer if that is impportant to you.
The manual shift mode of the C55 is great.
The ESP on both cars interferes with our driving far to much. MB could learn a lot from Corvette here.
The C55 sounds great inside and out (better than the 32). My collegues suggest that the C55 sounds better than the Z06 but I have not listened to the C55 outside.
The C55 will bounce off the rev limiter and cut out in certain situations that I never seemed to expereince in the C32. Members here have told me that this is normal in the C55 in certain situations.
Both cars are awesome, I probably should have kept the 32 and bought a C6 ZO6 for track days. I would prefer to have both of these cars. Just having the Z was not satisfying and I sold the Z for a C55 after just 3 months and have no desire to go back to just a Z.
I hope and did not intend to offend anyone with my comments.
The C55 has more SOTP torque.
Heat does not seem to affect the C55 performance as much (this is my own SOTP and not verified at the track).
I like the wheels a bit more on the C55.
The gauge clusters of the C55 is a bit nicer in my opinion.
The ride is much firmer in the C55. More jarring. The 32 rides a bit nicer if that is impportant to you.
The manual shift mode of the C55 is great.
The ESP on both cars interferes with our driving far to much. MB could learn a lot from Corvette here.
The C55 sounds great inside and out (better than the 32). My collegues suggest that the C55 sounds better than the Z06 but I have not listened to the C55 outside.
The C55 will bounce off the rev limiter and cut out in certain situations that I never seemed to expereince in the C32. Members here have told me that this is normal in the C55 in certain situations.
Both cars are awesome, I probably should have kept the 32 and bought a C6 ZO6 for track days. I would prefer to have both of these cars. Just having the Z was not satisfying and I sold the Z for a C55 after just 3 months and have no desire to go back to just a Z.
I hope and did not intend to offend anyone with my comments.
Although I test drove the C55, it was a short ride. I noticed how much smoother the C55 accelerated compared to my C32. What about at idle, does the C55 idle smoother? It sounds kind of stupid but there are a lot of times I'm idling through traffic and I hate how my C32 sounds and feels.
Last edited by NY C32; Oct 29, 2005 at 06:22 PM.
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C55AMG W203; 330i E90
Originally Posted by NY C32
Thanks for the feedback.
Although I test drove the C55, it was a short ride. I noticed how much smoother the C55 accelerated compared to my C32. What about at idle, does the C55 idle smoother? It sounds kind of stupid but there are a lot of times I'm idling through traffic and I hate how my C32 sounds and feels.
Although I test drove the C55, it was a short ride. I noticed how much smoother the C55 accelerated compared to my C32. What about at idle, does the C55 idle smoother? It sounds kind of stupid but there are a lot of times I'm idling through traffic and I hate how my C32 sounds and feels.
the c55 is as smooth as normal as comfort as my ex W210 E320 , and that only until .....
Thread Starter
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2020 BMW X3M Comp
Originally Posted by MAXC55
The 55 is smoother and does not make some of the strange sounds under the hood that obviously come from the supercharger. I never recall having a rough idle in my 32?
I was just reminded of the deal breaker...no maintenance included! That pisses me off and I don't think I'll buy another MB until that is changed.
I'm not cheap but when I get a car I keep it only while its still under warranty and all maintenance is included.
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AW '05 C55
Originally Posted by NY C32
I'm not cheap but when I get a car I keep it only while its still under warranty and all maintenance is included.
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From: NYC / Miami
2020 BMW X3M Comp
Originally Posted by cldriver
Besides BMW, what other car companies still offer included maintenance nowadays?
I'm pretty sure Audi does too, or atleast used to, but I may be wrong
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From: SCV SoCal
2002 CLK430
When buying a car, I view everything as negotiable. If you want a CPO C55, and it's on a dealer lot, tell them the lack of maintenance while under warrantee is a deal breaker. Then you'll find out just how bad they want to move the car. That dealership could comp you free maintenance if they want to. It's just a matter of whether they want to.
