Expat

So as my 2002 C32 has been vacationing at the MB service department recently I've been spending time in the 2005 C class and came to the following conclusions:
1) I really prefer the 2002 instrument cluster to the 2005 one, it would be ideal if the 2002 was blue rather than orange but the 2005 MFD is tiny compared to the 2002 one, especially as the whole of the bottom section is wasted with displaying time/temp/gearbox info.
2) I use the passenger seat for my briefcase, there's no way to stop the car warning me that it wasn't wearing it's seatbelt, in the end I had to drive around with the passenger seatbelt plugged in
3) New stearing wheel is nice as is the new cupholder but overall I saw really few differences, certainly not enough to want to upgrade.
4) The new stereo is completely confusing.
Overall a bit of a surprise, I'd been vaguely toying with the idea of moving to a C55/newer C class but from what I've seen there's really no point in doing it as I like my C32 and it's running fine.

PC Valkyrie

No, I don't think you should be trading your C32 for a C55 because of the interior redesign. There are only 2 things which the C55 is better at from a driving point of view: handling (at the cost of a bumpier ride), and better control over the transmission with the M mode. Other things are subjective (like the roar of the V8).

Before I got the C55, I had a 2002 C240 with the old interior. Although the C240's orange MFD was bigger and clearer than the 2005 C55, I far prefer the new instrument cluster with the big round gauges. It is much clearer and I think looks much better from a cosmetic point of view. I also prefer the C55's aluminum trim over the aluminum trim of the old C32.

By the way, the new non-AMG instrument cluster is a bit different from the C55. Other than lacking the AMG and V8 badging, the tachometer in the non-AMG cars goes in multiples of 10 (10, 20, 30, etc), which can easily be confused with the speedometer beside it. In the C55, the tachometer goes in multiples of 1 (1, 2, 3, etc), so there is no doubt as to which is the tach and which is the speedometer.

PC Valkyrie

Since I love posting pictures, here are pics comparint the C32 interior with the C55 interior. Keep in mind that the C55's in North America come with analog climate controls, rather than the digital ones.

pointman

what is that on the dash of the c32??? it is in the top right corner of the picture in red and yellow. i dont have that.

mez456

Yes.

JohnCL

That is part of the parktronic system. You can add it if you want to spend $$$$$

dragonAMG

Yes you are.

Kev04C320

I might add that it's very handy now that I have it on my E55.

However, it gets a little annoying when jaywalkers squeeze through between your front bumper and the car in front.

Back to the topic. I prefer the newer design. Having driven in the old design for 2 years and had a couple '05 loaners, I actually find the newer MFD easier to read.

For the climate control, Steve might be able to retrofit it.

360_iti

Definitely the new design. No old school funky rounded corners.
Love the round gauges, rectangle buttons, edge to edge navi instrument, and brushed aluminum trims. And to top it off, chrome trims around the gauges as well as around some of the buttons add luxurious feel to it.

Sauceboy01

I like the new interior better.. non biased opinion because i used to have an 02 and upgraded to 05

360_iti

The 05 interior pic, the cupholder seems different than the US version which has no lid. The c32 interior pic, the fuel gauge is diff than the US version.
I like the shape of the steering wheel better on the pre-05 models, but I love those silver buttons on the 05.

IwantA124

The new interior design is to much Audi/VW.

Kev04C320

Both interior pictures are European/ROW interior. Notice that it has Parktronic, the cup holder with tambour (in US, what we have is called BOTTLE holders), as well as buttons for the folding mirrors.

IdriveFast

i live the dual exhaust from the C55....but thats about it

360_iti

With approx. 1000 bux you could have quad exhaust on your C32 too.

LowCaliTi

yes u are

x-tian-230k

More like an extra 5k will get u the AMG quad exhaust.....

360_iti

If you want a full set of authentic AMG exhaust system, plus OEM C55 spare tire well, plus OEM C55 bumper, then yes, you're looking at around 5K.
If it's just for cutting your C32 bumper and spare tire well, isolate it, adding a muffler, pipe and tips for the second exhaust, then 1000 bux woudnt be off by much.

pointman

ahh, thanks.

x-tian-230k

never heard of anyone doing that set up before, especially with the AMG set up.... lorinser does something like that i think...

ralleyone

Love the round gauges in the 05+, and think the aluminum bowl in the dash of my 02 is a bit strange. Am I the only one who likes amber lighting? At night, amber gives off a warm feeling, while the white seems a bit, well, harsh.

360_iti

No. I agree with you on this one.. like the pre 05 amber lighting. I think there are too many color schemes in the 05 models. Amber on the center console and white on the gauges, and back to amber on the left panels (side view mirror controls)