Test driving a C55 today. Please advise.
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 2
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From: McKinney Texas
2000 E320 White/Blue
Test driving a C55 today. Please advise.
Its at Park Place in Dallas. Here's a link to the car. Why? Because my budding mid-life crises demands speed and handling, but I still need four doors. My option is to wait a few months for a low mileage BMW 335i sedan.
I've only bought Mercedes cars as used, certified, and starmarked. Just for some context, my BMW/Mercedes history:
- 1984 BMW 318i (Manual tranny. Most fun car I've ever owned. Not powerful, but handled great.)
- 1993 300E (140,000 miles. Wife wanted it so I bought the diesel. Will soon be our third car for two teenage daughters. Great car!)
- 1995 E300 Diesel (Totaled when an ******* rear-ended me at 70 MPH. Had 150,000 miles and ran great. For doing what its designed to do, its the best car I've ever owned. Sure miss it...)
- 2000 E320 (Current daily driver with 76,000 miles. Runs great, but the W210 is a lot softer than the W124 and I want to get back to a more enthusiasts' car.)
After nearly a decade in a W124 I was pretty disappointed in the W210's road feel, soft steering, etc... I thought I'd get over it, but after three years it still bugs me. Its been a darn reliable and comfortable car, but... well.... I don't think I need to explain myself in this forum.
So... Thoughts? Recommendations? Anything I should look for?
I've only bought Mercedes cars as used, certified, and starmarked. Just for some context, my BMW/Mercedes history:
- 1984 BMW 318i (Manual tranny. Most fun car I've ever owned. Not powerful, but handled great.)
- 1993 300E (140,000 miles. Wife wanted it so I bought the diesel. Will soon be our third car for two teenage daughters. Great car!)
- 1995 E300 Diesel (Totaled when an ******* rear-ended me at 70 MPH. Had 150,000 miles and ran great. For doing what its designed to do, its the best car I've ever owned. Sure miss it...)
- 2000 E320 (Current daily driver with 76,000 miles. Runs great, but the W210 is a lot softer than the W124 and I want to get back to a more enthusiasts' car.)
After nearly a decade in a W124 I was pretty disappointed in the W210's road feel, soft steering, etc... I thought I'd get over it, but after three years it still bugs me. Its been a darn reliable and comfortable car, but... well.... I don't think I need to explain myself in this forum.
So... Thoughts? Recommendations? Anything I should look for?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,469
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From: Hong Kong
C55AMG W203; 330i E90
My little history. I was coming from a E320 2001 facelift and shifted to a brand new C55 in 2004, now driven 35000km. I bought a 330i E90 in 2006 and been driving it for 13000km already. I recently have also test-driven a E92 325i. The 335i is a FI turbo engine with high potential to mod for more power with minimal cost (mod a C55 is huge cost). There are a big variety of mod parts for BMW cars if mod is something you feel like to do in future. However, being an E90 owner, I must say there is no way a E90 or E92 will achieve the same ride quality of a C55. The build quality of E90/E92 is no better than a 1 generation behind W203. However, whilst C55's handling is superb, it will not be better than a E90/E92. If you feel like to have a more significant change, go for the 335i. If you want to straight a balance of ride quality and performance and tends to mod nothing, a C55 for this price is a no mistaker. If you can wait, I would wait to see what W204 can come up with. I believe you will find a hell of a big step of improvement in 2007/8 W204C350 272hp with 7Gtronic than your W210. You can get a C350 W204 brand new for the same price too.
Last edited by cntlaw; Dec 23, 2006 at 09:39 PM.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,466
Likes: 10
From: Southern Cali (Ontario)
My little history. I was coming from a E320 2001 facelift and shifted to a brand new C55 in 2004, now driven 35000km. I bought a 330i E90 in 2006 and been driving it for 13000km already. I recently have also test-driven a E92 325i. The 335i is a FI turbo engine with high potential to mod for more power with minimal cost (mod a C55 is huge cost). There are a big variety of mod parts for BMW cars if mod is something you feel like to do in future. However, being an E90 owner, I must say there is no way a E90 or E92 will achieve the same ride quality of a C55. The build quality of E90/E92 is no better than a 1 generation behind W203. However, whilst C55's handling is superb, it will not be better than a E90/E92. If you feel like to have a more significant change, go for the 335i. If you want to straight a balance of ride quality and performance and tends to mod nothing, a C55 for this price is a no mistaker. If you can wait, I would wait to see what W204 can come up with. I believe you will find a hell of a big step of improvement in 2007/8 W204C350 272hp with 7Gtronic than your W210. You can get a C350 W204 brand new for the same price too.
please note: a 335i might have similar 0-60 and 1/4 times... but it stock vs stock it won't beat a C55..
Based on trap speed.. 108 on the AMG to 104 on the 335I.. that is a big difference.
Dont' be fooled by 4.9 secs and 13.5 104 times of a manual 335i. Those are great times... but the trap speed tells the story.
on a empty highway... the C55 will pull on the 335i stock vs stock.
I would even venture to say even a chipped 335i vs stock C55 it would be close. The chip on the 335i adds hp and torque, but it would not bring it to the level of the C55.
If you add the exhaust and chip.. on the 335i, then you have a C55 beater, but at much higher price point than a used C55.
Auto vs Auto.. no contest.. the AMG wins. Even if the 335i's auto is a fast shifting machine... it is still an auto and uses more of the drivetrain power (less RWHP).
I'm planning to jump to a 335i coupe soon... and adding the chip exhaust. Part of the reason is that I have a C32 already and going to a C55 is not much a big difference. Another reason is that I can never leave my cars stock. I need more power and the TT's help in that department.