Assuming a car with 20K on the odometer, the actual "costs" incurred by the dealer are 26 quarts of oil, three oil filters, air filters, a quart of brake fluid, couple of gallons of coolant, and what else? They pay wholesale on all the parts listed, they have to pay their wrenches to be at work anyway, and if something breaks, MB picks up the tab - so what has it really cost them? Something less than $200?
Assuming a car with 20K on the odometer, the actual "costs" incurred by the dealer are 26 quarts of oil, three oil filters, air filters, a quart of brake fluid, couple of gallons of coolant, and what else? They pay wholesale on all the parts listed, they have to pay their wrenches to be at work anyway, and if something breaks, MB picks up the tab - so what has it really cost them? Something less than $200?
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From: Cave Creek, AZ and Newport Beach
'22 G 63 AMG, '21 GLE 53 AMG, '20 NSX
I had a SLK 32 which is the same engine as the C32 and my comments are based on that experience as well as a c230 sport which has the same suspension as a C32.
The C55 engine has a smoother torque delivery. It could use a 7 speed ala the slk 55, but the 5 speed trans is Ok. It sounds better than my friends c6 Vett and the fuel mileage is over 20 mpg. which was better than my slk 32.
The suspension is firmer than the c230 sport in part due to much more aggresive ruber, 17" vs 18" and stiffer suspension settings. I haven't had mine to the strip yet, so I don't know if it will trun as quick as the c32's.
I think many of these cars the times are traction dependant, and thats depends on the tires and strip conditions.
It appears to be a more refined car with the same performance capabilities.
The C55 engine has a smoother torque delivery. It could use a 7 speed ala the slk 55, but the 5 speed trans is Ok. It sounds better than my friends c6 Vett and the fuel mileage is over 20 mpg. which was better than my slk 32.
The suspension is firmer than the c230 sport in part due to much more aggresive ruber, 17" vs 18" and stiffer suspension settings. I haven't had mine to the strip yet, so I don't know if it will trun as quick as the c32's.
I think many of these cars the times are traction dependant, and thats depends on the tires and strip conditions.
It appears to be a more refined car with the same performance capabilities.
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From: Kansas City
'07 E63; 05 C55 gone; '02 C32 gone;1996 SL320;1978 280CE Gone
I had a 2002 C32 and ran it on a lot of road coarses. Sold it in May with 76,000 miles on it. Bought a C55. Only tracked the C55 one day at Waterford and 2 days at VIR. All the events at Heartland Park were cancelled to intall the new track and facilities for the SCCA runoffs beginning in 2006. We still can't get on the track.
The C55 turns in better than the C32, probably because of suspension changes and narrower sidewall tires (18 vs 17 in wheels). I ran 8.5x18s on all four corners, with Hoosier 245x35-18 tires. On the C32 I drove it with stock wheels and usually ran Michelin Pilot Cups, and had to run 225s in front and 255s in the rear (now you can get a 245 Michelin Pilot Cup tire). Obviously the setup on the C55 dials out a lot of the understeer on the track. I agree with the above comments about the differences between the two cars. The C55 is more refined somehow, smoother transmission shifts, and the throttle is not twitchy like the C32. Both are great cars, but the C55 is just a little easier to handle on the track, and a little more "Mercedes" like on the highway.
The C55 turns in better than the C32, probably because of suspension changes and narrower sidewall tires (18 vs 17 in wheels). I ran 8.5x18s on all four corners, with Hoosier 245x35-18 tires. On the C32 I drove it with stock wheels and usually ran Michelin Pilot Cups, and had to run 225s in front and 255s in the rear (now you can get a 245 Michelin Pilot Cup tire). Obviously the setup on the C55 dials out a lot of the understeer on the track. I agree with the above comments about the differences between the two cars. The C55 is more refined somehow, smoother transmission shifts, and the throttle is not twitchy like the C32. Both are great cars, but the C55 is just a little easier to handle on the track, and a little more "Mercedes" like on the highway.
